What's in my hospital bag! (with packing tips)
- yr Auntie aka Katrina
- Jan 4
- 9 min read
Packing bags is my specialty, you guys. Anyone who travels with me will tell you I over pack, but also that I'm Boy Scout level prepared for everything up to and including the apocalypse. And that I'm ridiculously organized about it.
To start with, let's talk bags. I got this one a couple of years ago (in the pre-tariff days) from Shein for $10, and it's my favorite small bag. Most hospital packing lists specify to not use hard sided luggage, no matter the size, and to not bring large duffel bags.
That strap on the top is supposed to hold a yoga/gym mat, but I like it for carrying around a warm layer like a blanket, robe, or coat in a very conveniently accessible place to get to when you get cold, and that doesn't take up any space in the bag itself. And, of course, I'm saving space using the classic neck pillow around the bag handle travel hack.
Another design feature I like - four VERY generous pockets along the outer sides of the bag, to store smaller things you want to have conveniently accessible.
Like my comfort/distraction items. In addition to the cervical pillow and blanket:
A short story collection in physical media. This one happens to have a conversation-starting title, and a conveniently petite/slim size that fits in the pouch.
A fidget toy. I'm a sensation seeker, and not always in the best way, so a "Little Ouchies" pain stim toy is the only fidget toy that's really worked for me. This one has multiple moving parts, with click and non-click options, that make it just the best for me, I love it so much.
Ear plugs for sleepers (that's the round disc on the butterfly pouch), and a total blackout eye mask. Hospitals are busy places, with lots of alarms going off, and cranky fellow patients screaming expletives at their care team, and lights flashing, and tv's on, and sometimes you just need a sensory break. And for post-op, this will help with daytime sleep, especially in a full household... great for help during recovery, not so great for quiet conditions, ever.
Noise cancelling headphones. This particular kind is both Bluetooth and has a jack attachment for corded connection to your media source.
And last but certainly not least, I just knew it would be used the most so I wanted it to have the freshest charge, and that's where it was when the rest of the bag was packed...
An Mp3 player! Blast from the past, huh? It's so much fun to use, the interface even looks and feels retro. Why? So my phone battery can be used for texting loved ones with updates, and checking MyChart. It may look retro, but these new Mp3 players have some very modern features, and this one is recommended for its battery life and storage capacity. It also has Mp3 music file player, FM radio, ebook reader, and alarm clock capacities, so it fills a few functions my phone battery won't need to be used for. Some of the new beds have electrical outlets for charging devices built into the patient interface, but your hospital has to have budgeted to replace their beds to get those, and you really don't know if you'll have one until you're there.
Which leads us to: The Charging Pouch. Something I generally keep packed and ready to go in general, but it's been specifically charged recently for the occasion.
A battery pack. This one can charge my phone from empty 6-8 times, and can generally get me through a weekend of sparse-ish use.
Charging cords for every device I'm bringing.
A wall plug USB converter.
The corded earbuds that came with my Mp3 player, as backup.
The cord jack for the aforementioned analog mode on my noise cancelling headphones.
This pouch is in with the essentials:
Namely my handicap parking tag (we won't be bringing the car with the disability plate), my lanyard wallet with my ID and insurance card, and (in the main part of the bag) my surgery guide, with my complete daily med list and schedule, and my complete allergy list stapled to the table of contents page for easy reference. This is one of those things they remind you repeatedly that you need to bring on surgery day.
Hard to see from above, but a protip:
If you wear contacts, wear your eyeglasses in. And if you wear eyeglasses, bring a good case. They do have temp cases, but they're usually just like plastic baggies, so bring your own just in case.
As for that pack of wipes in the fourth pocket, it's one of a few packs in an effort to keep me from getting stinky while I'm laid up...
That 100 count antibacterial hand wipes is the pocket pack, and it'll live on my nightstand once I'm back home. You don't always feel great enough to stand there and wash your hands when your whole structure has just been surgically manipulated with.
The Neutrogena wipes are for the greasy hospital skin... there's something about the dry air, the stuff they're pumping you full of, and the stress that makes your skin just disgusting. These micellar cloths remove everything.
Meanwhile, the Summer's Eve cloths are specially formulated to be used on your genitals for cleansing and deodorizing, and can be used on your armpits and under boobs, too.
And I got it to scent match the Summer's Eve all-over deodorant. Yes, I usually make my own, but I prefer to bring something commercially packaged to a hospital or airport setting.
The Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap is for if they want me to shower in the hospital. I know full well the shower soap they keep on hand makes me itchy af. And this works as a scalp cleanser that isn't too harsh for my delicate hair, as well.
And HOCL is the all-purpose GOAT. I use it on my face for my roseacea, my mobility aid handles as a disinfectant, my underarms as a pre-deodorant antibacterial prep, to disinfect wounds... it's the Swiss Army Knife of disinfectants.
