My Mastectomy Surgery Hospital Packing List

December 7, 2013

Journal Dump #008

Today is Saturday and I am having my bilateral mastectomy on Monday. I have driven myself crazy with the 16-page long to-do list and have finally realized that I just can't get everything done. And truthfully, I don't need to. The house is clean, the christmas decorating, shopping and wrapping is done, the kids have food... I guess it just feels like I will be gone for a lot longer than just a quick hospital stay. With that being said, below is the packing list of what I am bringing to the hospital and what to have prepared at home upon return.

I am also making Christmas cookies today and plan to bring them to the hospital for my family and friends to munch on, while I am in surgery. Because of the anesthesia, the surgery will be over in the blink of an eye for me - but for them, they have a very long 6-8 hour wait, until surgery is complete.

Bring to Hospital:

One bag
Open front pajamas
underwear or boxers for comfort
slippers
ipod or cell phone for music
earbuds for listening to music
chapstick (intubation tube might chap your lips)
throat lozenges (intubation tube might cause sore throat)
Health care proxy
Boobie folder with all medical info

List of items you will need at home after surgery:

Mastectomy pillow or bed wedge
open front pj's - Extra large
wet wipes to clean yourself
dry shampoo

I asked my girlfriend to create a playlist of songs in her phone, specifically for my hospital stay. After surgery and after family and friends have gone for the day, I am looking forward to just relaxing with comforting songs I have picked out. Music relaxes me.

Some of the songs on my playlist: