Is "preparedness" a state of mind?

[Woody girl]

They want me to stay untill tomorrow, but I have my escape waggon arranged and if they don't throw me out by 4pm, I'm doing a runner! I've told them . My bed could be used by someone who is in real need.
Ah, here's the doc.....fingers crossed.

 

[Woody girl]

I escaped! I'm home at last.
I have decided more medical preps are needed so this never happens again.
A nebuliser is first on the list.

 

[Chris]

I escaped! I'm home at last.
I have decided more medical preps are needed so this never happens again.
A nebuliser is first on the list.

Perhaps a hospital bag with some gluten free snack bars and a couple of books?

 

[Woody girl]

Here's a strange thing, had a shower and a cuppa, sorting out the new meds I've been given. Blister pack says1 x 3 times a day. I was in two days, so six (or at any rate 5, as i havnt had the evening dose yet, ) should be missing from the blister pack. Only 2 are taken from the pack, so they were not even giving me the correct dose!
I also had 3 beds during my two day stay. One bed lasted only an hour!
How the heck can a hospital be that bad??????
I'm going to be chatting to my gp tomorrow.
Cost me 45 quid to get home. (25 miles) luckily I have a friendly local taxi who gives me mates rates. Otherwise it would have been double that.
Medical preps are now my new thing. This has taught me a lot.
The problem was a reaction to vehicle pollution on a slow motorway crawl home from the wilderness gathering to the west country, which turbo charged my asthma.
I'm just not used to it, living as I do on the moor away from what for most, is normal air quality . It makes you think about what you are breathing in.
Since I moved here 25 yrs ago, I've barely had a serious episode. First time away in many years and it hits me hard.
Definatly want to be as independent as possible from the system.
Luckily, I've started to study herbal medicine. Not in an official way, but getting to know what, and how I can use in a pinch for common ailments to start with. Began planting my herbal this spring. Its definatly going to be expanded as fast as possible.
And any books on the subject I can get.

 

[Tengu]

Ouch.

My issue with the NHS is the inability of the Scottish and English service to communicate.

 

[Woody girl]

So, what would you put in your pre prepared "emergency hospital bag"
Let's have ideas as someone might jog another's ideas as to what to put in.
Entertainment
Clothing
Snacks, or some bits that might help out a special diet requirement.
What other headings, and what would you take under those headings.
I'm going to prepare a small bag with everything I might need over a weeks stay.
Obviously if you have visitors that can bring needs in that's great, but I'm packing as if I don't..(.which I don't.)
Do you have a bag that can be grabbed in an emergency without having to scrabble about for stuff? What's in it?

 

[Megatramp]

So, what would you put in your pre prepared "emergency hospital bag"
Let's have ideas as someone might jog another's ideas as to what to put in.
Entertainment
Clothing
Snacks, or some bits that might help out a special diet requirement.
What other headings, and what would you take under those headings.
I'm going to prepare a small bag with everything I might need over a weeks stay.
Obviously if you have visitors that can bring needs in that's great, but I'm packing as if I don't..(.which I don't.)
Do you have a bag that can be grabbed in an emergency without having to scrabble about for stuff? What's in it?

Earplugs!

 

[Woody girl]

Earplugs!

No toothbrush?????

 

[Chris]

- Power bank and charging cable/plug for phone
- Snacks
- Wet wipes
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Eye mask thing (if you want to snooze with ward lights on)
- Headphones
- Books
- Maybe a craft of some kind?
- Cash for taxi
- Optional: A bottle of single malt

 

[Falstaff]

Cheap pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers - to be thrown away when you leave. Slippers are important as it's a significant infection route for skin nastys like MRSA. The NHS are supposed to supply them on the ward if requested, but often don't.
We always kitted my motherin law out with a "set" from Primark, ditto when anybody else goes in. Kept her infectiion free, unlike the rest of the ward. Next week I'm taking my exe to hospital for a gall bladder removal, same deal, disposable bedwear/slippers.
I like Chris's list. How does one pay now for the optional TV service? Maybe some small change cash in case someone is willing to do a cafe run for you - don't want to hand over a card or big notes.

