Hospital Essentials

Everything you do in life should be with the ultimate aim of reducing stress, and there is no time more important to intentionally reduce stress than when you have cancer.

You’re on the journey, treatment has started, and it’s probable at some time you will need a trip to the hospital, and the last thing you want to be doing is running around trying to get everything packed while you feel like death warmed up, so pack a case in advance and have it sitting ready. If you’re really organised, you can have two cases ready, one for short-stay (overnight) and an additional one for a longer stay. If you go in expecting an overnight and it turns out otherwise, someone can bring your long-stay case when they visit.

In a way, this goes against the theme of Cancerology because I want you to prepare for the best outcome, but I also want you to be realistic, and part of being realistic is being ready for things you don’t expect, like an unplanned trip to hospital.

First things first, buy a decent bag or suitcase, one with a lock on it, as even though you (hopefully) know the nurses, somebody else might fancy a look around in it and help themselves to a trinket.

Someone taking a trinket is inconvenient and annoying, but if someone lifts the case itself, it can be a disaster. Most mobile phone companies offer little trackers that can be hidden inside the case and tracked on your phone. They’re inexpensive and can be used for loads of other things when not in your case (children/pets/bikes, etc), so it’s a good idea to invest in one, just in case. (see what I did there?)

Fellow patients, visitors, someone just walking in and helping themselves, other workers who pop in, etc., are all potential problems waiting to happen; so if you want to keep it, protect it. The fact you have cancer evokes sympathy in most people, but to others, it means you’re just another distracted target. Harsh, but true.

I have a friend who was in hospital for three days and had (yes, had, as in past tense) a beautiful Cartier watch her husband had given her on diagnosis, but, she never wore it through the night and instead took it off before lights-out and placed it on top of her bedside table (not inside a drawer, or under a pillow, or in a shoe, but on top of the table). The second morning, the tooth fairy must have called and lifted it. Who’d a thunk it? Unsurprisingly, the hospital took no responsibility, and again, unsurprisingly, the insurance company laughed at the claim and refused it because no precautions were taken to prevent the theft. So… if you have a Rolex, or Cartier, or other fancy trinket/s; hospital is not the place to show them off.

The contents

This is as comprehensive a list as I can make it, but it’s not exhaustive and some things guys/girls aren’t going to want and vice versa, so pick what you need and ignore the rest.

It’s a long list, so be sensible. There are things you will need, some you might need, and others you’ll use occasionally, so plan it out. If you’re in a ward with other patients, you’re going to have less security, but, on the other hand, you’re going to have multiple new friends to keep an eye if you have to nip out. It’s a tricky balance as you never know what to expect, so caution is advised.

Let’s face it, sometimes shit happens, so if you’re rushed into hospital without a chance to grab your stuff, leave a copy of this ticked list on top of the suitcase/bag, and when someone collects it for you, anything not packed will be shown and they can sort it.

Click on the image at the bottom of the page to open a pdf you can print,

Personal details

A sheet of paper with your full name, address, date of birth, hospital number, insurance details (if relevant) and consultant’s details printed out so it can be given to the nurses if you’re in a bit of a state at having been taken into hospital.

A list of medicines. Yes, even though your hospital should be aware of everything you’re prescribed, bring a list anyway, just in case something hasn’t been updated. You may think this isn’t necessary, but if you have a problem that needs medicine that may interact with another they don’t know about, it could save your life.

A list of any vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies, or anything else you’re taking, irrespective of whether you think they’re relevant. Again, it could save your life.

Other drugs? Yes, you know what I mean, don’t you? If you occasionally indulge in recreational drugs, and irrespective of what they may be: tell the doctor. Let me say that again: tell the doctor.

But… There are no buts, there is either cooperation or potential death as you’re trying to hide something. Tell the doctors what they need to know and deal with whatever afterwards, or you could avoid the whatever and the afterwards, if you see what I mean. Choice is yours.

Copies of any relevant notes you have regarding previous days. (You know, the pdfs you downloaded from my site, blood pressure, temperature, weight, input/output, etc.)

There is no such thing as too much information and the clearer the picture for the doctor, the better.

Basic essentials

Must haves

Some cash (just enough for basic needs) and a credit/debit card.

You might want to organise a pre-loaded card that someone can top up for you as and when; that way if it goes missing it’s only a small amount and you can get another card.

If you’re using your main card, write out the contact details for the bank and leave it with a friend/relative you can easily contact as that way you can put a block on it until it is either found or replaced. 

Phone and charger.
If you forget the charger, it’s common now for wards to have spare chargers for patient use, but it’s not guaranteed.

Glasses, or contacts and cleaner. If you use separate glasses for reading and long distance, you’ll probably only need the reading glasses, but forewarned and all that.

Hearing aid and batteries/charger.

Walking stick.

Headphones/earbuds.

You may want to consider headphones as a hospital preference, as earbuds can irritate, and cushioned headphones also block out any external noise so you can use them turned off.

Spare USB cable. (no idea what for, but if you don’t have one, you’ll probably need one)

Laptop.

A kindle, e-reader, or tablet.
Sometimes, the air conditioning in a hospital can dry your eyes and make it hard to focus, so being able to increase the text on the device can make a huge difference when you’re reading.

Battery hand fan or USB powered mini fan.

Prunes for breakfast.
Yes, I know you’re in hospital and they can give you lactulose, but if your body is used to prunes to help with constipation, keep the rhythm.

