Bored in hospital, need to keep my mind active

[Elmo230885]

Sorry, shamelessly posting here for traffic.

Currently on a surgery ward for monitoring for internal bleeding following a car accident. I'm bored and my mind keeps flashing back to it. We were hit head on, on Saturday night as the other car swerved onto our side of the road. Thankfully we were all able to get ourselves out but it could have been so much worse. The other driver sadly died at the scene.

100% our car and seat belts saved our lives. DD 7 and her friend have minor injuries as they were in their appropriate car seats i'm going to be a huge bore when I get out as I know so many people who have taken the car seats and boosters away.

The ward is boring and cold, I keep switching between flashing back to the accident and thinking about work, letting people down not being there.

No point to this post really. Thanks for reading x

That sounds terrifying. I’m not surprised you’re having continual flashbacks. Are you well enough to read?

Didn't want to read and run but goodness how scary
Is anyone able to bring you a crossword book? Somehow the only place I'm able to complete them is when I'm in hospital
Fingers crossed you are seen to soon and absolutely don't stop talking about the importance of correct car seats
Hope you'll be okay ❤️‍🩹

How scary OP, I’m so glad you and your Dd and her friend were ok.

Can you download a game on your phone, I like brain training games when my anxiety is particularly bad. Glad you're OK.

You're going through something horrendous.
Expect flashbacks and "what if" thoughts.

It will take a while for you to properly process this all.

Don't worry about work. They will need to deal with things without you. Concentrate on your recovery.

I'm glad you are all OK but so sorry to hear about the other driver.

Tetris is supposed to reduce PTSD

You need a massive distraction. Download duolingo and plan a Holiday. Learn some of the language ofvthe country you. Will visit.

You will also be in terrible shock. Allow yourself every emotion

Currently on my mum's phone as the police had to take all phones from the car. I have a book but my left hand is bashed and swollen so it's hard to hold! Just managing one finger phone typing.
There's so many what ifs. I need a big cry but my chest and stomach hurt too much.

Thanks for the replies.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7828932/#:~:text=Holmes%20and%20colleagues%20have%20shown,1%20and%20real%2Dworld%20settings.

That all sounds terrifying, very best wishes for a swift recovery for you.

There's a link to Puzzles in Talk, (a yellow box) if you are feeling up to it.

If you are cold you can ask for extra blankets. There's usually a store cupboard on the ward with a few.

In a similar situation I listened to audiobooks, did Duolingo and slept.

What a terrible, traumatic event you've all gone through. You'll no doubt go over and over this in your head for a long time. Voice of experience here...

But have a little laugh at me to take your mind off things a moment. I'm disabled and decided taking my dog for a cross country walk yesterday was a good idea. There were styles. Many styles. I can't lift my right leg up, so, there I am, trying to hang on to my dog's leads (she has two, she's a PITA), balancing a-top of half rotten wooden structures, having to contort myself to grab the hem of my jeans on my right leg to hoist it over 😆🤣 Seriously, I never knew how many swear words I knew until yesterday! There was also much mud. I got very close up and familiar with the mud. I thought the walk uphill was the tough part. Hahaha, no! Coming downhill for a mile and a half on a mud track, broken up only by damn styles or brambles, on my arse because I couldn't keep upright, was the gift of gods. Luckily, I have a large arse.

I hope you're soon home. I'm glad you're all well, but tragic for the other driver's family. Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas.

Hospital days are soooo long. I used to accumulate painkillers when I didn't want them and then zonk out for the afternoon.

I've already thought fuck it I'm booking a huge holiday.

I've just found out that the other driver wasn't wearing her seatbelt and wasn't properly insured. If she had her sealt belt on she probably would have been here on the ward with me. My heart aches for her family.

DH is busying himself with sorting stuff out. He was driving, I was the passenger (not sure if that was clear in my op). He's feeling guilty but 100% there was nothing he could have done. He was brilliant. Another driver was able to help DH out and find his glasses, he the got the girls out and took them to a safe car. The girls were amazing, so calm.

It's helping to get things down.

Just been poked by the surgeon, shockingly enough the black and purple bruising is tender. He wanted me to put pressure stockings on but my shin is badly bruised and hurts to touch so I'm saying no currently. I must have hit the glove box

Not meaning to derail but can you recommend which brain training games you play please?

Funny (gentle) audio books. E.g. PG Wodehouse or Jerome Kern.

Sleep when you can though. I had a (not very serious) bike crash that resulted in concussion a few weeks ago. Every time I had a sleep I felt better when I woke up.

Oh no OP, I’m sorry this happened to you. Having been in hospital following a car accident albeit some time ago, I found I couldn’t concentrate on anything for long. Magazines rather than books, short stories if listening to audiobooks. Nice snacks if you’re allowed to eat, ask for more blankets as shock makes you feel cold. Try and doze even if you can’t sleep. Take care of yourself.

God, I am so glad your family is all right. I really hope you're not too badly hurt and you're able to go home soon.

Audiobooks could be a good idea if holding an actual book is too uncomfortable. My DP is listening to Michael Palin's diaries on audible at the moment, he says it's very gentle and entertaining to listen to.

That must've been absolutely terrifying. No wonder you're going over it again and again in your mind. I'm so glad the children were okay. I'm interested to know why the police want your phones. Is it to see if you were using them at the time of the crash?

It's terrible the other woman lost her life. I wonder what what's going on to make her swerve. The fact she wasn't insured or wearing a seatbelt makes me wonder if she had passed her driving test. It's so scary how in one split second everything can change.

I was in a motorway pile up many years ago and can still remember every moment of it. It took a long time to get over it even though we weren't badly hurt.

Don't you need pressure stockings on to prevent thrombosis? I know they're a nuisance but you should probably agree to them.

Is your DH in touch with solicitors? If the other driver wasn't insured you can make a claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau.

As @Isatis if you are not mobile. You really do need those stockings. I hope you are on the mend soon.

Headphones and audiobooks saved me in hospital. I couldn't concentrate to read books or even magazines and you've hurt your hand. Ask if the hospital offers complementary therapies. They don't tend to broadcast it too much but you can request a massage or similar and it's all done with your medical issues and injuries in mind.

I am mobile and trying to wander around the ward, thankfully there's some other fellow talkers here.

The police took the phones as a formality, they are being returned today. DHs was in his pocket mine was on my knee as I was going to say nav the parking when we got closer. Same as DH was breathalysed at the road side (blew 0). All part of the process.

If they absolutely insist on stockings I'll relent. I'm a nurse (although not Adult/general) so I ought to know better!