Maybe a few books or magazines. an iPod if youve got one. cigarettes if you smoke.

At home, think about taking small steps. If your bed is hard to get into or out of, a step or grab bar may be useful. Is the toilet easy to sit, unsit, from? You may want to have the bathroom door taken off, if it gets in the way.

How about your bath/shower? Think like an old lady. A shower seat or bath step might be useful.

Table next to the couch to pile your food/drink/books on.

However, I really hope you do not need any of this. Or, at least, not for long.

Ex-lax. Anasthetic will slow down your metabolism and you might need something to speed nature along. Be prepared for the first 'big jobbie' after surgery to be akin to childbirth, without hope of epidural pain relief. (Sorry if this is TMI but I wish someone had warned me beforehand.)

Do a 'big shop' beforehand, stock up on the heavy stuff (bottled water, etc.)

I've always found my concentration levels were screwed for a while after surgery, so reading, whilst normally a passion, didn't hold much interest, so maybe some audio books, or a mini DVD player/laptop.

Tissues. It's very common to be hit by a wave of depression and a crying jag a few days after surgery. It's absolutely normal if you feel like this. It'll pass.

Clingfilm is very useful. How? You can wrap it round and round your middle, and have a shower without your wound getting wet. This is the best idea I have ever had in my life.

I wouldn't bring an ipod to the hospital -- things (especially nice things) tend to "walk away."

Best to you!

All the best, BTGOG. I found I didn't need much at the hospital. Maybe take a robe, some toiletries, clean clothes to come home in (something loose like sweatpants/slip-on shoes), a small amount of money to pay for the TV rental if necessary. At home, some juice and easy-to-eat foods like apple sauce, jello, and plain cookies are good. Be sure to take the painkillers before you leave the hospital, too, for the ride home (helps with the bumps). And definitely ask for pain medication at the hospital when you need it; at some hospitals (like mine), they're happy to give it to you, but you have to ask for it. Also, if you take other prescription medication, you may need to remind the hospital/doctor so they can continue that while you're there (I did for my blood pressure pills).

Do you have someone to go with you and pick you up, etc.? Get your prescriptions and anything else you might need for you afterwards? Again, all the best.

Consider a coloring book or knitting, if you knit. I also like activity books with mazes, word searches, and crossword puzzles in them. They have to be easy; no point in getting upset over hard puzzles.

Best wishes Grace!

thanks for the good comments. I have The Salmon of Doubt on my iPod and will bring some fat good science fiction tome (any suggestions i can find in a Dundee Scotland book store?)

I'll have the exlax.

People are saying bring antiseptic to the hospital..? at work etc. that sounds odd to me.

I'll have the exlax.

You may indeed need something; don't panic if you don't go for a few days, though, especially if you're not eating. It's normal. Exlax may also be a little hard on the system. For my mom, they recommended Colace, with a laxative in it; worked well. Check with the doctor?

Again, best wishes for a speedy healing! : )

Re: a new book, the new Vlad Taltos book is out by Brust, (called Dzur) it's a great series for entertainment, he reminds me a bit of Zelazny.
Get well quick

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, btgog.

Heal quickly, By The Grace of God! And I'm sorry for asking, but what is the surgery for? I think I missed this..

Please don't forget to bring my good wishes!

Yes, take some form of antiseptic wipes and maybe a can of Dettol disinfectant spray and before you are taken down for your operation, give the whole area around your bed a thorough clean, including the locker, table, the bed itself, any surface you are likely to come into contact with. The odds of you catching a filth-related infection in a British hospital are much greater than in your own home, sadly.

Do they give you intravenous antibiotics at the hospital before and after surgery? They've done that when I've had my surgeries, and I know it cuts down on incidents of infection tremendously. Sometimes they give you antibiotics to take home, too, in pill form (they did for Jon's surgery). Again, ask doctor?

okay, essexjan.

My better half won't be around for a lot of it and I'm not good at remembering to think of this stuff. I'm getting more and more scared and just don't want to deal with it. Plus I want to go to the demonstration in Edinburgh saturday and am not sure I will be able to go.

I just don't want to deal with all this. Maybe I should just have decided to leav the cyst in.