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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I have discharged myself from hospital and I'm terrified

49 replies

Welshmaenad · 13/07/2022 11:07

I need Hel and advice. On Monday evening I discharged myself from hospital (two drs agreed in the morning I could go as no medical need to stay but then they disappeared and I ended up discharging myself)

I have been in for 3 weeks, one in intensive care. They have resolved the medical issue but I am very weak. I had forgotten how low my sofa is and I am unable to get off it.

My partner is here and off work and doing his best to look after me but I'm so scared and feel stuck and panicked. I can't stop crying.

I am waiting for my dr to call me back. My backside is in a horrific state due to lack of care on the ward, so I think I need the district nurses but I don't know how fast they can get a occupational therapist to help me or supply equipment. I think the sofa needs raising up but it's a huge heavy corner

I was assaulted on the ward on the weekend and they were not caring for me at all (or anyone else as they were understaffed) so please don't judge me for needing to get out of there. My pressure area is already much better with my partners care even with me stuck on the sofa and I'm in much less pain but I'm having constant panic attacks and I need to know what to do. Please help.

OP posts:

SilverPeacock · 13/07/2022 12:15

Also tell them about assault on ward as that is safeguarding issue and should really be reported to local authority and police

jacks11 · 13/07/2022 12:31

It was your decision to discharge before anything could be put in place- it does sound like you had your reasons, so I’m not having a pop- but unfortunately that does mean things that might have been out in place prior to you going home have not been put in place and it may take a bit if time to get sorted. Your GP can help with things like painkillers.

I know that locally the GP can do a referral to community OT and physiotherapy but in our area it can take at least 48 hours for an urgent review, depending on workload it can be a bit longer. The district nurses can come out if you aren’t able to attend the practice to get the dressings done there.

good luck!

jacks11 · 13/07/2022 12:35

Also, you really do need to speak to the hospital about the assault. I’m not sure of the circumstances but they need to be aware. It may or may not be something they could have prevented, but it will need to be investigated.

PearlclutchersInc · 13/07/2022 12:38

I've nothing to offer except What a terrible experience.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/07/2022 13:36

SilverPeacock · 13/07/2022 12:07

Phone GP and local social services too and ask for urgent assessment. They have a duty of care to you whether you self discharged or not. Please do this right away and discuss your options with someone professional

I agree,ring social services asap. They were very helpful when a family member was in a similar situation.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/07/2022 13:36

Depending on the feet of your sofa you can buy risers from Amazon, they'll come tomorrow of you have prime.

LIZS · 13/07/2022 13:41

Sounds like you need support from your local interim care/reablement team - carers, ot, physio, nursing care as appropriate. The gp surgery should be able to refer you. Will they have a copy of your discharge notes or could your dp drop a copy in?

Is there a mobility shop or Red Cross centre from where you could hire equipment? Can you double up cushions on the sofa to raise the level?

Nothingoriginalhere · 13/07/2022 13:46

Do not just turn up at the Gp though as pp suggested, ring first, there may not be an appointment free with the nurse unless your surgery run an urgent care list.
I work in a surgery and lists are fully booked weeks in advance ( and usually already overbooked).
Any equipment you need will take several weeks to organise unfortunately which is why discharges can take such a long time / it may not be able to be provided immediately.

devonianBiatch · 13/07/2022 13:54

Op, order some elephant feet/chair risers on Amazon prime to raise your sofa.

I'm so sorry you went through that. I hope you feel better soon

Moonopoly · 13/07/2022 14:01

So sorry to hear this OP. When my Dad was discharged too early and couldn’t manage the stairs or loo I made an urgent referral to adult social services through first point of contact. They sent an OT within a day to look at modifications

toooldtocarewhoknows · 13/07/2022 14:12

Have you any strong neighbours and bricks?

You can pop out normal sofa casters with a screw driver. Then raise the sofa up on bricks laid flat not on their sides. It's stable but I'd advise you to push the sofa against a wall for more stability should you go back onto it suddenly. This will get you out of a hard place immediately.

