To ask for your most awful hospital ward companion stories?

[stripeyronnie]

Currently on a postnatal ward. Only been here an hour. So far someone has eaten reheated curry which I can still smell. Next doors toddler is watching peppa feckin pig on loudspeaker and a different toddler is opening my curtain whilst playing with a fire engine with siren on. Luckily baby is used to being at home with similarly annoying siblings (we've been readmitted) so is sleeping through it all. DH has been dispatched home for earplugs and other things to keep me sane.

There was the lady with some sort of dementia. She needed frequent reassurance.

I was quite ill myself, and found myself stuck sitting by her bed having the same conversation on repeat, because she found me comforting for some reason..

I'm not that keen on caring roles, and I definately don't enjoy caring for people while dizzy, in pain and running a temperature.

I had quite a traumatic birth with DS1 so was in hospital for 4 days. The lady opposite gave birth on the same day as me in the early hours of the morning.
DH was sent home and came back at 8am.
This ladies family arrived at the same time so 6 hours or so after giving birth.
There was her DH grandparents aunts uncles probably around 7 adults.
Her husband proceeded to get her out of bed and he laid down. Grannie sat in the easy chair and the rest of the family proceeded to take all the chairs that were next to other women's beds without even asking.
Tried to take mine and I said no as DH had only gone to get coffee.
They were there 2 hours. Her DH slept and the rest of the family chatted loudly amongst themselves.
All the while the poor woman who had given birth 6 hours before was perched on the end of the bed being ignored.
I felt so sorry for her.

They came back the next day and did the same again. I was fed up so went and found a midwife. She was fab and came on to the ward and gave them all a stern telling off especially the husband who was yet again asleep on the bed.
I often hope that the women left her marriage and is happy but I very much doubt it.

Ooh I had quite a few threads like this back in December when i spent a month in hospital awaiting dds arrival. Being in a shared bay almost pushed me over the edge.

I had three lovely ladies that stand out:

Lady one was admitted and would not speak to anyone else in the bay at first but chose to have very loud conversations on her mobile phone around 10pm every night for at least half an hour. Prior to this she would lay in her bed singing religious songs to herself at top notch volume as well. Also had the nurses acting like some sort of waitress service. I did soften towards her near the end of her stay when she finally started exchanging pleasantries and even said a few prayers for us which was quite kind.

The next lady was lovely and chatty, actually quite liked her but she had no social awareness whatsoever. Used to watch her tablet with no headphones and have it on full volume. Loved being in hospital and the drama of it all. She had had a very hard time conceiving and was in a very difficult pregnancy but did everything she could to make it worse. Used to go out for a smoke then have to come back in and be put in a nebuliser as couldn't stop coughing. Has GD and went down to the cafe daily for a cream cake then wondered why her sugars were up at the next test. I'd had a very hard time sustaining a pregnancy and it used to really piss me off.

Third lady - from another country originally. Had a family member that came and sat all day every day where they would speak in there mother tongue apart from the odd time where I would be interrogated about my relationship status and quite openly frowned upon. Visitor regularly got our a sheet and started preying in the middle of the bay. Completely inappropriate. Also treat nurses like slaves.

And to top it all off there was a young lady who kept getting admitted with hypremisis who walked the corridors all day screaming and crying which just pushed my anxiety over the edge.

Thank goodness for the wonderful tlstaff and the three young women who were admitted and completely amazing including their families who always made time to talk.

I discharged myself after 10 hours (at the time you stayed 2 days after having a baby) because of the noise - snoring, they kept coming to check on the babies and then at 4am just after a finally fell asleep then came to remove the guards on my bed because they needed them for a c section transfer (they had been left on accidentally from the person prior to me). I asked to go home then but was told I had to wait until the duty paediatrician came on duty at 8 (I could leave but dd couldn't do they said without that). No in ear bud headphones or smartphones then either. Food was disgusting too. Second baby private hospital in the US!

@LaMarschallin

Is there really any need to be so aggressive and unkind to others? Saying hurtful things to win an argument doesn't make you the winner. It just means that you hurt people. An unpleasant truth perhaps.

