Tips on staying calm and relaxed - ambulance trip to A&E

[RetroTardigrade]

I'm sitting in a wheelchair in a hospital hallway having been brought by ambulance. I'm having a stiff neck 4 days into a 5 day course of metronidazole, and the NHS website said to call 999 for that.

I'd be very happy to hear any kind words or helpful tips on staying calm in this sort of situation. I'm doing my deep breathing but it's not really cutting it. I'm mostly able to hold back tears but I'm desperate to just get up and run out of here. I have headphones and preferred music but I've forgotten earplugs. No sunglasses but sitting my eyes helps cut the brightness of the lights. I'm autistic and I told the ambulance staff so. Everyone has been incredibly lovely and helpful so far but I'm worried I'm going to progress to panic or meltdown or shutdown even so.

Can you ask if there is a quieter place for you to sit?

I believe the NHS tries to make accommodations so that people with autism can be treated in an environment that is accessible, which might include finding you a quieter place that isn't as stimulating.

Oh goodness that’s so tough. I’m autistic too and I totally understand the noise and lights issue.

Can you put white noise on your headphones? I have an app called “BetterSleep” which has a range of sounds.

I also sometimes to an A to Z in my head ie pick a topic - say animals - and think of one for each. I know sounds silly but it distracts my mind.

I hope you get moved to a better space and that are treated quickly and feel better soon.

Thanks for your responses, it means a lot. I've calmed down quite a bit since posting, thankfully. I was ok in the ambulance but then moving into the actual hospital just made me freak out in my mind and I started crying a little. I'm in a little spot all to myself and it's not too chaotic just now. Music is on and helping a lot, and I've whatsapped my mum and DH which has also helped a lot. I've googled stiff neck and metronidazole, thinking it'll help me feel more calm to have a better idea of why it's an A&E-worthy side effect. It looks like the worry would be encephalopathy or meningitis, and while either of those things would be very concerning, I don't have any other symptoms along those lines. And I'm in the hospital now so if I do suddenly take a turn for the worse I couldn't be in a better place for it. All very calming thoughts.

A very kind staff member has just stopped by to compliment me on my jumper, which happens to be a handknit. Cue a pleasant and distracting conversation about knitting, Ravelry and stranded colourwork, which is hitting the special interest category. I'm actually having an ok time now.

I did spend a minute thinking I'd catch up on what's going on in Ukraine, but that's not helping at all so I've stopped looking at that. Back to Ravelry for now.

How are you doing this morning Retro?
Hopefully you were checked out and allowed home

It's all gone fine since last night. Once I was seen by a doctor I was efficiently checked over for any signs of neurological impairment, and she was confident that my stiff neck was not serious. All very reassuring, and I got a taxi home. I've taken my last dose of that wretched antibiotic now, so the stiffness should fade over the next couple of days. I had nothing but good thoughtful kind attentive care and I can't fault them for a thing

@RetroTardigrade - does that mean you are a woolly-bear with a liking for Fairisle jumpers? 😉

Another stranded colour-work fan, I do love the work of Kate Davies who is a bit of a persona-non-grata on Ravelry these days.

I'm currently poorly with the/a/some horrible snotty lurgy and have been lying in bed planning a stripy colourwork cardi/jumper and should I make it with steeks, or should I knit top down... the wool isn't Shetland that I'm using, but has enough grab for steeks without unravelling. There are lots of other knitters and crocheters here, maybe we should have a neurodiverse knitters club!

I am glad you are out so quickly, A&E is so stressful especially if you are noise sensitive, but aside from that nurses and most staff are wonderful, but being in hospital is horrid and yes I have had a wee cry a few times, and the waiting times are atrocious at present all over the UK.

Get better soon💐