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Original poster

Currently in hospital

14 replies

DisorganisedAlways111 · 28/05/2022 18:43

Hi All!
I'm currently in hospital. I came in a few days ago for a check of my blood pressure as I've had continuous headaches for a while, and they've kept me in. (Doing more tests as there were some concerns etc).

I've been here a few days. My DP asked for them to make a reasonable adjustment because of my autism and give me a room on my own.

They did this, and although I'd rather be at home, having this room on my own hasn't been so bad because I can just shut the door and do my own thing. It's quiet in here too.
I have everything I need in this room. (DP brings things in every day etc).

Anyway, a nurse just came in and said they're moving me on to a ward with others tonight.
I said 'yes of course that's fine! No problem'. Then had a meltdown when she left. I immediately felt stressed, agitated and got really upset.

Luckily DP is here and said that this would be distressing for me and I'm in this room due to a reasonable adjustment etc.

DP went to speak to the nurse alone to advise that changing rooms now to the ward would be distressing for me and they have agreed to the adjustment etc.

The nurse then told DP that there is a possibility they'll come in the middle of the night to move me!!

DP told them it's imperative they don't do this as it will be very distressing and I'd rather just be discharged to go home. (We are here waiting for test results and I've been told I can't leave until they're back).

I felt really embarrassed by my reaction. I'm mid 30's and felt like I just couldn't handle the thought of being moved to a ward. I know that if I moved, I likely wouldn't eat, sleep and wouldn't want to go to the shower etc. (in this room, the shower and bathroom is attached to the room for my use only).

I've never had a longer hospital stay before. Only once for one night.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm posting. Maybe to see if this would bother any of you?

OP posts:
Garfieldismyspiritanimal · 28/05/2022 18:47

It would bother me but I would mask my way through it as I would feel as though I was being difficult. I am aware that this isn’t possible for everyone.
I hope you feel better soon and are able to go back home.

BoardLikeAMirror · 28/05/2022 18:49

I had a meltdown last time I was in an NHS hospital on being moved from a small women's ward to a large, mixed-sex ward. Horrendous experience and staff unsympathetic. No advice - I was unable to do anything about it or to manage it - but bags of sympathy. Flowers

itsjustnotok · 28/05/2022 18:49

I totally understand why it would be best for you to stay in a side room. From the hospital’s perspective they are usually very hard to come by and I would hope the reason for the move would be that they had a patient who clinically needed it more. There are often patients requiring isolation or are cancer patients who would be at higher risk of infection. The fact that they have managed to accommodate you thus far would be a miracle at the hospital i work at. It doesn’t mean though that you are wrong for feeling like you do. So what if you are in your 30’s, it doesn’t mean you have the ability to switch your feeling on and off! I hope that you get home soon x

Original poster
DisorganisedAlways111 · 28/05/2022 18:57

I did feel myself completely mask and say 'yes that's fine. I'll pack my things up' etc. I know I was extremely stressed internally but would have moved and just closed the curtain around me and probably wouldn't really leave that space.
But DP was here and knew I would have hated it so mentioned it.

OP posts:
Original poster
DisorganisedAlways111 · 28/05/2022 19:03

itsjustnotok · 28/05/2022 18:49

I totally understand why it would be best for you to stay in a side room. From the hospital’s perspective they are usually very hard to come by and I would hope the reason for the move would be that they had a patient who clinically needed it more. There are often patients requiring isolation or are cancer patients who would be at higher risk of infection. The fact that they have managed to accommodate you thus far would be a miracle at the hospital i work at. It doesn’t mean though that you are wrong for feeling like you do. So what if you are in your 30’s, it doesn’t mean you have the ability to switch your feeling on and off! I hope that you get home soon x

I understand that and know that someone else may need the room. And I did immediately say yes as an automatic response.

I would be happy to go home but they're waiting for a neurosurgeon to give me the go ahead that I can leave or if I need to stay. I'm waiting for several results of tests etc.

I'm 7 and a half months pregnant and I'm on a unit with other pregnant women.

Whoever needs the room may have a greater need. I do really understand that. But in that case I'd rather they discharge me than move me to a ward.

I think it was just a shock too as I wasn't expecting that they would suddenly move me.

Only last week they did a survey asking people how they could make the ward more neurodivergent friendly.

OP posts:
BoardLikeAMirror · 28/05/2022 19:28

You can discharge yourself - but it tends to really annoy the staff.

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 29/05/2022 10:53

I dread ending up in hospital for so many different reasons.

BlanketsBanned · 29/05/2022 11:01

I understand this is very difficult but siderooms are a rarity and a patient may have a need for the isolation. Can you ask the nurse if you can be moved into a quiet bed area, maybe in the corner, you can keep the curtains half closed. Can your dp stay with you. Hospitals often have a priority list for siderooms, you can always ask to speak to the bed manager to see if you can stay but sometimes the hospital has no choice.

Original poster
DisorganisedAlways111 · 29/05/2022 14:27

BlanketsBanned · 29/05/2022 11:01

I understand this is very difficult but siderooms are a rarity and a patient may have a need for the isolation. Can you ask the nurse if you can be moved into a quiet bed area, maybe in the corner, you can keep the curtains half closed. Can your dp stay with you. Hospitals often have a priority list for siderooms, you can always ask to speak to the bed manager to see if you can stay but sometimes the hospital has no choice.

They said last night I could stay in this room until I'm discharged which is hopefully soon.
They're waiting for results from an MRI scan I had which shows something they weren't expecting in my brain. They're consulting with another hospital to get their opinion etc before discharging me.

It's taking a while as I thought I'd be leaving either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning at the latest.
They've told me they do have enough beds on this pregnancy unit for if others come in so it is ok for me to stay in here for now.

OP posts:
Original poster
DisorganisedAlways111 · 29/05/2022 14:30

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 29/05/2022 10:53

I dread ending up in hospital for so many different reasons.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation
I was really upset on the first night when they told me I had to stay.
They did say DP could stay with me but we have a dog so had to get home to him. A friend has been looking after him during the day while my partner has been here with me.

The thought of staying filled me with dread. It's a total change to my routine and obviously a very different environment and having to speak to lots of different people and healthcare professionals.

I feel completely and utterly exhausted and have struggled to sleep. Especially as they are in and out in the night to do checks etc.

OP posts:
BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 29/05/2022 14:35

I really feel bad for you. Would you be able to ask for some diazepam to help you cope with it? Diazepam can be taken in pregnancy.

BlanketsBanned · 29/05/2022 14:39

It sounds like you can stay in the room now and i hooe you get home soon

Original poster
DisorganisedAlways111 · 29/05/2022 15:21

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 29/05/2022 14:35

I really feel bad for you. Would you be able to ask for some diazepam to help you cope with it? Diazepam can be taken in pregnancy.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation
At the moment I feel ok. Still anxious to get home. But I don't feel the stress and agitation I did last night when they said about me moving. And moving me in the middle of the night. That did make me really anxious.
I don't feel so bad now knowing I can stay in the room. I would just like to get the results back so I can go.

I've asked if I can be discharged and I can call them for the results or come back when the results come. But they've said they wouldn't want to discharge me unless they know it's safe to do so.

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 29/05/2022 17:38

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