Hospital bag/items for home recovery (Open Heart surgery)

[Vicky12345678]

Hi lovely people!!

I am getting closer to getting a date for my Open Heart surgery to replace my aortic valve.... so, shopping list :

V shaped pillow, Ebooks..... what else? Stock of paracetamol for later stages of recovery?

Suggestions appreciated!

[Mandy2020]

Hi Vicky,

I too should be getting a date anytime now. I already have my case packed 😂.

I have the following:

Towels

Front fastening PJ's

Ear plugs

Ear phones

Wash bag with the bits I need. Shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush and paste. Also treated myself to some new moisturizer.

Slippers

Front fastening bra's

Socks

New book

I'll be taking the iPad too but that will be the last thing to be packed.

Good luck 😁

Mandy

[Vicky12345678 in reply to Mandy2020]

Fabulous, great list! Thank you for sharing and best wishes!

[SLR-2468 in reply to Mandy2020]

Good afternoon Mandy

Just come out of Papworth after having double bypass and new aortic valve,couple of things I noticed which I didn’t take and need are,

Shampoo,conditioner, moisturiser, towels, socks and no flannels the hospital provides them for hygiene reasons but I did take some mouthwash.

My iPad and phone was a must due to the lockdown in the hospital and a thin dressing gown for when I went for a walk around the wards.

Don’t know about bra’s, don’t wear them

Hope that helps

[MKB38 in reply to Mandy2020]

I took in a lightweight dressing gown for trips to the bathroom. I would also recommend that your visitors bring in fruit, such as clementines to alleviate any constipation. I found it useful to have some fruity boiled sweets to suck on, in case I felt a cough coming on, because the pain when you cough or sneeze is like being shot, whilst the sternum heals. Also you'll probably find that your mouth is very dry, especially overnight. Best of luck.

[Lyndaloo494]

Hi, I might hear soon about mine. Can I ask did you need to go get fill pre op assessment again and are you having to self isolate or anything 14 days before?

[Vicky12345678 in reply to Lyndaloo494]

Hi! Hospital said in Jan when I went to meet the surgeon that I wouldn't need to go again & they would write about 2 weeks ahead when they had a slot for me so presume any other preop stuff will happen on admission. Havent been given any advice re. isolating but we can both work from home so have isolated since March just in case as wouldn't want to be ill and miss my surgery date! My logic is that if I only isolate when I get the letter, 2 weeks isn't long enough to get ill and recover fully. Hope that helps.

[Lyndaloo494 in reply to Vicky12345678]

Thank you. I had a pre op assessment in December and another March so will wait and see. Its a 3hr all round trip so would rather not go again if not needed. I had just heard a few rumours about the self isolating so will wait and see. Great ideas for what to pack or have for home though. All the best 🙂

[werd]

A spare valve is a must

[Vicky12345678 in reply to werd]

I see what you did there!! My surgery is valve sparing as it happens but will pack one just in case as you never know Thanks for the humor

[London88]

Non wires bras in bigger size. Moisturiser. Relaxation dvd to help you sleep.

[Bertie23]

I had OHS a year ago. Other than books and front fastening clothes the most useful things I had were a stool for the shower, an adjustable backrest for my bed and a hot water bottle for the endless backaches I had! Good luck with your operation and recovery 😊

[Vicky12345678 in reply to Bertie23]

Ah yes, hot water bottle, need a new one as threw out the old a few months ago because it was leaking 👍

[Sunnie2day]

Put a foam wedge pillow on your 'post-op home recovery' shopping list.

When you're first home the thing you're going to miss most from your hospitalisation is the mechanical bed that raises and lowers you. Lying down for several days (and getting up from a reclining position) is made much less painful if you set the wedge pillow on end (like a back rest) and sleep in an reclined but essentially upright position.

As you heal you'll find putting the wedge pillow in the 'shim' position (also known as 'the door stop' position) means reclining, rising, and sleeping in a slight elevated position is more comfortable.

Eventually you'll graduate to not wanting/needing the wedge pillow - but don't give it away or bin it. Keep it around, it makes a dandy back rest for lounging in bed, and should you have any sort of sinus or hay-fever condition (or a heavy cold), the wedge pillow in the shim position means you're able to sleep more comfortably with your upper body slightly elevated.

I've not had open heart surgery (OHS; my cardiologist says eventually I will need an aortic valve replacement) but I've had a 'broken-dislocated everything from fingertips to collarbone' injury (naturally on my dominant side) and the wedge pillow was SO helpful getting a more comfortable sleep. My friends who've had OHS swear by their wedge pillows and like me, say the thing they missed most about the hospital was the mechanical bed.

All the best to you, please update when you're home and on the road to recovery!

[Stevo1979]

Extra long charger leads for your devices, trust me!!! Good luck

[080311]

Hi, one thing that hasn’t been mentioned I had a soft baby blanket rolled up it’s great to hold to your chest when you need to cough or sneeze I used to sleep with my arms wrapped around it made me feel more secure, family called it my teddy and was with me for the first 6-8 weeks, you will be given breathing exercises I called them huffing and puffing they are for your lungs, found hugging the blanket helped with that.

Its nearly 4 years since my AVR and bypass and my life is back on track, I wish you lots of luck let us know how you are.

