Musings of a Hospital Patient

A recent experience leads me to write about a different type of topic, this one sharing my learning from a recent hospitalization. This one is different from my blog on sinus health, where I felt I had a lot of experience to share. This one is mainly to share the learning and also GRATITUDE. THANK YOU TO ALL THE NURSES and other medical professionals in our family, even though my care was not provided directly through you, I appreciate your profession all the more after this experience!

One of the reasons I am writing this is to share my learning about WHAT TO TAKE to the hospital (or ask people to bring you). For convenience, I include it in a word doc, as well as a list later on. Hah! Like you're going to remember this blog, log in, and print the list on the way to the emergency room. If nothing else, it will be a good reference for me! Also, it might be helpful to know what not to take. I had brought in my wallet thinking they would need ID but they never asked for it. After that I had Rick take it home. You don't need valuables in the hospital and it's a hassle for the staff to have to store it and keep it safe. They even documented the jewelry I was wearing! Good thing I don't wear much.

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First of all, this is actually the longest I've ever been in a hospital (three days). My only hospitalizations in the past were a night each when the kids were born, and a brief stay during my appendectomy (they actually sent me home late at night after the surgery so I didn't even get admitted). So I had a chance to observe a bit more the rhythms of being in a hospital setting, and the different types of staff it takes to provide the patient care. I guess I should count my blessings that I've never needed a hospital stay before!

Since I know the photo that shows is the first one I use, I'll include my favorite here. During the course of my stay I was able to observe the weather out my window. Apparently we had record rains and floods over the weekend, so I missed all that, but I was able to catch the moonlight and the rainbow shots. Not bad considering I was confined to a room for 3 days!

This story started when I experienced worsening shortness of breath. It had been building up for awhile, but I noticed a worsening on Thursday night when wiping down the shower walls after my evening shower took it out of me. I messaged my dr. the next morning and he prescribed another inhaler and a CT scan, which I obtained late in the afternoon. Friday evening I was not breathing well, and Saturday morning I couldn't get myself across the room without holding onto something. Rather than call the advice nurse again, I talked to Ethan who called a nurse friend and when he heard my oxymeter reading was down to 83, he recommended the ER. I am still learning about how I got into this shape, and hope to know more after an ENT and Pulmonologist appt later this week. I had also relied on ChatGPT to set up the treatment routine that got me into this mess, so I'll be revisiting that too!

My trusty oxymeter

So the first learning, it's very helpful to have a home oxymeter! Katelyn had encouraged us to get one during Covid/RSV, and we rarely used it, but during my coughing spells earlier in the year and now with this, it was very helpful to be able to quantify the oxygen in my blood. I took it with me to the hospital and while they took my vitals regularly and once admitted, hooked me up to a continuous oxymeter that they could monitor in the nurses station, it was very helpful to have my own. And, I did compare the reading it to theirs and they were very close, so I believe it's accurate. I have continued to use it here at home to monitor my recovery, as that's the only thing they were keeping me in the hospital for at the end (supplemental oxygen).

My second learning was what to take to the ER. We left the house hurriedly, and I had my purse, my phone, a water bottle, and that's about it. We took a small tote bag, and that's what we had in the ER. I left my purse in the car, which I think is a good move because I didn't have to worry keeping track of any valuables. I do wish I had taken a phone charger, because my phone was my lifeline once I was admitted. Being able to easily able to correspond with family and keep people updated was very helpful. Be aware that hospital rooms don't always have the most outlets, and the ones that are near the head of the bed are taking up with all the medical equipment. We were able to put my phone to charge on a small shelf on the opposite side of the room, but I couldn't reach it when I was hooked up to oxygen and IV, so I asked family to plug it in when they were there. We have those super-fast Iphone chargers, so that was helpful as it could get fully charged during a family visit.

Here is a complete list of what to take. More details on some of these items are included later on.

