Do you dream of being hospitalised?

[Rocknrollstar]

I just read some research that said many women dream of being hospitalised with something relatively minor just for a few days. They see it as a way of being able to stay in bed and be looked after instead of running round after everyone else. And I thought it was only me! (Please bear in mind that not everyone can arrange a couple of days away).

God no.
It would be awful.

But these days you wouldn't be hospitalised 'for a few days with something relatively minor'. Hospitals are SO stretched these days you'd only be kept in if you were really ill. 13 years ago I had an emergency operation for a trapped umbilical hernia and they were pushing me to go home the next day, even though I really wasn't up to it. Same thing 7 years ago when I had a pulmonary thrombosis. After being treated for it I was kept on an observation ward overnight and sent home the next morning.

Absolutely not. Just stepping foot in a medical building increases my odds of an allergic reaction. I’ve simply decided to avoid some essential medical care because my doctor’s have admitted that the only way to avoid exposure is to constantly check every single thing and every single person, even if I am unconscious.

Hospitals are dangerous bureaucracies that can’t handle the fact that patients are real people.

I was hospitalised many years ago with appendicitis - I was in for 9 days as I developed an infection. At the time I was in a job I hated and I still fondly remember my time in hospital as I slept better than I had in many months (no doubt the drugs helped!).

I had a week in hospital with a pulmonary embolism and obviously the diagnosis was scary but it was bliss to have a week off the job I hated at the time.

Sometimes yes, to get a break. I’ve also dreamt of being hit by a car to get some sick leave.

No I don't but now I have 3 children i do find laying in the dentist chair relaxing 🤣

Yes, for many years. Lone working parent with the kids 24/7, non-sleeper SEN.
I did have a major planned op when they were tiddly and that was a nice break. I also had almost flu once so had a week off work and some peace and quiet when they were at school.

I used to but more because of work/awful parents not husband. Also quite enjoyed late pregnancy as people seemed to lower their expectations of me.

I also remember being incredibly relaxed in the funeral car on the way to my dad funeral as I had turned my phone off for the first time in months well years and given that my dad was dead and my mum was in the car no one would be ringing me to demand anything. Husband and child were in the car as well but they were not demanding and I don't have cptsd from them!

Not usually but I actually have at the moment. My son has been in hospital since the beginning of October and while I miss him terribly and visit every day, truthfully it is taking its toll. I'd prefer a hotel room, but I'd take a hospital room too for just one day where I don't have to worry about rushing around and having to drive 50 miles to the hospital or how I'm going to both visit and eat.

OP mentioned the freedom from running around after everyone else. I don’t feel this, because my relationship is balanced, so for me it definitely is about relationships. If you are in a bad one or you don’t have a partner you are far more likely to be running about after everyone else

Hell no. The hospital smell, lights on all night, people all around making noise, terrible food, shared bathrooms, lack of privacy….

Instead of dreaming about being in hospital to get away from running around after everyone, stop running around after everyone. They’ll live, they’ll respect you more, and you won’t have a life that feels worse to you than being in hospital.

Except you know it’s a fantasy — but I’ve heard other mums say this before now, and they genuinely mean it: we’re talking about young, fit and well-off people in their 30s and 40s, whose idea of a hospital stay sounds like it’s based on watching Children’s Ward on tv in the 1990s. They didn’t have to stay in hospital for more than a night after their babies, they haven’t had to look after elderly parents or infirm relatives yet, and they honestly have absolutely zero knowledge of what a hospital stay is like these days. Now that’s irritating, because it’s a breezy fantasy but they don’t even know it is.

I’ve often longed for a break from “mum life”, and have been through some really hard times in the past, but because I’ve seen what it’s like to be in hospital these days, it would never occur to me that hospital is where you’d get a break!

I sprained my ankle and was laid up for 3 days (took 8 weeks to get better but I could walk after 3 days) I remember the 3 days fondly, but the 8 weeks was annoying. Not a chance I would be at all happy in hospital

I'd just like sometimes to be looked after, rather than the one doing the looking after. Even with à fever of 40+ à few weeks ago, it was 'can I do anything for you?', so still up to me.

One of the most relaxing times of my life, as a mother, was when I had Baby number 2 and I had to stay in hospital for 4 nights afterwards. It was a lovely rest and I enjoyed not having to worry about the house, pets, cooking, DC1 etc. 😂

I was in a two bedded bay and I met two other women during my stay, and it was just really nice being able to relax for 4 days, not be contactable, and be able to enjoy newborn snuggles and read a book when the baby slept 😂

I was quite disappointed when I was told I could go home and normal life had to resume 😂(apart from being able to be reunited with DC1 of course!)

No one is actually thinking it’s going to happen, it’s just a fantasy and you can be hospitalised for anything within your own brain.

I felt like this when my children were small. My eldest was an awful sleeper and we were exhausted (my husband did his full share and almost certainly felt the same). It’s fine saying ‘stop running round after everyone’ and ‘I can lie and watch telly in bed whenever I want’ but that’s not easy when you have babies and toddlers- especially if you don’t have extended family to give you a break. My children are now 8 and 11 and I don’t feel like this at all but having a 2 year old and a baby is relentless and it didn’t really get easier until my youngest got to about 4 years old.

Oh yes. For me it was at times of study + life stress, when something worthy of hospital would have gained the necessary extension / mitigating circs recognition.

In reality I know being in hospital is horrendous and not relaxing at all. It’s more of a ‘fantasy hospital’ rest & recuperation (with a good enough excuse) scenario.

Its the contemporary woman’s version of a ‘Blighty’ I.e. an injury bad enough to get you taken off the front line and sent home (to Britain / Blighty) but not bad enough to cause permanent serious damage.

God no. I absolutely hate overnights in hospital.

I've definitely had this fantasy, although in the fantasy it's a private room in a private hospital with an en suite and lovely food! Mainly because for many years, DH worked away all week and I had 5 kids to look after! He would sometimes ring for a chat while he was waiting for his dinner in the hotel while I was up to my eyes with the homework/dinner/bathtime/bedtime routine and I admit to feeling very jealous 😂

I had a lovely break when dc were 1 and 3, in hospital for 3 days. At home I had bad insomnia but at hospital I slept like a baby despite being hooked up to tubes and there being strangers all around me. Couldn't believe it! Made friends with the woman oppisite and had a lovely chat with the very accomplished older lady to my side.

I had appendicitis and for most of the time wasn't allowed to eat as I might be taken in for an operation, but it was so restful. Oh and I read one and a half books.

Came home to a pigsty and a grumpy now xh.

Since he left I've sometimes thought prison would be better - all the lack of responsibilities plus no illness. I don't think that very often, just when times are hard.

I had this very thought daily for a period in my life… but I wanted to have an accident that put me in a coma for a couple of months. I had acute depression because of dv and job worries. It took two years of therapy, but now I love my life and never want to temporarily leave it. This dream is common because women are simply burnt out, they need a break.

Yes. I had a hospital stay a few years ago. It was horrible as everyone with different physical and mental health issues on the same ward due to covid and I had had an emergency operation, but I had ear plugs, an eye mask. Too weak to set any cover work and I loved it.

No thanks.

My son was in hospital for 10 months and I 'lived' with him during that time. It was bloody awful.

I've had enough of hospitals.