Need tips for hospital stay

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Next year surgery will unfortunately be unevitable. It will be the first one since I was a toddler, so I am not experienced (or relaxed!) when it comes to this. I cannot walk through a hospital without feeling unsettled. Yes, I am afraid of the surgery itself, but I am very upset about the hospital stay. In my mind - The last thing I need when I have to recover from an injury and surgery is to be stressed so much. I am very inclined to sign off the paper and go home as soon as the anesthesia wears off, but I know it will be best for me if I stay for a night or two. I wish I could sleep through it, but I never slept more than an hour when I was away from home.

I can bring my own food and I will be able to watch football on my phone to retain some normalcy, which will both help me greatly. I unfortunately won't be physically able to ride a bike around town or such, I will be confined to the building. I am packing a pillow from home, a stim toy, hearing protection, a favorite hoodie and I am planning out my nutrition for the stay. Any other tips how to get through this? And do you have an idea how to cope with that damn hospital smell? I heard bringing cocoa powder to smell can be helpful...

You'll probably have a TV in your hospital room--you might have to pay for it, though. You might or might not get cable with the TV.

I would bring your very favorite books about your MOST favorite Special Interest of all--something that you would forget to go to the bathroom for.

Bring some comfortable clothes, too. And probably some ear plugs. Your favorite pajamas. Like you said: some food. Hospital food really varies; it can actually be good--but it can be bad, too.

I have been in hospitals or a rehabilitation facility since September 1. I do not know what I would have done without wrong planet. I have been catching up on books I never had a chance to read. Listen to a lot of Internet radio stations for music to drown out other noises.

Hospitals are pyjama-fest, at least the ones I've seen. Maybe even take a dressing gown if you have one. If you have something that "smells like home", take that too.

In addition to all the tips already mentioned, consider asking for some benzos like Diazepam to take for the 2 days you are there to help calm you down. I'm sure the doctors there will gladly give you two days worth so you can cope better in that environment. Maybe bring a face mask (something to cover your eyes) so you can get some sleep because lights in the hospital never really turn off.

Ugh, last time I was in hospital I got stuck next to a guy who had severe Tourette's, I wanted to kill the f****r...
So yeah, the earplugs are a good idea, and as much entertainment as you can get away with. Do you own a laptop? if so, you can take it.

I was going to suggest asking for a benzo too & it would help to explain how anxious & stressed being in a hospital makes you & that you won't be able to sleep cuz of it.

My first idea, but there will be no lockers or room keys and I could not live with it being stolen, so that stays at home.

Got to see about the benzos. I react really badly to drugs. Alcohol and benzos, especially. Often had meltdowns... Any herbal substitutes? I just read a tip online to bring either cocoa powder or coffee beans in a bag so the hospital smell is not too overwhelming.