Do Not Be Alone

[Pat29627]

Before my surgery, I was warned by a woman who'd had the surgery 3 months previously to make sure someone was in the room with me at all times. She said that you're not totally with it and you need someone watching and listening. She had come down with an infection. After she got home, she got tingling in her neck and went to the emergency room. She had Stevens-Johnson syndrome as a reaction to the surgical antibiotics (they think). She ended up in intensive care with her skin sloughing off. She recovered well and when I saw her, she was six weeks out and had just done a water arthritis exercise class. She walked without a limp, but had a cane. She needs her other knee done, but is afraid to have another surgery.

So, when I was in the hospital, I heeded her advice. My husband was in the room most of the time. He slept on the nice couch in my room. When he had to go to the eye doc, he called my daughter to come stay with me. There were several times I needed him to get the phone for me since I never could get to it with the ice machine and catheter and IV. Food service called for my order each mealtime if I hadn't ordered already. I asked him to get things out of my bag, too. No way could I ever do that. Mostly it was nice knowing he was there when I awoke in the night.

The day after my surgery, a man two doors down coded. I had been about to ask for a pain pill, but decided it wasn't the best time lol. I later heard from a nurse that he'd choked on some food. A few weeks later when I was in PT, the therapist noticed that a man's chart had the same doctor and surgery date as mine. He thought he'd gotten my chart by mistake. Then he laughed and mentioned it to us. It turned out that the man was the one who had choked. He said he'd been eating a hamburger. His wife asked him a question and when he hadn't answered, she looked at him. He was turning blue. Luckily our OS was right outside his room and rushed in and did the Heimlich maneuver. The man went to ICU and was ok in a couple days. If his wife had not been with him, he wouldn't be here. I was so happy to learn that he'd lived and was well.

Pat

 

[Texas]

Wow Pat those are some stories.Geez.....I guess she would be nervous......Im glad they are ok...........I agree with the not alone i wasn't alone hubby slept on probably the same thing your did.but great advice...............)

 

[JudyS]

Should I tell my husband about yours sleeping in the room with you. He comes to visit at about 8pm when I'm just about alseep. One time on a Sat morning I called jhim up in tears and needed a copy of my med list. He told me he'd bring it by later that evening!!!!
I told him how important it was to have someone with you. In jan i ended up having seizures and afraid I was going to stop breathing and they even had to call a code on me when he was not there. Still did not get him to stay.
judy

 

[FrogFeathers]

I was mostly alone. My husband barely visited. My kids visited when they could (they were in school and the oldest one had work). My son would stop by for a half hour on his way to martial arts class. My oldest worked down the street from the hospital and would stop in on her way home from work, for about an hour. If the husband came out, it was only for about an hour (he hates hospitals). My mom was fresh out of the hospital for her own issues and my dad had to stay around and take care of her.

If I wanted to go to the bathroom, I had to call a nurse/CNA and wait for them to come to my room. They'd get me up with those gosh-awful slipper socks (I hated those things) and a gait belt and walk along as I limped to the loo with my walker. Then, I'd have to call a nurse/CNA again to walk me back when I was done.

I suppose the longest amount of time I had anybody in my room was after about ten days- the nurses/CNAs/PTs/OTs and so on all found out I do tarot card and palm readings. So, for an entire afternoon, I had a string of visitors in the hospital staff who came in for readings. (it was fun)

I was fine, though. The only problem I had was that sometimes the people responding to my bathroom requests didn't seem to think it was as urgent as I thought it was... had a couple of close-calls, if you know what I mean. :hehe:

 

[Pat29627]

Hahaha, I was sooo glad I had a catheter! Saved me so much trouble.

When I had surgery when the kids were little, I was totally alone in the hospital. I was hungry that night and on a regular diet. I'd take a bite, then WAKE UP with food in my mouth. After a few bites I decided that was dangerous and went hungry.

My hubby absolutely hates hospitals, so I'm really proud of him for staying with me. Guess I'll keep him.

Pat

 

[cindy88fan]

Judy, that is sad that your husband wasn't there very often for you.

My Dad was there most of the time. Friends were there a lot. There were times I wished they would all just leave so I could get some rest. But at least they were concerned.

 

[FrogFeathers]

I had a catheter for the first four days. When they told me they were taking it out, I asked if they were sure because I wasn't sure I'd be able to walk yet! Well, I did... about an hour after they took the catheter out, I had to go to the bathroom! :hehe:

 

[Surfsister]

I was alone throughout my hospital stay. That was fine by me. I had visitors, but my iPod kept me well entertained (as did the pain meds). Then again, my surgery was on Monday and I left the hospital on Thursday morning after having gotten up long before the roosters do to go take a couple of spins around the ward with my walker. I wasn't in the hospital for long. I didn't eat the food either. It was horrible and the pain meds made me nauseous. I guess each person is different.

 

[skigirl]

I agree that each of us is different and we have different types of surgery. My surgery was minimally invasive--so, I got up to go to the bathroom about one hour after surgery.
I did not use a walker---just strolled in and changed my clothing while I was at it. I made my surgeon promise that I would not have a catheter when I woke up.

Although I was sleepy the first night--I had a general, my husband left after I fell asleep. When I woke up the next day, I was in quite a bit of pain and he came back to help me. He did not stay around all day on Thursday either---and it was fine with me, I also had an ipod and did have a friend come by--also, our priest came by to say hello. I left that afternoon about 5 pm. I just wanted to be home in my own bed. So, surgery on Wed at noon. Left the hospital on Thursday at 5 pm. I walked out too, although they made me use my crutches!!!

