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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you drink bathroom water?

184 replies

itsallgoneshitflavoured · 27/12/2021 19:01

I'm in hospital with norovirus at 38 weeks pregnant. I can't keep anything down and haven't eaten in 3 days now. I'm dying of thirst, despite being on a drip to rehydrate me. My lips are cracked and bleeding and my mouth is so dry it's an effort to swallow.
I asked the nurse for a jug of water well over an hour ago and nothing has appeared. I've asked numerous times and so far only been given half a jug over the last 24 hours. It's not enough.
I messaged DP who said 'just get bathroom water'. But the sinks all have signs on them in my room saying DO NOT DRINK. Will I be okay if I fill my empty jug and get some bathroom water in me? I feel like I'm being tortured.

OP posts:
Original poster
itsallgoneshitflavoured · 27/12/2021 19:36

@Treehau5

Wow he sounds delightful, so instead of phoning the ward manager he's winding you up going on about his beer, ew.
Quite. He's usually very kind, thoughtful and supportive of me. But for some reason he's viewing this debacle as another example of me not doing as I'm told by people there to care for me. I'm so angry at him right now, he's been a complete prick to be fair.
OP posts:
x2boys · 27/12/2021 19:38

Have you got a mobile phone? , you could always ring the nurses station and ask them to bring some water ?
Go via switchboard id you don't know the number .

FateHasRedesignedMost · 27/12/2021 19:38

Don’t drink from the tap! The sign is there for a reason.

Some hospitals have bells that trigger an urgent tone if pressed 3 times in quick succession, have you tried that?

Or are they making you stay NBM (hence the drip) until the norovirus passes?

MrTumblesEyebrows · 27/12/2021 19:38

Threaten them with PALS. This is horrific I can't believe they've left you like this!

In fact don't even threaten them just contact PALS and make a complaint.

Mummywantsaweewee · 27/12/2021 19:39

Bloody hell. Hold down on the bell til they bring you water. And don’t accept anyone shouting at you - we aren’t allowed to shout at NHS employees so why are they allowed to shout at patients??? Record it on your phone if you have to!!

Mellowyellow222 · 27/12/2021 19:40

Is your partner usually so vile? I am shocked at the standard of care you are receiving and shocked that someone who is supposed to love you doesn’t seem concerned with your welfare when you are so vulnerable

ineedsun · 27/12/2021 19:40

Can you order some bottles of water through ubereats or whichever one it is that does grocery delivery?

Obviously not that you should have to do this but maybe it will a) get you the water quicker and b) make the point that you’ve had to resort to this to get your basic needs met.

Not sure if PALS is open today, the other option I’d try is calling them to ask for a volunteer to bring you some water.

Hope you feel better soon

Justgettingbye · 27/12/2021 19:42

I drink water from my own bathroom because it's on the mains but wouldn't in your situ

Double3xposure · 27/12/2021 19:42

I had this same problem when I was in hospital after having an emergency C section. I had been fasted for 20 hour and was on a drip which stopped working. I asked repeatedly for water to drink and was brought a small plastic cup about half full.

Every so often a nurse would come along, flick my drip with her finger, scowl at me and scold me because that I didn’t have enough urine in the bag. When I asked for water to drink I was told that I shouldn’t need a water if I was on a drip.

I wasn’t able to get out of bed to get my own water. I also wasn’t able to reach to pick up my own baby to feed. When I asked then to pass the baby, I was told that breast fed babies don’t need fed for the first 24 hours.

It was awful on that ward. I went home less than 24 hours after being in theatre just to get some food and water. I would have gone home earlier but they insisted I needed to wait for a paediatrician to check the baby.

Women who have had vaginal deliveries are told that they can’t get any help because the nurses are helping women who have had sections. That wasn’t true IME, the nurses sat in their office and did bugger all.

Original poster
itsallgoneshitflavoured · 27/12/2021 19:43

@Mellowyellow222

Is your partner usually so vile? I am shocked at the standard of care you are receiving and shocked that someone who is supposed to love you doesn’t seem concerned with your welfare when you are so vulnerable
No, he's really not. But I think he's got it in to his head that I'm being difficult. He rang the ambulance for me last night and practically forced me on to it. I really didn't want to go to hospital, but can see now that it was completely necessary. So my moaning about the water, he's decided to take it as another example of me not doing as I'm told be professionals. He thinks I'm getting drip fed fluids so don't need water, otherwise they'd provide it.
OP posts:
user15364596354862 · 27/12/2021 19:44

Fucking hell. Hospital patients being told to ask family to bring them drinking water? Oh yeh the NHS is really something to be proud of.

Dehydration kills. Scarily quickly. Drinking water is not some sort of special "extra".