 

[TeeDee]

Twister mat -
Tin of Spam
BoomBox-
Another tin of Spam
Pub sized Jenga game
Optional emergency back up ankle holstered Tin of Spam

 

[Falstaff]

Hand sanitiser....and a couple of disposable shoppijng bags to put the kit all in, so it doesn't get put down on any dodgy surface, like the floor.

 

[TeeDee]

In seriousness...

Earplugs are great idea
Eyemask also
Audio books - Spotify do Audio books and Music now I think - Physical books are great but reading can be difficult.

 

[Toddy]

Hand sanitiser....and a couple of disposable shoppijng bags to put the kit all in, so it doesn't get put down on any dodgy surface, like the floor.

I was in for six days....in four different wards....and all of those wards, and corridors, were bleach cleaned ...the smell of chlorine was noticeable.... by the household staff twice a day. Morning and evening. It was obviously a well practiced routine. I watched them scrub down every bed that was emptied before it was re-used, and they did the doors and loos / showers too.

It's not rocket science, it's basic hygiene.

 

[Toddy]

As for a grab bag/hospital bag. The bedside lockers aren't big. If you can get hold of one of the carry on luggage bags for aeroplanes, they fit though
They're on sale in Home Bargains just now for six quid

I'm due to go back into hospital next month. The nurses were quite plain about the requirements...slippers must have backs on them, like soft shoes, no flip flop types.
I've sorted nightclothes, toiletries etc., but I'm also taking some project kits in zip bags to keep me occupied as I recover. I've made up more, and so has GFSon1 for me for folks to bring in as the weeks go on. I have puzzle books, my little sketch book and pencils, a tablet full of reading material, and a fan. I bought festival wipes, the deodorant ones and dry shampoo too.
There are bottles of anti-bacterial hand gel attached to every bed in the wards, so I'll not bother with that.

I am fortunate that family and friends and neighbours will visit me regularly and bring me in stuff, so I haven't really thought about packing snacks yet. I have however bought and packed decent tea bags
Tea and coffee happen regularly through the day, but it's ....I've packed some Lady Grey Might pack some little sachets of salt and pepper too though.

 

[Wildgoose]

Twister mat -
Tin of Spam
BoomBox-
Another tin of Spam
Pub sized Jenga game
Optional emergency back up ankle holstered Tin of Spam

I don’t like Spam

 

[Pattree]

I've made up more, and so has GFSon1 for me for folks to bring in as the weeks go on.

How long are you going in for?

 

[TeeDee]

I don’t like Spam

Heretic!!!

 

[British Red]

So, what would you put in your pre prepared "emergency hospital bag"
Let's have ideas as someone might jog another's ideas as to what to put in.
Entertainment
Clothing
Snacks, or some bits that might help out a special diet requirement.
What other headings, and what would you take under those headings.
I'm going to prepare a small bag with everything I might need over a weeks stay.
Obviously if you have visitors that can bring needs in that's great, but I'm packing as if I don't..(.which I don't.)
Do you have a bag that can be grabbed in an emergency without having to scrabble about for stuff? What's in it?

A decent sized power bank, phone (with data plan) & perhaps a tablet & stand with chargers. An extension lead. That gets you communication & entertainment. Some cash in a hidden area for the shop.

 

[Toddy]

How long are you going in for?

At least a fortnight and they said they wouldn't be surprised if it were nearer four weeks.

I'm going to be fine, it's just a kind of horrible route to being fine again
I'll deal, I'll manage, I'm stubborn like that I want me back again. Not looking forward to healing through the cold grey Winter again though. Sod it. Spring will come, and we have had such a beautiful Summer and by next years' I'll be able to get out and around again and enjoy it properly.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I am well aware of just how fortunate I am. How fortunate that we do have the NHS, and in my area, for this kind of thing, they're really on the ball. I am incredibly aware of just how much support I have.
Not everyone has that, not everyone can travel easily to hospitals. Woodygirl had to pay to take a taxi home, last time I came home by Patient Transport. Lifted and taken straight home and into my own living room.

I thank every single one of you who pays and has paid their National Insurance ...it's an enormous thing.
Our health care is free at point of need. I know there are problems with systems and at times staffing, but we still have so much help available.
I wish it were good right across the country, I really do. I hope if you ever need it that the system works well for you, and you find yourself in good hands too.


M