Scared of Hospital

Great!

So glad that the stay was helpful and productive and that your fears were groundless. Time to enjoy Christmas now.

GreatauntieLinda

Good news indeed and it is always welcomed when as poster takes the trouble to give an update .

I am sure you are both pleased to be back in your home, especially at this time of year.

It is also refreshing to hear positive stories of the NHS from those who have had recent care.

Thats good news I hope your DH continues to improve.. and a gold star to the NHS..

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know that after almost three weeks in hospital my DH returned home yesterday. Not quite out of the woods but vastly improved.

My fears, and his, about hospital were totally unfounded. The nurses, doctors and auxiliary staff could not have been more professional, understanding and helpful. Meals were excellent too. My sincere thanks to the staff of DH's ward at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

What I should have said too, was that the staff are excellent. Friendly, informative and taking excellent care of my DH. Hospital food has much improved.

Thank you Teetime, Mishap and rubysong. I've been into see him this afternoon and must say that the oxygen is bringing back his old face. No longer gaunt. He is more chirpy too. The drip is doing its work as well.

All the best to your DH GALinda and to you. I hope all goes well and he is soon home. Please take him these

I am so pleased that your fears were unfounded and that he is receiving excellent care - that must be a huge relief for you.

Thats good news - I hope he is back home with you soon.

Thank you whitewave and jinglebellsfrocks.

Ooh, that's so good *GaLinda. Godspeed his homecoming.

Pleased to hear the news GREAT I bet you are feeling relieved and hopefully he will be so much better by Christmas.

Took DH into hospital late this afternoon. Followed all your advice. He now has an air bed, on oxygen and receiving excellent treatment from the Nurses. Goes on drip tomorrow. Am to take in our own supply of Suddacream for one of his problems. The hospital doesn't use it these days but its been working wonders for him.

Fears allayed by the professional kind hearted attitude of staff.

Again thank you all for your advice and wonderful words of support. Shall keep you posted.

Kiora - thank you and will do.

Stansgran - you made me smile. You see Bob doesn't get to say a word when we see Doctors etc. I do all the talking because the professionals talk so fast Bob cannot take it in. I have notes and everything. I even have a sheet of paper with all the information they need from name and address - medication - medical history. I've found that they all ask the same questions and to save repeating myself I just give them the sheet.

Still waiting for the phone call.

If he is a private person then perhaps you should be his spokesman . Doctors and nurses are not mind readers and just tell them and keep telling them about fears about bed sores about anything that worries you. One nurse or doctor may be told about a fear and then go off duty for two days. So don't keep worries to yourself.

for you both. It's normal to be scared. Especially with all the scaremongering that goes on. I hope the replies you've had to your post have reassured you both. On a positive note It's lovely to hear how love can deepen over the Years. Best wishes and keep us updated on his recovery.

Thank you all. Still no phone call. The District Nurse who comes in once a week organised a special mattress for the bed and a cushion for his chair. We take it in the car when we go out. We have protection for his elbow and Cavilon to rub on the other places. He is such a private person, so finds hospital quite embarrassing.

Thank you again for your kind words.

Hello GreatauntieLinda, I'm glad you and your husband are both feeling a little calmer today.

You have some good advice here, especially from Teetime and When. I agree with all who say you should tell the staff at the hospital what he is feeling and if you should be unlucky and get the one unsympathetic person on the staff don't worry, just tell someone else.

Hope all goes well

It is understandable that you should both be feeling apprehensive.

I have recently been in hospital and watched the nurses taking care of an elderly man in the next bed - he was doubly incontinent and extremely distressed and ashamed about this. The care from the nurses, their reassurance and compassion was exemplary. I was deeply impressed and moved.

We only hear the bad things on the news - what I saw is, I am sure, more the norm.

Your OH will feel a lot better when the fluid problem has been resolved I a sure. It is important that the pressure sores should be treated and further prevented, so it might be worth talking to the surgery and getting the district nurse on board to start tackling that problem even before his admission. Treating and preventing pressure sores is one of the most basic aspects of nursing and I am sure that those in hospital will be on top of this for him - just make sure that you make them aware of the problem straight away.

I hope that your fears are groundless and that this admission will make him feel much better.

My husband was in a couple of years ago with heart condition and he was fine in fact he made a couple of friends and they have kept in contact. There was a chap in the bed hospital with fluid - he was quite blown up with it, but he eventually was discharged so all was well he was in his late 70's.

Once he goes in you will feel much better although it is tiring visiting - so wish you both well and look forward to this time next year!

Hope all goes well for your DH, and you!

If I might mention the pressure sores .... you must inform the nurses on admission so that they can arrange an appropriate air mattress - you don't want them getting worse.

Also, on discharge try to have at least an air cushion for his chair.

Many thanks everyone. Must admit last night I was quite worked up. I shall take on board your helpful advice and thoughts. No phone call so far but his bag is packed. He too seems a bit calmer this morning.

Thank you all for responding.