For the last two weeks I've spent exactly 12 days in the hospital, visited three different emergency rooms and attempted sleep in some of the most uncomfortable chairs known to man. I would have settled for even the smallest glimpse or comfort of home, that's why tonight I packed a "Home Away From Home Bag."
While most of our Apartment Therapy writers were full of holiday cheer and busy filling you in on the latest seasonal trends, I was playing nursemaid to my husband who had some rather serious medical complications. Although the medical professionals we spoke with were reassuring with their words it was difficult to find peace of mind when we were spending so much time away from home.
Obviously I've spent a night or two away from home in my life, but usually in such instances you have a chance to pack a few necessities before you leave. In this case, spending time out of the house wasn't planned and there were a few things I packed tonight that would have come in quite handy over the previous series of events. Here's what made the cut, if you've had a similar experience, make sure to add your own top choices in the comments below!
• Coleman Bio Wipes: A good shower can cure most ills, but when time or circumstance don't afford you such a luxury, these are a great standby. They're bio-degradable, but more importantly don't leave you smelling like a bottle of Febreeze. They clean and are larger than a baby wipe, so they get the job done and you can go about your life.
• Mini Toiletries: Although most doctors will understand that you haven't had a chance to run home to brush your teeth or put on more deodorant, that doesn't mean you'll be comfortable within your own skin. Mini toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash and a pack of gum all made their way into the kit. A comb, hair tie and bandanna also made the cut.
• Underpants: Because even if you can faux-shower with a bio wipe above, clean underpants are a must.
• Shelf Stable Snacks: Although vending machines are starting to carry a more healthy variety of foods, that doesn't mean you want to eat out of them solely for two weeks straight. Sure there's fast food or gas station food, but leaving to get such things isn't always an option either. Meal replacement energy bars are a good place to start, candy bars for quick sugar and even juice boxes can be a good thing to toss in.
• Travel Pillow & Blanket: You can acquire pillows and blankets that are super small in size and although hospitals are never short on these items, tracking down a nurse to get one for you isn't always easy.
• Something For Nerves: Although a stiff drink doesn't travel well in a duffel bag, something like a deck of cards gives your hands something to do to help keep your mind off things or keep you alert. If you knit, add some yarn and needles and you'll be all set. A Kindle or Gameboy can also be a big help.
Hopefully the current medical complications have taken a back seat to the rest of our life for awhile, but we know many have gone through the same thing we have. Have you been in a similar situation before? What do you miss from home when you're away? Let us know below!
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I hope all is well with your husband, Sarah.
So sorry about your recent problems. In my experience, hospital cafeterias are often actually pretty good food and cheaper than you might think. Don't live on vending machines if that option is available -- you can certainly take a half hour break for food.
My home away bag would include a book, maybe an old favorite that I can re-read and which might therefore not require total focus, since that might not be easy in a stressful situation.
I had to rush to the hospital to attend to a friend visiting me who had kidney complications. I didn't have time to pack anything because it turned out not to be too serious. But I did pack some things he asked for. Some snacks, magazines, warm socks, a pillow and a blanket! I know the couple of times I've been in the hospital my friends sat with me and slept on those uncomfortable chairs. This is a good thing to keep handy.
I hope your husband is recuperating from whatever had him in the hospital.
It has been five years since The Very Bad Spring and as it turns out everyone has recovered, but there was a spring, five years back, when my friends got a real crash course in helping out at hospitals. We didn't need biowipes (I had a YMCA membership. I definitely went regularly to shower and lie in the sauna.) but we definitely needed food that didn't require more than a hot water source.
Nile Spice soups were a life saver. http://www.nilespice.com/
I hope he is better and that the new year brings him wonderful health.
Good luck to you and your husband, Sarah. Hope everything works out.
I've been dragging my mom around hospitals and doctors because she's got a health problem that needs attention. I second packing snacks, a spare sweater, socks, and maybe a scarf. I usually keep a couple of zines and an iPod in my bag too. Going to look for those Bio Wipes.
Thanks for writing this article and to others for their suggestions.
Hope the hubs is better, Sarah.
I've never heard of Bio Wipes; I'll have to check them out. They could be handy for all kinds of emergency situations. One thing that was a life saver for me when my hubs had surgery years ago was humor, particularly David Sedaris. I poured through my already well-thumbed copy of 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and I kept my sanity.
When my boyfriend was alive, I kept a bag packed for his all-too-frequent hospital visits (4 in 2007, 4 in 2008, and 4 in 2009) and was ready to go by the time the ambulance arrived. My bag was filled with toiletries and small comfort items, like books, OTC meds and snack items. I also carried a list of his meds in there, as well as in my purse, because none of the hospitals (he was a patient at three) could keep them straight.
