I’m heading into hospital – what should I take?

For every stay in hospital

• Identity card or passport

• European Health Insurance Card (chip card of the insurance company)

• European insurance cardInstruction from the referring doctor

• If necessary, the declaration of assumption of costs from your health insurance company

• Proof of existing supplementary hospital insurance

• Existing medical documents such as X-ray images, MRI and CT scans, medical reports or records of laboratory values

• Vaccination certificate, X-ray certificate, allergy certificate

• List of medication that you are currently taking or are taking permanently

  • Bring a 3-day supply (better safe than sorry)

• A list of all herbal remedies and vitamins that you take regularly

• A note with details of any other medical conditions, including details of the doctor(s) and specialist(s) treating you

• A copy of your current peak flow chart (or display it via your app) to show the doctor and anesthesiologist at the pre-op meeting

• You may want to bring lozenges for the inevitable sore throat

• Pen and paper or a whiteboard in case you need to communicate without using your voice

• Notebook to jot down any information you are told after the operation (or you can use the notes in your phone)

• Reading glasses and case

• Leave unnecessary valuables (jewelry, rings, etc.), unfortunately thefts also occur in clinics

 

Your family doctor may have forwarded the administrative and medical documents directly to the clinic, or they may be accessible to the clinic in your electronic patient file.

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Stay for one day or one night

If you are only planning to go for one day, we recommend that you plan an overnight stay in case an unexpected infection occurs or your operation takes place late in the day and you do not want to leave.

 

Clothing

• Wear loose underpants as these will be your only clothes (apart from the ones you arrive and leave in of course!)

  • If you're worried about leaking during coughing fits, wear pads

• Flip-flops or slippers for walking around on cold tiled floors

• Nightgown or pyjamas (with short sleeves in case you have a cannula)

• A robe or cardigan that you can wear over your robe to keep you warm

 

Toiletries

• Wash bag (toiletries) - you should definitely brush your teeth, possibly take your own soap with you

• Handkerchiefs

• Night time routine items - face creams etc. - help you get some sleep (it will be hard!)

• Lip balm as the air conditioning is quite dry (make sure it's translucent as a tinted lip balm will smudge all over your face - not a good look!)

• hand cream

• Eye mask and earplugs - Bluetooth sleep headphones with integrated eye mask were recommended

• Hair band and brush/comb

• Rechargeable fan or hot water bottle - depending on the weather

 

Entertainment and communication

• Book or tablet to pass the time while waiting, games, music, etc.

• Phone with internet connection so that you can keep your friends from the “Living with idiopathic stenosis” group (translator's note: or the self-help group “Trachelstenose.ch”) up to date and they can keep you company;

• Laptop/tablet (especially if the hospital has free Wi-Fi or you can use the data on your phone!)

• Long charging cable for cell phone, tablet, etc. (the socket is usually far away from the bed and/or a spare battery pack)

• Headphones

• Mini speakers if you have a single room

• Eye mask and earplugs

 

Food and drink

• Any favorite snack that you can have after waking up

• Your favorite (coffee) tea bag

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Longer-term procedures (e.g. resection or reconstruction)

The same as for one night, plus

• Several pairs of underwear

• Larger wash bag (toiletries) - shampoo, conditioner

• Yoga pants/loose pants

• Loose T-shirts with V-neck

• Hair ties or clips to keep hair out of your eyes

• Fleece blanket

• Load your iPad with movies and music - bring your headphones

• Earplugs and sleep mask

• Noise-canceling earplugs - can be used for listening to movies and music, but can also be put in your ears at night as highly effective earplugs - highly recommended!

• Magazines (you can ask visitors to bring these too!)

• Hobbies that you can do in bed (crossword puzzles, knitting, crocheting, drawing, etc.)

• A travel pillow to support your head and neck

• Rub/balm for sore muscles, e.g. to cool or warm.

• Extension cable with multiple sockets for connecting laptop/iPad/phone/etc.

• Netflix subscription! Great for watching a whole TV series while you relax

• Travel hair dryer - luxury!