chickencam Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 My mum broke her arm when she fell on top of one of Snowdonia's smaller peaks. She tripped over a rock and fell hard on her hand which broke her arm in three places near and in her shoulder. She has got to go and have it all pinned back together next Thursday. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of thing that would make her life more pleasant and easier while she is in hospital. She has never been in hospital and they never go on holiday therefore I am sending her a washbag with useful toiletries etc. My dad has ordered some easy to get on pj's and a dressing gown, and she has some of those towelling washable slippers. Also any suggestions for things to make life as a one armed person easier, of course it is her right arm and she is right handed She won't use anything like earphones etc so I can't give her anything lie an mp3, the only one of hobbies which she is able to do at the moment is reading. She normally does loads of knitting and embroidery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 (edited) Oh, poor thing! Haven't really got lots to suggest... Small change is always a good idea, as presumably she will be able to get up and move about, visit the shop and cafe? Maybe a purse she can have on a string around her neck, so she still has one arm free to delve in for money? I broke my arm over Christmas and the 6 weeks in plaster, not being able to work or drive drove me insane. The best peice of advice I was given my my surgeon was to do jigsaw puzzles, as it keeps your hand moving and stops it seizing up through lack of use. I am now addicted to jigsaws. I also got given a really light collapsible but huge bag to put stuff in for carrying things around the home. Hope it all goes well for her! Edited May 22, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Rabbit Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Sorry to hear about your Mum. When my hub was in hospital last year,one thing he made sure he took in was a little bottle of that stuff you use to disinfect your hands! He was adamant that he wasn't going to come out worse than he went in. Not very entertaining but maybe a good idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 That's just what I was going to suggest as well RR . I know most hospitals hve bottles of the stuff but at least if your Mum has her own, she can insist it is useda dn she can see it being used. Do you know what she usually likes to read? - perhaps you can find a slightly lighter version of the genre she likes as it will be easier for her to pick up and put down than anything a bit heavy going. I took my stepmother some of the Penguin mini books - I don't know if they still do them? They were in Waterstones a few years ago and cost 60p - little selections from all sorts of books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 a few books, a stress ball to squeeze (my nan had one when she broke her arm), some home baked goodies in an airtight container, a little photo album with some pictures she would like.... lego? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Shame she doesn't do headphones, talking books on CD are nice to listen to in hospital. All the suggestions are good, I would add some wet wipes, I find hospitals wards very warm and it is nice to freshen up. Hope she is not in for too long and recovery is swift. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 She won't use anything like earphones etc so I can't give her anything lie an mp3, the only one of hobbies which she is able to do at the moment is reading. She normally does loads of knitting and embroidery. How about normal headphones rather than the ones that stick in the ear? Hope she recovers quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 (edited) well, you've come to the right person. I broke my radial head a few years back and was in hospital for a while and had it pinned. she's going to be in a lot of pain by the sound of it and quite probably will have her arm immobilised and in a large cast so nighties that are really easy to put on will really help. Short sleeves or sleeveless as long sleeves won't go over the cast! wet ones are a must, easy to use with one hand to refresh yourself. I also had some dental wipes to freshen my mouth, can't remember what they're called but they were great to use one handed. apart from that, just the usual stuff, wash bag with flannel, soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, deoderant as the nurse will help her have a proper wash. a bit of money in case she wants to buy a magazine from the trolley or use the TV. hope she gets better soon. Edited May 22, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 maybe some squash or flavoured water as the water they give you in hospitals tastes horrible. All good suggestions so far I've been in far too many times and each time I forget something that I could have done with. I enjoyed crossword or puzzle books, I guess she may be able to cope writing the odd word with her wrong hand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 oh and a watch so she can check the time. She might be lucky enough to have a clock on her ward but maybe not. also, I really enjoyed the yoghurts my hubbie brought in for me. He'd hold the pot while I fed myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Something nice to drink either ready made longlife drinks ( milkshake style/ juice / flavoured water) or some squash that could be made up and left in a jug for her to pour at her leisure. Some snack food ( hospital food can be quite foul) to nibble - tasty stuff that she would fancy when