1. Unless you see very badly with your glasses, I would leave the contacts at home. There are several reasons, but the main one is that after surgery you may do a lot of napping -- sleeping for short periods of time. This is easy to do if all you have to do is whip off your glasses. Also, it's not bad to fall asleep with your glasses on, but unless you have several-day-contacts, it's not good to sleep in your contacts.
2. When the hospital said, "Don't bring personal items," do you know if they were talking about valuables or toiletries? Unless the hospital provides all the toiletries you need (and maybe they do,) the hospital is probably talking about valuables. They are not talking about magazines, your favorite book, a set of travel-sized toiletries, your own robe or things like that.
3. Ask if there is a place you can lock away your purse. Your room might have a locker or locking cupboard.
4. I think you will be in the hospital for fewer days than me (I had open-heart surgery,) but if it helps, here are the things I used:
- My own sanitary pads and undies (remember that women often get their periods or have uterine bleeding as a reaction to surgery. I did, even though I had finished my period the day before surgery. Trust me -- you will want your own, not the ridiculous ones that hospitals buy using their time machines.)
- A "hoodie" (zip-up sweatshirt with a hood)
- My glasses case
- Mindless magazines
- My own fragrance-free liquid soap
- Deodorant
- Ponytail holders
- Booklet of 4x6 photos (it entertained the nurses)
- A stuffed llama (waaaaaay better than a dumb cough pillow)
