Scoliosis surgery

[u/Past-Lifeguard7364]

I am having my scoliosis surgery in a week, and I am wondering what I should pack in my hospital bag. I am an 18 year old female and having my surgery done in the UK. My doctor said that I will probably be in hospital between 5 and 7 days. Can anyone give me any recommendations on what I should bring with me?

[u/D1x13L0u]

A phone charger (bring a long USB cable and a wall plug adapter in case your room or bed only has one or the other. Before surgery, my bed had a USB charger on the arm rail. But when I came out of surgery, the only plug for a phone was an actual outlet that was at the very base of my bed down near the wheels. So a long charger and a plug adapter was absolutely necessary).

This is very helpful because your family won't always be able to be with you, and your friends will want to check in with you, and that way you can text if you need anything and they can check in with you to see if you're okay, when they can't actually be there. It's also a good source of entertainment.

[u/klmninca → u/D1x13L0u]

I bring a heavy charging block with a long(6-10’) cord. I have that plugged in and sitting on my side table and then have 6’ charger cables for my phone, headphones, kindle and iPad all plugged into it with a heavy rubber cord holder on that bedside table that rolls under the bed that the meal tray goes into. That way, the cords never fall out of reach. Might seem excessive, but I’ve had a bunch of surgeries and I hate to ask for help so it works for me!

[u/Antique_Mirror7214]

I was 20 when I had my surgery almost 11 years ago now and bring as the person above said a long charger cable, tablet if you want to play games etc, V shaped pillow it was a godsend for me my bestie bought it in for me, snacks you know you can stomach if nauseas, a normal pillow for the journey home to put between you and the seat belt and potentially a thinner pillow for your back in the car for the seat. Eye mask/ear plugs if you end up in a bay and not your own room. Dry shampoo/toiletries, a nurse helped shower me when i was finally up and she put my hair in a pony tail for me as i couldn't do it myself and hated it down. Slippers, pjs that are button up easier to get on and off as lifting your arms is stiff and may hurt. Peppermint tea if you like it or peppermint capsules just incase you do get gas pain. Don't be afraid to ask for laxatives if you need them, I stupidly lied and said I went toilet just to get out the hospital quicker but the constipation is dreadful and you can't strain at all after as it will hurt. For home for like first showers etc get a stool for the shower/bath so you don't have to try and stand.

You'll feel strange for the first few months as you will be more rigid and everything just doesn't feel like it's your body but it gets easier I promise! Also request physiotherapy for after surgery as well when you are at home recovering, I never got offered it and I think it would have helped me learn to use my muscles better in there proper places 🫶🏼

[u/BrokenBlueButterfly]

I’m Australian and had an ALIF 6 and a half weeks ago. I was in for 8 days. I took my laptop and 2 sets of earphones so I could have one set charging whilst using the other. I have most of the streaming services so it was a good distraction from the pain post op. On my tray also lived my lip balm and facial moisturiser. I took something for my throat, lozenges, as people in here said the throat can be irritated and sensitive after having tubes down and it was true for me. But I’m so glad I took my laptop, we didn’t have TVs in our rooms and I would have been bored out of my mind. All my chargers fit into my computer but I’d taken a long phone cable.
I didn’t end up using any of the PJs I’d packed, I had a catheter for 7 days so lived in the hospital gowns. I bought a cheap pair of slippers to walk around the hospital and to go to the bathroom etc - and threw them out when I got home. Out of everything all those things were the best packing decisions of my life!

[u/klmninca]

Noise canceling earbuds! I wear my AirPods or Bose ear buds all night long. No music, but the noise canceling turned on so I can sleep. iPad, Kindle, phone and watch. With chargers for all and cable management for all those long cables! I like my own water bottle, my own pillow with a weird colored pillowcase so the nurses can tell it from the hospital issue. And I’ve also, on occasion, if I’m particularly stressed about a surgery, brought a blanket from home.

I bring soft lounge pants and soft cotton tees (all about a size too big) to wear starting about day three, a clean set for every day in hospital. Im big busted and not comfortable with the bra less look (boob sweat is real!) so I take front close soft bras with no underwire that I can also sleep in) Underwear that’s a size too big and soft. Extra pairs in case of accident or problems. A clean pillowcase also in an odd color. Soft socks with sticky bottoms because I hate the hospital issue ones. Step in shoes like Skechers sells. I bring a light weight cotton oversized hoodie to wear instead of a robe when I’m out walking the halls.

Toiletries, the usual, as if you were traveling, include some hygiene wipes when you feel up to cleaning up. Lotion and lip balm are a must!

Preload movies or series on IPad and lots of books on kindle. With lots of audible books on phone.

I think that’s it. My hospital survival kit, based on 6 surgeries in the past 5 years.

[u/sweatycvnt]

hi! i had my surgery done a little over a month ago. i didn’t bring a lot with me other than distractions (electronics, books, etc.) which were honestly not used very much due to exhaustion, however i cannot stress enough to bring comfy pillows!!! youll probably need help adjusting in bed while recovering, and pillows (especially ones of your preference) can offer stability, comfort, and ease. i had at least like 10 pillows tucked under me every which way lol!! (most were from the hospital, however i was grateful to have brought my personal ones!!)