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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To fart in hospital?

48 replies

Cucumber1234 · 30/07/2023 07:12

Im in hospital again after only coming home less than a week ago.

I have wind, which is actually a very good sign for my bowel health which is one of the reasons im in. The thing is, i dont want to be holding it in. Its not good for my condition. But id feel bad just farting as and when. Do i explain i have wind and apologise? Or do i say pardon me after every fart? Or do i try and muffle it some how?.

They dont smell, im by the window in a bay of six ladies but have no one next to me or across from me.

What would you do? Are you team farter/muffler/pardoner?

YANBU-Farter
YABU-Muffler/pardoner

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 30/07/2023 07:23

I have had an operation where gas is pumped inside you and you have to let it go afterwards. Just fart under the covers. All kinds of intimate things get shared in hospital it can't be avoided.

strawberryandcreams · 30/07/2023 07:26

The nurse actually got cross as my tummy was in pain after my colonoscopy and she told me I needed to let out all the wind

SoShallINever · 30/07/2023 07:26

Honestly don't worry.
Wait until poor old Ethel in the bed next to you needs to go and they sit her on a commode 2 feet away from where you are eating lunch, with only a curtain separating you.
There is no dignity.

Greenfishy · 30/07/2023 07:29

OMG fart away!! Don’t be in discomfort. Unfortunately you do lose a bit of dignity in hospital!

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 30/07/2023 07:29

@SoShallINever

Have you always made fun of the elderly or is it a new thing?

OP- yanbu. Get well soon!

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/07/2023 07:31

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 30/07/2023 07:29

@SoShallINever

Have you always made fun of the elderly or is it a new thing?

OP- yanbu. Get well soon!

I don't think she was making fun. My late father had to do this and it was awful for him, for the man and his visiting wife in the next bed only separated by a curtain and for us visiting. Its the reality of hospital.

MeinKraft · 30/07/2023 07:34

You're all in it together now! Befriend the people on the ward, they're probably full of gas too and will be vomiting and bleeding all over the place and whatever else.

LMNT · 30/07/2023 07:39

Did you not see the box in the car park that says “leave your dignity here before you enter”?

Joking aside, it’s a perfectly natural process and you need to let it out! If you’re afraid of a noisy one, pull one cheek to the side to reduce the sound.

Im not a weirdo BTW, I work in healthcare 😆

blahblahblah1654 · 30/07/2023 07:44

Let it out. Hopefully you can keep them reasonably quiet and under the covers but whatever the volume/smell you need to. Staff don't care and other patients are unlikely to notice

bluebirdsongs · 30/07/2023 07:51

After my C-section the midwife came and checked I had passed wind yet... I didn't know if I told the truth and to say yes or to lie and not to embarrass myself. Yes was the right answer

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 30/07/2023 08:26

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 30/07/2023 07:29

@SoShallINever

Have you always made fun of the elderly or is it a new thing?

OP- yanbu. Get well soon!

  1. Elderly people generally get sick more than younger people so it's more likely the op's neighbour is older than younger.
  2. Older people are more likely to have mobility issues than younger people so anyone whose unable to walk to the toilet is more likely to be older than younger.
  3. We all have bodily functions, why do you consider mentioning them is "making fun".
  4. Statistically it's unlikely the op's neighbour is called Ethel. If you want to be offended on someone else's behalf then save it for people called Ethel, unless of course you are called Ethel yourself, in which case you are reasonable to be offended.
Mirrordoor · 30/07/2023 08:40

Just do it. It's a normal bodily function. You are in hospital and all of your bodily functions are going to have to take place there.

After I had my first baby, I had eclamptic seizures. I was so ill in intensive care for a while but then moved to a normal ward. I assume it was something I'd been given but I had the most foul smelling farts. I was in agony with them and had to get them out. One of the other parents started talking about the bad smell and asked one of the midwives to smell all of the babies because she thought a nappy needed changing. The midwife agreed that there was an awful smell and all babies were duly sniffed. I stunk out the entire bay and I never said a word :D

SM4713 · 30/07/2023 08:44

Are you mobile enough to go to the bathroom and fart there? The movement might even help.

Createausername1970 · 30/07/2023 08:47

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 30/07/2023 07:29

@SoShallINever

Have you always made fun of the elderly or is it a new thing?

OP- yanbu. Get well soon!

She wasn't making fun of anybody. She was pointing out the realities of being in hospital - one side of a curtain is Ethel, on the commode, probably feeling embarrassed and two feet away on the other side of the curtain someone is trying to eat lunch.

She was telling the OP this is the reality, so if the OP needs to fart, then get on with it.

