The spouse/caregiver will be sitting for lonnnnng periods of time, and a little preparation makes a lot of difference in comfort level!
I don't know about you, but I get anxious in spite of myself before a trip or procedure. Planning ahead as much as possible helps me be organized and helps Tommy because I am calmer. When I am calm, he is better.
I knew that there might be times when it would be difficult for me to get away from his room to get something to eat, that there would be NOTHING on TV, that the hospital is always COLD, whatever the season.
So, here's my list:
notebook
folder to keep all those papers in
neck pillow (hospital pillows are terrible!)
warm sweater or jacket
book or something to read
snacks: my favorites, and some I could share.
chocolate (M & M's are best - melt in your mouth, not in your hands)
peanut butter crackers
pringles in small packages
Diet cokes in small bottles (I don't like coffee, and bringing my own DC saved a bundle of $!)
drink glass with lid and straw (the lid is a necessity as if it can be spilled, I will spill it. Ice is
available at the nurse's station. I would walk up to the station and asked very nicely. Even
offered to get it myself.)
small zip lock bag of quarters (vending machines are picky about dollar bills)
cell phone charger
laptop computer (this was the first surgery I brought one, and I ended up leaving it in his room when I
went to our friends to sleep)
When he had the next surgery 6 months later, I took my Nook instead -- not nearly as much weight
to carry around!
I'm sure there was other "stuff" in the tote, but this is my basic travel list. Yours will most likely be different, but it helps me to make a list so I pack the most "vital" necessities (diet coke and chocolate, of course!)
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