These ante natal stories are horrendous. Thank God I had my DC in the 1980s when staff ensured strict visiting times, 2 visitors per bed and good behaviour. No mobile phones etc so us Mums chatted to each other as we looked after our babies . When DD has DGS I was shocked by the antics of some visitors especially the Grandad who kept leering at women trying to BF

Are you the woman that watched 21Jump Street on St Mary’s antenatal Ward at 5.30am without headphones in 2012? Special place in hell reserved just for you.

** post natal !!

Have related this before on MN, so sorry if you’ve read it!

Was put in a two-bed room (a tiny one). I was wheeled in after a v traumatic 27 hour birth, stitched up, still covered in muck. DD beside me. Couldn’t raise anyone to help me get to the loo, so decided to try and sleep.

Room mate was a very young pregnant lass, looked to be only just third trimester. In for observation due to abdominal pain. Her boyfriend shared her bed the whole night, having loud sex, periodically bumping into my DD’s trolley cot. Charming. Again, couldn’t even find someone to complain to.

Finally I fell asleep, but was woken by a kerfuffle. Room had all the lights on, was packed with arguing nurses & doctors. Lass was moaning like a wounded beast. They couldn’t get consensus on whether she was in labour or not. I’d had enough. I whipped the curtain back and yelled at everyone. I said I’d just made that noise myself for a whole feckin day, and it was obviously labour. Could they please remove her and themselves to a birthing suite immediately, before I got up and split my 5000 stitches.

Next morning was her, back, her baby poorly in the NICU. Very premmie. All she could talk about (loudly on her mobile phone all day) was the skin colour of her DD, assuring her mates and family that she wasn’t ‘too dark’ like the dad, and not to worry. The staff offered to take her down to visit the baby, but she was too busy cackling on the phone and watching TV.

Midwife told me the baby would likely be in hospital for months, if she survived.

I’ve always felt very bad that my girl’s first hours in the world were spent with these horrid people. And I’m sure that being trapped in bed with sex happening 3 feet from my head contributed to some ongoing birth trauma issues I had to face. The first hours of motherhood (and a broken body) are surreal enough without that.

I was put in a side room when I had surgery at 18 (youngest on the ward by about 40 years as it was ENT related.) Woke up to an elderly gentleman peeing in the corner (my room was right next to the loo.)

On discharge day, I had to have a drain removed and the nurse sat me on the freshly changed bed to do so and blood splattered every where. The auxiliary nurse was not impressed that she had to change the sheets again.

Then when I had DD1, I had 1 lady puking all night, another who pressed her buzzer every 5 minutes and a 3rd who was chatting really loudly on her phone all night. By the time DH arrived the next morning, I promptly handed him DD1 and walked off the ward and refused to come back unless they promised to discharge us both.

With DD2, we had a couple of stays in hospital with illness when she was tiny. The first time, she had to be tube fed (with formula) and I got told off for expressing too much milk as they couldn't store it all, she was 6 weeks old and we were still establishing breast feeding so was pumping whenever I'd usually feed her (2-3 hours)

4 babies and a few hospital stays but majority were fine. 19 I was in hdu following major surgery and the man opposite passed away in the night. And they gave me a drug I’m allergic too.

Then at 21 weeks pregnant was admitted to a general for an abbess and in the night the old lady opposite passed away I remember them wheeling her bed away then dozed off again and the lady in the next bed was teary in the morning due to poor Elsie quite sad.

Baby 1 (18 next week) the dishwasher went on fire, fire brigade came we were evacuated to gyn I collapsed & has to have a transfusion baby was fine though.

2 I was out within 12 hours.

3 was born in triage v fast and ended up in NICU during the night, I was moved to a bay with a v young girl with a prem baby who was quite poorly. She talked on phone constantly and had millions of visitors - I had partner and kids as no one bothered to see me as they couldn’t also see the baby.
He was to come and room in with me overnight before we got home and the midwife told me in front of this poor girl who then broke her heart that I’d have my baby and hers was still in nicu so I mentioned to midwife and they moved me to another bay then midwife said I didn’t need to stay overnight with him after all and we just went home - never been so glad to go home.