she's still feeling yuck from the anasthetic . As others have suggested wet wipes. How about some moist loo wipes (as in the stuff toddlers use) as well.......makes wiping the bot easier with one hand.Some disinfectant loo wipes and some of that no wash hand cleaner stuff. Oh and finally some nice smellies just to make her smell nice and to mask that hospital smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 well, you've come to the right person. I broke my radial head a few years back and was in hospital for a while and had it pinned. . How long were you in hospital for Poet? Did you have a cast, I thought she wouldn't have to have one with the break being so high up her arm. They have told her that it is going to be very painful, she knows that though because it was 2 weeks ago that she did it. They didn't think that it was so serious at first but she had more x-rays last week and they said that they would leave it a week to see what would move back. The consultant she saw yesterday said that was not a good descision Thanks for the suggestions, I have bought some hand gel, some wipes a soap and toothbrush holder and a nice hanging wash bag. We have included a clip on book light to help hold her pages open. It is her birthday on Sunday so I have also sent her a cake to cheer her up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 If she is going to be in hospital for a while a 'V' pillow is a good idea. I makes it much more comfortable to sit up in bed. Also when I was in hospital for several weeks I took my own pillow with a pillow case washed in my own detergent so it smelt familiar. BUT make sure if you do that it has a strong coloured pillowcase otherwise it will get mixed up with the hospital pillows and linen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 how long were you in hospital for Poet? 2 weeks but I was in for a week before they operated because they had to check my heart was strong enough before they operated Did you have a cast? yes, from the tips of my fingers right up to my shoulder and my arm was bent at a 90 degree angle. I had it on for about a month I think it was??? It was very painful, even the morphine/codeine didn't really help. It felt like someone had poured petrol on my arm and set it alight, it was very ouch so I feel so sorry for your mum. The worst bit is not being to wash properly. My arm still has the pins in and I don't have full movement of it but enough not to go back and have them taken out, there's no way I'm going through all that again! this is an x ray of the pins in my arm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 i have one of these http://www.limboproducts.co.uk/ that you put over your cast to keep it dry for when you have a bath/shower, I can send it to you if you like. I never used it because we don't have a shower and there was no way I could get out of the bath with one arm! if you want it, just pm me. It's a bit dusty as it's been at the back of the airing cupboard but it's never been used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I have one of these (a fabulous little MP3 player with a built in speaker) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Stone-Player-Built-Speaker/dp/B00134747E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211485200&sr=8-1 I've been meaning to post about it actually, as I can't use headphones either and rely on audio books for my sanity. It has a fabulous speaker, but you can have it on quite quietly if you have it clipped onto your collar, so it wouldn't disturb anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 if it gets hot weather, you might want to take her in a fan, although it will need to be checked by the hospital electrical team in most cases, although when I bought one for my dad because I had bought it brand new it didn't need to be checked. Fans are always in short supply on the wards and it get so stuffy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 My mum rang me this morning to thank me for the cake etc. My dad had great fun unpacking the parcel for her and putting all the bits and bobs in her bag. He has turned this into a project in the way only a man could After saying she doesn't do headphones, my dad has bought her a little radio so hopefully she can listen to the Archers, but i wondered if there would be too much interference Her pj's and dressing gown also came today, so she had an early birthday Thanks for the suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 The doctor said on This Morning not so long ago that if he were going into hosp. , he'd make sure he had at least one 'Actimel' a day as it had been proven to help reduce the risk of infections. Good luck! Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Most hospitals have a TV on an arm by your bed, make sure whoever takes your mum in has some change to buy a card to use it - you can get radio on there too, so your mum will be able to get her fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 27, 2008 Author Share Posted May 27, 2008 She's actually dreading having a TV near her bed because she can't stand them and hasn't had one in her house for about 20 years The radio would be good though I used to have an Actimel every morning, but decided to stop them for a while and see if it made a difference. I take a proton pump inhibitor every day for excess stomach acid. This has an effect on you natural defenses because stomach acid is one of the first lines of defense. 2 of my children have spent the last 24 hours being ill at both ends and I am now paranoid that I'm next, maybe I should have kept up with the Actimel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