LuvSmallDogs · 30/07/2023 08:56

Just do it, I have been sharing what's meant to be a consultation room with an older man for days. We hear each other burp and fart and each other's discussions of bodily functions/symptoms with the medical staff. We're both just pleased not to have been shoved on one of the wards full of demented people.

Crimblecrumble1990 · 30/07/2023 09:03

bluebirdsongs · 30/07/2023 07:51

After my C-section the midwife came and checked I had passed wind yet... I didn't know if I told the truth and to say yes or to lie and not to embarrass myself. Yes was the right answer

Same! I felt really caught off guard and aware that there was a family sat inches away from me behind a curtain... glad I said the 'right' answer as for a second I nearly automatically said no.

thepriceiswrongbutonlyabit · 30/07/2023 09:11

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 30/07/2023 07:29

@SoShallINever

Have you always made fun of the elderly or is it a new thing?

OP- yanbu. Get well soon!

This is my biggest MN ick. The put-down question. Always comes across so superior. Why not just say, you think the person is being ageist and it isn't very nice.

Fwiw I don't think the PP was actually being ageist.

And as for the original question I'd probably go for the muffler, and TMI but make sure you're as dry as you can be down there...

caringcarer · 30/07/2023 09:15

Mirrordoor · 30/07/2023 08:40

Just do it. It's a normal bodily function. You are in hospital and all of your bodily functions are going to have to take place there.

After I had my first baby, I had eclamptic seizures. I was so ill in intensive care for a while but then moved to a normal ward. I assume it was something I'd been given but I had the most foul smelling farts. I was in agony with them and had to get them out. One of the other parents started talking about the bad smell and asked one of the midwives to smell all of the babies because she thought a nappy needed changing. The midwife agreed that there was an awful smell and all babies were duly sniffed. I stunk out the entire bay and I never said a word :D

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Annaishere · 30/07/2023 09:17

YABU

MeinKraft · 30/07/2023 09:27

Mirrordoor · 30/07/2023 08:40

Just do it. It's a normal bodily function. You are in hospital and all of your bodily functions are going to have to take place there.

After I had my first baby, I had eclamptic seizures. I was so ill in intensive care for a while but then moved to a normal ward. I assume it was something I'd been given but I had the most foul smelling farts. I was in agony with them and had to get them out. One of the other parents started talking about the bad smell and asked one of the midwives to smell all of the babies because she thought a nappy needed changing. The midwife agreed that there was an awful smell and all babies were duly sniffed. I stunk out the entire bay and I never said a word :D

I let one drop in an empty aisle in Tesco once and it was shocking. A man appeared and started browsing right beside me - thankfully I had toddler DS in the trolley so loudly said 'ooh I think we need to change your nappy' Blush

TheChosenTwo · 30/07/2023 09:29

SoShallINever · 30/07/2023 07:26

Honestly don't worry.
Wait until poor old Ethel in the bed next to you needs to go and they sit her on a commode 2 feet away from where you are eating lunch, with only a curtain separating you.
There is no dignity.

Dd was in hospital recently and was put in a 6 woman bay where the occupants were all elderly. And this exact situation happened, the lady next to us was calling out for a commode which was delivered at the same time dds lunch came. She was trying to eat but the sounds and smells from the curtain 1 metre away were obviously very off putting, it’s the same really as eating in the bathroom when someone is opening their bowels. It cannot be helped - it’s just what happens in hospitals.
I agree with everyone else, just do what you need to when you need to.

Beseen22 · 30/07/2023 09:36

If you can walk go for a wee loop around the nurses station and fart away, very common thing in bowel wards and passing wind is good! I once was working in a ward with 12 beds around the nurses station which was silent at night except one sleep farter...did have a giggle at that one because the first time he did it my colleague thought it was me and was too embarrassed to say anything.

MakkaPakkasMuvva · 30/07/2023 09:38

Oh god, fart with abandon op! I was in for bowel surgery and wasn't allowed to eat until I'd farted. It was a small ward (not UK) and we all got to know each other quite well. When I finally let rip, after 2 days, I got a round of applause from my ward mates! I then summoned the nurse to proudly tell her I'd farted so I could receive my bland cup of oatmeal.

TheSnailAndTheWaaaail · 30/07/2023 09:38

bluebirdsongs · 30/07/2023 07:51

After my C-section the midwife came and checked I had passed wind yet... I didn't know if I told the truth and to say yes or to lie and not to embarrass myself. Yes was the right answer

After my c section was the most I've ever farted ever in my life and I was so mortified but literally couldn't stop it! 😳😂

Tiredmummaoftwo · 30/07/2023 09:41

Hahahahahaha I love this.

Pleased your bowels are working well.

I'm a muffler / silent but deadly / like to blame it on others.

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