Getting Ready For A Hospital Stay

As many as 30 million American adults have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a fatty liver disease characterized by inflammation and scarred tissue. More commonly referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a patient will often have no symptoms and may have only come to medical attention when tests have been carried out for something else. This may happen if an ultrasound shows that your liver looks unusual or if you have an abnormal liver enzyme test. You will likely be required to have a series of tests to determine the diagnosis and severity of the disease. Most of these tests and later any required treatment will likely require a stay in hospital.

Preparing For Hospital Stay

Fortunately, not every stay in the hospital starts in the emergency room. There are times when you have a period of time to prepare for a hospital stay. But even scheduled stays can feel daunting and stressful. Planning ahead for your hospital stay will help you to feel more relaxed and prepared for what lies ahead.

Maintain Good Hygiene

To avoid the spread of infection, cleanliness in any medical or healthcare setting is imperative. While hospitals are required to maintain a high standard of cleanliness, patients themselves can be responsible for bringing in dangerous germs into the hospital. If you have had any sickness or diarrhea episodes in the 24 to 48 hours before your stay, inform the hospital before your arrival. It may mean your stay is postponed. Once you have arrived at the hospital and settled in, maintaining your own personal hygiene while you are on the ward is incredibly important. Regularly clean your hands with hospital liquid soap and water or hand sanitizer and then dry them with a clean disposable paper towel. Remember to ask your visitors to thoroughly clean their hands when they visit.

What To Pack For The Hospital

Your hospital should provide you with some guidance as to the recommended items you will need to bring with you. You will need to fill out all your paperwork such as insurance card, list of emergency contacts, hospital forms, list of medicines you are taking, list of any allergies you have and copies of your advanced care plan if you have one. You will also need to remember to take the personal items that you need every day such as your eyeglasses, hearing aids, cell phone, and charger, something to read, hand sanitizer, toiletries, pajamas, robe, and slippers. You may also want to bring some earplugs and a sleep mask to help you sleep.

When you are already dealing with the news that you may have fatty liver disease, going into hospital for tests or surgery can feel overwhelming. But you can take some of the stress out of your stay by ensuring you are well-prepared beforehand.