To discharge myself from hospital?

[toldyouiwasill]

I’m desperate.

Admitted on Monday with ?appedicitis. Then told I had a UTI; possibly kidney infection. Then ended up catheterised. Then told my sats are too low (92-95) and that I’ve got a chest infection. Told I need a CT scan and a chest x Ray. A doctor came round at 4pm and told me I’d be given a nebuliser tonight and possibly oxygen. I can’t lie flat as I can’t breathe without wheezing, coughing to the point of vomiting.

Come night shift - nurses said they have zero record of that conversation and there’s nothing they can do. I haven’t slept more than four hours since Sunday. I haven’t got any water, I’m being left with a full catheter bag for 12-14 hours at a time. I’ve no idea what’s wrong and if I have got an infection it isn’t being treated. I’m so tired I’m hallucinating.

I’ve just asked the band 2 nurses for help and got snapped at. They’re sitting discussing Chinese takeaways.

I don’t know what to do. I live only a mile away. I keep thinking of packing up and going. I can buy a syringe from boots to take the catheter out. I don’t know what to do, I’m scared and desperate.

don't go home op - you will only need to go through the whole admittance procedure again

Just woke up my breastfeeding child laughing

Fuck that. I'd find it very hard to stay there and be treat like absolute shit. I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Please get onto Pals tomorrow this is shocking. I really hope things improve 💐

This is shit (and I say this as a medical person)

• phone PALS or get a relative to first thing
• please don’t leave- you sound sick
• if there is a consultant ward round explain to them calmly that you haven’t got the correct medication prescribed and that you are becoming dehydrated as you are unable to access water
• ask to speak to the most senior ward nurse during the day and explain the issues
• is there a “family MET call” in the hospital? This gets you an immediate team review if you feel very unwell and no one is doing anything

I think the NHS has lost its ability to care due to overwhelm and people have little concept that people get well slower if you don’t actually treat them! I hope you get some rest soon

I am glad you find it funny - withholding water is a crime, and people on hospital wards have died from this - My friends mum called the police when this happened to her, and the nurses involved are now on criminal charges. The police assured the old lady she did exactly the right thing

That’s ridiculous. I was admitted for something very similar last week - kidney infection, lung infection + some other stuff.

I had an ultrasound the day I was admitted, and within a couple of hours of my breathing being what sounds like pretty similar to you I had an x ray and they’d booked a CT for later the same day.
Surely they should be giving you as much water as you need if they suspect kidney infection.

I’d definitely be putting a complaint into PALS.

I don't know it sounds absolutely awful I would be considering it if I'm honest
But honestly, if you can pull through till the morning when day shift is back on and put in a complaint I'd do that instead. It's really tough and sounds horrendous op so I wouldn't blame you if you did leave

But, if you go what is your plan to get better/treated once you're caught up with sleep? You need to think the decision over don't make a rushed choice
Do you have diazepam and other meds at home to take? Obv you'll have access to water and your bed so they're two pros for leaving. It really depends on how you're feeling

Sorry you're poorly XXX

Go up to the nurses station and sit there until they agree to get you some water and empty your catheter. Take absolutely no nonsense from them and make it clear that there will be a formal complaint raised + involvement from PALS. This is a disgrace OP, I’m so sorry that you’re going through this although sadly it doesn’t surprise me anymore.. Hospital has become a scary and unsafe place to be

May sound extreme but can you call the hospital switchboard from your mobile ? Explain the situation and ask for someone senior to come to the ward?

Empty the catheter onto the floor, and buzz and say, ‘Oh im not sure what happened, i guess it was full

Keep buzzing and asking for water tonight

Can someone come tomorrow with bottles of water for you, can you ask someone elses visitors if they could get you some?

Your username and posts indicate that you are screaming for something to be done.

You're in the system, all you are going to achieve by leaving now by leaving, is landing back in the system - day 1 or worse.

It's no skin off their nose. Other patients gain a place in the list. Just don't go back when you will eventually need them, if you're going to time waste again.

I self discharged with a very similar experience. I later complained to PALS, empty sorry's and it won't happen again blah blah blah. I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. It's inhumane.

OP’s care is being severely neglected at the hands of nurses who can’t be bothered to do their job - she is not time wasting in the slightest, I can’t say the same for the staff though. I sincerely hope neither you or your friends/family end up on an NHS hospital ward anytime soon, you’re going to get one hell of a shock.

I’ve spoken to Samaritans, they’ve calmed me down a bit and said not a sensible idea to go home in this state. Its flashbacks of being assaulted and feeling panicked and when they snapped at me it reminded me other stuff that’s happened and just can’t cope.

Ring the switchboard & ask for a matron or for a registrar, there should be one or the other on duty overnight. In the morning ring Pals to make a complaint, can you keep notes on your phone, Ie midnight asked for water, Catheter bag full & not emptied. 12.30am asked again for water, catheter bag still not emptied, 3.00am was sick, still no water or catheter bag emptied, nurse shouted at me. Every time you get seen by a nurse ask for their name & let them see you noting it down, it might just give them a kick up the bum.

OP is there anyone who can come at visiting time and advocate for you?

I'm so sorry you are going through all this, there definitely seems to be a lack of empathy in hospitals these days. Try and get yourself a plan of action. Call PALS tomorrow, ask a friend/relative to bring in some water and your diazepam. When you see a Doctor on the rounds tomorrow explain everything that is going on. Haven't they brought a rule in now where you can insist on a second opinion when you are in hospital because of cases like yours?

How nice of you! Are you a nurse too?

It is perfectly legal to call the police as a last resort and perhaps if more people did it we wouldn't have so many unnecessary deaths in hospitals and management might get its act together.😡

Glad you are feeling a little better. I'm sure the awful experience you had last time must make this even more difficult for you. Especially as it was a colleague that hurt you 😞Like a previous person said, is there anyone to advocate for you?

Its legal but all that's going to happen is the police will phone the ward & tell the staff they've had a call

Phoning the police is not the answer

Definitely this. You feel so vulnerable at the best of times in hospital you need someone who'll make you heard. Shocking you're suffering - hope things improve

Staff nurse has come in and finally given me a nebuliser which I was promised 24 hours ago. Said hopefully it will clear my lungs enough to sleep for a bit.

Did you speak to her re: your other concerns?

She said she knew I was upset and said they’ll try to get liaison psych over in the morning to see if they can support. She’s coming back in about 15 mins or so.