Hi all
This post has nothing to do with cancer (although I have continued to post & discuss the subject since my diagnosis back in 2019.) Therefore, perhaps Admin. may not think this appropriate for discussion. If so, I have no problems if my post is removed, & will totally understand.)
However, as I've got to know so many lovely people on here over the past 4 years, I thought I would let you know what's been happening to me - over the past four weeks - as I've been very quiet recently! I thought it also might be interesting for you to read about my personal experiences of calling an ambulance, spending a week in hospital - & seeing at first hand the current situation in the NHS.from my perspective.
On Feb 7th, I went upstairs to bed, with a cup of tea in one hand, & a packet of biscuits in the other. I fell on the last step & the tea & biscuits went flying. I got in bed, but the pain in my right foot became excruciating. I could just about hop to the loo....but had to continuously splash my face & foot with cold water - as I was clammy & sweating from the pain.
At 11am, I realised I needed help, but I live alone, & my mobile was downstairs. By that time my foot was double the size, & extremely bruised. I managed to shuffle on my bum downstairs, open the door, & call 101, who called an ambulance. The crew arrived three hours later (I am told that was good.) The lovely men, Spud & Rich were wonderful. They hunted for my clothes,gave me paracetamol & a cup of tea, & all dignity goes out the window - when a burly man virtually carries you to the loo. (They've seen it all before!) At the hospital, I waited 1 1/2 hours in the back of the ambulance. (That is also normal apparently.) Once assessed by A & E, I was put in a plaster cast, & laid on a trolley bed (with several others,) all night - till I was taken to a ward mid morning.
I left home with a pair of reading glasses, mobile & charger, & door keys.) I thought I had a sprain - but it turned out to be a broken foot, with 4 fractures - & a weeks' stay in hospital! I was in a ward of six women, with various problems. Three were very elderly, with catheters. One was clearly at the end of life - & just wanted to sleep 24/7...but, she was awakened every hour to be medicated, spoon fed, & hoisted grudgingly on a Zimmer. It was painful to watch - however, the nurses have a care of duty, which they were performing well. But - those three ladies should never have been there - but in care/ or rehabilitation homes....& I think that is where the problem lies...the lack of social care outside the hospital.
When my team of Ortho. doctors visited me one morning, I was feeling at my lowest. When asked how I was feeling, I told him 'This place is sucking the life out of me, there's no radio, no TV, no stimulation whatever.' He just nodded & smiled.' There were days & nights when the ward was very short staffed. I rang the button to be wheeled to the loo one night, & waited two hours. At those times, the staff appreciate those patients with a catheter, which is sad to realise! I had many conversations with various nurses. IMO, they were all trying their best to do a good job, given the circumstances they were working under.
On discharge, no care package was put in place for me . I rang the ward the next morning saying - 'How do I cope?' They said that I was very independent, & needed no help. I said, only because the bowl of water was brought to me - so I could wash, etc. Long story short, fortunately, I had a local hospital team assisting me in washing, breakfasts, etc. for 12 days - & they were amazing! (But - I had to ask for it!)
I am now still hopping around on one foot, with the use of a walker - which is bloody hard & strenuous! I am paying for delivered lunches - & now able to sort a small supper in the evenings. I am fortunate to be living downstairs on my sofa bed, & have a downstairs loo. I have lots of friends visiting....which I love, just for social interaction.
So, I am getting there slowly, but can honestly say that this injury has impacted on my life far more than bowel cancer ever did.
Marianne x
Hi Marianne26
I was interested to read your story, but sorry to see you’ve had such a nasty accident. I am replying because I had a hospital admission just 5 days before you (also not connected with my cancer).
My ambulance turned up in 10 minutes-I had only just managed to get dressed and downstairs when they arrived. At A&E I was taken in immediately, and in the space of 5 hours(despite the waiting room being full) I had been seen multiple times for blood tests, with results, had a cannula with iv fluids, CT scan and results, and was given a bed.
The issue was identified (blocked bile duct) and within 8 hours of arriving I was transferred to a different hospital to a surgical assessment ward where I had my own room for the first 2 days before being moved to a 2 bedded room.
