Tips for Making the Most of a Hospital Stay

Now there are a million reasons you might have a hospital stay, and some of these won't apply in all situations. And my hope is that you will never have a hospital stay. But these are things I found helpful during Kate's recent visit for surgery.

1. Bring your music - It made a big difference to have our own music. Bring a portable speaker.

2. Bring a companion, or arrange lots of visitors - Nurses are amazing, wonderful, dedicated people. But they are busy. They are more than happy to bring you a cup of tea, or hand you the TV remote you dropped. But if they are in the middle of an involved procedure with another patient, it will be a while before they get to you. Having your own "personal assistant" makes things dramatically more pleasant and comfortable. And it seems many hospital rooms these days have recliners that make for reasonably comfortable sleeping if you can find someone to spend the night there.

3. Bring a notepad - You will want to be able to take notes of doctor's instructions, and make lists of questions to ask when they next visit.

4. Make sure your companion is there when the doctor visits - Doctors, it seems, tend to make their rounds early in the morning (7 to 9 am). You may be feeling bad, a little out of it, or whatever. Your companion can help make sure your questions are answered, and help you remember what they said.

5. Stop the doctor just before they leave the room - Doctors are busy and in a hurry. They may only be in the room for two or three minutes. Just before they are about to leave, say something like "Before you leave, let me think if I have any more questions" or have your companion do so. It forces them to pause and focus on you, and puts some of the control in your hands. It also helps to avoid that "I wish I had asked..." feeling that often happens a few seconds after they have left.

6. Pack a few essentials - The specifics, of course, will vary according to the patient, but consider packing a few items that will make you more comfortable, e.g. a pair of slippers, change of clothes, tea bags and hot cocoa mix.

7. Be extra sweet to the nurses - They are a fountain of knowledge, and can make a dramatic difference in your comfort and recovery.

Again, here's hoping you never need to stay in the hospital, but just in case...