So, I was admitted to Stepping Hill Hospital Ward B3 on the 11th of August... its not a bad ward as far as hospital wards go. In fact if you ever get in there try and get moved to the balcony ward, its actually very pleasant lots of natural sunlight and the windows open!!!
This post is my diary of what happened in there... I wrote it whilst I was in hospital in a little notebook, a pretty pink colour, but then I was on morphine, it is bright and probably attracted me....
11th August
I was admitted to ward B3 in the morning. I was nil by mouth till 4pm then I had the lovely award of tea!!!
As you can see it is a great meal... Shepherds pie and a side serving of instant mash... absolutely no vegetables in sight.... not a single one.... when asked I got told that there was none left... So let me get this right... I am in an institute of health, protecting our well being and they cant even serve food that meets the basic survival requirements of our bodies?
It has too be said, the nurses were absolutely superb, they were professional yet caring, funny and kind. Tho to be fair I don't remember much of the daytime staff, due to the morphine running round my system.
12th August
The nights sleep was disturbed, not by anyone but by painkillers and by the fact that I was longer than the bed was... still it was comfy enough.. I finally became aware of the pain at about 6:30am. I asked for pain relief and was given morphine, the tablets that I normally take were promised to follow shortly, I finally got them at 10am.
Breakfast this morning was served, well dumped in front of me... it was weetabix and a quarter bottle of milk and a spoonful of sugar... literally.
I asked for fruit, however, that was not available...
My meds were changed from Morphine to Oromorph 10mg. It didn't seem to work as well when dealing the pain. I let the nurse know whose response was, well that's what your perscription has changed too. Apparently it is safer than breaking the skin with a needle...
Lunch was Sausage and Onion with Saute Potatoes, i had ordered it with baked beans, but guess what? No beans...
Anyhow, I had asked about my other drugs that were per scribed to me, Lanzoprazol and Diclofenac, as of yet still to receive these drugs... as the diclofenac is supposedly the best drug for dealing with this type of pain, I was a bit annoyed.
16:40 I finally got a jug of water, over 24 hours after being admitted to the ward!!! Wahooo. At this point I figured I was on a role so asked for pain killers... certainly 5 minutes. God life is good... however when I requested them again at 17:30 and told 5 minutes I was less enthusiastic. Finally at 18:30 I got my pain killers... it was superb, out of pain for a bit... I asked for morphine, the nurse looked like I had slapped her. It was far too much trouble... Which has to be said was unusual for the nurses on that ward, and was the only time one of them made me feel bad about asking for something.
However the relief was shot lived, I asked for more morphine at 20:15 and told I couldn't have it till 20:30 as it had to be 2 hours between. I asked another nurse at 20:30 who said I couldn't have it. I argued the toss and she went away to check. She came back and got the meds for me... thankfully... it was a bad day today. All the time today the staff made me feel like I shouldn't be here, or that I was too much trouble to deal with, at one point I even got the impression they didn't believe me about the pain I was in. Its horrible.
The Oromorph doesn't sit well with me and doesn't seem to be as effective, it doesn't seem to kill the pain either... Fortunately the night shift is on now... they are great.
13th August
Today is the day of my CT scan. I have been asking about it all of yesterday and was told there was some prep and that was it. Well Lynne (from the night staff) came and told me about the prep and she was great. Sinni (please forgive the spelling) put a cannula in. I had no breakfast as the scan was at 09:30. Jacky brought my lovely (Yeah right) tasting drink at 07:30 and explained the ct scan. I went and had a shower and got gowned up. I am not looking forward to the day staff today if I am honest.
I was wheeled down for the scan, gown a flapping... very uncomfortable feeling... and had the scan. Some very strange sensations flow through your body when they inject the die in, but its not unpleasant. The staff at the ct scan were great, and the nurses have been good on the ward today as well, although lacking in the drinks department as its now 12:15 and I want a brew!!!
Got my results from the scan at 17:45, the results were great, everything was fine except the gall bladder, and it had to come out. They wouldn't do it as an emergency op and I would have to be booked back in for that. So I get to go home and rest for a while, well once the Dr's have seen me tomorrow morning that is... Food on the ward was crap as always... went to canteen, it was crap there as well...
15th August
Woke up at 06:15 and wasn't in any real pain today, slight discomfort, and I am too remain on the tablets, but not agony, tear inducing pain like it had been. I went for a cigarette, had a shower, got dressed and packed my bags ready to leave. It6s very quiet on the ward at the moment but I know that wont last.
Think the nurses are getting annoyed with me asking about going home... anyone would think I don't want to be here...
Dr's came round at 07:30 and said I could go, but I they had to sort tablets out... finally broke for freedom at 09:30... the sun was gorgeous and I sat outside waiting for my lift to turn up smoking a fag and looking up at the ward that had been home for a few days...
Let me make this clear... this may be slightly moaning, but apart from one nurse, the nursing staff on that ward B3, were superb, especially the night staff... well done to all who work there I appreciate the job is not easy, especially with whinging gits like me...
Thank you all
