About people who check into hospitals on Facebook?

[MintyChapstick]

Does anyone else think this is the most attention seeking thing ever? I see it a lot statuses saying things like 'ouch' and a tag to th A and E department of our local hospital? Cue lots of 'u OK Hun?' type messages, sometimes they respond, sometimes they don't. I've got one on my feed this morning, 'In admissions, nil by mouth' with a tag to the local hospital. Lots of comments asking what's wrong, no response but she's managed to share and like lots of other things since she's been admitted... Never mind though, she's got the attention she so desperately seems to crave

I know people are going to say that they can use Facebook as they please, but surely as well attention seeking sharing stuff like that will cause worry to family and friends who can see it and won't know what's wrong?

[Enkopkaffetak]

I check in when ever I take DS to GOSH not always with an update. Our friends knows whats up with ds and usually we get a like on it. then I update as we know having spoken to consultant.

Not attention seeking for me a easy way to let out friends and family know whats going on

[AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected]

It's only inappropriate if it has other people in it

[AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected]

Another example

One of the school mums checks in regularly in hospital

all of her neighbours/aquaintances/school gate mums etc know why

If someone who doesn't really know her added her recently they might say "vague booker", but as the check ins relate to an ongoing thing that she's open about, anyone who knows her in real life or has been her facebook friend for any lengh of time knows what she means, which is "omg we're back in AGAIN"

[Jemimapuddleduk]

Well it was the norm at our children's ward minty and nurses were often in the pictures too.

[MintyChapstick]

No, it's inapropriate full stop and clearly it's enough of a problem for the staff at my local hospital to put up signs asking people not to do it.

[LtPigeon]

I totally agree about the attention seekers and the vague-booking. Long terms problems or repeat visits, especially posters with children needing long term treatment, I can totally understand.
I had a 10 day stay a while ago to fix a badly broken leg which needed a big op. LOTS of sitting about, totally immobile, with fuck all to do apart from enjoy the morphine and wait for visiting time. Reader, I did do some FBing from hospital, I apologise if that's an unforgivable faux-pas.

[AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected]

No, it's inapropriate full stop and clearly it's enough of a problem for the staff at my local hospital to put up signs asking people not to do it

It is NOT innappropriate in all situations, the signs are aimed at the lowest common denominators: people who would upload selfies that comprimise others dignity or confidentiality

Nurses (who actually understand the range of ways people deal with illness and dying) will happily TAKE photos and family shots for you in hospital so long as it's not comprimising anyone else, because for some people , it helps and not everyone deals with everything the way you think you would

[AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected]

What if a child has to celebrate his/her birthday in hospital, or christmas, are their birthday pics still inappropriate?

[Doggity]

Minty, sadly, many kids will spend weeks and months in hospital. At times, they'll feel well enough to smile and play. You'd really deny a private snapshot of just that child?

[2nds]

What's the next subject to hate on fb, people posting their wedding pictures? Seriously if someone checking into a hospital is a big gripe for you, you either need to get a life or... Actually no I can't think of anything other than get a life.

[rubybleu22]

this is the one that really really gets me
' ABC has just checked in at XYZ hospital A&E department'
cue 100 comments, what's happened, are you ok chick etc etc
for the poster to then reply .....' I can't say on here'
WTF is that all about ???
pointless attention seeking crap

[TheNaze73]

It's attention seeking of the highest order. I think the perpetrators are the ones that need to get a life

[Shizzlestix]

• I think it's hideous! Up there with the
  'I just can't take this shit in my life anymore angry'
  Followed by any mixture of: shock, what's up Hun??, message me, OMG u ok??
  Then hours later the reply finally comes:
  'Kettle has only gon an broken agen sad'
  
  Just fuck off*
  
  If it's this kind of shit, defo, yeah, it's U. I hate all the meaningless unhappy faces bollocks with dozens of 'You alright, Hun?' and deliberate non response.
  
  When I was in hospital, I was too busy working out how to breathe with the oxygen mask, where the morphine button was and how the fuck I was supposed to go to the loo when I couldn't walk and the canulas were all attached to different things. I ignored Facebook: I have acquaintances on there who didn't need to know what was going on, but after a week, I was able to sit up and posted on a group I'm in with people who would want to know.

