Thursday Thirteen (Vol. 61)

13 Things That Are Absurd in the Neurosciences Unit*
         *AKA Nut House, Psych Ward, etc.

I mentioned in a previous blog that I was in the hospital. I am in the Neurosciences Unit after struggling with a major depressive episode for several months. This is the right place to be. It's a wonderful teaching hospital. The patients and staff have all been friendly and helpful. I'm getting the help I need and am absolutely in the place I need to be in. But...it can not be denied that there are many absurdities in a place like this.

1. I am completely able and encouraged to walk around. However, when someone comes to get me to take me for an X-ray or CAT scan, I am immediately put in a wheelchair and must remain in it until I return.

2. Nurses can override Doctors' orders. For example, when I explained how therapeutic and cathartic writing is for me, the doctor did an order to allow me to use the laptop in my room. The nurses said that the doctors don't know the rules and the head of nursing said no.

3. The most anger and dissatisfaction here is about the food. The food is actually very good, but sometimes people don't get EXACTLY what they THINK they ordered. Some are VERY VOCAL about their meal complaints.

4. Someone comes in my room to take my vitals at about 5 a.m.

5. Some of the people who take the vitals come in, TURN ON THE LIGHT, and take the vitals at 5 a.m. Personally I think that it's more vital that I get more sleep than that they take my vitals!!!

6. Floss is not given out, so a nurse brought me some but I can't keep it in my room. When I feel the need to floss, I get it from the nurse, take the length I need, go to my room and floss and then bring back the floss in a plastic biohazard bag.

7. One tech came in to do an EKG (yes, a full EKG putting all those little dots all over your chest) about 1/2 hour after the 5 a.m. vitals visit.

8. Five adults (myself included) were enraptured playing Bingo on Christmas night. Hey, they were giving out prizes...I could have won a 1/2 pound bag of Hershey's Kisses.

9. I was not allowed to bring in my Blistex lip balm but then I got some Blistex lip balm in the gift bag the hospital gave to the patients. Maybe in the 4 days I was here before that day they downgraded lip balm from dangerous to acceptable.

10. No one has any qualms about sharing the details of what led to their admission here. And once it's shared, it's open season to make jokes about it.

11. Some of us on the ward came in with an additional wristband that had red X's on it. We have concluded that it identifies those of us with "good" insurance so they know to give us a private room. The people who didn't have that wristband were given double rooms.

12. Occupational and Recreational Therapy are actually quite fun! I thought it would be really lame stuff. But yesterday we did water color painting of scenes of lighthouses and I really enjoyed it. I am going to post some of the patients' work (with their permission of course) when I get released and can use my scanner.

13. This isn't absurd but what occurred to me after I got to know some of the patients is:

"We are all different, but we are all the same."

Love and lots of cyberhugs to all of the people who sent me e-mails of encouragement, caring and prayers.

Di

 

Comments

[Deb]

Great list, I enjoyed it very much! Come take a look at the most popular resolutions of the New year!

DEB

[pussreboots]

It does seem that sleep is not an option with all those vitals that must be taken. At least you have some fodder for your TT.

[Barb Bullock]

I am glad you find humor in all you endeavor- and you endeavor a lot. I think the world of you. You is (ha, ha ....I know that is incorrect, but funny)the strongest person I know!!!!!!!!