BabyPotato · 27/12/2021 19:45

I hope you get water soon OP. I know what it's like and it sucks. I was in hospital with the flu + pneumonia some years ago and they just would not give me water. It felt like torture. The nurses did say that as I was on a drip I was only allowed to drink small amounts, but it got a bit silly when they still wouldn't give me water when the drip came out. I kept asking the nurses all night and I too was in isolation. I think I was given like half a jug in the morning and another half in the evening. It really wasn't enough. I would definitely keep asking and ask them to explain if there is a reason you're not allowed to drink

HangingOutWithTheSandman · 27/12/2021 19:45

That sounds awful. I would just press the buzzer continuously until they answer. Once they say they’ll get it shortly and it doesn’t arrive after 5 minutes, start pressing the buzzer again.

Your partner is a prick. He needs to put the kids in the car and drop bottled water to you so you have some. And don’t have any more kids with the unsympathetic little twat! I would find his lack of sympathy unforgivable.

I hope you’re feeling better soon.

user15364596354862 · 27/12/2021 19:45

So my moaning about the water, he's decided to take it as another example of me not doing as I'm told be professionals. He thinks I'm getting drip fed fluids so don't need water, otherwise they'd provide it.

Is he normally this fucking stupid?

Bonbon21 · 27/12/2021 19:45

Open the door and shout for water. If they want you in isolation they have to provide you with the basic necessities.. em.. like.... water!!

JohnSmithDrive · 27/12/2021 19:45

@user15364596354862

Fucking hell. Hospital patients being told to ask family to bring them drinking water? Oh yeh the NHS is really something to be proud of.

Dehydration kills. Scarily quickly. Drinking water is not some sort of special "extra".

The situation is awful, but the OP isn't going to die of dehydration while she's on a drip.

Did you go OP?

shouldistop · 27/12/2021 19:47

@user15364596354862

Fucking hell. Hospital patients being told to ask family to bring them drinking water? Oh yeh the NHS is really something to be proud of.

Dehydration kills. Scarily quickly. Drinking water is not some sort of special "extra".

It's awful being in hospital. Anytime I go now I take a huge bottle of water with me
takenforgrantednana · 27/12/2021 19:48

@itsallgoneshitflavoured

I'm in hospital with norovirus at 38 weeks pregnant. I can't keep anything down and haven't eaten in 3 days now. I'm dying of thirst, despite being on a drip to rehydrate me. My lips are cracked and bleeding and my mouth is so dry it's an effort to swallow. I asked the nurse for a jug of water well over an hour ago and nothing has appeared. I've asked numerous times and so far only been given half a jug over the last 24 hours. It's not enough. I messaged DP who said 'just get bathroom water'. But the sinks all have signs on them in my room saying DO NOT DRINK. Will I be okay if I fill my empty jug and get some bathroom water in me? I feel like I'm being tortured.
you press that buzzer repeatedly til you get fresh water! make as much noise as you can! shout the nurse if you have to. but under no circumstance do you drink that bathroom water
Notwithittoday · 27/12/2021 19:48

I just wanted to offer sympathy. I was taken into hospital by ambulance 4 days post partum, left on a trolley all night with no water. I don’t like water normally but I had post partum sweats and I’ve never felt thirst like it. You have to advocate for yourself. Ring the bell repeatedly if necessary. Request two jugs of water so they don’t have to keep coming back. You and baby need it

JohnSmithDrive · 27/12/2021 19:49

I can see why DH thinks there must be a reason they won't provide water because it's just so shocking otherwise. He still needs to phone and find out what is going on though.

socksandslipper · 27/12/2021 19:52

Have you been out to get it yet?

cultkid · 27/12/2021 19:53

Ring your bell and say you're going to tell pals

Are they giving you IV anti emetics
I would discharge my self and go home if you are not being looked after it sounds dangerous

I have had amazing care at my hospital even when in isolation last week with Covid and needing treatment

They were so so so good to me I am appalled to hear you've been brought no water

Just blank your husband he will soon get the message about how insensitive he's being

AutumnLeaves21 · 27/12/2021 19:54

@user15364596354862

Fucking hell. Hospital patients being told to ask family to bring them drinking water? Oh yeh the NHS is really something to be proud of.

Dehydration kills. Scarily quickly. Drinking water is not some sort of special "extra".

🙄🙄🙄 she’s being hydrated intravenously, she isn’t going to die, don’t be so fucking ridiculous. That being said OP, your comfort is important-you deserve fresh drinking water. If you’re on restricted oral fluids that should have been explained to you. I would keep pressing your buzzer repeatedly until you get some. And when you’re home and feeling better, definitely feed this back to the ward manager. Hope you’re feeling better soon Flowers
SynchroSwimmer · 27/12/2021 19:58

I am feeling alarmed on your behalf op.
Are you passing urine?….very concerned at your hydration levels…

This reminds me of the story of the young man in hospital who died of dehydration, he was so desperate I think he actually called the police from his hospital bed, if I recall correctly, but he didn’t make it. Please get someone to push hard on your behalf.

husbandcallsmepickle · 27/12/2021 19:58

Do you have a pen? Start recording what's going on on your notes so there's written evidence on your hospital records. Someone told me to do this when I was in hospital receiving poor care.