He passed away in April 2009, but I've kept the bag packed for convenience.
Sarah, I hope your hubby is well soon, and your nerves are comforted. Sending good wishes to you.
after spending much time in waiting rooms, i decided that my bag will include a variety pack of notecards. a lot of time sitting and over-thinking can be well spent keeping up with those you love. i'm not much into journaling but I really enjoy receiving and sending notes to friends and loved ones. writing really helps take you away for a minute and keep in contact with those wonderful people you may not see everyday. plus, if you're tied up in waiting rooms, you may not be able to keep up via phone. it helps me think of all of the positives around me in a difficult time.
I hope your husband is doing better, Sarah!
I second riye's suggestion of a scarf. Working in sports medicine, I'm often in the ER and visiting athletes post surgery. The scarf is something that keeps me warm, but can also serve as a discrete "germ barrier" when passing those not feeling so well.
Luna bars, soup bowls from Trader Joes, and juice boxes are always stowed away in my car incase a short ER trip turns long. The new healthy choice pasta bowls aren't bad either!
Sending good karma your way. Crossword puzzle books can really help the time go by and those little on-the-go packets of Crystal Light lemonade come in really handy, too.
@KayinKCMO you made me smile. I kept a David Sedaris book with me during my mom's week in Hospice before she passed away six years ago. People were surprised to see me smiling and chuckling at her bedside until I showed them what I was reading.
Take a paperback variety that you can read aloud and a top-quality manicure kit. The flight carry-on or overnight bag idea also can be adapted to prepare to evacuate due to natural or man-made disasters, to fly on short-notice business, or for romantic "spontaneous" getaways. Some people keep such a bag perpetually ready in a closet.
Good post, although I'm sorry it's due to your husband's health problems and hope all is well from here on out.
A paperback, dry shampoo, gum, crossword puzzles in addition to all the other good suggestions.
Thanks for a very useful and personal story. I hope things go well for you. Let me say you should have an emergency bag for other reasons. We had a fire in my hi-rise 440 units and the whole building was evacuated for 4 days. People should have a second bag with prescriptions, important ID papers, spare cash and credit card and other life essentials in a secure place near the door. No one sustained damage to their units or injuries but many people were unprepared for an emergency stay away from home for several days duration. Luckily those that needed prescriptions were allowed back in by the fire marshall for no more than 30 minutes. The building manager winked as she told me I must need my medications! That gave me time to grab my phone book of emergency numbers and spare credit card. Enough said!
Thanks for taking the time in the middle of your personal stress to give us some hints. I recently had a night in the ER with my honey (he's just fine, happily) but had a bit of a cheat...I work there, and ran down to the gym in the basement to shower before my shift. I need to remember to always have a small kit in my car. A good reminder for me!
Good wishes to your husband and you.
My emergency bag includes my i-pod, and a stack of magazines (I use my gym bag, so it is always up to date), between the two of them, I can find space to try to regain some sort of stability.
This is a great list -
When I was in the hospital last year, these were the other things I was desperate for:
Favorite Pajama pants & slippers
(Backless hospital gowns SUCK)
Extension cord and charger for iPhone & iPod - because the electrical plug is ALWAYS too far away.
Eyeshades and earplugs (hospitals are too loud & people are always coming and going)
Packets of favorite teas & instant/powdered soups
Favorite Baseball cap.
I'm sorry you found yourself in this situation and I certainly can relate. One thing I know is that I am always cold in hospitals, so a thin pair of gloves, an extra pair of socks, a silk undershirt, and a cashmere scarf or wrap are definitely part of my kit. An empty reusable water bottle is great too; I hate buying bottled water but find that nurses will often fill my bottle for me or direct me to a drinking fountain. Ear plugs and an eye mask make getting some sleep a little easier. Hand cream is a must because of all the hand washing and antibacterial gel.
I hope your husband's health is better and the New Year is looking bright for both of you.
This is a great post with many helpful tips, thanks for doing it .
My mom just passed away after a long battle. I'd like to say one thing I was appreciative of having was my phone so I could cruise your site while she was sleeping.
Speedy recovery to your hubby & hang in there!
Shawl, travel pillow and blanket, iPod with books/music/photos, list of medications and time line of medical history of patient (covers that deer in the headlights look you give to doctors) and cellphone with everyone's phone number (including the plumber/etc as sometimes you need unexpected numbers). All the best to your husband.