From then on it went downhill for me, in terms of care. I am registered disabled, and have 2 stomas but not once did any staff help me in any way. I counted 8 staff one day who were sitting around chatting and laughing who all watched me struggle to walk to the bathroom with my IV stand and a bag of stoma supplies. They all saw me as I stopped and stared at them and not one offered me any help.
There were so many things that happened in there I can’t even recount them all. I had a procedure attempted with sedation which failed completely where the sedation didn’t work(but I couldn’t let them know because I had a tube in my throat) and prior to this I was told I would have rectal suppositories-no-one seemed to be aware I’d had my rectum removed so this was not an option.
None of my follow up appointments were made, so I had to chase at 2 different hospitals. My condition when I was assessed at first I was told was life threatening-I had got there just in time. Yet it was assumed that I could completely manage on my own, despite being very ill.
I need to go back into hospital very soon for the ERCP procedure to be attempted again, and to discuss future surgery, but quite frankly I am terrified. I am more frightened of this than I was of my cancer treatment and surgery.
Sarah xx
Hi Marianne
Yes it was a different hospital-I’d been used to excellent care so had a huge shock at what I experienced. The kindest staff were the healthcare assistants and the ladies with the tea trolley! Too many nurses had zero empathy and made things quite horrible. I was in tears at times and I never cried once going through my exenteration surgery. I’ve just been left feeling very vulnerable now.
Sarah xx
Oh BlueBlue
I am so sad to read how your siblings have been treated. This is just completely unacceptable for anyone to go through, but especially those who are vulnerable. One thing is certain-I’ll have my wits about me for next time and I can speak up for myself-the reason I haven’t complained is that I know I’m going to be back in there.
There are so many improvements needed that are not money related. Wear a name badge, tell me who you are before sticking another needle in me, listen when I’m telling you I’m in pain-don’t smirk and look as if you’re enjoying my discomfort. Ask me if I need help. Call me by my preferred name. Update my diet requirements so I’m not left hungry for 2 days when you have failed note I’m not fluids only any longer. Tell me where the bathroom is, provide me with a towel-I was an emergency admission so didn’t have one in my handbag! Don’t put my water jug out of reach when I have a drip stand on one side and am attached to a stoma night bag on the other. If my curtains are pulled round the bed, assume there’s a reason and call out rather than “barging in”. Give me some dignity.
When people found out which hospital I’d been in, they all rolled their eyes and told me how awful it was. I think some staff have just given up.
Sarah xx
I had exactly the same feelings about not speaking out for fear of reprisals. Two of the nurses really hurt me giving the IV antibiotics 4 times a day. The cannula was very badly placed, and eventually I refused any more until someone repositioned it. They say they’re too busy-my question would be why are you all sitting round giggling and joking and ignoring buzzers if you’re so busy?
My partner was shocked at visits and the fact that frequently there were no nurses to be found. I was angry at myself for crying in there-but they made me feel like a nuisance at times, and it should never be like that in hospital. I was so angry, on so many occasions with what I experienced.
Sarah xx
Hi All
I'm sorry to say that I have experienced the same but not to your degree the conclusion that I have come to is when admitted through a cancer surgeon and the team around him they know what they’re doing and follow through their duty of care.
My niece works in the NHS and is in charge of the for better words. Bed blocking patients. Theirs no care home placements and families expect their elderly to be cared for however there’s nothing wrong apart from old age!
So this causes bed shortages and staff that are care assistants without the necessary specialist experience.
When I had my reversal yes I know I should be jumping for joy but I had terrible time. It was dreadful,I am not going to bore you with all the horrendous details however there’s one which you might appreciate. My first meal after a reversal …… Mash …. And ice cream served with a fork …. Yes that is all I could choose from after having a stoma reversal the other choices could have blocked me and when I asked for my blood filled dressing to be changed the nurse looked at my Back!
So I was on an ENT elderly mainly ward with the minimal staff not knowing what to do and next door to a young man who had his iphone on full blast all night when I asked if he could turn it down they said no …….well give him some ear phones then!!!
Brexit, the Pandemic and the short fall in staff is ruining our NHS
Im sorry you have had a terrible experience with your stay in hospital.
Im going in Tuesday and hoping the staff are trained in my after care or I will be leaving with my drain attached
I hope that your hospital stay goes well Sarah. They should be organised for you and it all be sorted
Ann
