Cystic fibrosis is another way of saying you’ll be in the hospital a lot and it’ll become your home away from home. In my case, this is how it’s been. I have an amazing hospital that I’ve been going to my whole life and nurses that I have had for that time span as well. I find that having nurses and doctors in the hospital that understand your situation and listen to you make your time a lot easier and less stressful. However, being comfy is important too when having to stay in a small hospital room for a couple weeks at a time. I have put together nine hospital essentials to maximize comfort when having to be admitted into the hospital for a person with a chronic illness.
1. Bring your own clothes: You know those ugly and uncomfortable hospital gowns? Yeah I hate them too. Resolution to that problem is to bring your own comfy clothes. I always bring comfy pajamas or work out clothes to lounge in. These allows for you to be cute and fashionable, but still comfortable.
2. Bedding: I don’t know about you, but the sheets an blankets at the hospital are not comfy and sometimes they freak me out because #germaphobe. I always bring my own blankets, pillows, and sheets. This makes it feel like you are in the comfort of your own bed minus the mattress.
3. Toiletries & makeup: Sometimes wearing makeup and doing my hair makes me feel as if I am more “human” when feeling sick. So having all my toiletries, makeup, and hair care products with me in the hospital helps with my mood and how I am feeling in general.
4. Electronics: Honestly I don’t know how I went to the hospital when I was younger without wifi, laptops, and cell phones. Nowadays, every hospital has a wifi system for you to use. I bring my laptop to watch Netflix. I always find a show to binge watch during my hospital visit. My iPhone is helpful for games and texting with my friends and family. Some helpful advice, don’t forget their chargers when you leave, I’m guilty of leaving many chargers behind.
5. Kleenex & toilet paper: Normally when I am sick with a cystic fibrosis-related exacerbation, I am constantly using the Kleenex at the hospital and let me tell you, it feels like cardboard. To give my nose and mouth some relief, I always being my own box of tissues. Same goes for the toilet paper. It is very rough and I’d rather nurture my body rather than make it upset.
6. Slippers & socks: The hospital floor is gross. No matter how many times it gets cleaned, I still cant stand it. So my solution to walking on it and avoiding the gross germs following me into the bed is to get slippers or socks specifically for walking around in.
7. Activities: Keeping the mind occupied when stuck in a hospital room is crucial. I love bringing activities to help with my stress and anxiety. Some activities I bring are coloring books with markers, cards, books, bracelet making kits, and depending on your health you can ask for a stationary bike to exercise in your room with.
8. Specialized medicines & equipment: When we get admitted to the hospital, it’s likely that pharmacy and hospital won’t have certain medications and equipment right away. For a CF patient, we usually have to bring enzymes, the vest, and special vitamins.
9. Food: I always bring my favorite snacks from home so if I don’t like what they have at the hospital, I always have an alternative. CF patients are on high calorie and high fat diets usually and hospital food sometimes lacks enough calories and fat for us to get to our goal per day. So having someone bring you food is a good idea.
