Hospitals

As most people that are disabled, I have been in and out of hospitals most of my life.  But even saying that or even knowing what they are going to do, doesn’t make the journey any easier.

I have 3 hospital appointments this week.  Oh my!  I would rather have none but I know I need quite a few things done and I need to get them over and done with, so it’s a mixed blessing.  

Also, I don’t know if I have a “strong enough” voice to tell them of my preferences.  Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t.  

One of the annoying things is if you have to go in as an emergency.  You’re completely dependent on them, BUT it means quite a few things.  You have to get on with them, even when they tell you something dumb and you KNOW it!  

When I had my seizure some years back (I forget how many on purpose), they just didn’t give me my medication that I would have terrible withdrawals from when I came around.  And I did!  

The last thing, and possibly the most important thing, is THE INVISIBLE PATIENT.  This is the mental, emotional, psychological side which can be totally destroyed by a few words or actions of some of the people who have power over them – ie ANY staff member.

There have been times, unfortunately, when I have been totally destroyed inside by one of the medical staff doing something to me.  And it’s taken me a while to recover from.  I have ended up in tears and the other patients (if I’m in a shared room) have always comforted me, but if you’re in a room alone, it can make life incredibly hard for the next few hours at least.  

Remember that even if you are alone, you can always talk to someone – one of the staff, or if it is one of the nurses, then I tend to ask for the Ward Sister.  Sometimes that can be enough to get whatever problem you are struggling with resolved instantly, sometimes I have had to wait and actually talk to them.  

What I guess I am trying to say is don’t be afraid to ask to speak to someone.  You have to remember they are still a person like you (except if robots take over, then it could be a problem!)