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What to Bring Patients Hospitalized with a Flare

When visiting someone in the hospital, or someone who has recently been discharged, you often bring them flowers, snacks, or some kind of treat like wine to wish them well. However, when visiting someone who is going through a Crohn’s flare, you may want to think twice about the traditional gifts. Flowers are too much effort to water, especially if we are so weak and sick that getting out of bed (or the bathroom) is a chore. We are often on bowel rest while in the hospital, only receiving our nutrients via IV or are only allowed clear liquids by mouth, so traditional snacks are not the best idea to bring us in the hospital.

However, there are some items that we would greatly appreciate that would make us feel better inside and out, and give us something to do!

Self-care products for someone going through a flare

Items such as facial masks, nail polish and a file, high-quality body lotion, or a loofa are much appreciated! Laying in the hospital does not do the skin justice, so a quick facial mask will leave us feeling vibrant with glowing skin. And, while the hospital showers are not the most lavish facilities, ending a shower with a nice moisturizer will give us life. My friends used to bring me mini manicure kits will nail polish so that I had something to do while laying in bed and had pretty nails to show off, especially to those nurses constantly administering medication through my IV and taking blood.

Reading materials for a hospital stay

Magazines, books, newspapers—anything to read is coveted!! Because we can only scroll through our phones so many times before getting a headache (or the battery dies), having hard-copy reading material is valuable to keep us occupied while keeping our brains sharp. I had always loved diving into a good novel to escape my own miserable reality and get swirled into a new world or mystery that took away my pain for at least a few hours. And who doesn’t love a good mystery novel to get lost in and have the day just fly by?

Puzzles and adult coloring books

As I mentioned before, it is great to keep our minds from turning to mush while laying a hospital bed so taking it a step beyond reading materials, let’s explore puzzle books and adult coloring books. A good crossword puzzle or search-a-word are a fun challenge to work on alone or with others when they come to visit. And, adult coloring books are not only fun and oddly relaxing, but they create beautiful, colorful works of art to hang around the hospital room to brighten our environment.

Hospital essentials for a Crohn's flare

In this category, I will include a sleep mask, earplugs, and travel-size toiletries. In order to get a good night’s sleep (especially if we have a roommate) blocking out light and sound is a must. And, the bath products they leave us are not great, so any travel-size item like shampoo, shower gel, hair spray, mouth wash, toothpaste, and floss are highly coveted.

Journaling during a hospital stay

I love having a journal to write my feelings and emotions while staying in the hospital so that I can work through my struggles and look back and see how far I have come after being discharged and post-flare. It is also great to write down any questions and concerns I have for the doctors since I tend to forget them once they start rattling off a list of medications and treatments going forward. Having something to write in always comes in handy, whether it be to keep to myself or to share with others, and receiving a journal from a visitor was always well appreciated.

These are just a few items that have greatly helped me out while being hospitalized. What items have you received that you have valued, or what have you given others who were hospitalized for a flare?

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