4 I was admitted to be induced walked about loads went to bed but they were keen for me to go home as felt he wasn’t for coming so failed induction. Was quite unckmfy in bed but lady in next bed had a sore side or similar so got pain relief/heat packs extra pillows etc the midwife came in and asked why I was groaning I just said I was sore and she tutted and left got me paracetamol though then anti sickness jag. And told me to go to sleep. 2230 then I was getting more and more uncomfortable - not sore overly felt need to push (they knew ds3 was v fast born in triage) and lady in next bed buzzed and ds4 was born in bed in bay we went down to delivery suite then to a little bay on our own till morning and pretty much would’ve run out of the doors if I could at 9am the next morning

I'd just made that noise myself for a whole feckin' day

All sounds horrendous Skittlesandbeer especially the sex in the next bed, but this bit did make me laugh

@Hoppinggreen wow. I genuinely can’t believe how smug you seem over doing something so selfish.

It’s the other patients you cheated, you know, not the system. I’m sure the ladies in ACTUAL labour would have loved a private room, but you know, so long as you got a ‘lovely nights sleep!!’

What do you think would happen if everyone did what you did?

Sure lots would like to but don’t because they’re too ill/shy/polite/tired/courteous.... man. What a world we live in.

Then at 21 weeks pregnant was admitted to a general for an abbess

Love this autocorrect!

When my Dad had cancer he was in the post Op ward after having half a lung removed. Everyone on this ward was in the same boat and all high as kites on Morphine.

The old man in the bed opposite was adamant my Dad had 'stolen his camcorder'. Saved by the fact he was too ill to get out of bed to check he kept shouting the nurse to do it for him. Dad bless him said he was clearly loopy, after all look at the graffiti he's scrawled on the wall above his bed.... That poor nurse didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

My FIL was in a similar situation and told DH in amazement how modern this place was that they had google maps installed on the ceiling.

I often wonder what went on when we weren't there. The poor staff 😂

@CorBlimeyGovenor

Is there really any need to be so aggressive and unkind to others? Saying hurtful things to win an argument doesn't make you the winner. It just means that you hurt people.

Have you read the progression of my posts?

The PP had said they were pleased to have helped another patient who was charming, cultured and frail. That immediately brought my hackles up because I know how people who don't present as charming etc can be treated. I suspect the charmless ones wouldn't have had such sympathy. I have worked in liaison psychiatry so my views are coloured with that.
Mea culpa. But if this lady was going to be a failed discharge, should her personal qualities count?

Generally ward staff want to help and advice from random patient Ms Bloggs doesn't help.

The clerk (not ward staff) tried to tello us it was none of our business. But she was floored when the elderly lady told her she positively welcomed our interference. Gave us something to focus on and we got her sorted.

Does the poster have any better qualifications than the ward clerk?

I could have been a lot "nastier" after after this:

I was in with breathing difficulties. I am a hopelessly addicted smoker and found it very hard. I had a vape which I wasn't allowed to use on the ward. The others, both non smokers, said that was ridiculous and they kept watch while I vaped under the covers.

Hilarious. Let's keep those ward staff running around trying to diagnose my hacking cough when they don't have the time to sort out charming & cultured over the road.

I thought I was quite kind to point out that the staff no doubt knew about her vaping and (as I said) kindly and sadly went along with the silly pretence.
As you may have gathered, I wouldn't have gone along with it. That may have been: "An unpleasant truth".
But maybe a useful one.

But let's not be nasty and call out the Enid Blyton boarding school fantasies.

Vaping under the sheets! Tee hee!
We were a little trio of rebels. And I will never forget them.

Yes. I bet they were.
And if their fellow patients don't forget, at least the ward staff will remember.
At about 3am when they wake up screaming.

See, CBG, I only got really nasty when someone used the hackneyed phrase, "Who pissed on your chips?".

