A tip if you have to stay in hospital overnight

[higgy52]

Just a little tip if you have to stay in over night after Ablation.

Take some ear plugs, there was monitors beeping all night from my bay and the other bays near by, stuck tissue in ears but no good, only had about 2 hours sleep if that.

[wilsond]

Thanks for the tip! Hope yiure ok.

[Hidden]

I always pack my noise cancelling headphones. I can listen to some calming music and be oblivious (almost!) to my surroundings

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

White noise - I do that as well.

[jeanjeannie50]

Good tip Higgy

I use ear-plugs in hospital, along with an eye mask, and always ask for a sleeping tablet. Wards can be so noisy at night, new people being admitted, lights going on, snoring, talking, machines buzzing etc. At home I'm used to sleeping without any noise whatsoever, but it's inevitable when poorly people need vital 24 hour care.

How are you today, or is it too early to say. x

[10gingercats in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I was admitted at 2.30.a.m a couple of years ago!Lovely people who settled me in but it woke up the whole ward .It would help other patients if they could put you into a side ward if you are admitted in the night .

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to 10gingercats]

A good idea, but the side wards are also needed for people who are nearing the end of their life or contagious. My sister in the States was shocked when she heard that we still have shared rooms in the UK.

In the areas I've been in they're for eight people. In some ways it's good to share a ward with others, so that you can keep an eye on each other, but there's no privacy. I remember the elderly lady opposite me having a stomach bug and having to use a commode behind a curtain, she was a very genteel person and was extremely embarrassed by the noise she made. She apologised to us from behind the curtain and I gave a reply that we weren't worried about that, but my heart bled for her re the indignity of it all!

In hospital I once got out of bed early one morning and passed out, I gave a quick shout as I felt myself go, if I hadn't I don't know how long I'd have been lying on the floor for before someone noticed, as where I was lying was out of view of the other patients. I had a heart monitor on too, which flagged up no warning until 24hrs later.

Don't know what the answer to it all is really.

Jean

[FMW62 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I once shared a ward with 4 other ladies. One needed an air ambulance to fly her home to her island and the plane would not take her until she was no longer constipated - spent a long time in the loo one night. Another had diarrhoea in reaction to a general anaesthetic! The latter was incredibly embarrassed, but, having pressed the panic button for her, I told her that we were all grateful it wasn't us who got caught short.

More seriously, I won't go into hospital without my Kindle and my phone. The phone has a radio, MP3 player and lots of family photos. Helps a lot with sanity and dozing.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sleep?? In a hospital?? Doesn't exist does it? Even when you do drop off they come and check your BP or something to make sure you don't stay asleep. Plenty of time to sleep when you get home. I'm sure that they do it to make sure those first couple of days at home you do nothing.

[Finvola]

I agree with Bob - sleep and hospital don’t go together at all, especially if you are fortunate enough to be in for only a day or two.

Thanks for the reminder higgy, ear plugs and a sleep mask can help some.

[ijan]

Good tip! I always take ear plugs and an eye mask. If the ward is quiet and dark I leave the mask and earplugs in my sponge bag knowing I have a remedy if light or noise keep me awake.

[checkmypulse]

Good tip. It wasn't the bleeps etc of the machines that disturbed me, it was bXXXXXy patients on their phones until the early hours!!!!

[seasider18]

Our local hospital had a sign up saying they can supple eye mask and earplugs on request