Going into hospital

[DaisyFulkirk]

I have just been told that I am going to be admitted to hospital in five weeks from today to try and help with my back and mobility problems. I can't find anywhere any information about what it'll be like, if I will be able to have my own room (I can't sleep if there is someone else there and I will be staying for one or two weeks), how it will work with food... I think I can manage but only if I know, I can't get ready for something I don't know about. I tried to ask my consultant but he didn't give me a very specific answer, and I'm starting to feel really scared about it all.

 

I live by myself and the hospital is about an hour and a half's drive away from where I live, 55 miles, I have two friends who live near the hospital but all my other friends live near me, or in London where I lived before.

 

I know it is a specialist hospital for musculoskeletal problems, but I've only been there once before.

 

Does anyone know where there is any information online about what it's like being in hospital for something like this, and what you need to bring and things? I've been looking but I mustn't be using the right Google search words or someting. Or has anyone done something like this themselves? Obviously everyone and all the hospitals are different but knowing what it was like for someone else has got to be better than not knowing anything about what it's like.

 

Thanks in advance

 

a rather scared Daisy.

[Guest flutter]

I would write down all your concerns, and all the personal care bits you need and then contact PALS at the hospital, and see if they can support you thorugh this.

C x

[jb1964]

Hi Daisy,

 

Can't really offer you any advice on knowing what to expect etc as I don't what you're having done or anything about musculoskeletal problems. It's understandable to be scared - I think most people get a little scared before going into hospital.

 

But as for general stuff to take in etc (I don't know how much you know so I'll put everything I can think of) - some PJ's or nighties, dressing gown, slippers, towel and toiletries (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, hairbrush etc). You can take in some magazines, books etc, and if you are going to have to stay in for a while then maybe a personal cd player/ipod, anything else that you particularly like doing (crosswords, sudoku, gameboy etc). Also a bottle of juice or something that you like to drink and any snacks that you like that will keep.

 

On each ward apart from your bed, a small closet, wash-hand basin and bedside table, there is usually facilities such as toilets and bathrooms (with showers etc) and hospital's these days tend to have a kitchen on each ward that you are allowed to use (this is usually a microwave, fridge, kettle, toaster etc). If you are allowed to be mobile then you can also go to their canteen etc.

 

You are usually woken around about 6-6.30 in the morning - for breakfast (tea, coffee, toast, cereal etc), this can either be taken at your bed or in a communal room. A water jug and cup is put out every day for your drink (so if you like squash you can add it). Nurses then usually come around a few times during the day for different things depending on what you're in for (checks on temperature, pulse, any medication etc), dinner and tea are served in the same manner as breakfast, and lights are usually turned down around 10pm (there is a nightlight by your bedside and an alarm button should you need the nurse for anything).

 

Also, most hospitals have tv facilities with each bed and sometimes private phones - each usually take a tv card or phone card that you can purchase - you'd need to take plenty of loose change with you for these and also to use the phones.

 

Hope everything goes well for you,

Good luck and take care,

Jb

Edited April 23, 2006 by jb1964

[jomica]

Hi Daisy

Flutter is right. All NHS hospitals have something called a PALS service - short for Patient Advice & Liaison Service. You can give them a call and they'll help you through this. They might even agree for you to come and have a look around the hospital before you go in, just so that you know the set up. If you give them an idea about what you need to know to feel comfortable, I'm sure that they'll provide every assistance they can.

 

Good luck - I hope all goes well for you.

[justamom]

I think everyone else have given you the right advice daisy,just wanted to wish you all the best and i hope it all goes ok.

 

justamom

[LKS]

Daisy. Some good advice given. When my dd went in to hospital I found the ward clerk really helpful regarding the facilities and routine of the ward. I hope everything goes well for you <'>

[BusyLizzie100]

Daisy, I am taking my son into hospital for an operation on Thursday. He went for a visit to meet the nurses and see the layout and learn where he will be staying and where he will be going for the op. We are now practising this week about what people such as doctors and nurses will look like with masks on their faces and what bandages look like - even what hospital beds look like and how the sheets will be different to his own. At some point I'm going to prepare a visual timetable for him from the point of leaving home to the point of coming home.

 

My son is six, so of course it is a different situation, but preparation is essential for him and I'm sure it will be for you, too. Contact the hospital, let them know that you are apprehensive or even scared (PALS sounds a good place to start). The nurses dealing with my son say they want it to be as positive an experience as possible for him, and I see no reason why you should not get similar treatment, as should anyone who is apprehensive of going into hospital.

 

You may want to take some of your own familiar things into hospital with you. I am taking my son's cup, beaker and his own fork, and some food that I know is acceptable as well as his favourite drinks. Hospital food is not always very tasty and if you are choosy, then it helps to have something you know you like with you. you may want to take your own towel - hospitals provide them but they are probably different to what you are used to. You may feel comfortable in a dressing gown and slippers if you are able to move around, so bring those too. Whatever you bring into hospital, make sure it is labelled well with your name and keep your bits in the locker near your bed. Mobile phones are usually not allowed in hospital so, if you want to contact someone, bring change for the payphone.

 

When you are in the hospital the nurses will be there to look after you. It won't be the same nurse all the time, there may be a number of nurses looking after several patients. When they finish their shift, they will go home and others will take their place. They will do their best to make you feel comfortable, and hopefully they will all be aware that you have autism. It's OK to explain what worries you, if you can; don't worry about repeating yourself.

 

I hope this is helpful and I haven't mentioned anything obvious.

 

good luck, let us know how you get on and when you are going in to hospital.