Consider bringing these items to the hospital

Oximeter – if you have respiratory issues

Phone – to keep in touch with family and friends

Phone charger – ideally with a long cord since outlets may be few and far between

Books – something to “escape” with

Kindle – works better since you don’t need lights onK

Kindle charger

Glasses – you probably have these in your purse but in case you don’t bring your purse

Comfy undies, plastic bag for laundry – depending on your level of continence.  They will give you disposable ones but I prefer my own!

Eye mask – if you need dark to sleep

Earplugs – if you need quiet to sleep

List of medications – separately for you and your spouse to avoid confusion

Medications- they won’t let you take them on your own, but if you are taking anything they don’t have on hand it’s helpful, they will send it to the lab and then dispense it to you.

Teabags – if you have favorites

Snacks – in case they don’t feed you often enough or you don’t like the food

These things they probably provide but you might want your own

Water bottle

Chapstick – always helpful

Lotion

Shampoo/conditioner- if you have your own favorites

Tissues – for me I needed these when I coughed up “stuff”

Hand sanitizer – always a good idea

Wipes - ditto

Back to my experience in the ER, it's probably pretty typical. They took me in, took a look at my breathing, and immediately put me on oxygen and started running tests. It's like a well-orchestrated dance, you have an RN who is checking in and keeping you posted, a doctor that meets with you occasionally and reads the results of the tests once they start coming in, and a bunch of specialists who run the tests. The ones I remember include an EKG, a CT scan (with contrast), a respiratory therapist for breathing exercises, and blood tests. They had me on an IV for antibiotics and fluids, and at one point administered steroids and antibiotics with a shot. Boy the steroids made me feel like my hair was on fire, literally! Everywhere, if you know what I mean. Luckily it was a brief sensation.

I expected to be able to breath easier once I was on oxygen, but that wasn't the case. I just couldn't take a deep breath, so felt like I was almost panting. I remembered to breath in through my nose to get the most oxygen, but was breathing out through pursed lips, which I guess is a sign I was struggling. This continued through the day, even after I was admitted. I guess I expected the supplemental oxygen would fix my breathing immediately, so that was a bit unsettling.

The RT gave me the first in a series of breathing treatments, using what I now know is called a nebulizer, where they put a mask over my hose and mouth and had a mist I was breathing in. There were two types, one that smelled really bad (like rotten eggs) but worked best. Initially in the ER, I resisted this one because she said it would make me cough, which I had been trying to avoid. Later, I learned that coughing was WHAT I NEEDED to loosen and remove the mucous in my lungs, which was likely the big reason I couldn't breath well. Once I had a few of these treatments, I started feeling the mucous loosen and was able to cough it out. That's when I started to feel relief.

After evaluating the tests, the doctor took me off oxygen to see what would happen to my O2 levels, and they started dropping back into the 80s. That's when they decided to admit me, so that they could continue to give me oxygen and more breathing treatments. We had arrived at the ER around 11, and by this time it was around 4:00. Rick had been waiting with me this whole time, while Ethan went home and worked out his stress by cleaning house. I give Rick credit, because the chairs in the ER are HARD, and he was probably pretty bored. When I was in the ER with my appendix he brought his tablets with electronic crosswords and entertained us both with that. So I guess another thing to consider for the ER is entertainment for the person staying with the patient.

One of the things that I noticed about the ER is that you see and hear all sorts of other emergencies going on. The woman next to me was having a panic attack and couldn't breath, an older woman across the way had a bad bladder infection and after testing her urine they sent her home, with her hubby beside her who could barely walk. All in all it was a relatively calm time, but it was an interesting slice of humanity. And all through it, the medical professionals were calm, soothing, competent, and seemed to be everywhere at once. Here, I have to say THANK YOU to all the people who choose to provide healthcare as a career. The ones I worked with were very good at their jobs, and had good bedside manners to boot.

