Check back tomorrow for our wrap up of the #surgeryproblems series.
Top 5 Surgery Prep Tips
by Liz Cox
Preparing to go to the hospital can be stressful enough, but
when it’s for your child undergoing testing or surgery, that all gets magnified
a hundred times over. In our house we make lists to get ready. Lists of bags
and lists for what goes in each bag. Lists of clothes, lists of medications, of
electronics, snacks, and books. We have refined list making and bag packing to
an art. When I was asked if I would
write about the top five things to bring with you to the hospital, I knew just
what to do. I consulted the stack of dog-eared legal pads containing list after
list from years of vacations, grocery trips, and (of course) hospital stays.
#5 Chargers and
headphones Keeping chargers and a set of ear buds on hand can make the
stay a bit more tolerable for everyone. Headphones not only keep your
distractions to yourself, but they can do wonders for blocking out some of the
drone of the hospital. My favorite use
for headphones? They can act as a wearable “Do Not Disturb” sign for when you
need a few minutes uninterrupted. Making
sure to bring chargers for your electronics can mean the difference between
feeling stranded at sea or being well connected to your support network.
#4 Personal Care Bag Clean
socks, deodorant and other assorted
“foundations” are just a few of the necessities we stash in what has
affectionately become referred to as the “Mom Bag.” Even if you can’t squeeze
in a full shower, being able to splash some water on your face and freshen up a
bit can do wonders for how you feel.
Think of it as a “soft reset” on your day. The other must have items in the Mom Bag are a
quality assortment snacks. Granola bars, dried fruit, and individual packages
of almonds are favorites. The protein does wonders to keep you feeling full
between meals and stave off the hangries.
#3 Medications It never ceases to amaze me how many questions there are surrounding
medications that are clearly in your child’s chart. Bringing them with you
allows staff to clearly confirm any medication, prescribers, doses or pharmacy
information, and gap any coverage on long rides home. Make sure to stock it up
with things for you, too! Having ibuprofen and antacids at the ready are beyond
convenient, and it’s one less thing to try to track down if you need it. Double
check to make sure you have any daily medication you require as well. If you
aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to take very good care of
your child.
#2 Favorite stuffed
animal or blanket There is a small troupe of comfort items that are a deal
breaker if they are left at home during a hospitalization. They consist of a
floppy baby doll version of Snow White, a small Taggie square, and a crochet
lap blanket. For the last five years,
these three items have been able to bring security, familiarity, and comfort to
some pretty stressful situations. Baby Snow has been in more MRI’s, x-rays, and
operating rooms than I can count, always with our little lady in their matching
hospital ID bracelets. That doll has been able to be with Tiny in places that
it was just not possible for mom or dad to go, and has been the “patient” in
many exams, showing our little one that she had nothing to fear.
#1 Notebook or
Journal Questions about
care don’t always come to the front of your mind when doctors are rounding or
the nurse is in the room with you. Keeping a notebook in the room with you will
give you a designated place to write these questions down, and the answers you
receive. It’s also a great place to jot down notes about which doctors were
rounding, any tests and results, medications, and any reactions your child is
having. These can be so helpful to reference if/when your child has to return
back to the hospital, and you can flip back and have information on things like
what works best for pain management, or how long swelling lasted, etc.
We don’t always have the luxury of being able to plan and
prepare for a hospitalization, but when we do, having a few key items can make
a huge difference in the stay.
About the Family
Jason and Liz Cox live in Springfield, MA with
their daughter, Nova. They knew relatively little about the craniofacial
community until they received Nova’s diagnosis of Pfeiffer Syndrome shortly
after her birth in 2009. Jason is a
former roustabout, Liz is an avid recycler and Nova is patiently waiting for
the spring planting season.
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