Laying in a hospital bed at 2am

[Misty-Eyed]

Got admitted this morning after a hideous night of pain, severe bloating and vomitting. They thought I had an obstruction but the surgeon in a&e decided that it wasn't and just a flare. Since having X-rays taken, they've decided that it is and I have to see the surgeons tomorrow morning with the possibility of surgery.

I'm upset after feeling so well for so long, but I don't want to ever feel like I did last night again.

So! I'm laying here still in the admissions ward with people being brought in and out of the ward all night so the lights are bright and noise levels are high. Don't know how I'll ever sleep. Still waiting for my drip too and got a headache from being dehydrated.

How does everyone else cope with hospital stays?

 

[Jennifer]

I do my best to try and relax and close my eyes as often as possible. Sometimes sleep comes and sometimes it doesn't. The ER is cold and dreary. I ask for extra blankets (heated if they got em) and tend to listen in on other people's conversations (it can't be avoided really) and be horrified by the reasons why other people are there or be able to tell who's there just so they can get their fix of pills for the night (the fakers).

The waiting game sucks really and I'm sorry to hear that you're *possibly having emergency surgery. Same thing happened to my Grandpa's little brother a few months back. He's largely obese and did have some complications healing because of that but last I heard he's doing well now. You should heal up just fine and I wish you a speedy recovery. Keep us posted.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Haha they've not put me on a drip yet which they said they'd do about 10 hours ago, I doubt they'd give me anything to knock me out lol.

Still it's now 6am and apparently time to get up. It's a good job I don't get moody easily when tired!

Thanks though crabby. I shall. Just a waiting game as to when I see the surgeons. Feeling a lot better than I was which helps.

 

[AndiGirl]

It wouldn't hurt to ask if they could give you something to relax you and help you to sleep. Hang in there, and I'm wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[Astra]

Aw Misty
hope you're ok, ask for lots of drugs, codeine will knock you out.
If it's any consolation, they threatened me with surgery when I was admitted last year with a blockage, but I responded well to Metronidazole and Prednisolone, so avoided the knife, lucky me!
If you're feeling a bit better, then discuss other options, ie steroids and anti biotics before agreeing to surgery, just my opinion.
Let us know how you get on
xxxx

 

[Mark63]

Misty,

Sorry to hear you are have a bad time and hope you manage to avoid the knife.

In answer to your question, ear plugs, closed curtains and stong pain killers. To be honest those the best I manage is to doze occasionally. If you're they for more than a couple of nights, then the lack of sleep make me feel worse than a lot of the other stuff.

Mark

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Thanks guys. They're just going to put me under general to dilate me as a temporary measure so I can go home and see my GI in clinic as Im in the local hospital rather than the hospital that deals with my crohn's. Will be good to hear what he says.

In the meanwhile I've not eaten for 24 hours as I'm still due to go for the procedure today even though it's nearly 10.30pm!

Thanks for everyone's kind wishes though. Been put on a normal ward so I'll hopefully have a better night tonight

 

[ameslouise]

Hi Misty - Hope you're feeling better real soon and your GI and you can figure out the best course of action. Did you see the surgeon today?

Best things to pack for the hospital: ear plugs, iPod, sleep mask, soft toilet paper!

Hang in there - keep us posted!

-Amy

 

[Jennjenn]

I hope you are able to get some rest. Usually I was always knocked out with the pain meds. Best wishes for the surgery consult. When I had my blockage a few years ago...I went in screaming and crying so there was no waiting on the pain meds. Dilaudid does the trick for the pain. Usually does. They put the NG tube and tried meds. It worked and I was happy for that. Another 2 weeks in the hospital but it worked!!!

Best of luck with everything...I hope things work out well and that you start to feel well soon.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Slept way better but had a doctor wake me up at 5:30am to put a canula in. I always jump out my skin when they do that as I've been sleeping with an eye mask on and listening to music.

