Hospital or night gowns

When I had my spinal fusion, I wore my Birkenstocks in the hospital (and to, and from). Putting on socks was impossible, and the Birks fit better than any other shoe I had (they were also a lot easier to put on, but didn't come off until I wanted them off)). When I got home, I don't think I wore any shoes for a couple of weeks -- not 'til I went in to get the staples out, at least. (then again, I wasn't doing much walking -- just to the bathroom or the kitchen and back to my 'nest'.)

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net WIP: Poppies (Art-Stitch), two knitted tops, Oriental Butterfly Most recently Finished: Floral Sampler, Insect Sampler

It would be my hope that someone would assist Kitty putting on her socks. Of course I did say I'm an old nurse and I don't know if anyone does that kind of thing any longer. Birks sound good but I think you had to have someone assist you putting them on. Juno

Slip-on type Birks are the easiest and best. Arizona or Boston styles come to mind depending on whether or not you want a closed toe.

I also second Kate on the elastic bit. When I had my first section, I had been wearing bikini underwear - that came to a quick halt! You don't want an elastic strip or cord crossing a tender incision. There's no shame in getting a huge size, as long as they don't fall around your ankles, because they are kind and gentle to your sore spots.

If the ties on those short hospital gowns they give you for mammograms are long enough, you can cross them in front, so that the fronts overlap, and tie them in back. That enables you to read while waiting instead of clutching your shirt.

Joy Beeson

On one of my hospital trips, the steam pipe ran through my room; on the other, my room was the main conduit for the air conditioner. So whatever the weather, take warm flannel jammies, and take lots of flimsy linen nighties, but don't bother being ready for a

Joy Beeson

When I was in a body cast, a kind neighbor dipped into my stash and made me several ponchos -- just cut a piece as long as the width, plus hem allowances, and put a neck hole in the middle. (A hole *tangent* to the center is better placed, but I wasn't fussy at the time!)

Most were blouse-weight, but one was coat-weight to put on over the others. I kept on using that one after I got the cast off, and still keep a wool poncho in the car.

These "blouses" worked so well that I scared the fur off an airline stewardess, who didn't realize that I was in a cast until I was getting off the plane.

Joy Beeson

Also be sure you have sturdy slippers for

Juno, I thank you for your insight. I have a pair of mules with a sort of a cupped heel which I find very comfortable and stable. However, it doesn't really have room for socks. I'll look at Walmart as soon as I get some money. Maybe I can find something. My other pair of shoes are tie shoes, so that wouldn't be good. Thanks again. Kitty

Your mules may be fine. At first, you'll probably have on those pressure socks with the toes sticking out. Funny things. But they fit snugly. You don't want a heel, though. Flats are best. If nothing else, a pair of terrycloth scuffs are good.

Short!

The sub-thread on shoes reminded me that I once took a floor-length robe to the hospital One strapped-up arm later, I realized that this was a Big Mistake. Shin-length would be fine, maybe ankle-length if you show *all* the ankle.

Joy Beeson

Joy, I'm glad you made that point. I just came on to make the same one. Unfortunately hospitals are not the safest places in the world. There is a serious lack in training of personnel about patient safety. There was a time a nurse would be n serious trouble if a patient's safety was ignored by staff. That's why I stress things like sturdy shoes or slippers. There was an article in my local parer today that says that Medicare will start refusing to pay for things like falls in hospital because they are preventable. It also said that the patient will not be held responsible for paying for treatment for these issues either. All I can say is that it's about time. Most of these kinds of things occur because of poor staff training and supervision. Staff should be educating patients before and during stays about safety issue. This should include things like appropriate clothing during a hospital stay. I'll now get off my soap box. Juno

thanks to everybody for all suggestions.

I found the HysterSister site. Got lots of great info on what to take and what to leave home for later, like novels.

Going to make it a point to use up all the silk so I will have both it's beauty and slipperyness with me in the hospital. I'm going to take my buckwheat pillows, with straps on the cases, and my favorite wool blanket, cause I feel cold so often now days. (I think I'm ready to move away from Cold, rainy, muggy Pennsylvania.) I'm thinking of borrowing my daughter's dvd player and take my CDs and DVD's with a Headphone. But I'd love to take a DVD of songs and music into the operating room with me, and I don't know if they would allow a dvd player there. Not sure how big it is so maybe they would.

Must remember the Chapstick, and MANY people said earplugs and sleep mask were essential, though Many used the music in place of the earplugs.

So, I feel like I know what I need to know now. NOW I gotta sew. thanks all, See ya in a few weeks. Kitty

and my favorite

Now why would you do that? We just had a heat wave. We need the rain/moisture. AK in PA

Cause it's supposed to be Summer, and I'm cold. Cause when I don't see the sun for more than two days I get depressed and don't want to get out of bed. Cause I'm allergic to the mix of plants which meet here in the Roof"Garden" of PA. Cause I can't even hike in the Parks cause there's mud everywhere and If I slip and mess up my knee again I could spend the rest of my life in a wheel chair. Cause last winter I wore three tops, three bottoms, three pair of socks and a jacket in the house. and I'm only 53. What will I be feeling in ten years? LOL Kitty

OK, I grew up in Ligonier and West View (area - that was my high school) and I feel your pain, Kitty. I remember the winters as being subarctic and my hands bleeding from chapping. It was soooo cold. Summer was not cold, but hot, humid and buggy. When I finished high school and about 9 months of business school, I got on a plane for Miami and didn't go back until about 1988, which was more than 30 years later. I still don't want to move back. LOL.