Then you can put a call in to the discharge OT on the ward you were on and ask for sofa raisers. Or you can call an aids and adaption shop or buy on line some raisers for your sofa.

This type of thing will arrive tomorrow if you order now.

Utopia Bedding 8 Piece Premium Adjustable Furniture Risers (4 High and 4 Short) - Heavy Duty Riser with Strong Space saving - Bed Riser, Table Riser, Chair or Sofa Riser (3 to 8 Inch) - (Black) amzn.eu/d/cmjAcOI

I'm old school OT from the1980's who worked rurally. We did whatever was needed and safe.

Original poster

Welshmaenad · 23/08/2022 13:17

I'm so sorry, I forgot to come back and update this as there was so much going on.

District nurses came out, took one look at me, and ordered a profiling bed to be delivered urgently. I managed to get into it by lowering it and rolling from the sofa.

I was then able to start some rehab.

I had a setback as I became violently sick and weak and was readmitted to hospital for surgery to remove a huge cluster of abscesses and necrotic tissue from my chest wall that was somehow missed before. I'm now home, back in my lovely bed and am starting to build up the time I can spend standing.

Thank you all for your ideas and kindness.

OP posts:

Maytodecember · 23/08/2022 13:27

If your DP and friend can safely get you to your mobility scooter, I’d go for that.
Could you call local Red Cross? Or look at mobility services in your area, they can often loan a bed, or reclining chair.
Call GP to arrange community nurse to see you. Hospital should have arranged this plus OT but I can understand you getting out of the hospital as soon as you could.
Please think about reporting the assault. I know hospitals are under pressure but they have to protect people in their care.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Maytodecember · 23/08/2022 13:27

Ignore above, I missed your update!
Get well soon.

Elleherd · 23/08/2022 14:15

I missed your original thread, but wanted to remind you that you should be entitled to up to six weeks free reablement. Depending where you are can determine how useful or good it is, but it's worth a thought.

Booklover3 · 23/08/2022 14:29

You can buy chair raisers if you can afford them. A mobility centre would do them but when I just googled you can get them in Argos!

I hope you are feeling better OP.

Booklover3 · 23/08/2022 14:31

Ignore me too OP. Just saw your update. You want an intermediate care team. They do OT assessments and their job is to keep people out of hospital… but if you’ve got the district nurses visiting (they might even be from that team) I’m sure you should be due an OT visit.

picklemewalnuts · 23/08/2022 14:35

Gosh @Welshmaenad ! I'm glad you are on the road to recovery again.

Rachie1973 · 22/11/2022 18:30

Welshmaenad · 13/07/2022 11:16

The hospital I was on was not my local one.

I absolutely 100% cannot return to hospital, I just can't. If I could get myself up from the sofa I could start recuperating at my own pace in my own environment with my own equipment (I was physically disabled prior to admission).

I just can't stop panicking about the current situation.

Do you have an air cushion for your bottom? And a mattress? If not you need a social worker and an OT urgently.

Simonjt · 22/11/2022 18:32

Rachie1973 · 22/11/2022 18:30

Do you have an air cushion for your bottom? And a mattress? If not you need a social worker and an OT urgently.

Show quote history

I don’t think the OP has been trapped on the sofa since July.

MichelleScarn · 22/11/2022 18:33

Is this due to the bloody 'this may interest you' thingymabob?

bakebeans · 23/11/2022 16:09

@Lovelydovey its district nurses who deal with wound care not GP's. The GP would simply refer to the district nurses.

dolor · 23/11/2022 16:38

Have you reported the assault to the police? If someone is able to access the ward and assault you, the police need to know about it.

Your situation is terrifying, at least you're safe at home now.

HoppingPavlova · 23/11/2022 22:27

Have you reported the assault to the police? If someone is able to access the ward and assault you, the police need to know about it.

It’s likely another patient on the ward. It’s a hard one as everyone deserves medical care, and everyone deserves to be safe but sometimes these things logistically don’t meet. Lots of older people with dementia will get out of bed and go have a go at someone physically or verbally. Not a simple case of putting them in a side room either as capacity may not allow it.

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