[KittensWithWeapons]

Well, yes, I agree re attention seekers with the Vaguebooking. I completely disagree re the photos. My friend posted loads of photos of her son when he was in NICU, covered in tubes and wires. Because posting photos of their new babies is what many people do. And the only photos she had of him were of him in an incubator, looking very poorly and covered in tubes and wires. Why shouldn't she proudly post photos of her beloved son?

I'm with Adulting, there's nothing wrong with wanting a bit of sympathy and attention. I was in hospital recently and I kind of wish I'd posted an attention seeking status. The only visitors I had were my Mum, Dad, and DP. Who only managed short visits in the evening due to work. No-one else (except my colleagues, who are over an hour away) knew I was there. Because I didn't tell anyone for fear of being 'attention seeking'.

Oh, and the whole 'if you're well enough to be on Facebook you don't need to be in hospital' thing. Nonsense. Funnily enough, when I was stuck to my hospital bed via a drip that was on a pump (so plugged in and not able to be wheeled around with me) I could still pick up my phone and tap on the screen.

[Londonlassy]

Had an ex-friend who does this. Posts when her son is in a&e It's obvious she is trying to drum up interest in her mummy blog. Couple of days later posts how hopeless the doctors were and they all trying tried to force painkillers/antibiotics on ds. She then talks about natural remedies and links to her blog. Annoyed me to no end

[giraffesCantReachTheirToes]

mrsdv when your child is ill in hosp you need to kiss them 45 time a minute while singing them lullabies. Tough shit if they actually want peace and quiet and want to sleep/play their own ipad/are in a grump.and need to chill themselvs/reading...

[grannytomine]

Jemima, take no notice, if it helped you in the slightest way it was worth it. Who care if people who have no idea what you have been through are judgemental, it says more about them than it does about you.

I hope you little one is on the mend, it must be an awful thing to go through. I have sat by my kids in hospital but for much more minor things but they were still difficult for me and them. Good luck.

[2boysnamedR]

I am guilty of this. DS has ASD and lives in the hospital. I'm desperately trying to get in laws to accept his Dx. So mil will reply "what's wrong?" To which I want to scream "he's got ASD! We bloody live here! This is my life!" But i usually don't reply. It's perversely therapeutic

[2boysnamedR]

Anyway FB is a narcissist playground. Most of my family piss me off on there more I knew they ever could. I only stay on there for a few SEN groups I'm in. I think FB is another reason our family never see much of each other now too.

[elliejjtiny]

I agree with the check ins with cryptic messages, really annoying.

My DS4, aged 3 has had 11 general anaesthetics so far and I have lots of photos of him at the hospital. I also like to update facebook, mostly when he is asleep, when he is awake I'm usually busy making sure he doesn't turn all the taps on at the sinks or trying to escape from the ward . I find that the more times he spends in there the harder it is to get any sympathy or attention at all. People just shrug when I tell them and say I must be used to it by now. So yes, sometimes I post something very attention seeking on facebook because most people are bored of DS4's problems by now and hospital is a very lonely place at times.

[OlennasWimple]

My friend's son has a life limiting disease, so when I see he has checked into GOSH I know what it's about and I'm glad to know everything is going well or if there's a problem so we can offer some support. If you didn't know him well, you might think the updates were a bit cryptic I guess.

I have a few drama llamas on FB who are in and out of A&E a the time. I just ignore them, it's remarkably easy to do - just keep scrolling...

[SomeDaysIDontGiveAMonkeys]

I find it quite ridiculous. I recently very begrudgingly only told a friend I had to go hospital because she happened to call when I was struggling to breath. Her husband packed me a huge picnic including his homemade flapjacks and his wife - my friend came and picked me up and drove me to hospital. I hate being the centre of attention though, so maybe I'm the odd one not want to post announcements of every detail of my life on Facebook .

[Aeroflotgirl]

It is attention seeking, if you check in, but do not post why you are there. If your not, don't bother.

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

The only hospital check ins I respond to are ones from people I know to be going through extensive treatment, who need cheering up and a hand hold.

I'm in several Huntington's disease support groups on Facebook, and there are often check ins on those, but nothing cryptic and the goodwill on them is wonderful. A lot of the people living with the disease in those groups can't communicate independently, so it's handy for carers and family members to let everyone know the person has been admitted or has taken a significant turn for the worst. Many of us are in different countries, but are still friends and we all care and want to know what's happening. I'd never begrudge someone that.