Tips to Prepare for Hospital Life

I interrupt your fall decor updates with real life — tips to prepare for hospital life, surgery and ICU. It’s been a wild week with some highs and some serious lows. October 6th was Chris and my 13th anniversary. Some days thirteen years feels like 567 and some like the blink of an eye. One thing I know for sure is, I am thankful to have him by my side on this CRAZY journey…good, bad, ugly and everything in between. Man has that been tested this week. If you’re wondering how we celebrated, we DoorDashed dinner and dessert from three different places to appease everyones celebratory needs….so….it was pretty romantic. For more relationship tips to keep that spark alive, just stay tuned — LOL.

All week I felt like I was in pre-hospital hybernation preparation mode, feasting and preping for the next few days of isolation. Hayes had his third hip surgery and hopefully last one for a while. Many have asked what exactly he is having done and I will try to explain that soon as well. Despite having been in and out of the hospital for years, it’s still like starting from the begining each time, although, I have picked up a few tricks along the way. Going over medications, history, routines, Hayes’s baselines and anticipating the recovery process is mentally and physically exhausting. I can’t help but be reminded of all the past hospital stays and experience all the emotions that come flooding in with it. Since we just had this procedure done in July, I was really hoping we would have taken note, highlighted, red flagged, written in blood for the 100th time what worked and what didn’t, but, I’m being real honest here, shit happens. Sometimes it just happens because life, people are human. The other 99% of the time it happens due to poor communication. In this case, the surgery part did go better, but post-op has been another story — a LONG story of people managing to totally mess up what should have been a much smoother transition. Unfortunately, Hayes is the one who suffers because of this and that is the most frustrating part. Communication is key on all levels, in all settings. How have we not learned this?!?! I was going to spare you the image of me pulling my hair out, but this may or may not be actual footage of me the last 24 hrs.

Obviously, not all hospital stays are planned, but having a medically fragile child for 10 years, I have learned to prepare for what I can ahead to help for a smoother process. There are so many unknowns that having a few things in place and ready can really make a difference when it’s go time.

First, a GO BAG for you and your child! If you are a parent of a medically complex child, you probably already have one, but it always helps to revisit your list for updates or missing items.  Let’s start with your child. Here is what I keep in Hayes’s bag that pretty much goes everywhere with him…it’s basically a diaper bag on steriods.

GO BAG

1. Diapers, wipes, chucks and any other incontinence supplies (i.e. bags Munchkin bags link or Mom Easy bags link)
2. Extra G-button if needed (syringe to fill balloon and KY lube)
3. Bottle of sterile water (flushes and back up for G-tube balloon)
4. Syringes and extentions (different sizes for meds and venting)
5. G-tube dressing and/or ointment (pre-cut if needed since scissors are frowned upon these days…insert eye roll)
6. Travel size toiletries and/or meds (deodorant, lotion, shampoo/conditioner, chapstick, toothbrush/toothettes, Tylonol, hand sanitzer) I use small organizing bags to keep stashed in main bag, like these Travelon bags link or 16pcs Mesh bag link
7. Extra set of clothes and socks
8. Small blanket or cloth diaper
9. Emergency meds

GO BAG – MOM

I have a backpack I keep ready to go. All I throw in is clothes, in case of emergency.

1. Stocked toiletry bag like this, Toiletry Hanging Bag  or Compact Hanging bag. I like the hanging ones because easy access and off the counter or floor.
2. Travel size toiletries (Shampoo/conditioner, lotion, deodorant, toothbrush/toothpaste, chapstick, body soap, dry shampoo, razor, face wipes…my favorite to literally try and wipe the day away R+F Essential Wipes
3. Feminie products…insert another eye roll
4. Chargers (phone, watch, ear buds, etc) and headphones
5. Instant coffee singles and sugar and/or whatever you use
6. Food (instant oatmeal, protien bars/shakes, anything that can be heated up in microwave or “cooked” with hot water, nuts and something sweet)
7. Reuseable water bottle to refill
8. Gum, TicTacs, mints, etc.
9. Hand sanitizer
10. Pain and/or headache medicine
11. Cash (keep a $10 bill in bag or a few $1 bills for vending machines emergencies)

MEDICINE and SURGERY LIST

I keep a copy of this with his medicine travel bag and in his go bag for appointments as well. This is a great option for a medicine bag/cooler here  with enough space for those larger bottles, extra syringes, pockets and insulated. I can’t tell you how many hours these lists have saved me from explaining surgeries and meds 1,000 times. I have docs make a copy and we move on. #seefile

Here are my examples of what I use.

 

 

No one ever looks forward to being in the hospital, but I hope this list helps make the stay and the prep a little easier. We can’t control everything and honestly, many times, I feel like I’m fighting to keep any of it together, but sometimes taking care of the little things can make a big difference. After the day we had yesterday, I am so glad I had my stuff in order to reference during the storm and after the dust settled. It helps me be the best advocate I can be for my son and that’s what it’s about in the end — taking care of him. This is not an easy road to navigate, but you’re not alone. We can learn from each other, so, if you have any other tips, please feel free to comment. I’d love to hear what works for you. Remember, even if it takes some time, let your faith be bigger than your fear. Thanks for checking in.

Emily