Blog:

Liz and I put our heads together to make this list of ideas for what to take when you're going into hospital for major hip surgery. None of these are 100% essential but could help make your stay more manageable and comfortable.

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A small bag to place within reach of your bed

• Sleep Mask - I got a pretty blackout one from Smug on Amazon
• Pack of soft ear plugs 
• Mini-hand gel
• Pack of tissues
• Mobile  (Update all your apps before you go in and look in to - following apps - Audiable for books/ Spotify/ BBCiPlayer/ Netflix/ Sky go/Headspace)
• Air pods/ headphones 
• Chargers for the above 
• Small water bottle
• Snacks - I had some chocolate and crisps stashed in my bag
• Magazine

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A wash bag

• Dry shampoo 
• Combe/ hair bobbles 
• Soft bright coloured Alice band (to hide state of my unwashed hair and give me some colour)
• Lip balm
• Shower gel/ flannel 
• Roll on deodorant
• Toothbrush/ toothpaste/ den-floss
• Non-fragrance face & body wipes
• Face wash/ moisture and cotton wool pads/ Body moisturiser
• barrier cream (hospital did provide this)

(Optional) If room for when you feel like it:-
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• Tinted moisturiser/ blemish cover up
• Waterproof mascara
• Eyebrow pencil
• Bit of blusher 
• Bit of bright lipstick 

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A backpack or cabin-bag sized bag

• Lightweight dressing gown 
• A couple of packs of soft cotton knickers the next size up from your usual size. (X5 per pack)
• Sally gave me the idea of cutting the side of couple of pairs of knickers and adding poppers (so you can put on whilst led down and whilst you have attachments but gives you some dignity)!
• 5 x Soft long socks with grips bottoms
• 2 x soft night dresses/ (or could use XL t shirts if you prefer) 
• 2 x very loose lightweight PJ bottoms
• 3 x vest tops/ t-shirts
• Soft/ silky shorts or a mid-length skirt
• 2 x pull over the head non-wire bra (I suggest non-wire as sometimes I just slept in it)
• Slip on non-slip slippers (make sure not too tight before as can have a bit of swelling)
• Lightweight t-shirt dress to go home in (or a warmer version if the weather is cold)
• Pashmina/ nice scarf (wrapped around me first couple of days when I stayed in the hospital gown).

Other optional but useful items

• V pillow M&S (designed for pregnancy but works for this to support sitting and sleeping)
• Flexible ice pack (mine is called hyper-gel)
• Stretch band (can get from a physio) to help with heel raise exercises
• for crutches' handle to soften - 2 x padded cloths and elastic bands with spare trainer socks to go over the top of handles
• x2 plastic bags, one for dirty laundry, second to sit on to swivel in to position on when you get in car afterwards