O Stoma Mia wrote:For your hospital stay, what I would recommend is to plan, in advance, which of your personal items you will want to put on your
rolling over-bed table.
When you return from surgery you will likely be encumbered with all sorts of tubes and other items (drain tube, urinary catheter, IV lines, epidural catheter, stoma bag, and maybe an oxygen tube or NG tube, etc.). In any event, you will probably be in a bit of pain and will not be able to move around freely to fetch things from elsewhere in the hospital room. For the first couple of days, everything you need should be arranged on your over-bed table, since this will probably be the only place that you can easily access while in bed.
What I would suggest for this is:
1. Ear plugs and face mask -- in case you have a roommate who snores or who wants to run the TV all night.
2. A small flashlight -- so that you can have a light to see things at night after they have turned off the overhead room light.
3. A pen and notepad -- for writing down the names of all the medications that they bring to you - for future reference.
4. A small container for keeping the medications that they give you for the night.
5. Another small container (e.g., the top of an old shoe box) for arranging the small items so that they don't roll off the table
6. A glow-in-the-dark alarm clock (or a wrist watch) -- so that you can tell what time it is at night.
7. Your cell-phone, and charger with extension cord that can reach the wall outlet.
8. A plastic water glass (or a small, refillable water bottle)
9. A small packet of Kleenex, wet-wipes, or paper towel / wash cloth/ etc.
10. Eye glasses case (if applicable)
11. Your pocket diary or calendar (if applicable)
12. Your laptop computer (if there is enough room left for it to fit on the table)
13. Pack of chewing gum
Also, be sure to ask them to set up or fasten the nurse call button so that it is easily accessible to you in bed and so that you don't have to lean over to reach the telephone night stand to call the nurse.