10 Hospital Bag Essentials for Scoliosis Surgery

I know it can be stressful figuring out what to bring to the hospital for scoliosis surgery. So I've created a list of 10 things I would recommend bringing with you. These are all items I found useful when I was recovering in the hospital so I'm sure this will help you too!

1. Pillows

You will already have pillows at the hospital but I would recommend bringing your own from home as well. Pillows will be your best friend after surgery! The more you have, the comfier you will be. They will also help you during your car ride home from the hospital when you won't be able to use the hospital pillows. Some patients find those long body pillows helpful too. But if you don't have one of those, that is okay! I just used regular pillows I had at home and they worked perfectly.

2. Blanket

This is another thing you will already have at the hospital but brining your own blanket might help you feel better. I brought my favorite blanket from home which made me feel more cozy and comfortable. Also, I've hospitals are colder in general so having an extra blanket was helpful for me.

3. Loose clothing

I wore my hospital gown the whole time I was there, but you might want to pack some comfortable and loose clothing just incase you want to change. I would recommend clothing like gym shorts, button down pajamas or a robe that is easy to put on. It was a bit difficult for me to move my arms around the first few days after surgery, which is why I stayed in my hospital gown. But I would still bring them these just incase.

4. Tooth brush and tooth paste

Don't forget this, it's very important!

5. Hair brush and dry shampoo

A helpful hairstyle for this surgery is wearing your hair in two french braids down the side of your head. I recommend french braids instead of a bun or ponytail because you will be laying on your back most of the time and laying back on a ponytail is not comfortable. Plus, you wouldn't want to worry about it becoming knotted or sore on your head. French braids were the best hairstyle because it was comfortable to lay back on and I didn't have to worry about doing my hair.

6. Toiletries

You won't be able to take a shower for about two weeks because you can't get the incision wet. But I was able to take a sponge bath in the hospital which made me feel a little better. Bring things that will make you feel fresh such as deodorant and face/body wipes. Your skin and lips might get dry in the hospital so you might want to bring to lotion and chapstick too.

7. Items to keep you occupied

To be honest, most of the time I was sleeping and too tired to do any activities. I wasn't in the mood to sit up and color, play games, or anything like that. But everyone's recovery is different so it's still a great idea to bring things to keep you occupied just incase you have the energy. Maybe a laptop, some earbuds, books, movies, or your phone. The hospital I stayed at had DVD players and WiFi so that was really convenient.

8. Feminine Hygiene Products

Sometimes the medicine can cause women to have their periods (even if you just had it the week before your scheduled surgery date. So it's a great idea to bring feminine hygiene products just in case.

9. Snacks

You won't be able to eat the day of surgery and once you are allowed to you'll start very slow with liquids then soft foods. The hospital started me off with ice chips, a popsicle, then apple sauce. But light snacks like crackers and drinking water and gatorade helped with constipation.

10. Video Camera or Journal

If I didn't document my recovery experience on camera, I wouldn't have remembered a lot of it. I love that I captured the moments before my surgery, waking up from it, and remembering what it felt like to sit up for the first time, walk again, etc. It makes be remember how strong I was. But something I wish I would have kept is a journal so I could write down how I felt everyday in the hospital and throughout my recovery. I get a lot of questions from people on Instagram and YouTube asking me at what point in my recovery did my pain go away, or when I felt normal again. If I had a journal while I was in the hospital, I would have written the date, my pain level, how I felt, and something new that I accomplished so I could easily remember.

Don't forget to remove any nail polish, piercings, or jewelry before you arrive at the hospital. I'm sending my best wishes to you for a speedy recovery. You got this!

P.S. Here is a video I created about the hospital packing list!