#HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR SURGERY UPDATE#
#HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR SURGERY TRIAL#
#HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR SURGERY DOWNLOAD#

We got these at UNC and have used them during every single EEG since. They keep Oliver from bending his arms and ripping off his EEG. These 'NO-NOs,' as we call them, are miracle objects. There is nothing better (that we have found) at stopping your child from pulling on the EEG wires and hat. If you are headed to the hospital with a young child or a child with autism or developmental delays, Pedi-Wraps can really help. If you do this each day, it makes the symptom calendar much easier to make.Īt UNC there is a program for Pediatric Complex Care that may help you manage all the follow-up appointments and all the different specialists you may need to see and follow up with after you’ve been discharged. It also helps us track over-the-counter pain meds and anything else worth noting. We also can write detailed notes about possible seizures, unexpected naps, etc. Here is our current one - we change it up quite a bit, but it helps inform one caregiver to the next to ensure he hits his hydration, caloric, BM, and urination goals each day. We have a daily sheet we use to track Oliver’s inputs, outputs, meds, and behaviors. Using these to map out his symptoms, the timeline, and our questions was the key to getting the mitochondrial disease diagnosis for him and sorting out why his body almost totally shut down on him. We put large sticky notes in Oliver’s hospital room after two weeks of his health declining rapidly and having tons of tests, many of them painful, with no answers. This helps doctors understand what you mean when you say “things have been really hard” - the more data you have, the better they tend to be with “getting it.” See the above image of one of Oliver’s for reference. Make a symptom calendar that shows when each symptom or issue is happening.

#HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR SURGERY DOWNLOAD#

Makeup - this isn’t a beauty pageant, but it also takes 30 seconds to put on mascara, and if that makes you feel more like “you,” then I say go for it.īooks and Magazines - or download some books on your e-reader or to your Audible account. A shower can make you feel amazingly refreshed in a hospital setting. Bring items like your shampoo, body wash, razors, etc. Shower Supplies - many pediatric hospital rooms now have bathrooms with small showers in them. Pen and Paper - to take notes a small notebook is ideal. You will likely get “something” on one of your outfits, so pack a few.Įye Mask - if you can actually sleep with one, since hospital rooms are so bright all the time. Ideally, pockets on one of those things is helpful. Pajamas or Change of Clothes for Sleeping - I prefer yoga-type pants, a t-shirt that is long and covers my backside when I’m climbing in the bed, and a fleece or sweatshirt. Glasses and/or contacts and contact solution Lots of Underwear - you can rewear your main clothing, but having fresh undergarments is a necessity! Sneakers - I found standing on the hospital floor for hours each day by Oliver’s bed was hard on my feet, so I always wear sneakers, not flip-flops or other shoes.

Moisturizer for Hands and Body - hospital air is super-duper dry due to all the filtration. Snacks with protein are the most helpful and will help stabilize your blood sugar. LOTS of snacks - preferably those that won't get crushed at a baggage screening if you have to travel think trail mix. The shared medical system Epic doesn’t show all the images from past MRIs and CTs, so doctors are SO HAPPY when we have the discs with us for them to review and compare. We have all of Oliver’s imaging scans in our safe at home and we try to make sure we have our own copy of every single one. Always bring those along just in case you have an issue on the way to or from the hospital.Ĭopies of Discs of Previous CTs, MRI Scans, Etc. Rescue Medications - for seizures, EpiPens, etc. They may not have the medication at the hospital to even give to your child, so be sure to bring your own supply.

#HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR SURGERY TRIAL#

For the hospital, I print five copies to have for an outpatient surgery or MRI scan, I print two and for pediatrician visits, I just do one.Īll Medications Your Child Takes - especially if your child is on unusual supplements (mitochondrial diseases is one reason this could be the case and it is for Oliver) or they are on a clinical trial drug (Oliver was in the Epidiolex clinical trial back in the day).

You need to track the medication, the strength, the amount, when you give it, and how you give it.

#HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR SURGERY UPDATE#

Printed Medication List - I keep a running one for Oliver and I update the date at the bottom each time I change anything so I can easily make sure I have the most up-to-date version. Currently we use a mix of saline and Castile soap.

Water solution/recipe you use for flushing, bag you use for flush liquids, extension cords, etc.

Hospital bag checklist for surgery