10 Things I Bring to Make My Long Hospital Stays a Little Bit Better

After being in the hospital plenty of times, I’ve gotten better on what to bring with me — especially for the longer stays. 

1. Laptop

Netflix, Netflix and did I mention Netflix? For me it’s a must-have. What better time to binge watch?

2. Little personal touches from home

I always like to bring pictures and things from home like signs and canvases to make it look as much as my bedroom as possible. 

3. Go-to comfort belongings

My own fluffy blanket, pillow case, comfy pajamas and fuzzy socks are essentials to make me feel as comfortable as I can during an admission. 

4. Distractions

It’s nice to have something to keep your mind off the reason for your stay and occupied because the days can drag on. Cards, crafts, games, books, magazines are only a few distraction ideas.

5. Hard candy 

If you’re like me and can hardly eat, I find it helpful to have candy like Jolly Ranchers or lollipops to suck on. They also really come in handy to act as chasers after drinking yummy Miralax. 

6. Phone 

When in the hospital, I always miss my friends and family more than usual. My phone helps me feel close to them still if they cannot come for a visit. 

7. ChapStick

My lips are always chapped, but they seem to be 10 times worse in the hospital. I like to have a few different flavors of eos Lip Balm around to have some variety. 

8. Hotpacks and Thermacares

These are crucial for me with having chronic abdominal pain. Although they don’t make the pain go away, the heat makes me feel a little more comfortable, which makes all the difference. 

9. Positive attitude 

I know how hard it is to not have a lot of negative thoughts when being chronically ill and especially while in the hospital. I still struggle with this every time I’m admitted. But I’ve realized time seems to go a little bit faster when I have more positive thoughts. 

10. A goal

With every hospital visit, I like to set a goal for myself to have by the time I’m discharged. It helps motivate me to get back home as quickly as possible.

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