Items to buy and bring for GCS Before, During, & After Hospital

[Tills]

Hi ladies, this may have been done before but I wondered if I might share my ideas about things for before, during, and after GCS surgery down below. Can you please add things you have either thought of or which have been of use in your experiences?

I think there may be a lot of suggestions so I can keep updating this list. And some things will be more pertinent for one country than another. But here goes:

Beforehand at home:

Hard drive back up of computer and load up tv shows / films

For hospital:

Extension lead
Phone and device chargers
Laptop
Ear buds
Eye mask
Small fan
Pj's or nightie
Loose clothes
Meds
Some cash
Books
Audio books
Blue vaseline
Wash items
Toothbrush
Lady shaver
Wet wipes
Deodorant
Mirror
Dried figs
Red grapes
Mint tea bags
Doughnut cushion for travelling home and for home afterwards

For back home afterwards:

Activon Medical Grade Manuka Honey
Pre-made honey dressings e.g. 'Med Honey'
Non-slip bath mat
Extra towels
Pads for down below
Pads for bed
Loose underwear: cotton
Loose clothes
Jigsaw table
Dried figs
Red grapes
Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Naproxen on standby


I know some of you talk about ice packs but no-one on my medical team has mentioned this so I'm going to steer clear.

xx

[Devlyn ✅]

Maybe salt for sitz baths? I recall my wife bringing some in.

Edit to add:

Wedge pillow for sitting up.

If you're a side sleeper, a between the legs pillow. https://amzn.eu/d/06p4iuAS 🔗

The mesh underwear from the hospital is amazing. Similar ones are on Amazon. https://amzn.eu/d/029iRVLj 🔗

A case of water based lube. My wife used optilube.

Microwavable heat/cool pads.

Douche.

Mr Green and Mr Orange from Soul Source. My wife bought the full set because she didn't like the clear one Dr Bellringer supplied.

[KathyLauren]

You listed pads in the "for afterwards" column.  I'd suggest having some with you for the journey home.  I did use them for the trip home, but I didn't need them at home after the first day or two.

If you are flying home, call the airline to reserve a wheelchair at departure and arrival airport.  Travel light: a single carry-on with wheels should do you.  You won't be allowed to lift anything, hence the wheels, and a single bag means that asking for help isn't a big imposition on strangers.

[Tills]

Thanks so much for the suggestions above ladies. Here's an update to my list including a few other things I've remembered too!

Beforehand at home:

Hard drive back up of computer and load up tv shows / films

For hospital:

Extension lead
Phone and device chargers
Laptop
Ear buds
Eye mask
Small fan
Pj's or nightie
Loose clothes
Meds
Some cash
Books
Audio books
Blue vaseline
Wash items
Toothbrush (charged) & toothpaste
Lady shaver
Wet wipes
Deodorant
Moisturiser
Mirror
Dried figs
Red grapes
Mint tea bags
Coffee bags: both caffeinated and decaffeinated
Travel kettle?
Slippers
Doughnut cushion for travelling home and for home afterwards
& hot / cold pads for travelling home (see below)
Wheelchair booked with airline if flying home for departure/arrival/transfer airports


For back home afterwards:

Activon Medical Grade Manuka Honey
Pre-made honey dressings e.g. 'Med Honey'
Ice packs and/or microwavable hot or warm pads
Wedge pillow for sitting up
Pillow for between legs if you're a side sleeper
Non-slip bath mat
Extra towels
Pads for down below
Pads for bed
Loose underwear: cotton
Optilube or other water-based lube
Douche
Dilators if not using hospital ones e.g. Mr Green and Mr Orange from Soul Source
Mesh underwear
Loose clothes
Jigsaw table
Dried figs
Red grapes
Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Naproxen on standby

[Tills]

The travelling light point is a really good one and presents quite a conundrum. I'd be very interested to know how those going to places like Thailand have found this and what they did.

I don't travel light these days, partly because I take with me a number of comfort items e.g. teddy bear, small fairy lights, medical pack (won't be needed in hospital!), books etc but @KathyLauren 's  point is spot on: you can't lift anything heavy following vaginoplasty.

In my case it's a taxi ride back so I figure someone at Parkside can help me with the case on wheels down to the taxi, the driver can put it in the boot, and then on arrival my friend will lift it out. Ordinarily she'd have picked me up but she doesn't like driving in London.

Oh and it's 3 weeks today. I'm so excited I was getting ahead of myself in the other post 😂

xx

[Tills]

And the dried figs / red grapes are a personal thing for trying to avoid constipation. The various meds associated with the procedure along with the pain killers typically induce constipation, which is something to avoid if possible as you really don't want to be straining down there.

xx