The Most Helpful Things I Took to the Hospital: People With UC Share What Got Them Through

Packing a hospital bag ahead of time can be a smart choice with ulcerative colitis, especially when up to a quarter of people with UC get hospitalized. And if you’re in the middle of a painful flare, a packed bag can save you the stress of scrounging around for things at the last minute. 

Here's the most helpful items that other people with ulcerative colitis put in their UC hospital bag to get ready for long and short stays.

You’ll need a few essential documents to speed up your check-in process — whether your hospital visit is short or long. Keep these documents packed together, such as your:

• Photo ID
• Health insurance card
• List of over-the-counter and prescription medications
• List of allergies
• Doctor’s contact information
• Emergency contact information
• Pharmacy phone number

“You never know how long you will have to stay, and you want to make sure you have a way to reach family and friends,” says Victoria Taylor, 39, a UC patient advocate and influencer who lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

It can be easy to overlook your phone charger, so think ahead and pack an extra one. “If you need to be admitted, you don’t want to also frantically ask staff to find a cell phone charger for you," she says.

Think of what eases your tummy during a UC flare and pack those snacks for your hospital stay. Holly Fowler, 36, a health coach in Austin, Texas, lives with ulcerative colitis and always brings her own snacks when she’s in the hospital. “I can never stomach most of the food hospital staff bring me,” she says. 

She claims plant-based protein shakes, and Siete tortilla chips are her favorites. “The last time I was hospitalized, my doctor would laugh and say, ‘You have a pantry full of snacks here,’” she recalls.

Packing a pillow and blanket from your house can add some comfort to your stay, no matter how long you’re there. “Hospital rooms are always such cold, sterile places that you need something to warm them up,” says Taylor. 

“My own blanket and pillow instantly comfort me because they smell and feel like home. I associate them with my husband and kids — it brings my anxiety down.” Fowler swears by her satin pillowcase; “It adds an additional touch of comfort,” she says.

Don’t feel that you need to wear that hospital gown. “It’s bad enough being in the hospital — at the very least you want to be comfortable,” says Fowler. She suggests adding pants with elastic waists, in case you lose or gain weight during your stay.

Try to pack some loose fitting, button down pajamas in your hospital bag, too. These can allow easier access if nurses or doctors need to give you an exam or adjust your IV. 

Find ways to relax during your hospital stay and take your hobby along. Taylor always brings Mandala coloring books when she’s in the hospital. 

“They have such intricate designs, that it’s easy to get lost in them,” she says. “It’s a great way to escape from reality for a bit, especially if you also listen to soothing music.”

 Research shows that art therapy may generally help ease anxiety and depression.

You may want to double check your hospital bag for your laptop — especially if you like streaming your favorite TV shows or movies to pass time. “Comedies are great, because when you’re in the hospital, everything seems so grim and upsetting,” says Fowler. She suggests watching Ted Lasso, and Schitt’s Creek. 

You can use your electronics to stay connected to others, too. Taylor relied on her computer to attend Sunday church service virtually. “It provided a sense of normalcy and routine,” she says.

Ask someone to buy you or pack a small green plant for your room. Whenever Taylor ends up in the hospital, her mother always brings her a small green plant to place by her bedside.

“It makes the room feel more alive, and helps to relieve some of my anxiety,” she says. Research shows indoor plants can help you relax and clear your mind when you’re recovering in the hospital.

If you’ve got your foam roller and yoga mat, you can keep your flexibility up. Fowler’s husband, who is a physical therapist, brings both to her when she is in the hospital. 

“You get very achy when you lie in a hospital bed for more than a day or two,” she explains. “This way, you can get on the floor and really stretch.” 

She also uses the foam roller to help loosen tight muscles. This can help you get through your hospital stay with a little less muscle tension.

Having your own night cream and body lotion on hand can help protect your skin and health habits. So Fowler keeps up with her skin care routine, even when she’s in the hospital. 

“It gives me a sense of normalcy,” she says. Besides your regular beauty products, consider a thicker cream or ointment to help protect your skin against the dry hospital air like:

• Aveeno
• CeraVe
• Eucerin

The regular hospital toilet paper can be harsher on your skin than baby wipes. Packing alcohol-free wipes can help prevent skin irritation from frequent bowel movements. 

You may also want to bring an over-the-counter cream like Vitamin A&D ointment or Desitin. The petroleum and zinc oxide can help soothe sore skin around your butt and prevent rash.