Hygiene/looks

Toothbrush.

A soft one as chemotherapy can affect the teeth/gums.

Toothpaste.

Mouth wash.

Facewipes.

Facecloth.

Soap/Shower gel.

Electric razor.

Wet razor with spare blades.

Shaving foam.

Shampoo/conditioner. (if you still have hair)

Shower cap.

Hair dye.

Soft Towels.
Most hospitals don’t supply towels and if they do, they’re like sandpaper.

Hair drier.

Comb/brush. (flexible wide tooth if you’re on chemo and still have hair)

Moisturiser.

Deodorant.

Hand sanitiser.

Hand cream.

Lip balm/Chapstick.

Eyedrops. Air conditioning can dry your eyes and chemo can also cause problems.

Soft toilet paper. (Because you can be tender down there and constipation/diarrhoea can be a side-effect of treatment, and let’s face it, hospital loo roll isn’t going to win any awards for comfort, so treat yourself.)

Moist toilet tissues. (These are also gentle and can make life a lot easier.)

Tampons.

Incontinence pads.

Entertainment

For some, being in hospital for even a day can irritate as the time drags, so some sort of entertainment for a distraction is a good idea.

If you’re in for a longer stay (especially something like a Stem-Cell-Transplant) then variety is required as the attention span is severely restricted, so little and often is the answer.

Colouring book/s and pens.

Puzzle books. Sudoku/Word search/dot-to-dot/spot the difference/crosswords, etc .
Ideally something you’re good at and something you’ve never tried before or know you’re bad at. 

Magazines.

A book of short stories.
Short stories allow you to set a target to finish one a day, and the fact you’ve completed something is rewarding.

New books.
Yes, more than one is what I recommend. If you have a couple on the go, they engage the mind with different plots and encourage you to find out what happened next. Make sure one is outside your normal genre.

Cancerology. (obviously)

Pens/pencils, and a notebook.

Write a journal, write a diary, write everything that happens to you including your opinion of the doctors, the service, your feelings, moods, hopes, aspirations, dreams, views, etc. Write the nurses/doctors names and memorise them. Write what you need to do or change to achieve success and set a plan of action. Hell, write a book; I started one in 2002 and for a variety of reasons couldn’t release it (there was a TV show that came out at the same time that was too similar), but I’ve rewritten it and it will be released early 2022.

A highlighting pen.

Dictation machine or use the app on your phone to dictate things you need to remember or ideas for a book, etc.

Jigsaw/s
The problem with a jigsaw is it can take up so much room, so if you’re in a ward, it’s probably not a good idea, but if you’re in a room where you can store it until it’s complete (and you know you’re in for a while), it’s a great distraction with a reward at the end.

Knitting, crochet, bobbin lace, etc.
Although it hasn’t been a problem when I’ve been in hospital (as I’ve watched others knitting in bed), you may need to check with the staff as knitting needles are pointed and therefore potentially dangerous, so might not be allowed.

Treats

Diluting juice for drinking

Some snacks with a strong flavour if you’re taste has gone, but not spicy as they could upset your stomach.

Bovril/Marmite, or something similar.

Tinned pineapple.

Crackers.

Nuts.

Popcorn.

Boiled sweets like lemon drops. Something that is going to give you a sensation of taste.

Mints.

Things you can’t pack but can use

Audiobooks.

Learn another language or learn to draw, or learn to…

How? YouTube has lots of free courses on anything you can think of, and learning a new skill stimulates different areas of your brain, which, in turn, distracts and stops you constantly thinking about cancer.

Any long-term goal where you see yourself the other side of cancer is motivational.

The MP3s/videos on the Cancerology website.

Breathing exercises, meditations, visualisations, relaxation exercises, memory exercises, etc.

Netflix/AmazonPrime/Disney/Sky access for entertainment.

Personal stuff.

It’s also good to have something to look forward to when you come out of hospital, so some personal photographs will remind you why you have to win, but you need to check all this stuff with the hospital and make sure they allow it. Personal pictures that make you smile before you go to sleep and when you wake up; something to motivate the fight, to give you something to fight for, make the smile. Think family, think pets, think friends, think obligations and desires. Not only motivational but just pleasant to have.

Leaving your essentials

From time to time, you will be away from your bed, be it for the bathroom, or a scan, or operation; so if you are in a ward, make friends with a neighbour who can keep an eye on your stuff if you have to leave.

No hospital will take responsibility for your goods; still, you will remember earlier I advised you to make friends with all your nurses, and this is where you can potentially ask one to keep an eye on your goods, or have the curtains drawn around the bed, or maybe keep something valuable in the office until you return from your scan, or operation, or whatever. If you don’t make friends with the staff and treat them well… put it another way, if you were a nurse, would you help you?

I can honestly say that every time I had to leave my bed for any length of time (such as an operation), I never left my laptop on the table as the nurses always tucked it away safely for me. Every time.

The most important thing everyone needs to pack

The last thing you need to pack is the most important, irrespective of whether you’re going into hospital for an overnight stay or longer, and it’s something you’re going to have to look for and find and use every minute of every day you’re in hospital, and that is your attitude. You need to pack a positive attitude and use it.

Suffice to say, a negative attitude with negative expectations will (more than likely) produce negative results, whereas a positive attitude with positive expectations will (more than likely) produce a better outcome. There is no guarantee a positive attitude will make things perfect, but it does always make them seem better.

If you click on the image below it will open a printable pdf Hospital Essentials tick sheet.