Just wanted to say sorry to hear about your husband's health issues, I wish him the best for a quick recovery and much strength to you for hanging in there.
this summer I accompanied a friend overnight in the local emergency room. Of course we brought nothing of use. She didn't even have her insurance card. We played hangman on a scrap of graph paper for hours.
I only wish I could have brought one of those gigantic full-body condoms from The Naked Gun movie. That NYC HHC hospital was the nastiest place I have ever been, dirtier even than the jail latrine in a third-world country.
I work in a hospital and all of these are really great ideas to have handy! I spend A LOT of time in the hospital and I keep most of the aforementioned items in my locker (or in my tote that I carry into work) like a variety pack of individually wrapped teas with those little packets of honey you get with your chicken nuggets, extra undies (and God-forbid a stock of tampons and panty-liners), a big bottle of ibuprofen, reading material, anti-p deodorant, toothbrush/paste, a change of scrubs AND a change of street clothes, a variety of footwear (especially now that it's winter and I need to alternate between snow boots and Crocs), a lot of hair ties, the list goes on and on.
And somewhere in the middle of a god-awful 17 hour shift, it's nice to be able to use a dry shampoo. I whole-heartedly recommend this. It eats up unwanted oils and odors, it's hypoallergenic, and it's not heavily fragranced. That's a big thing in the hospital.. Family members staying with their loved ones tend to overdo it with the perfumes to mask their lack of bathing, but it's really frowned upon. A lot of patients are very sensitive to smells and you'd be surprised how far perfumes can travel.
I may be betraying my own kind here, but I've got a few tips for people who are out of their element.. Ask if the kitchen can make a tray up for you so you can eat with your loved one (but please don't nibble off their plates, as we usually record what they've eaten). Most hospitals have courtesy carts for the families who are sitting with terminal patients. These come with coffee, soda, water bottles, and a variety of snacks. Don't be afraid of hospital food! I know their is some stigma attached to hospital food, but it's not as bad as it seems. I can't speak for all hospitals, but my cafeteria has a whole refrigerated section with yogurts, fruit medleys, vegetable plates, and a variety of salads, wraps, and sandwiches. We've even got Naked drinks! We've got a section with bagels, breads, and donuts (which are discounted in the afternoon because they're thrown out at night). There's an espresso, cappuccino, and coffee machine. The hot food is actually made fresh by chefs who can accommodate all kinds of diets. We, for instance, have gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Ice-water is always free. I think I'm rambling about hospital food and going completely off-topic.. But just keep in mind that cafeterias aren't as scary as they once were and you don't necessarily have to rely on those shelf-stable snacks.
More tips.. If you don't have basic toiletries, hospitals do carry those things. And the nursing staff can generally sympathize with family who stays by their loved ones bedside and we like making your stay comfortable as well, so just ask and we'll probably be more than happy to give you a toothbrush!
Aaand that'll be the end of my two (three, four, five, ... ?) cents. ^o^
thank you for sharing in the hopes that others would benefit from your experience. i wish you and your husband a quick and complete recovery!
fresh socks and underwear for the family, and cozy socks for the patient (and jammy pants if possible) - a cozy throw also makes it feel a little more like home. books on tape/podcasts are also good - i agree with comedy.
and remember to be nice to your nurses, they have a hard job, and they are there for your loved-ones.
I sleep with a fan on at home so I always have a portable fan to take with me. O2 cool has wonderful flat fans that are easy to pack and will run on electricity or batteries. I was in the hospital three times in 2009 and having the fan made my time there much much better.
I spent the week in the hospital with my son when he had mono. Having friends bring familiar foods, magazines and caffeine was a wonderful surprise. Phone charger was much needed, socks for cold feet, soft things like puffs plus kleenex and chap stick. It is dry in there. Being able to freshen up helped keep up my emotional strength too.
Is it just me or were there more people passing away in 2009 than normal? I'd actually like to see the statistics on that. We had our share of '09 hospital trips to last a life time. We were visiting someone in the hospital, or not visiting as it were, 1-2 times per month since March. Within 2 months we lost my father and his grandmother and ALMOST lost both our mothers! (they are healthier now thank goodness). And thankfully, a beautiful healthy baby boy was born! Its amazing how life and death can solidify a relationship.
To get on topic, thankfully we did not have to spend any time overnight at the hospital visits, but we did end up with backpacks for the long surgeries we sat through. Dualing Nintendo DS, smartphones, coffee travel mugs, Crochet needles and yarn, and a couple books/ magazines. His mom going in for knee surgery packed US snacks! moms, always thinking ahead :)