Here is a suggested list of items to purchase before PAO. This list incorporates the items I found invaluable after having gone through a PAO (as well as notes in parenthesis about items that I found I did not need or found useless):

In suitcase for hospital

• Comfy non-slip socks, the kind with the rubber dots or words on the bottom (only useful if hospital does not provide them)
• Cotton short nightgowns (3) (VERY useful – if you normally wear PJs to bed, throwing on a nightgown is a great way to make you feel normal)
• Boxer shorts (leave any type of shorts or underwear at home since wearing anything with a waist band is unpleasant)
• Shorts for PT (I did not use them; however, they would be good to have if you are wearing a hospital gown when you do your physical therapy as they will keep your fanny from hanging out)
• Night jacket (furry) (loved having this, especially since hospital temperatures are all over the place)
• Big coat, sweatpants, and flat sneakers (easy on) to come home in (all are absolute requirements)
• Favorite blanket (I brought one but never used it – you’ll have a ton of blankets provided)
• Blush and chapstick (a personal must since blush made me look like I wasn’t dead when visitors came to see me)
• Magazines (just about the only thing you’ll be able to focus on; make sure they are mindless)
• Candy for nurses (highly appreciated gift – remember, these women and men are taking care of some very personal needs and a little candy to say thank you is just nice to do)
• Earplugs & sleep mask (I wore my sleep mask every night. I did not need to use earplugs; however, I have spoken to others who were in louder wards and found them invaluable.)
• Hand sanitizer (nice to have – remember, you are not getting out of bed for days)
• Mints (nice to have, especially since you don’t get to brush your teeth very often)
• IPad / Iphone / Kindle / Headphones / Chargers (nice to have, as needed [an extension cord is also useful, in case the plug is far away])
• Note pad and pens (really useful since your mind is like Swiss cheese from all the drugs and you will easily forget questions you want to ask)
• Small fan (nice to have – hospital air can get a little stagnant)
• Small bag to put things in when you leave the room (could be useful if you have to go a distance for PT [I kept all my items of value in a bag on my bed but did PT on my floor])

In toiletries bag for bathroom (at the hospital)

• Dry shampoo (nice to have, especially if it is warm on your floor)
• Small shampoo & conditioner (don’t even bother – bathing is unlikely if not utterly impossible)
• Hairbrush (bring!)
• Hair products (leave at home – if ever there was a time to not worry about hair spray and mousse, this is it)
• Glasses (must have if you have vision problems since contacts are not possible)
• Lotion (hospitals can be pretty dry – it’s nice to have, even if only so that you can keep your hands moisturized)
• Toothbrush & toothpaste (yes!!!)
• Razor (leave at home)
• Face wipes (since you will not be getting out of bed very often, these can be nice to have)
• Deodorant
• Girly items

Home purchases (or make sure you have!)

• Recliner or chair that is easy to get into and out of
• Toilet riser
• Shower chair + shower head that you can move
• Walker (Initially I thought the walker was overkill but it is THE BEST way to get around a tight apartment and you feel very stable; if you get a walker, also get a bag or basket for the front since you will want to be able to carry things [phone, water, book] when you move from place to place)
• Wheelchair, if needed (We live in NYC and don’t have a car so getting around anywhere requires I walk, often long distances. For the first 6 weeks following surgery I was toe touch weight bearing (your doctor will explain). I could crutch a block or two but got tired easily and the worst us being out somewhere and getting stuck because you wear out. The wheelchair made it possible for me to go longer distances. I will only use the wheelchair until I am flat foot weight bearing and can actually get around)
• Crutches (Millenial and/or traditional, depending on what works for you; if you get traditional crutches, it is a worthwhile investment to get cushions for the tops and handle grips because they can be uncomfortable [I liked ])
• Caddie to put all of your little things in that can sit next to recliner (important)
• One of those grabber things that let you pick things up from the floor
• Foam wedges or pads to help you get comfortable on a hard chair or in your wheelchair 
• Over-bed tray table (not a lap desk since you don’t want to put any more pressure on your lap; I got the one that tipped which was great if you want to read a book)
• Sock assist device (it will be impossible to bend over and put on socks for weeks – this can be a life saver [like ])
• COMFY CLOTHING! (use whatever you brought to the hospital [nightgowns, hoddies, really loose shorts]; it’s going to be tough to wear underwear until your scar is well on its way to healing so it’s easier to just go without; get several pair of comfy non-slip socks, the kind with the rubber dots or words on the bottom because you will wear TED socks for several weeks and they can be slippery)
• At least 2 pair of TED socksa> (2 pair is absolutely enough since you can rinse one pair out when you wear the other pair)