Hospital Bizarre Situation…..

[Smowball]

Before anyone says it I am NOT blaming staff whatsoever. But it was a long/stressful/ horrendous eve. To cut v long story short, my doctor decided that she wanted me re-assessed at hosp as not much improvement since my discharge a week ago. Sent with letter to apparently avoid sitting in A & E for hours. Did that work? Don’t be daft. Anyway arrived at 1 pm. By 4 pm they’d decided my blood tests indicated a clot and they wanted to admit me, and also do CT scan amongst other things. Only prob was, they didn’t have a bed. Shall I go home and come back in morn?? No no no, one will be free any min….. said I was in a lot of discomfort and couldn’t sit on this hard chair for hours and hours as the sheer angle of sitting like that was making it worse. No no, any min now…… 1am!! I’m still sat , by now in a side room, with various other people, all at snapping point, who have been here for up to 12 hours with no food, no offer of a drink, literally not knowing what to do with themselves, and all in pain. Staff apologising and saying even they didn’t understand what was going on. (Even I understood they couldn’t create a free bed out of thin air). Finally get on a ward at 2 am. Said they didn’t have any pillows for my bed! But finally managed to find one. Come to this morning - only staff I have seen are cleaners and lady who brings round tea. Staff desk is empty, phone is just ringing and ringing, when you ask anyone where on earth are the staff you just get told oh they will be out in a minute. Bizarre situation is an understatement.and I am no further forward. Cheer me up someone!

[Barsel]

Sorry to hear this Smow and I'm afraid I can't cheer you up but I can tell you the exact same thing has happened to me more than once before.
If there are no staff around, it might be because they are in a meeting, changing over shifts.
Sometimes they put you in a ward while they decide what to do with you, after the doctors have been round, and these wards are not run the same way as normal wards and sometimes you just have to have what you're given, food wise, and hope you don't have to wait too long for the doctors to come round.
Good luck, hope everything will soon improve for you. xx

[Patsy33]

What a fiasco! What on earth is going on?..
Poor you. I hope you are seen soon and sorted out. x

[Redhelen72]

Given how many times you have been to hospital in recent years this should be of no surprise.
No that does not make it right but perhaps there were people in greater need.
Get better soon

[Smowball]

Hi ladies. At least I’m not alone on here x
Even all the staff last night said something felt ‘off’, that the whole atmosphere just didn’t feel right. And of course priority to more important, just wish they’d said go home for night and come back in morn x

[Barsel]

If you had gone home and come back the next day, the situation would probably be the same, they won't keep a bed for you.
let us know how you go on. x

[anneasquith]

Smow, where is the clot suspected ?

[barry1010]

Why was you in hospital a week ago?

[davebro]

Situation normal I'm afraid - even before covid. Thing is ambulance cases often use a separate entrance so walk-in patients don't get a full picture of what's going on.

[Smowball]

They suspect lung but not sure.
Barry - pancreatitis.
Just to top morning off - consultant has been round, says he has beefed me in for the CT scan but can’t guarantee time. Then he left. Lunch arrives, of which (luckily) I barely touched.
5 mins ago a stroppy nurse turns up to put me on yet another drip, spots the lunch tray and says oh you do you know you’re nil by mouth!! Since when?? Since consultant saw you. (He never said a think about NBM whatsoever). Well it’s on your notes. Don’t you think he would have mentioned it??. Losing the will……….

[johnny.5]

see if you can spot the coolest man in the hospital it should be easy

[Patsy33]

God, it gets worse...
Best wishes, Smow x

[Jackdaw33]

I always thought that Nil by Mouth was only in the case of a general anaesthetic.

[calmck]

Some scans also require NBM

[pat2604]

Oh Snow. I feel so sorry. That's far worse than my Bathroom adventure on Saturday. At least I was in and out of hospital quickly, after the ordeal on the bathroom floor. Sending you hugs and wishing things go well for you. Xx

[barry1010]

Jackdaw
"Some CT scans require you to be nil by mouth for 2 or 4 hours before coming for your appointment. CT scans of the chest/abdomen require you to be nil by mouth for 2 hours before your appointment time. CT scans of chest/abdomen/pelvis, abdomen/pelvis require you to be nil by mouth for 4 hours before coming for your scan"
https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/ct

And of course if the scan shows something that needs urgent surgery then it makes sense to be NBM for a few hours beforehand.

[johnny.5]

pat did you see spot the coolest man in the hospital ?

[anneasquith]

NBM with I/v fluids would be quite normal with ? Pancreatitis. Rest the digestive system. Discourage nausea / vomiting . It’s not the time for chips n cheese :-)

[pat2604]

Omg. I posted and then saw your next comments. Poor poor you. An electric bed has just been delivered to me. I can have fun now in multiple positions!

[pat2604]

Johnny. No, not this time. Last time when on a ward, us ladies devised a scheme that every time we saw a man we gave him a grade from 1 - 10. One of us would say a number and the others would nod or shake their heads. The male staff didn't have a clue what we were doing. The Idris Elba look alike came out best at 11. I think he was a physio!

[barry1010]

I bet the male staff knew exactly what you were doing, Pat