26 August 2010

Freedom at last

So after a whole week in hospital, one new drug and I'm out with a supply of it. Sadly I have to go back in 6 weeks time to have a camera inserted down my throat (which I am really not looking forward to) but if the short term problem is solved then I can cope.

I've had my eyes opened by the whole hospital system. It's very different being a patient when you work in a hospital, and you realise just how much patients are kept out of the loop. I've come to realise that, as predicted, some consultants are wonderful, and some are wonderful tutors and have a less humane bedside manner. Equally, the junior doctors are the ones who actually seem to know what's going on. This is just based on my own personal observations. Remember, whatever you write in the notes can be read by patients;  I requested to see my notes for my admission while I was in. I did laugh when I read:

"O/E Knitting"

Hence the knitting for distraction from pain! It's very easy to be two-faced to a patient and write something different in the notes, but it's not massively difficult to request to see them as the patient.

The nursing staff were superb, and I was very lucky to have been placed on the private ward because I was staff. A favour that saved me many more sleepless hours than I would have had on a bay.

All in all, it's been a very low week physically. I've slept very little and been poked and prodded by every variety of doctor and nurse. I think any shred of dignity was gone when one of the staff nurses I work with a lot did a 12 lead ECG on me and I ended up laying bare chested in front of her.

I hope the tablets work, I have a month to find out, and if not, then who knows. Fingers crossed...

4 comments:

Sage said...

Will keep my fingers crossed for you, sorry you are having such a grim time xx

ilovehotchocolate said...

Glad things are starting to look up, hope you feel much better soon.

Ninja Pharmer said...

I have Crohn's disease, and I've found that knitting helps me, too. Flares are usually my most productive time, knitting-wise; it gives me something else to focus on rather than wallowing in my own pain and misery. During a recent fortnight long flare I made 5 hats, 3 pairs of fingerless gloves and a pair of knee-high socks!

Love your blog, btw!

Jamrock said...

I'm so envious of your knitting skills. Fingers crossed the drugs do work.