Once I knew I was going to be admitted, I made a list of things I thought might be useful. I have gotten used to sharing notes on my phone, but the cell service was bad in the ER, so Rick took a photo of my list with his phone. Some things were very helpful, others not so much, but I know Rick and Ethan ran around gathering up stuff before coming back with dinner for me. The hospital offered me dinner, but given I had no lunch I was ready to treat myself, so requested a Habit Burger and milkshake and Rick and Ethan delivered! What sweeties.

That night I couldn't sleep, so pulled the second all-nighter of my life. I was feeling relatively calm, and had plenty of things to occupy my mind, so it wasn't bad. Plus I was breathing better and wasn't too uncomfortable. I don't know if it's a real thing, but this is the third time I've had great spurts of creativity during medical episodes. The first happened when I was isolated after Covid. I had just learned to share notes on my phone and I didn't realize that every time I updated a note it reshared it. I think I drove Katelyn crazy with updates on her phone that day! The second was after my lumpectomy last year, when I was in bed recovering after I got home. That time I took notes on a pad of paper. This time I had my phone, and one of the things I did was send an email with ideas for speakers at PWC to Veronique, who used to run a speaker series there. I'll see her tonight at the board meeting, so we'll see if anything comes of that spurt of creativity!

So on that list of things to bring to a hospital patient - top of the list is something to do. I can't imagine anything worse than being confined to a room or bed and not having something to entertain myself. They had a TV, and I could have watched that, but I never even turned it on. Rick brought me two hardcopy books, and my kindle and kindle charger, so that was VERY HELPFUL! I managed to finish the hardcopy book and two books on my Kindle in the three days I was there. Being able to read without a light on and being able to order more books once I hooked up to wifi was the best, so having a Kindle was a real blessing.

I also requested my current craft project, which was a cross-stitch, but that required too much energy. I also had a pad of paper and pen, but used my phone instead. A change of clothes, which I didn't use except for the clean undies. Many pairs of clean undies would have been even better, because I hate wearing those paper briefs they give you in the hospital, and since they were giving me fluids in my IV I had a lot of urine in my bladder, and a coughing episode would cause leakage. I also learned that some underwear are more comfortable than others when you're in bed most of the time. This may be TMI for some, but it's one of the things I'd never thought of. I have cotton ones with thick bands, and they were much less comfortable than the thinner variety. But no lace, that's not comfortable to sit on either!

OK, here was one of the BEST LEARNINGS from my hospital stay. This may be TMI for those who don't have an experience with incontinence, so feel free to skip this paragraph.

When we were taking care of Mom, her incontinence was one of the things we needed to take care of. Every morning we had to strip and launder her bedclothes, and even with the many pads Mary made, it was a job. They now have a device that we could have definitely used, and my first night they gave it to me because they thought it would be too much exertion for me to get out of bed to use the bathroom. And even though I don't consider myself incontinent, when they're pumping fluids into you with an IV and you're drinking your pitcher of water multiple times a day, my bladder was FULL! The device is called a Purewick, and it worked like a charm (almost!). It's like a banana shaped soft device made specifically for females, which fits between your legs and they hook it up to a tube on the front. It's pretty comfortable, and when you pee, it automatically suctions the urine through the tube and into a bucket they hang on the wall. It's like magic! The only issues I had were that I actually couldn't make myself pee in bed, and had to sit on the portable toilet the first time to get my head around that (we wanted to test it in the evening before my first night wearing it). And I also learned that my bladder just lets go, and the flow was actually too much for the device. I think it would have worked fine with normal drinking, but with the IV fluids it was just too much volume. So I still needed the puddle pad and the extra pad in my briefs was helpful too.

The medical board the staff use in your room

Here's another time I'll write about the care I received. Your main contact is an RN, and they did a great job of introducing themselves, writing their name on the board, transitioning care during a change of shifts, and providing the right level of care. I imagine I was a pretty easy patient compared to most, since I was mobile and continent, but I still appreciate they were there when I needed them without being intrusive. Other care-givers come and go, from the CNA taking my vitals every four hours, to the kitchen person taking orders for meals, to the person who refreshed my water pitcher, to the trash and cleaning ladies. All very personable and competent. I can't help but plan a treat tray for them, to thank them for all their care. Channeling Mom again?

