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Original poster

My hospital neighbour is a nightmare

30 replies

Pebbles16 · 02/12/2022 20:33

I had planned surgery today. Got to the ward at 7am and the lady next to me was very chatty (not my idea of fun). Kept asking for 'little favours', all fine, I was pre op and completely fine to pick up her pen, find her glasses, fill up her water.
Off I go to surgery, back on the ward about 1/2 ish: 'oh you missed lunch, it was so nice blah blah...' Promptly fell asleep and was woken by what seemed like a party next door, my chair and several others being crammed around the bed (even though it's a very strict visiting policy).
So now they have gone and she's back asking for favours. I explain that I've just had abdominal surgery so really can't reach things or pick things up.So she has taken to tapping my bed with her walking stick for attention.
Gah! I have noise cancelling headphones and ear pods in. Just want to watch YouTube crap and fall asleep when I need to. What the hell do I do? (Apart from grab her walking stick and smack her over the head?

OP posts:
CuddlyRita · 02/12/2022 20:37

Could you pull your curtain round? Hopefully she'll get the message then. I'm surprised the beds are close enough that she can reach yours with her walking stick though!

Joyfuljolly · 02/12/2022 20:39

I don’t understand why you’ve both noise cancelling headphones and earbuds in, that’s very unusual ,

Original poster
Pebbles16 · 02/12/2022 20:41

Not allowed to pull curtains round today. I have no idea how she's poking me, the beds don't seem that close together.

OP posts:
Coolyule · 02/12/2022 20:41

She sounds really annoying. Is your curtain across?

InSummertime · 02/12/2022 20:41

Explain like her you are are an Ill patient and you need to recover from surgery. Suggest she ring for the nurses

BobbyBobbyBobby · 02/12/2022 20:41

Please leave me be, I don’t feel well. Call a nurse if you need help as I can’t help you.

Coolyule · 02/12/2022 20:42

Sorry op, cross posted. I think you need to be firm and say no, I’m not able to. Please leave me alone so I can sleep after my surgery

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 02/12/2022 20:43

On this occasion you would be completely justified to say please just leave me alone. It’s not difficult.

Weefreetiffany · 02/12/2022 20:44

Sooner you ignore her the sooner she will go away. You need to prioritise your own needs and recovery and stop being so bloody polite!

XenoBitch · 02/12/2022 20:44

Whatever she needs/wants is not your responsibility. You are a patient, not staff.

BobbyBobbyBobby · 02/12/2022 20:46

If she doesn’t stop pestering g you then you need to call a nurse to spell it out to her that she is harassing you.

saveforthat · 02/12/2022 20:46

I feel your pain. When I was in hospital last year I was in a side room and a patient in the next room kept screaming and trying to escape. I had no sleep for nearly 3 weeks. Sorry I have no suggestions, just sending sympathy.

Original poster
Pebbles16 · 02/12/2022 20:50

Thank you. I now have my back to her. Not allowed to draw my curtain today (nurse said I can tomorrow). On very regular obs so they need to be able to see me and the monitor.
She is now singing, which - miraculously - I can still hear through the two sets of earphones.
@Joyfuljolly, the headphones keep the noise out but the earphones give me the noise I want. I think there are probably v fancy combos of the two but I don't have those!

OP posts:
ButterCrackers · 02/12/2022 20:50

Tell her that next time she hits your bed to get your attention you will call the nurses so that they can ask her to stop. Tell her that you need to rest and do not want to talk to her. You cannot do any favours. Talk to the nurses about this situation when they next come to check on you.

Xer · 02/12/2022 20:51

Tell her you are infectious...?

I sympathise OP. I know what it's like being trapped in a hospital bay with people who won't leave you alone. I had a scary experience when an elderly woman was hallucinating and would jump behind the curtains screaming and wailing in the early hours of the morning. She had a really severe water infection. She was so embarrassed when she got the treatment she needed.

Fingers crossed its over soon. You need to be really firm or speak to the ward staff.

GoodVibesHere · 02/12/2022 20:51

Pebbles16 · 02/12/2022 20:41

Not allowed to pull curtains round today. I have no idea how she's poking me, the beds don't seem that close together.

Why do they not allow curtains? I guess it's so they can keep an eye on you? A bit of privacy and rest surely aids recovery.

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 02/12/2022 20:53

"Please stop I don't feel well." "Please stop singing I'm trying to sleep." "NURSE.... NURSE THIS WOMAN WONT STOP."

They'll speak to her if you really need them too. Grin

been and done it. · 02/12/2022 20:54

GoodVibesHere · 02/12/2022 20:51

Why do they not allow curtains? I guess it's so they can keep an eye on you? A bit of privacy and rest surely aids recovery.

Show quote history

If you're post op they need to keep an eye on you. They have said she can pull them tomorrow.

DuchessDandelion · 02/12/2022 20:57

"Leave me alone"

Xer · 02/12/2022 20:57

Every time she starts push the buzzer. Every time. Tell the nurses/health care assistants. It will stop because the staff won't like the disruption.

Original poster
Pebbles16 · 02/12/2022 20:59

GoodVibesHere · 02/12/2022 20:51

Why do they not allow curtains? I guess it's so they can keep an eye on you? A bit of privacy and rest surely aids recovery.

Show quote history

Yes, on regular obs as post surgery. Also the GA has made me a bit sickly.
I am not a celebrity, but please get me out of here!!
Nurse will be round soon with drugs, so I will have a word.
I am normally a rather forthright human being, but being in hospital just makes you feel vulnerable.
I have also just heard that she's younger than me... WTAF? (Heard because she is discussing at very high volume on the phone about her forthcoming birthday, also - hopefully - 'they want to kick her out tomorrow'). Keeping many things crossed

OP posts:
Blowyourowntrumpet · 02/12/2022 21:08

I've had this, it's a nightmare. I just said that I didn't feel well enough to talk. It seemed to do the trick. Hopefully they'll discharge her tomorrow. I hope you feel better soon.

Scotty12 · 02/12/2022 21:31

Poor you! Ignore her / say you can’t help / don’t feel well. Hopefully she will soon get bored of you.

Original poster
Pebbles16 · 02/12/2022 21:54

Ah the lovely nurses have been round, I mentioned she was poking me:
Nurses: "Not again"
Chatter next door, slightly raised voices. Turns out it's not a walking stick, it's one of those mountain walking aid things (of course). Not the first time she's done it, apparently, it's been taken away as a trip hazard.
Have got extra layers (normally sleep with a weighted blanket), my bed into a comfy position and will be ignoring as much as possible.
Thank you all.

OP posts:
greenhousegal · 02/12/2022 22:08

I feel your pain. As if recovering from surgery was not enough to deal with. Hope you will be ok soon.

Sorry how this might come across, I am in EU so no NHS for me. I will NOT share with anyone so am very fortunate to have private health insurance that I pay (a whack) extra for a private room. Bliss.

The hospital I use has an A+E and that's how I ended up there, as the public hospitals which are brilliant by the way were discouraging people from attending during Covid.

I would have no issue using the Public hospital at all, they are great, but they don't have many options for private rooms, only for infection control really, and treatment and accommodation is free apart from a capped daily charge if your income is above a certain limit.

I figure I am not using a bed that someone else could use in the public system.

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