Sharing a room in hospital, help!

[Rarfy]

Please someone help me to see the funny side / cope with a fairly long hospital stay on a shared ward.

I will start by firstly saying that the NHS is truely amazing, their staff are out of this world and i am being very well looked after.

Im two weeks into at least a four week stay for placenta previa. Luckily i am well as is baby but this shared ward lark is slowly driving me mad.

I'm not going to go into huge details about my neighbours they have all been lovely and friendly but seem to have no consideration whatsoever for the fact they are sharing a room.

I have people sat playing noisey shooting games on their phones. Talking loudly on their phone all day and night till after 11pm. Asking quite intrusive questions about marital status, home ownership etc amongst other things.

I am literally on edge! Anyone any top tips for getting through the next couple of weeks?

I did get my own room for a couple of nights which was an amazing experience and hopefully will happen again soon but on the off chance they can't move me back - help!

When I was pregnant with DD1 I had a lengthy (few weeks) stay in hospital with hyperemesis on a shared ward and it nearly sent me mad. There was a woman in the bed opposite me who sounded EXACTLY like the character Del Boy of Only Fools and Horses fame. Spent hours on the phone late at night saying things were “cushdy” and complaining about having her JSA cut. She was bonkers. There was a lady who I think was Greek on one side of me and had her older children visit every day. They would sing (loudly) songs in their native tongue. Sometimes her husband joined in. And there was a woman in the bay next to me who kept falling out of bed, and one night came crashing through the curtain into my cubicle while I was asleep and gave me the fright of my life!

You’ll laugh about this one day OP!

I had a week on a maternity ward. Drove me scatty!
Funnier though was my little girl spent 3 nights on a children’s ward. 4 bays, each with a bed for parents so 8 of us in the room.
My daughter was 2 then there was a 9 year old and who teenagers. Our noise levels and waking hours did NOT match and those curtains do nothing for a toddler who wakes at 6am!

Hope you get home soon, or at least some decent entertainment kx

I have been in and out for several nights at a time since late November. You need to get the staff on the side. I keep going back to the same ward and quickly developed a great relationship with all the staff simply by not being a pita.
It also meant when patients and visitors were being nosy, they would have a quiet word reminding them that others are in the same space. They also have zero tolerance on noisy visitors and they are booted off the ward.

Curtains are also your friend. If staff say anything, mention that you are trying to get some peace. However, this only works if you aren't being monitored.

Other patient lights at night, staff will ask and even angle the lights so they don't disturb others.

I dont have much data in my contract and have spent about £40 already just to have access to internet. Luckily i can keep sending tablet home for downloads. Dp is being great and visiting twice a day most days.

I am getting on really well with all the staff and i think they sympathise with me. I have quite a sad history where babys are concerned so they're all making a fuss. 1st trimester mmc. 27wk stillbirth. 2nd trimester mmc then this pregnancy with apart from PP has gone smoothly so i can't complain but obviously it is still a worry.

Please everyone keep ypur fingers crossed that some other ladies in side rooms are feeling better tomorrow and i get a room back. The noisey lady is off the ward as i type and it is so peaceful and relaxed. Sure she will be back shortly with her visitors tho then the phonecalls will begin.

I make convo with everyone to try and find out when they are leaving come new years eve i will be on my own or with new friends.