Hospitalization: What should I know?

Definitely bring your personal blanket and pillow! Also, I'd bring some t'shirts and sweatpants or something because you'll get sick of that hospital gown (especially if you stay for a while). Books are important (ones that will lift your spirits), and a few gossip magazines are also helpful for a good distraction. :) Most of all, just be sure to have things there that make you happy. Call me if you need to!!! Just try to keep it in your mind that this will all be for the best and will get you back into remission somehow, surgery or not.

Hang in there, trooper!

Laura

I was admitted last Fall for the same reason, but I was so sick I didn't even care that I had to go in. Hang in there!

Definitely bring your cell phone -- my IV pole and my weakness/fatigue made it difficult to reach the hospital phone. And if it's programmed, then you have all the phone numbers you might need. Bring some anti-bacterial wipes, I just read somewhere that the tv remote/nurse call button is the germiest surface in the room, even more so than the toilet. I also brought some hand sanitizer to use before eating. Bring toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, and deodorant, as well as some undies. I really needed to stay in the hospital gown, due to placement of a picc line, and they had pj bottoms that I added when cold, but frankly with all the sweats from the steroids I was hot often. They will give you new socks that have stickies on the bottom so you don't slip on the floor. Books and cheesy magazines are good. A friend brought me some Sudoku and word puzzles, which was nice. And prepare to watch a lot of mindless tv. Oh, also bring a pad of paper and a pen -- helped me keep track of questions for my doc, etc.

Lastly, be diligent about double checking what meds you are brought, ultimately you have to take responsibility for your care. Check every bag they put on your IV pole. During my 12 day stay there were TWO medication errors made, once they put a nutrition bag for another patient (age 90) on my pole, and I flipped a lid when I noticed. You need to advocate for yourself, or have a loved one around who can do it for you. If someone is having trouble putting in an IV or taking blood, firmly but politely request someone else -- they will bring up someone from the ER or phlebotomy to do it. My dr told me to do this, as we who are immunocompromised are at risk for infection, and we don't need extra needle sticks.

Try as hard as you can for a private room.  I was first put into a room with two other people b/c they really didn't know how long I would be there and what a nightmare.  One person watched T.V. all day and half the night and the other bed was occupied by three different people in three days--all had visitors throughout the day, talking, talking, talking and the amount of nurses, assistants, etc that come in to take care of three people is constant.  I couldn't get any rest, by the third day I was exhausted, sleep deprived and my GI made some calls and got me a private room, thankfully, b/c I ended up in the hospital for two weeks.  Oh, hard candy--GI had me on no liquids/food for almost a week to heal up and then I graduated to hard candy, lifesavers, etc. for two days.  Good luck.  Oh, one more thing, I had someone bring me a eye mask, every morning the lab people come in at 5-6 a.m. to take blood work and just walk in and flip the light on w/o warning, personally I thought it was a sadistic reaction to having to work that early in the morning.

Hey dakota I was just reading your post.  I have been in the same situation as you twice...once in march of 07 and then again in october of 07.   My counts were low and high just like yours, I was hospitalized and put on IV steroids both times I also had to have blood transfusions both times also.  My UC was flaring both times that I was hospitalized, march I was really sick.  I couldn't eat anything without throwing up and I lost weight and that went on for ten days before I went to the ER.  But they are going to put you on IV steroids, possibly give you blood transfusions and they will bring you your daily medication, not sure if they will low maintenance your diet, they did with me because I wasn't tolerating solids.  Is your UC flaring?  I know my counts go out of whack only when I am flairing.  Let me know how everything goes.

If you're using the bathroom a lot, bring your own toilet paper. Nothing worse than a raw bottom from using the hospital's "newspaper" toilet paper. I had to have my husband bring me some A&D ointment, because I became so raw.

Also someone mentioned hand sanitizer. I had to use a porta potty, because I physically couldn't get up and tied to an IV pole, so I had no way of washing my hands after using the toilet.

You probably won't get much sleep. They insist on poking you at all hours.

Last time I was in, I was so happy to go home, so I could rest. Sounds crazy, but that's how it was.

Never heard of the hospitals being full! Does that mean if you went in from the ER you couldn't be admitted? Interesting.

I hope being at the hospital doesn't stress you out even more - do you have to have a roommate?

Yes, a roommate :( The doc has requested a private room, but I'm not holding my breath.

Doc says I'll probably be here until Tuesday. That surely didn't make my day. I'm still waiting for my meds. The pain has started, and I'm a bit irritated since I told them it would by now. I thought I'd give them fair warning. Update: just got the painkiller.

Good news is I have wifi access. I'm trying very hard to keep my thoughts on the positive side and not focus on the negatives. I'm ready to just zone out for the night - hopefully the tramadol kicks in quickly.

Solumedrol is the IV prednisone... The "fun" one as far as I'm concerned.

I'll take those happy thoughts :) Thank you!

Dawn, with the meds they give me, I usually sleep a lot in the hospital. Of course, I'm always post-op and getting a lot of pain medication. I'm glad you have your computer available; when you get sick of daytime TV (that should take about ten minutes) you can surf the internet. Since you know when your pain starts, ask for the medication an hour and a half before. And don't ask for it in an hour, tell them you need it now. Since it will take 30-45 minutes for them to get to you with it, that will give it time to work before the pain starts.

Ugh, I'm sorry you have to share a room. It seems all of the hospitals here have gone to only private rooms. It's really nice, because I would never rest in a room with a stranger. I hope you get an empty bed for a room mate soon.

Feel better, and try to get some rest.

Hey Dakotagirl~~!!! 

  I haven't posted here much lately, and I saw your post and just HAD to log in and say "Howdy"~! So sorry to hear you are in the hospital, but at least now you'll get some much needed attention, (maybe not wanted attention, but needed attention) and get going in the right direction at last. I recommend playing some internet games since you have access, when I'm sick and stuck in bed, that's what I do and it really helps pass the time. If you're like me, sitting still is almost IMPOSSIBLE, so concentrate on this time and realize that your body really needs it, some downtime is necessary in times like this to allow our bodies to heal without any complications of added stressors or activities. I hope this time helps heal your body and the medicine they are giving you acts fast and you can get out of there in a timely manner...

 Hang in there and know we're all wishing you healing thoughts!! 

Hi all.

Doing okay considering. I don't like this, but have resigned myself to healing. IV meds suck. The solumedrol burns like the dickens!!! Literally taking my breath away - I must tell myself to breathe.

The tramadol is a waste. I need to ask the nurse to check on something else. It makes me a bit more relaxed, but doesn't touch the GI pain the way I would like.

No change yet, besides I haven't had solid food since lunch yesterday - oh wait, that cookie I couldn't pass up around 4:00 before I was admitted... So I have some gurgly guts, but only expelling mucous.

It's strange that with their liquid diet they give me milk products. I like milk and ice cream and they are more "solid" than broths etc - but interesting none the less. I'm a picky eater - so this has been fun. I'm craving all sorts of solid foods (fajitas, sandwiches, etc) but soup and cereal take my appetite away. But I did ask the nurse and a latte is okay - decaf being my preference. I'll have to tote my IV downstairs later...

So all in all, attitude is better today.