DH will have his LAR next week. I'm trying to prepare to make this as smooth as possible. Might sound like a silly question but since the only planned long hospital stay I have ever had was after delivering my babies I keep wondering if I should be packing a "hospital bag" of comfort items, etc.
Any suggestions for things that would be good to have from home during recovery would be appreciated. Il
Thanks!
What to bring to the hospital
What to bring to the hospital
wife of DH (04/24/15 dx: age 43) Low RC T3N0M0 stage 2
4/27/15 clear CT
5/18 - 6/25 chemo/rad (ended xeloda on 6/19 due to side effects)
8/12/15 - ULAR scheduled - APR performed due to location - path showed T1N0M0
9/25 begin 5 rounds of xelox
10/30/15 - switch to xeloda only due to allergic reaction
1/22/16- last xeloda!
3/27/16 - post treatment CT - clear except soft tissue presacral area (possibly scar tissue) CEA .5
4/20/16 - post treatment colonoscopy
4/27/15 clear CT
5/18 - 6/25 chemo/rad (ended xeloda on 6/19 due to side effects)
8/12/15 - ULAR scheduled - APR performed due to location - path showed T1N0M0
9/25 begin 5 rounds of xelox
10/30/15 - switch to xeloda only due to allergic reaction
1/22/16- last xeloda!
3/27/16 - post treatment CT - clear except soft tissue presacral area (possibly scar tissue) CEA .5
4/20/16 - post treatment colonoscopy
Re: What to bring to the hospital
I packed more, but the main things I needed were a robe and slippers for getting up to walk, along with an iPod for music, ipad, and magazines. I hope it goes great and he is not in the hospital for long.
Cathy
Diagnosed 10/14 low rectal cancer age 43
Clinical T2NXMX
Radiation/xeloda 12/14-1/15
LAR with temp Ileo 3/15
pT2N0M0, lymphatic invasion 0/37 nodes
4 xelox, 1 xeloda only
Reversal 9/15
Mom to 9&11 year olds
Diagnosed 10/14 low rectal cancer age 43
Clinical T2NXMX
Radiation/xeloda 12/14-1/15
LAR with temp Ileo 3/15
pT2N0M0, lymphatic invasion 0/37 nodes
4 xelox, 1 xeloda only
Reversal 9/15
Mom to 9&11 year olds
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MrPleistocene
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- Location: San Diego, CA
Re: What to bring to the hospital
Wy wife packed some bourbon for herself. Seemed to help 
I had a 3 meter charging cable for my phone, that was a nice addition.
Best of luck.
I had a 3 meter charging cable for my phone, that was a nice addition.
Best of luck.
DX 11/09 RC Stage IIIb
12/09 Chemorad w/Folfox
Surgery 4/10 LAR, Removed Seminal Vesicles
Clean Margins, T3N2M0, 4/19 Nodes
FOLFOX 6/10-11/10
6/10, 10/10, 1/11 Clean Scans, Normal CEA
12/10 Bi-Nephrostomy
12/10-2/11 HBOT
2/11 Reversal
12/09 Chemorad w/Folfox
Surgery 4/10 LAR, Removed Seminal Vesicles
Clean Margins, T3N2M0, 4/19 Nodes
FOLFOX 6/10-11/10
6/10, 10/10, 1/11 Clean Scans, Normal CEA
12/10 Bi-Nephrostomy
12/10-2/11 HBOT
2/11 Reversal
Re: What to bring to the hospital
There's an older thread on here that's titled just about this same thing, but I couldn't locate it quickly. Some suggestions:
Good luck to your DH.
- *Flip flops or slippers if you don't want to use their scratchy rubber grip socks
*Chargers & extension cord(s) for phones/tablets
*Something to read, although even being an avid reader, I wasn't in the mood to read anything
*Comfy and really stretchy sweats to wear home (maybe even a larger size - I didn't know I'd be so bloated) & potentially to wear walking down the halls
*If no ileo, consider good TP, hospital toilet paper sucks, and I needed some pretty quickly
*Your own hand soap if you don't like the smell of the hospitals as well as shampoo if you're there long enough to shower
Good luck to your DH.
Kelly, mom 14 yo girl
Dx 11/15/12 Rectal Cancer @ age 40
Stage IIIC
5.5 weeks Xeloda & Radiation - complete 2/5/13
Colectomy 3/12/13, 7 of 14 nodes positive - no ileo
4/24/13-8/20/13 - 5 rounds Xelox, 1 Xeloda only
Dx 11/15/12 Rectal Cancer @ age 40
Stage IIIC
5.5 weeks Xeloda & Radiation - complete 2/5/13
Colectomy 3/12/13, 7 of 14 nodes positive - no ileo
4/24/13-8/20/13 - 5 rounds Xelox, 1 Xeloda only
Re: What to bring to the hospital
Short extension cord. Often the outlet in the room is far away from the bed and you need to charge your phone or iPad. After an LAR, he won't feel like hopping out of bed for something like that!
An iPod for listening to music or audio books in case he has a loud roommate. It also helps mask the hospital "beeps" and intercom announcements.
Slippers and socks. Rowdy socks are fun!
Also, I *highly* recommend asking for an epidural if possible. Will he have an ileostomy? If so, make sure you arrange a visit with the ostomy nurse before he's released from the hospital. The nurse will give him a bunch of supplies as well as instructing him how to care for his temporary ileo.
Best of luck with everything! Remember to encourage him to walk as soon as possible after surgery. That speeds up the healing and gets him home sooner!
An iPod for listening to music or audio books in case he has a loud roommate. It also helps mask the hospital "beeps" and intercom announcements.
Slippers and socks. Rowdy socks are fun!
Also, I *highly* recommend asking for an epidural if possible. Will he have an ileostomy? If so, make sure you arrange a visit with the ostomy nurse before he's released from the hospital. The nurse will give him a bunch of supplies as well as instructing him how to care for his temporary ileo.
Best of luck with everything! Remember to encourage him to walk as soon as possible after surgery. That speeds up the healing and gets him home sooner!
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1
Re: What to bring to the hospital
Thanks everyone! This really helps. Normally I'm pretty good at being prepared but my head is swimming with trying to get everything in order for this.
wife of DH (04/24/15 dx: age 43) Low RC T3N0M0 stage 2
4/27/15 clear CT
5/18 - 6/25 chemo/rad (ended xeloda on 6/19 due to side effects)
8/12/15 - ULAR scheduled - APR performed due to location - path showed T1N0M0
9/25 begin 5 rounds of xelox
10/30/15 - switch to xeloda only due to allergic reaction
1/22/16- last xeloda!
3/27/16 - post treatment CT - clear except soft tissue presacral area (possibly scar tissue) CEA .5
4/20/16 - post treatment colonoscopy
4/27/15 clear CT
5/18 - 6/25 chemo/rad (ended xeloda on 6/19 due to side effects)
8/12/15 - ULAR scheduled - APR performed due to location - path showed T1N0M0
9/25 begin 5 rounds of xelox
10/30/15 - switch to xeloda only due to allergic reaction
1/22/16- last xeloda!
3/27/16 - post treatment CT - clear except soft tissue presacral area (possibly scar tissue) CEA .5
4/20/16 - post treatment colonoscopy
Re: What to bring to the hospital
What to bring to the hospital ???
Michael has bumped another topic from a few years ago ... still relevant I believe SO I will link you to it ....
HERE !
I believe my post will also add more links and info.
Cheers
CR
Michael has bumped another topic from a few years ago ... still relevant I believe SO I will link you to it ....
HERE !
I believe my post will also add more links and info.
Cheers
CR
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far
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