My husband had his ascending aorta replaced nearly three weeks ago. I have made a list of the things that were important to him/me when in hospital and afterwards. Hopefully will be of use to a few people:
3m long mobile phone charging lead - the distance from the ward plugs and bed can be much longer than an average charging lead
Take a photocopy/photograph on phone of discharge notes - after a slight relapse my husband ended back in a different hospital for a couple of days. It was useful to be able to have to hand a spare copy of his notes.
Keep all medical letters and results in a folder and carry with you - as above, after a post op stay in a different hospital the cardiologists wanted access to all prior results. Having it all in date order in a file made it much easier to have to hand.
Pack a ‘just in case’ bag after the operation with medical notes and medication to hand - we needed it!
Bring a pillow for journey home to help keep the seatbelt away from wounds.
Peppermint sweets to suck on - helps with the sickness after the operation. My husband liked the Smints version
Noise cancelling headphones - the wards are busy and noisy! A personal choice of my husband’s. Other people might want ear plugs
Sleep eye mask - blocks some light out if napping during the day.
Plenty of change for the car park
Get ward phone numbers and extension to avoid main reception waiting times or voice recognition software which doesn’t work (Harefield!)
Write one text with updates and copy and paste to friends and relatives.
Carry your phone charger as a visitor as you can spend a lot of time sitting around waiting. And bring a book
V shaped pillow for when they come home
Fizzy drink to bring up wind - a personal request from my husband to get rid of the inevitable post operation gas build up
Fit bit or step counter pedometer for patient to build up walking
Antibacterial hand wash at home and in handbag
Good opportunity to get rid of read books so donate to hospital book store/library. I brought in a load on day of discharge.
A personal choice but a box of chocolates for the staff on the ward is always appreciated.
Google a photo image of ‘Remember to breathe’ and put on phone as wallpaper and home screen. You will be given breathing exercises. This will be a reminder.
Couple of larger than normal T-shirts as easier to get on and off with post op wounds
A personal thing that worked for us was I made a photo blanket via Bags of Love (just google photo blanket and I am sure there are lots of companies that can make them). It had about 35 photos of family to show support towards my husband and to serve as a boost for him when alone. My husband had that with him when he moved onto the ward and was a good talking point for visitors, doctors and nurses. I got a second one made for my husband’s parents who were stressing about the operation and it was good for them to feel closeness to their son whilst he was in hospital. It might be good for younger children as well to have something like that if their parent is in hospital and they are too young to visit.
A small pillow/rolled towel for helping with coughing and sneezing.
Write out medication into a table that makes it easy for you to use. Sometimes the amount of medication will be overwhelming and putting all the information into one table with medication name, dosage, timings, with or without food etc.
Plenty of patience! I am running out 3 weeks post operation ;).