 

Lizzie

[puffin]

Contact the hospital and find out about their usual routine

 

You could also think about taking your own CD/MP3 player and music to help you zone out any distractions

 

Good Luck

[JsMum]

Could you contact NAS and talk to someone about your situation as they might offer some practical support also there is maybe some ideas on after care and other services, could you not be offered some form of care assistance for your visit in the hospital.

 

Is there any possiblity for an assessment for your needs to be met and what provisions can be made, and the hospital care services, have you tried social services as well as they might be able to help with transport and mobility and a support whilst in hospital.

 

Care assessment or something like that.

 

Have you got a local Autistic support group as well that help support adult members.

 

I think that you are been very brave and forseeing your difficulties which is very good as this will give you time to get something in place.

 

Good Luck to the actual treatement and let us know how you go.

 

JsMum

[JsMum]

Also what about the NHSDIRECT Website and have a look on there as well,

and policies for people with needs.

 

They have a freephone helpline too and maybe able to send you information on hospital and the routine and what special requirements you need.

 

JsMum

[jen]

You could telephone the ward you are going into and speak to the manager of the ward. Explain your situation and worries and I am certain that they will be able to arrange a visit pior to the admission. The earlier you phone means there will be more time to fit in a visit

 

Jen

[Guest hallyscomet]

Hi Daisy,

 

I just wanted to send you lots of these <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> plenty of good advice already given so sit down and write that list out and check it off. This will make your stay more pleasant.

 

Thinking of you, hope it all goes well

 

Love Hailey <'>

[DaisyFulkirk]

I rang PALS on Monday and they were really, really, really unhelpful. As soon as I said the A-word they didn't want to tell me anything useful. So today my Personal Assistant rang my consultant's secretary and got put through to the ward I am going to be on, and they talked to her instead. I have a sort of feeling that it might not be a very good idea for me to be on an 18 bed ward... so they are going to try and see if I can go in a side room instead. That's one of the big things I'm worried about - I am not very good at sleeping even in a quiet room in my own bed never mind in hospital!

 

Thankyou for saying helpful things everyone, I think I might take a laptop and some games as that is my big way of 'escaping' from the world, that and music.

 

There is one good thing, which is that one of my few really close friends lives very very near the hospital and him and his boyfriend will be able to come and see me - my mum and dad live a long way away and will be out of the country for some of the time I'm in hospital so friends will be quite important.

[LKS]

Daisy sorry to hear that Pals wasn't helpful Hope they manage to get you in a side room. It is very hard to settle to sleep in a room with so many people. I hope if you can take all of your things in with you it will help you to feel a little more comfortable. We'll all be thinking of you <'>

[mrs phasmid]

lots of advice all good, have you or advocate asked if you could have someone with you instead of just at visiting times?

 

slightly to one side of this now phas jr is older i am terrified of him going into hospital. last time he went in he was just allowed to stay in childrens ward so i could stay with him, even so they tried to get him to sign consent forms" AS HE IS OLD ENOUGH!" now i imagine he would have to go on a general ward which would mean i couldnt stay, he wouldnt use toilets or baths, could be asked to sign anything, would be open to influence by others around him etc

has anyone else encountered anything along these lines have you got anything to pass on?

[Mother in Need]

slightly to one side of this now phas jr is older i am terrified of him going into hospital. last time he went in he was just allowed to stay in childrens ward so i could stay with him, even so they tried to get him to sign consent forms" AS HE IS OLD ENOUGH!" now i imagine he would have to go on a general ward which would mean i couldnt stay, he wouldnt use toilets or baths, could be asked to sign anything, would be open to influence by others around him etc

has anyone else encountered anything along these lines have you got anything to pass on?

Isn't there a teenage ward? My son was in hospital some months ago, and htye put him (age 12) into the teenage ward. Unfortunately, so if it happens again, I'll ask them to keep him in the children's one. The trouble was that as they are teenagers they are considered old enough to care for their own needs, so nobody ever came round to check on them. Well, the hospital staff itself knew so d*** little about autism nor diabetes, that I didn't feell it safe leaving him there without me. I ended up taking him home for the night and bringing him back again the next day....

[DaisyFulkirk]

lots of advice all good, have you or advocate asked if you could have someone with you instead of just at visiting times?

 

slightly to one side of this now phas jr is older i am terrified of him going into hospital. last time he went in he was just allowed to stay in childrens ward so i could stay with him, even so they tried to get him to sign consent forms" AS HE IS OLD ENOUGH!" now i imagine he would have to go on a general ward which would mean i couldnt stay, he wouldnt use toilets or baths, could be asked to sign anything, would be open to influence by others around him etc

has anyone else encountered anything along these lines have you got anything to pass on?

 

 

Mrs P, I don't have anyone that could stay with me really - I live 200 miles away from my mum and dad (long story) and they're each going to be out of the country for both of the two most likely weeks for me to be in hospital - mum the first week and dad the second one! My personal assistant will come and see me and I hope some of my friends will, too - I have a couple of nice older friends who live very near the hospital - but I don't have lots of options for having someone there lots of the time.

 

I think if they know that the person has autism and especially if they might be 'difficult' (my PA rang the ward for me and talked to them) they will do lots of things to try to help if they can - I am not very good at sleeping at night if it's noisy or I am stressed so they will try to put me in a single room, there is all sorts of other things too. We are going to go and visit the hospital in 2 weeks time and see the ward and talk to the nurses and work on a care plan and things - I think it will be OK if we get enough stuff ready before.

[phasmid]

Hi Daisy, Mrs P just came to have a look on this thread and it was the first time I'd seen it. You are likely to have to get your laptop tested for electrical safety before they will let you use it (this happened when my mum had a mini tv I took in for her a couple of years ago). The hospital electricians should be able to do this and hopefully free too! Perhaps you could take it in when you go for your advance visit.