Back to my hospital stay/learning. I was put on a high-flow oxygen device that first night, at the recommendation of the RT who observed me getting out of bed and breathing a bit heavy. I questioned whether it was really needed, because I knew it would interfere with sleeping, but she convinced me to give it a go. So, making the best of it, I experimented a bit with the discomfort. It's basically like a regular cannula (the thing they put in your nose), except it blows more air and makes more noise. There was only one way to wear it, and it was blowing noisy air right next to my right ear. It also blew air up my face, which I had experienced with my CPAP. So needless to say, it wasn't comfortable. I was also trying to sleep sitting up, because it helped drain the mucous in my sinuses. An adjustable hospital bed definitely makes that easier, but it is still a hard mattress, and those pillows are never where you want them. Note to hospital visitors - OFFER TO ADJUST THEIR PILLOWS. It's really hard to do that for yourself, believe it or not.

So here's where I thought I came up with a brilliant plan. Rick had just gotten me new Airpods for Christmas, and they were the noise cancelling type. I had my phone, and had downloaded piano lullabies on my Apple Music for Kaia, so I thought, I'll use my Airpods and music to block the noise and put myself to sleep. Well, it worked well, but I learned that it's really had to keep Airpods in your ears for any length of time. They're hard and maybe my ears are small, but anyway, I wasn't able to sleep with them there. Oh, well, I tried! And it did make for a relaxing night.

The view from my hospital bed

Around 4:30 I think I was finally drifting off, and at 5 a.m. a VERY cheerful phlebotomist arrived to draw blood. I had seen her working the day before in the ER, so I don't know what kind of hours she pulls, but she was very competent and matter of fact. One thing I learned, though, is that it's good to be your own advocate. I had heard from the lab person who drew blood for medical exams that my lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes meant that they shouldn't draw blood from my right side. The skin prick could result in infection. She immediately gravitated toward the right side since my left had the IV in it, but when I brought it up she immediately switched arms. Apparently they're supposed to post a sign on my room that my right side shouldn't be used for blood or BP. I just read up on it and apparently this isn't as big a concern as it used to be, but still good to be aware.

The next morning when she again was the first person I saw, I made a comment about how it must be hard to wake everyone up and take blood. She kind of got snippy, even though I didn't mean to be critical, and commented back that PVH was actually a great hospital because they had the blood draw done early enough that the doctor could get results before he went on his rounds (around 10:30 a.m.). That makes sense, as a later blood draw would cause delays in diagnoses and/or extra work on everyone's part. She also commented that having a private room with a private bath wasn't typical, so that raised my level of appreciation even further. Given my lack of experience in hospital stays, I didn't even know the good things I had!

After the first night, I settled into a kind of routine and learned the flow of the hospital. An ever-changing set of caregivers, making it hard to remember names (I should have written them down), a regular flow of vitals, respiratory treatment, checks of O2 levels, etc. I assume they have rules about how long to give fluids through the IV, because they took that out the second night. I didn't even know they had done so until I woke up and had a regularly full bladder vs. an exploding one! Nice to have one less thing tying me down, now my only link to equipment was the oxygen.

Rick kept me well-supplied with my favorite coffee drink (decaf) each morning and offered food if the hospital offering wasn't appealing. He and Ethan made a run to Whole Foods for salads one rainy night. Brian and Anujin visited after work on Monday, and given the kids were at home being cared for by her folks we were able to have a nice long visit. I was sorry I didn't get a chance to see them once again before they went back overseas. Anujin and her Mom/Grandma made a care package, so sweet! It was thoughtfully packed with some comfort items, like cookies and chocolate, as well as practical items such as hand sanitizer, chapstick, lotion, cough drops, etc.