And as for my hair (and skincare):
Ignore the whole "for kids" thing, that liquid leave-in has lots of water in the recipe, the fatty alcohols for slip that my hair adores, lots of nourishing oils that did not come from nuts or soy, and liquid beeswax to seal it all in, in one product. Perfect for temporary minimal haircare.
Especially paired with a Tangle Teezer brush, for gentle detangling. This is the mini version.
And as for skincare, an all-purpose, whole body (face included) gentle moisturizer is your best friend in that dry air, once you get the hospital film off.
Now, I got a new dopp kit on Black Friday 50% off, and it's the best travel hygiene kit I've ever used.
Everything in the preceding two pictures fits in the above kit with all those things in the pockets. Not to mention...
How perfect is this side pocket?
And how perfect are these individually portioned packets of toothpaste and mouthwash? The toothpaste was made specifically with unhoused and outdoor recreation situations in mind, the packaging is 100% biodegradable and made from wood pulp, it'll disintegrate quickly if it's tossed on the side of the road as litter.
Unfortunately, the Listerine Cool Mint packets aren't quite so eco-friendly, but they are just as convenient, and the single-serving nature of both keeps the germs going into your mouth in a germy environment at a minimum.
As for the brush and sanitary cap, both can get sprayed with HOCL before and after each use to keep them disinfected.
The dopp kit has another mesh pocket on the other side, that if I weren't packing for major surgery and were packing for a girl's weekend, I'd toss a couple of tubes of mascara and lip gloss into.
Okay, moving on!
I told you I pack for the apocalypse. That means over packing the snacks.
My grandma was just inpatient at this particular facility, and she says they have good coffee. We'll see. I'm prepared with the gourmet Korean instant stuff, just in case. And with a creamer I can use, I doubt they keep that on hand, no matter the coffee quality.
As well as my usual brand of electrolytes, which will hopefully fast-track me to discharge.
Bullion cubes are allowed while you're still on a liquid diet post-op, but all of them have soy, and most have dairy products. Dehydrated bone broth in a stick it is!
Dried fruit has been a comfort treat since childhood, plus it's lots of fiber to combat the opioid constipation.
And these allergen-free granola bars are a good hold you over while waiting if dietary is backed up getting a meal out.
It's way too well packed in there to justify taking it out and repacking it for my own picture, but behold the most ingenious robe ever designed for being a surgery patient. They didn't pay me to say that.
It's a very soft, light 100% cotton material with a deep dye, and slightly weighted collar so even if it's untied, it'll hang properly. This'll definitely be my spring/summer daily wear after recovery is finished.
The ties are sewn to the back of the robe. This does mean you have to tie them up when you go to the toilet, or they'll definitely get peed on. But you'll also never lose the tie.
The sleeves come just to the top of the elbow (on my arms, at least), for easy IV access.
There are two drain pockets on each side of the robe. And they're fully attached at the top, but only attached to the robe by the corners at the bottom, so you don't look like you're smuggling grenades or something.
There's also a very spacious pouch-style outer pocket sewn into the side seam on both sides.
It's the hospital recommended knee-length, for the most modesty with the most uninhibited movement.
Tucked in next to the robe are the trifecta of intimates:
A silk sleep bonnet. I may see if they'll let me wear it under the surgical bonnet. If not, it goes on the minute the surgical bonnet comes off.
New, non-cheugy crew socks. My rule with packing socks is to pack double what you think you'll need. I'm wearing a pair in, they'll give me grippy socks, so... one pair.
Same rule for underpants - I'm wearing a pair in, and they'll likely put me in disposables right after surgery, so... one pair. Of hi-cuts, to avoid the anterior incision. In black, in case there's any incision leakage. I recommend not wearing any light colors into the hospital, unless you're looking for a blood and other gore stained look.
I won't bother with a picture, but there's also a pouch of menstrual pads and disposable absorbent panties in the bag.
And that's it! That's what I'm bringing tomorrow, along with my walker.
I left my scale at my friend's place a few months ago and haven't retrieved it yet, but I'd guess the bag weight at about 10lbs. Definitely the top end of my current capacity, but I can lift it and carry it short distances. My dad will be doing all the heavy lifting tomorrow, anyway.
You're probably wondering where the clothes and shoes are? You wear them in. I'm still kind of undecided as to what will be easiest to get on and off both pre and post-op, pants-wise. Once you get there, you put on a surgical gown (it has it's own temperature control system, it's wild), and they have you in a standard hospital gown before you even come out of anesthesia, and you're in that gown (and your robe and blankie) for the rest of your stay. You'll then put the clothes you wore in back on at discharge.
And I can say I'm ready as I'll ever be! Well, after I take the pre-bedtime shower, and drink the drinks.
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