Hospital expenses

[jIM_Ohio]

Not talking about insurance costs or the actual charges the doctors, labs or hospital charges, I am talking about the incidentals.

My wife has been in hospital for weeks now (at risk of giving premature birth to twins, been in since Feb 4 or 5).

We have had to purchase
books
humidifier for room
food (water, candy, meals, snacks)

I have brought from home:
blankets, pillows, egg crate (to make mattress softer), clothes, toilet paper and hygiene supplies.

Curious- if any of you have had a prolonged hospital stay, what types of things did you need to buy for additional comfort?

[sweeps]

Things to make you feel productive--

- Sewing supplies (needles and yarn)
- Laptop or notepad and paper for doing work
- Stationary, greeting cards, envelopes, stamps (catch up on letters and cards to people)
- Pictures and albums (catch up on labeling pictures, putting them into albums, etc.)
- Materials for researching baby items like cribs, car seats, baby monitors, etc.
- Vacation material (plan a future vacation)

[PrincessPerky]

Sorry to hear about your wifes troubles, I hope all the rest helps!

food is the only extra cost we ever had (as in bringing decent food to the one in the hospital and buying convenience food for the one traveling back and forth and trying to work and ect.)

[Spud]

I was admitted to the hospital during my pregnancy for high blood pressure -- just one night though. After that they put me on modified bedrest... so I wasn't in the hospital, but I was told to not do anything I didn't have to. I spent a LOT of time sitting/laying on the couch. I started a cross-stitch project -- a stocking for my baby. I used a bunch of 40% off JoAnn's coupons (find them in the local sunday paper), and bought these:
Christmas Angel Stocking
Stitchbow Travel Bag to organize thread & project
A hoop, extra needles, needle threaders

I also couldn't live without my Snoogle.

Does your wife have a DVD player her room? Maybe a NetFlix subscription for these few months would be some $$ well spent.

I hope your wife is keeping her spirits up. Please let us know how she's doing.

[Broken Arrow]

Spud, I thought you were a guy this entire time....

I don't remember much from my hospital stays, even though my ex had to have a C-section for our 3rd child.... I remember bringing our laptop and playing games on it together until she felt too tired. I remember the ethernet jacks having internet access, and that helped a lot too because we were both net junkies. I also remember hospital food being ridiculously priced, and unless it couldn't be helped, we avoided that at all cost.

[vole]

Hospitals have changed over the years. As reimbursement drops, they have cut back on what the give patients. I remember years a go the hospital giving out toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, combs, shampoo, soap, razor, tobacco and rolling paper, and slippers.

Today it varies but in a big city, don't bring anything you would mind having stolen.

-Dave

[pearlieq]

tobacco and rolling paper

Really?!? Wow!

My mom was in for about 6 weeks. We mostly had to pay for extra food, both to give her variety and a chance of scenery and for us when we visited. We brought her books and personal supplies from home and DH had a laptop she could use.

What added up for us were the costs of visiting. The hospital was about 30 miles away, and we eventually figured out that each trip cost $13 in gas, tolls, and parking (the hospital charged $3 for all parking). That added up fast. But you do what you've got to do, you know?

I hope all goes well for you, OP.

[mom-from-missouri]

I and 2 of my daughters have done the hospital stays. Now, as a result, when someone I know is in the hospital, I no longer send flowers. Instead I take them a basket of items-snack foods (for family if the patient can't eat them) a roll of quarters, magazine, pack of cards, newspaper.....

I also learned from one of DD4 hospital stays that parents at some hospitals are given free meals (I found that out towards the end of her visit--it is one of those things they don't offer-you have to ask), and they will punch your parking pass at the front desk. They will also give family visiting free juice and muffins twice a day.

Also, many hospitals have video and book libraries. It is handled through volunteer services. Social services is also a great resource to check out and they can validate parking, arrange meals and even give some gas cards out.

[vole]

... and parking (the hospital charged $3 for all parking). That added up fast.

I resent the parking fees. It's not like it's an option to walk over to the hospital and there is no other place to park. But if they didn't charge for parking, they'd have to charge the patient more. So it's either charge the patient more or spread a little of the cost to the visitor.

-Dave