No surgery last night so the nice nurses gave me an hour window before midnight to eat. I swear the toast was the best toast I've ever eaten! I was like a kid on their birthday!

Hopefully will get it done today. It's just annoying not knowing when it's going to happen. They won't give me anything stronger than paracetamol. But I'm feeling a lot better than I was. Guess all those rectal examinations have done some good after all at opening me up a bit.

 

[PeninsulaLil]

Sounds like you're handling all the waiting and controlled chaos really well! Most important to keep a sense of humor!

Good luck. I hope things go as smoothly as possible for you.

Lilly

 

[littlemissh]

It'll be better now you are on a general ward as there is less coming and going. The emergency short stay/acute admissions wards are awful..seems like they move at least 1000 people in and out of a 4 bay ward every 12 hours...well perhaps an exaggeration but it feels like that.

And why do they leave the main lights on til 1 am on ESS/AAU...what about the poor sods trying to sleep. A dressing gown over the head and a special sleep playlist on my MP3 works wonders.

I hope you can avoid surgery but if you need it I wish you lots of luck.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Thanks everyone. Had the dilation done late afternoon on Thursday and it went well. Kind of scary how much blood leaked out of me after though. Was really sore for about 2 hours but was fine after that and it doesn't hurt when I go to the toilet. Shame it's only a temporary measure though. I don't want to go through all that agan in a couple of months but we shall see what happens.

Came home yesterday which was nice, although had a constant temperature since which I'm a little worried about.

 

[Mark63]

No antibiotics, I would have thought that would send you home with some? I'd consider going back and getting things checked at A&E if things are no better in a day or so, orstraight away if there is any increase in temperature, pain, feeling un-well etc. You don't want to undo the good work that has been done. Pity is a Saturday else it could have been worth a call to your Consultant to see what they think.

Hope it improves soon.

Mark

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Thanks Mark. Nope, they just sent me home with loads of paracetamol and some lactulose. I'm feeling a lot better generally within myself so will just keep an eye on it for now.

Felling pretty hungry too which must be a good sign.

 

[Jennjenn]

I am glad that you are home and feeling a lot better If you still have the temp i would definitely call the doctor....I am surprised they let you out with one.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

lol believe me, my night was so bad that everyone on the ward was really shocked that they let me go home that day. The docs came around about 9ish and were just like.. ok, you can go home now! Don't worry, all your bloods came back fine and it was probably a side effect of the anaesthetic.

I'm beginning to think it might be a throat infection though as my throat is so sore and it hurts when I take a deep breath in. I wouldn't of thought it would still be hurting from the breathing tube they inserted when I was under?

It just really sucks that my general health is worse than before I went into hospital! I'll definitely see a dr if I'm no better by tomorrow.

 

[Entchen]

Poor poor thing! I'm so sorry for you.

Re. the breathing tube: I've only had one once, but my throat did hurt quite a lot for a day or so, and it hurt even longer to take in a deep breath. Not to say it isn't an infection, of course, but you might be able to chalk it up to the tube? (I also had a fat, bleeding lip -- what did they DO when pulling out the tube?) Really hope that you are feeling better soon.

*hugs*

 

[whysoserious]

Hello Misty, I'm glad you were able to go home! Regarding the breathing tube, when I had surgery I had a tube while I was under and my throat hurt quite a bit afterwards to the point where I couldn't even swallow. It should go away within a few days.

 

[ameslouise]

Hi Misty - Welcome home. Hope you start to feel better very soon and stay that way!

Take care of yourself!

- amy

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Thanks guys. I'm still having a little trouble breathing but my throat no longer hurts and the fever stopped Sat night, so I managed to go to work for a few hours this afternoon! Very tired now but feeling a lot better. Just looking forward to getting back to normal for now. Yey!

 

[KWud]

Get well soon Misty and take it easy.

Paula
x

 

[Ian]

Glad to hear you're feeling better Misty, the temp going down is definitely good! Don't push yourself too hard though, only go into work if you're really up to it