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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think I shouldn't be on this ward?

152 replies

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 22/01/2015 19:35

Im in hospital on a ward full of noisy older men who keep shouting sexist views and are competing over who has the most disgusting and worst symptom.

WIBU to discharge myself if they try and make me stay here tonight? I didn't think mixed wards were allowed.

OP posts:
PasstheDaimbars · 22/01/2015 21:22

Oh sweetheart, lots and lots of sympathy.

My last admission I was on a ward with 2 of the most offensive people ever, seriously if I'd posted you'd have all yelled troll.

The thing is your health is more important than ever now. The sooner you get this sorted the better.

Pull the curtains around, get a charger and headphones brought in.

And if theyre being inappropriate, complain to the staff.

PasstheDaimbars · 22/01/2015 21:25

Oh and you have a right to privacy, quote the NMC Code of Conduct: You must treat people as individuals and respect their dignity at them.

fluffyraggies · 22/01/2015 21:36

pumpkin - yes, i've had that happen too. I just pulled them again! But to be fair this was in the middle of the day, and the nurse was fresh on shift and having a good 'fling open the curtains and windows' session. However i was feeling weepy and needed my own space.

I find in the evening (after 6pm ish) a lot of folks pull their curtains round and are left to do so.

How are you doing OP?

Original poster
MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 22/01/2015 22:33

Thanks everyone for the replies. Ive calmed down a little.

If my bloods come back clear I might be discharged and given an urgent scan as an outpatient. I said to them I'd rather my bed be used by someone who needs it so theyre setting the bed up for someone else.

They lost my blood results so its being done again and theyve said if its bad, ill be on a different ward or unit anyway, and if its fine I can go. I dont want to be wastinf anyone's time needlessly.

I think im grumpy as im nil by mouth until further notice, and havent been able to eat since breakfast anyway.

The men have quietened down a little now, the only one who wasn't speaking has just asked me if I'm ok. I've sneakily plugged my phone in. Biggest issue now is tryig to take painkillers when im nil by mouth.

Thanks everyone, I was BU earlier and needed to be told, thanks to those of you who understood. Childbirth hurt less than this pain. I know I'll need it removing eventually but right now is not a good time, im right in the middle of my dissertation :(

OP posts:
BuggersMuddle · 22/01/2015 23:41

Oh OP, assessment wards can be horribly. BTDT - mixed assessment ward with frequent flyer drunk men in it. It was horrible, but they really shouldn't keep you in their for long (although up here it's max 48hrs, which I understand can be plenty long enough).

Nurses will tend to fling open curtains etc. very early because they have to. You can go back and close them though. I certainly have in hospital stays where I've been on ward, for a variety of reasons. No they didn't always like it, but I didn't need 'watched' outside of standard obs and was mobile, so my choice.

PasstheDaimbars · 23/01/2015 00:51

Glad you're feeling a bit better, never been through childbirth but had some other medical issues that have people say ugggghhh, ohhhh painful, and I've always said nah a doodle next to gall bladder pain.

Crap that they've lost the bloods, glad they've shut up. . .

Sounds like you've got a lot going on right now.

Please, if you are discharged take a few days to recover, the pain, the having to be NBM, the stress and tiredness all take an effect.

fromparistoberlin73 · 23/01/2015 08:25

Poor you . Massive sympathies

However can you tough it out and try and get this gall bladder sorted ?

Get some ear plugs or rather get DH to bring them

The the scariest looking nurse about noise !

Ask kindest nurse if you can me moved to a quieter bay with maybe women ? It's easily done by an porter

Hang on in there

I massively sympathise

Original poster
MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 23/01/2015 08:48

I came home at 1am last night. My blood results came back clear (does that mean the issue isn't my gallbladder?) so they said I could go, and I was happy to free up a bed for someone else as they're in desperate need.

OP posts:
WiIdfire · 23/01/2015 09:04

No, blood tests dont mean its not your gallbladder. There are lots of gallbladder problems that can cause pain.

  1. biliary colic - stone pain. Wont show up in blood tests, you need a scan to confirm you have stones. The diagnosis is made on that plus your description of the pain.
  2. Cholecystitis - infected gallbladder, usually picked up by raised blood tests (WCC & CRP) plus the scan results (thickened gallbladder)
  3. stone causing blockage and jaundice - shows up in raised blood tests (liver function tests) plus scans (ultrasound and MRI)
  4. Gallstone pancreatitis - shows up in blood tests (amylase).

Sounds more like you may have the first if bloods are clear, which is good as although its flippin painful, it is less likely to make you unwell, IYSWIM.

If it is that, you will still need to discuss having your gallbladder removed to stop it happening again, but not as urgent as if it were the other things.

More than you really wanted to know probably...

WiIdfire · 23/01/2015 09:05

Forgot to say glad you are home and feeling better!

Original poster
MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 23/01/2015 16:59

Lesson learnt; when people say you need to stay in hospital, you need to stay in hospital :(

OP posts:
Peepants78 · 23/01/2015 17:09

How are you feeling now?

Fairenuff · 23/01/2015 17:14

Oh dear, has it got worse OP?

Original poster
MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 23/01/2015 17:38

The pain is worse and has spread across my stomach, I'm struggling to keep food down and the 'urgent' scan isn't for three weeks :(

OP posts:
fromparistoberlin73 · 23/01/2015 17:41

Darling if needs be you you back to a and e

Get off here , write a simple list with incidents and dates and call NHS direct

Please x

fromparistoberlin73 · 23/01/2015 17:42

And if they send you take ear plugs, comfy clothes , water and charger just in case

Get yourself seen x

Fairenuff · 23/01/2015 17:47

Yes, pack a bag ready just in case and call NHS Direct.

WiIdfire · 23/01/2015 18:47

If you go back in, say you are a 'failed discharge' and with any luck they'll let you bypass A&E and be seen straight by the surgeons. Should save a lot of waiting around.

coughingbeanintheoven · 23/01/2015 18:51

Don't have any advice, just wanted to let you know that I have RTFT and am thinker of you, keep us updated Flowers

Original poster
MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 24/01/2015 09:57

I think I'm going to have to go back in :( I feel horrendous

OP posts:
littlepinkchair · 24/01/2015 10:14

Do go back in if you feel terrible - I've had to take both my parents to A&E in the last few years with gallbladder problems and both times it was way more serious than we imagined. better safe than sorry. hope it clears for you quickly

Cheby · 24/01/2015 10:14

Have you got a different A&E that's within driving distance?
3 weeks for an urgent scan is ridiculous. I have gallstones, I saw my GP on Xmas eve, got a referral, had my scan 2 weeks later, despite there being Xmas in between.

Now waiting for the next stage to discuss it but I'm only in intermittent pain and seem to be controlling it with diet at the moment so it's not urgent, sounds like yours is. If you're being sick it could be a sign of pancreatitis, please go back to A&E.

Fairenuff · 24/01/2015 10:32

OP just go to A&E, your records will show your history. Lots of people do this with gallstone pain, even if just to get pain relief.

Original poster
MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 24/01/2015 10:34

No other A&E in driving distance. Only 5 mins away from the nearest one, but it's in the news a lot at the moment for being in crisis both with A&E and beds :( I haven't been sick since yesterday now but the pain is awful :(

OP posts:
yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 24/01/2015 10:40

Please go to a&e I was sent away from a the doctors with the diagnosis of IBS, I went to a&e the next day as could barely move and was in agony. I had a gallstone blocking the duct and an inflamed gallbladder that ruptured just before surgery 6 hrs after I walked into a&e.
Hope everything is ok.