| "A Comfortable Hospital Stay" may seem like | | | | in an attempt to offset the fashion crimes |
| an oxymoronic title: no one can truly be | | | | committed by a hospital gown, leave those at |
| comfortable in a place where pans are used as | | | | home and instead only bring comfortable |
| toilets. But, for most of us, hospital stays | | | | clothing. Sweat pants, flannel pajama bottoms |
| are unavoidable. From the appendix that | | | | and boxer shorts are great hospital clothes. |
| erupted to the birth of a child, chances are | | | | In addition, bringing your own socks, |
| people will find themselves in the hospital | | | | slippers and bathrobe might make your outfits |
| at some point in their lives. While sometimes | | | | feel more comfortable in more ways than one. |
| these stays aren't planned, many instances | | | | |
| involve knowing ahead of time, granting the | | | | |
| patient with the ability to bring along a few | | | | |
| items to make the hospital more hospitable. | | | | Bring Insurance Information |
| | | | |
| | | | Some people may think forgetting an |
| | | | insurance card will cause them to be placed |
| Pack Toiletries | | | | in the hospital basement, tended by a nurse |
| | | | who has an uncanny resemblance to the Grim |
| Packing for a stay at the hospital is | | | | Reaper. But, in actuality, it will just cause |
| similar to packing for a stay in a hotel, | | | | a lot of delays, and a lot of extra work. Be |
| only you don't need to bring your swimsuit. | | | | sure to bring your insurance information, a |
| The toiletries you typically use - a | | | | photo ID, and any copays you owe. Take care |
| toothbrush, eye contact cleaner, the retainer | | | | of all of this right when you arrive, |
| you wear when no one is looking - should all | | | | allowing the hospital to take care of you the |
| be packed. While you might be tempted to | | | | rest of the time. |
| bring hair dryers and curling irons, you | | | | |
| won't need them, nor will you need to tote in | | | | |
| your entire makeup line. The hospital gowns, | | | | |
| in themselves, are enough to keep everyone | | | | Miscellaneous |
| radiant and beautiful. | | | | |
| | | | Bringing extra items that remind you of home |
| | | | may increase the comfort of your hospital |
| | | | stay. This doesn't mean a person should carry |
| Bring Books | | | | their plasma television into their room, |
| | | | yelling, "I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT," but |
| There's not a lot to do in a hospital. | | | | bringing things such as pictures of loved |
| There's no live band to watch, no sports team | | | | ones, plants, and stuffed animals can provide |
| to cheer on, and when the nurse asks if she | | | | a sense of solace, and a sense of home. |
| can bring you anything, she will never come | | | | |
| back with the beer you've requested. While | | | | |
| some people might find this lack of activity | | | | |
| boring, others find it as a welcomed rest | | | | Hospitals aren't fun. From the needles to |
| from the hustle and bustle of every day life. | | | | the catheters, there's a whole lot of poking |
| Still, for those who want to escape the | | | | and prodding of all the wrong kind. Then, |
| confines of the hospital walls, they can | | | | there are the hospital beds. They may be |
| always use books as means to get away. | | | | adjustable and have protective railings on |
| Trading their IV for imagination, a hospital | | | | the side, but they aren't made with a whole |
| stay is one of the best ways to catch up on | | | | lot of comfort in mind. The polar opposite of |
| all the books you've never got around to | | | | a Natural Latex mattress, they make for |
| reading. | | | | nights of tossing and turning. While the |
| | | | hospital staff will probably frown on you |
| | | | admitting yourself with a Natural Latex |
| | | | mattress tucked underneath your arm, sleeping |
| Pack Comfortable Clothing | | | | on a hospital mattress can only make you |
| | | | appreciate the comfort of a latex mattress |
| While there will be times during your | | | | even more, giving you even more reason to get |
| hospital stay when you will be forced to don | | | | well and do it soon.Jennifer Jordan is a |
| a hospital gown, for a lot of your stay you | | | | senior editor for When she isn't sleeping |
| will be able to wear some of your own | | | | on a FoamSource mattress, she concentrates on |
| clothing. While you might be tempted to bring | | | | living as comfortably as possible. |
| your Armani suit or Prada evening dress, just | | | | |