Best wishes Pauline

[Vicky12345678 in reply to 080311]

Thank you Pauline! 080311 . Good thinking!! A soft baby blanket sounds lovely and comforting and useful too like you say

[TMeditation]

You’ve had some great advice here and I might just add take along a small pot of Olbas Oil to put a few drops on a tissue to inhale at night - I found the ward was often too hot and stuffy and it helped me sleep. When I got home I always made sure I had a jigsaw puzzle on the go. It really helped as a distraction when I couldn’t sleep or just wanted something non-demanding to pass the time. Oh and start your breathing exercises post op as soon as you can - there’s nothing like a good lung full of air to improve a feeling of well being. Good luck and keep us posted, it’s a big op but you will be so very well looked after you’ll be up and about in no time! Sue

[Calliope153]

I am on week 9 after aortic valve replacement and graft. I woke up in a cardiothoracic bra courtesy of the hospital charity. As I was an emergency I told the anesthetist my bra size before I went in and when I woke up I was dressed in it.

aboveandbeyond.org.uk/speci...

the above link tells you all about it.

My husband ordered 3 more on line for when I got home - they arrived within 3 days:

cuiwear.com/product/bhis-ca...

really recommend the bra. Great for comfort - in all honesty not so great for uplift!

also I found hospital really hot so was glad of lip salve and moisturiser in my wash bag.

The whole experience was not as bad as I thought it would be and my other bit of advice is don;t be stoic. ask for painkillers if you need them.

[Vicky12345678 in reply to Calliope153]

Oh wow, bless you!! What a thing to go through in the middle of a pandemic too!! That's so lovely that they sorted you out with a bra ☺ Thanks for the tip!! Was going to ask if anyone had tips on that front as presume normal bras (even non-wired) will be uncomfortable for a bit? Thanks!

[MKB38 in reply to Vicky12345678]

I like the sloggi bras, that don't have any fastenings at all, but you have to make sure you can pull them up over your hips. I had them when I had my AVR, and have worn them ever since.

[road2ruin]

Ear plugs, eye mask....it's noisy in there..

The BRI gave me a rolled up towel for coughing and sneezing support, but I mainly used it to help me sleep....

[Supernanu]

Hi Vicky

Really good advice and ideas. I agree with calliope153 about the bra. Good for comfort, not so good for style and uplift - but since you have to wear it 24 hours a day comfort is the main thing!!

I also took: some cream crackers for post op when I felt sick and hungry, hand cream, mints to freshen your mouth, and a pen (useful to fill out menu etc).

My op was 4 months ago and I feel so much better. First 6/8 weeks was hardest but now I feel fitter than for last several years. So sure you’ll feel great soon too 😄

Nicole

[Hidden]

If you have a low toilet consider getting a high seat chair which goes over your original toilet, mine was a godsend 😉

[Vicky12345678 in reply to Hidden]

Oooo, good thinking!! Thanks Hidden !

[Gaz0161]

Hi Vicky ... your nearly there and I’m sure things will go well , I had my mitral valve replaced in 2014 with a mech valve and to be honest it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting , they had me out of bed standing for a while on the 2nd day which was a bit of a struggle, I was allowed to go home after 8 days and then it was a question of small steps to recovery , walking was a great way of regaining my health and to be honest I was back to work after 10 weeks ... during recovery you’ll need a few good books to read , secret is to stay positive, I won’t lie and say it won’t hurt (it will especially if you cough or sneeze) however you’ll be amazed how quick things start to fell better , as I said small steps don’t rush anything, let everything heal before you do to much and you’ll be fine ... good luck with everything 👍

[Vicky12345678 in reply to Gaz0161]

Thank you Gaz0161 , I hear a lot of people say walking is key Hoping for a date soon so I'll be motivated by nice weather

[CAMACA]

Hi Vicky, great advice from everyone, my Mum ( who has 2 valve replacements, 30+ years ago & still going strong) would add .... think about your transport home as you will feel every little bump in the road....so a very considerate driver who has considered the route carefully to avoid pot-holes, winding lanes, hump bridges etc & plenty of cushion support for you particularly around seat belt across your chest.

I wish you well x

[Hidden]

Very good suggestions above, I particularly agree with wedge pillow.

Several pairs ear plugs - they’re small & get lost easy.

A fan, eg a Chinese paper fan, for if you’re too hot in the ward.

Shower shoes -I didn’t have the energy to actually shower, but I found standing under the running water nice when I was off the drips etc.

Pyjamas that are shorts on the bottom half - cooler especially when you stay in one position a long time, plus shorts are easier when going to the loo.

Something to get your hair out of the way, you may not want, or be able, to wash it for a while. I plaited mine before surgery & didn’t wash it for days.

Small box or bag to keep on the wheeled dinner table, for all your small bits & bobs, eg pen, phone, fan, ear plugs.

Small water bottle if liked. They give you cool water once a day with cardboard cups, I found I knocked those over so preferred my own closed bottle.

This may sound strange, but my spouse bought me in a loo roll from home - easier than those darned 1-piece-at-a-time dispensers, at a time when the loo was already hard work (take the pain killers you need but be aware that morphine ones like oramorph & cocodamol can cause constipation - and are also hideously addictive).

Hope all goes well, I’m sure it will.

[Vicky12345678 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Hidden ! My husband finds it hilarious that I am ordering ALL the pillows (have ordered V shaped and extra normal ones plus wedge to come)!

[Jewel7]

Hi Vicky,

It looks like most of the other hearties have suggested the things you will need for your procedure. My husband is post AVR by 5 weeks. We wish you a speedy recovery and before you know it your be home.

Regards,

[Tickers]

Someone may have said this but phone charger and iPad charger if you need one. When My Mum was in hospital I took in a little bottle of lavender essential oil to put on her pillow. Hope it goes well.