Which is pretty nasty in itself.

Sorry, OP.
Nothing to do with your thread.

To rerail (as opposed to derail) the thread, this is my joint second favourite autocorrect ever:

Then at 21 weeks pregnant was admitted to a general for an abbes

I had just turned 16 & was admitted for an emergency appendectomy, I had nobody my age around me all the women were at least mid 40’s & many had hysterectomies but one woman would get up in the night & just randomly walk about mumbling to herself, it was quite scary really especially as I was so young, the staff would eventually get her back into bed, but would do it a few times, spent 5 nights in hospital it was awful!

Hi folks,

Please can we have a bit of peace and love?

Thanks.

On labour ward, NDN's partner was busy, very loudly, ordering a new mobile phone contract while we we both labouring

Spent six weeks in hospital. One other was there for 4 of the six weeks and was lovely as were other others who came and went during that time. Apart from one who insisted on having basically everyone from her street visiting and bring in fish and chips, kebabs and chips, curries everyday. Couldn't wait for her to be discharged which fortunately was after 4 days. Can only describe it as disgusting.

I remember (after giving birth) being in the ward with my baby, attached to a catheter bag. I hadn't slept all day and for most of the previous night. My baby had just fallen asleep and I was getting ready to get some much needed sleep.
Just then, a new mother was wheeled in who was ravenous. She spent the best part of the next hour crunching through a plate of toast. I wanted to shout at her, as I lay there in bed seething. It wasn't her fault...but I was murderous.

When I was in for a blood clot on, I was on a geberal ward towards the end and across from me an elederly lady was in who clearly had dementure, the priblem was she used to be a nurse and often switched into nurse mode and went round checking on people unplugging machines, turned my oxygen off and started confiscating food off people. A lot of the patients were elderly I was the only one in my early 30s so thankfylly could plug myself back in and raise the alarm when she did it to more vulnerable people, when we raised the issue with staff we were told they were doing all they could but there was nowhere else for her to go. So they moved me to another room, shortley after the crash team ruahed in after she did it to another patient and I felt totally shit because had I still been in there Id have been able to raise the alarm quicker, still dont know whether the lady who had her machines turnes off pulled through. It was horrible, but I know the lady with dementure was put in a care home that day. Which frankly I think should have happened a long time before that. I know it wasnt her fault but the ward wasnt able to cope with her needs and watch her constantly, but there should have been something in place for her rather than taking up a hospital bed. Often sadly the case though. But I still feel guulty because the firta few days I just tried my best to distract her by asking her questions like "Whats visiting times" etc and pressing my buzzer when I saw her messing with machines. But I got so tired and felt like I couldn't sleep cos she was just as active at night.

When having my oldest the mum in the next bed argued with the babies dad at every opportunity, they weren’t together. It was hard going.
A few years ago I was hit by a car and I was on a mixed observation ward. The man across shouted ‘nurse’ all night. The women two beds up from me who was elderly cried very loudly all night. Another elderly man throughout the night asked where he was and wanted to go home.
As I was recovering from a horrific trauma and I was in a lot of pain it was difficult to cope with. Thankfully I left the ward after a few nights.

Thankfully have only been an inpatient once. Kidney stones which meant I needed to drink lots of water to help them pass. Fine except the only water left for me was the residue used to give me an enema earlier. Sunday evening, these things happen, it was sorted out the next morning after a talking to for not drinking enough. Cleaning team arrived whizzed around quickly and left leaving the pool of my blood under my bed. It was still there two nights later when I was discharged.

Like others I was the youngest on the ward. The lady opposite me was doubly incontinent and had dementia. She went to the toilet in the bed constantly day and night. The nursing staff were run ragged changing the bed for her. Someone else died on the ward so curtains round all other beds and late breakfast. I took the opportunity to read my notes and got told off when caught doing so.

The nursing staff were lovely, very kind to me, the drip who was terrified of needles and cried all the time. I was asked if I would like to be discharged early and nearly tore the cannula out of my arm myself I was so relieved.

All very mild compared to others stories.