Hi, there!
A lot depends on your hospital and their rules. Here's what my stay was like and what helped me.
Electronics
My hospital let me have all the electronics I wanted, but I couldn't plug them in inside the room. It had to be in the bathroom. The bathroom only had one plug, so I wished with all my might for a power strip so I could charge them all at once overnight. You probably won't be able to use headphones. They're too close to the electrodes and can cause interference.
Physical location and activityThey probably won't let you out of bed for the week you are there, except to use the bathroom. That's both for safety reasons, and so they can keep you on camera. I was amazed at how much atrophy there had been in my muscles from just that week. I got tired just walking out to the car. If I could do it over again I'd bring exercise bands and work out in bed. Seriously.
FoodBy the time you've been there a week you will hate the food. They don't change the menu very often. I got tired of it even though my hosp. had 24 hour order-off-a-menu-type room service. I arranged for family members to bring me take out from my favorite restaurants. It helped. I also smuggled stuff in with me for snacks like chocolate, granola, etc.
ElectrodesThey glue those things on with some seriously permanent glue. Afterwards about a half cup of any kind of oil, massaged into your scalp, gets rid of it. You have to work the oil into the little globs of glue with your fingers and it can take about 20-30 minutes before it all comes out. Then shampoo. Any kind of oil will do - olive, baby, crankshaft, whatever. I did it in the hospital shower so I got THEIR tile oily, not mine. lol....
Entertainment
My hospital was seriously tricked out when it came to entertainment. In each room there was wireless internet access, WebTV, Online video gaming, regular video gaming, radio, cable tv, etc. And the nice volunteer brought me toys, too (legos, to be specific). I had a room alone so I could make as much noise as I wanted to, which was nice. If I woke up at 2am I could turn lights on and listen to some TV. In my opinion that was surprisingly good considering it's a public hospital. I also took lots of books but didn't read much due to a screamingly bad migraine I had for 3 of my days there.
VisitorsThere were visiting hours at my hospital, but no one enforced them. You might want to ask your nurses what you are actually allowed to do. I could also have someone sleep in the room with me if I wanted them to. (recliner provided)
Your bedSpeaking of beds.... Mine was okay comfort-wise. Standard hospital issue. I have no idea what yours will be like. I did take along a couple of my own down pillows and a nice thick fleece throw blanket, plus a few extra pillowcases to change out 'cause I'd have my head on those pillows pretty much 24x7.
Your dignity
Really, I titled that kind of as a joke. But it's hard to feel like your old self when you are stuck in a bed with wires sticking out of your head. There were a few things that helped me:
- Baby wipes (for quick face washes without having to call the nurse)
- A scarf/hat (to hide the electrodes. they scare visitors)
- Cute and super comfy lounge wear (pajamas). Take tops that button up the front otherwise you'll be stuck in the same top for the whole stay. (unmovable wires stuck to your head!)
- Makeup. I really felt better with a little on my face for visitors, even when it was just a little lipstick. To take it off, see baby wipes, above.
- Really good deoderant. Because you can't shower for the whole week. Spot washing with a washcloth only. And speaking of spot washing, I wish I would have brought my own soap. The hospital soap was really nasty stuff.
- Hand disinfectant. It's too much trouble to call the nurse to get out of bed and wash hands every time you have to eat. (You're in a germy hospital - do you seriously want to not disinfect your hands before eating?)
Really, it'll be okay. Boredom is the worst part. Lots of visitors help. If you feel scared or lonely ask for the chaplain. They don't talk god unless you want them to. They are just a nice person to visit and listen to you, if that's what you need.
I tried to look at it as a nice week, relieved of all my usual work and stress. Kind of a spa week, without the spa. lol....