But, with the MIS, since your muscles are not cut, you can walk around fairly easily on the first day. My husband is a doctor and loves hospital food--he brough me food from home and ate the food there!!! Kelly

 

[Pat29627]

I think I needed an iPod. I've never wanted one because I just play all the music on my computer, but that sounds like a great idea to have after surgery.

Pat

 

[JudyS]

I was pretty out of it for most of my hospital stay . I don't know what they were giving me but after the seizures were controlled I don't have much memory of my stay!!
I did see some drugs mentioned for aggitation. WEll the extreme pain probably made me agitated and whatever they gave me worked.
judy

 

[FrogFeathers]

I think I needed an iPod. I've never wanted one because I just play all the music on my computer, but that sounds like a great idea to have after surgery.

Pat

I had the TV, which was a nice distraction. I had basic cable, so I could still watch USA network with the "Law & Order" shows and "House" and such. But, after two weeks of that, I was so sick to death of my favorite shows that I all but stopped watching them! When my husband drove me home, I pulled his CD out of the radio in my truck and put one of mine in. He protested, "Hey, I'm driving! My music!"

I said, "I've just been locked in that *expletive* hospital for two weeks! I need some decent music!" I even smacked his hand away! (he only has the use of his left hand, so once he started driving, he was stuck with my music) :hehe:

I did have a book with me at the hospital, but the pain drugs kept me just stoned out enough not to be able to focus on it. My dad brought my mom's laptop by once (after I'd been in for a week), but I didn't get to spend much time having fun on it, I ended up answering emails for most of the time I had it, then I got tired and couldn't sit upright much longer. But, I did get to catch up on the well-wishes from another message board I frequent, so that was quite the morale booster. (oh, and I had my mobile phone, so I could text my online friends and kids).

 

[Linda2]

I had to convince my husband to go home and to work. He would've stayed with me 24/7 if I would have let him. I doubt if he could have gotten a response from the staff any quicker than I could--he just heightened my own frustration. As he said, "You could die in this room and no one would know for four hours!"

 

[dcdowden]

I had a regular IPOD last year for my hips, and I upgraded to an IPOD Touch this year for my knee replacement. The IPOD was my greatest friend during those long nights when I couldn't really sleep very well in the hospital. The ear buds also shut out background noise. My hospital had free wifi access, so I could use my Ipod Touch to access the internet during my hospital stay. The Ipod can also play videos if you are so inclined.
Good luck,
Doug

 

[Judles]

Totally right! Sure beats the sound of those nurses screaming at 4 in the morning!!!! Ugh!

 

[Josephine]

I had one visitor the entire week I was in hospital. My nephew also popped in with something for me but didn't stop. Unusually for the UK I had a private room so unless the nurses were in the vicinity I was totally on my own. But apart from the TV, I had my bestest ever purchase which kept me going night and day - the portable dvd player and a whole big packet of dvds! With head phones I watched those films way into the night, often till 2 or 3am. Was great! But as for bathroom, I was almost totally independent from around day 3.

 

[mwolf]

I am a nurse so I knew I wanted someone with me. I am very aware of scheduling of nurses and their patient load at night. My husband stayed the first night, but then one of the nurses I work with stayed the other 3 days. I was so grateful!! I was up walking with no problem. But I did have blood pressure problems and would pass out frequently. I was so relieved to have another RN with me. I felt very comfortable with the nursing staff, but I do think it is nice to have another pair of hands and eyes with you. Plus, she is my best friend, so it was another shared experience.

 

[Josephine]

Trouble with me was that all my 'best friends' are on the other side of the Atlantic!

 

[calling_all_angels]

Ahhhhhhhhh Jo,
Does this mean that one day you will come over to the other side?? And we will talk Doug into BBQ something good. And have a Bonesmart Pot Luck.

 

[cotton1958]

My spouse came in once a day and stayed for a few hours. My daughters stayed a couple of nights. They all had to work the next day so I didn't force them to stay after those early nights. I think it's a good idea, if you have someone to stay, to do so.

I guess my worst hospital story was an older CPN kept getting me mixed up with someone down the hall just 2 doors away. She came into my room after they had changed 4 o'clock shifts, and said she was going to poke my finger. I chimed up and said that I had NEVER HAD MY FINGER POKED! She said, well it's going to be poked now. And she walked over and poked it. And it bled as I was on Lovenox. And then she said, oh I know, I am in the wrong room. Then my daughter walked in, and I whispered what was going on. The RN came in and I whispered what had happened. She compressed the poke to keep it from bleeding. I was not very happy, and with all the surgery stuff that went on, like fever...chest x ray, doppler checking for blood clots, 2 blood transfusions, high BP due to pain and drugs, passed out once going to wheelchair.. I just wanted to get the heck out of there. I was afraid to cause a stink as I was lucky to get into this rehab, and I depended on these people to get me up to go pee. But I tell you it was stressful.

Also, there were hardly any cable tv shows on, and the ones like Food Network were in Spanish. Also, I was hurting so bad, and couldn't see because of blurry eyes from drugs, I didn't care a bit about my computer. I had an Iphone but couldn't read it for the same reasons. So I just lay there hour after hour. Time went by so slowly.

Sorry so long, but wanted to add, the drugs made me have a strange interaction with food and smells. So perfume on hospital workers was awfully strong. And the hospital food tasted very salty. I ate bland stuff like sherbert, yogurt, jello, etc.

fyi, these are the bumps in the road I was referring to when I came back to post for the first time a couple of weeks ago. : )