What to bring to the hospital ?

Oh, I know about the, um, "ventilated" gown! 🙂 I wore nothing but that for my first 2½ months. It wasn't until I started transferring to the wheelchair myself that I had the confidence to start dressing in pyjama pants and t-shirt.

I missed snacks. They fed me some protein slime. Couldn't eat real food until I farted. Finally talked my nurse out of one dorito chip at 4 AM at the nurses station with the promise of farting, lol. I did a lot of walking throughout the night. Spent a lot of time talking to the family of a 95 y/o grandmother. Talked to the nurses at the nurse station. Got some meds for the gas pain that leached up under my diaphragm which was felt in the shoulder and then finally went to sleep for a few hours. It's all very easy and systematic. The nurse will show him how to empty his cath. and listen to his bowels for signs of gas movement. Gas has to pass before you pass go go zoom zoom home. Relax the staff is a well oiled machine. Tooth brush, robe, slippers and reading stuff. Be sure to get out of bed and walk which will help with the gas. 12 hours of taking up space and pining to get out of there. I amazed the Respiratory tech by pegging the spirometer test. She had never seen anyone do that. Tried another one, tame ting.

Thanks Chippydoo : ))) ! It was fun reading your vivid description of those 12 hours , ha ha, and thanks for taking time to share < 3. My poor husband will have to contend not only with nurses but with me too XP.

Ha! You get me Surf. thought I would weave a little humor into my detailed post. The weight of this is real but laughter can be so healing.

I think I might have brought ear plugs…

My husband can sleep through atomic bomb explosion - that man has amazing nervous system. I however can sense an ant crossing the wall in a room and wake up XP.
But thanks for a good tip - I am sure somebody else here will also find it helpful for their stay in a hospital :)))

I recently had an 18 hour overnight stay (not for prostate issues) - I brought a phone and iPad for entertainment, plus I brought a charger and long power cable for each. That worked well.

Other than that, I had a lot of trouble sleeping because the bedding got all messed up from me getting up to pee a bunch, and things attached to me getting tangled before I unattached them, plus it was cold so they brought several layers of thin blankets, which then got tangled. Finally, I got up and made the bed. That really helped.

I use a CPAP (really APAP) and didn't bring it (I have little apnea). But it turns out I wanted it, because with it on, I could burrow under the pillows to hide from light and distraction. I do that at home.