One more big learning, medication in the hospital! I hadn't really put any thought into it, but one of the things I asked the boys to bring upon my being admitted was my medications. I take 2 in the morning, and 5 at night, and wanted to keep up with my regular routine. Of course, they don't just let you take your own drugs, but it was still worth bringing them. What I learned was this: they give you their version of your medication if they have it. If they don't, they have to send your medication to the lab so they can make sure it is what it says it is, then they dispense it to you with the rest. This happened for two of mine, my prescription nasal spray, and my Veozah, which I take at night for hot flashes. The first wasn't that necessary, and they approved it pretty quickly, but the Veozah took a day or so to make it through the process, and then they gave it to me in the morning, so I was "off" it for a couple of days. Boy those hot flashes came back! I was happy to get home and back on my own routine of taking meds. One of the things I had done which was SUPER-HELPFUL was to make a list of our meds and carry it with me. I had listed the medication, dosage, and what it was for, and laminated it and carried it in my purse. This was originally done because I realized with one of Rick's trips to the ER that I didn't know what he was taking, and if he wasn't able to supply that info I needed help in order to do so. But it turned out to be very handy in this case and I referred to that card multiple times when they had questions or were dispensing medications. The only things I would do differently is I would separate Rick's and my info (it was all on one card and of course they didn't need Rick's). I would also list when I take it. My morning meds, for example, are for low-thyroid and reflux, and need to be taken before food and separately from each other. Of course in the hospital they dispense meds on a schedule so that didn't happen. But then again, I didn't communicate the details to them so I can't complain.

Two more things I'll note about "what to bring": first of all, I am not normally a person who needs quiet and dark to sleep, but I wished I had brought an eye mask and comfortable ear plugs. Rick did supply them after the first day, and I was able to sleep with my door shut so that helped a lot, but the eye mask would have been useful for those middle of the night visits, plus my blinds didn't shut all the way. But hey, I had a window view, so that's something!

My care package from home - organized by Ethan!

I also appreciated that Ethan organized my "stuff" when they brought it that first night. Apparently Rick was running around gathering it up, and Ethan was organizing and labeling it. I had a ziploc labeled "meds", one labeled "tech", one with toiletries, and even one of snacks and teabags! All these things were helpful, and it was great to have them separately available.

One last thing about being in the hospital and how I learned from the doctors. The ER doc had me demonstrate how I use nasal spray and the inhaler, and apparently I've been doing it wrong all this time!

According to AI, here's how to use nasal spray:

To use nasal spray correctly, gently blow your nose, tilt your head slightly forward, aim the nozzle away from the center septum towards your outer eye, and sniff gently as you spray one nostril at a time; this directs medicine to your sinuses, not your throat, preventing irritation and nosebleeds. Afterward, avoid blowing your nose for several minutes to let the medication absorb. 

Also, the inhaler needs an extension to be used properly, according to the doctor. Unfortunately, I didn't make my way home from the hospital with the one they used, so I'll go out and buy one. Hopefully I will never need it, but it's best to be prepared. Here is some info on why the extender is helpful and how to use it.

Last but not least, here is the other thing I learned about with this hospitalization, this device is called an incentive spirometer. According to AI, this is a handheld medical device that helps you take slow, deep breaths to expand your lungs, clear mucus, improve oxygen levels, and prevent lung complications like pneumonia, often used after surgery or illness. You use it by sealing your lips around the mouthpiece, inhaling slowly and deeply to lift a piston or ball to a set goal, holding your breath, and then exhaling. It's a simple tool for lung exercise, helping you regain full lung capacity, especially after abdominal or chest surgery, or with respiratory conditions.

One of the things I've learned about myself, I am still a data girl! Between measuring my blood oxygen and practicing with my spirometer, I enjoy gathering data about myself. I guess that's not a bad thing, since it gets me doing my exercises and measuring my O2. As always, I continue to learn about my body and how to take better care of myself. Apparently you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!