Wednesday, I do believe…

…but one day merges into another now. I have been here 10 days now. Today is probably the worst, most torturous day of my incarceration so far (even exceeding when I was actually feeling quite ill).

So, a third night of little to no sleep. Performing the “bumetinide shuffle” every hour or so, interspersed by being kept awake by the antics of fellow inmates. I won’t go into details on those antics, some of those details are too yucky to even think about now, let alone write down for posterity. Let’s just say there’s certain sights and sounds I’d really rather blot out.

So, this morning, I was due an endoscopy. Around 9:30 I believe. Nil-by-mouth until that is done. No problem, I can miss my early morning cuppa and my cornflakes. Still have lunch to look forward too…

However, it is now 13:30, half my meds I can’t take because can’t take on empty stomach or because contain too many fluids which I’m not allowed. Lunch has come and gone, I’ve missed out, had to witness everyone around me enjoying theirs, because I’m STILL awaiting that appointment. Nobody can say if/when it will happen. I’ve just got my diet back on an even keel and now this. I am hungry, very thirsty, and still not allowed anything. Basic human rights? You can forget those. There’s no chance of having anything decent to eat after this is over as there is only one main meal a day and I’ve missed it – they can’t even keep mine aside and warm it up for me “later”. I am done. That all said, I think I’ve lost my appetite anyway. Needed a pee (the “bumetinide shuffle” is still working overtime) and the two loos I can use are in an awful mess – worse than public ones – what has happened to basic hospital cleanliness? And why do people, patients, think they can just leave that for others to find??? My stomach isn’t cut out for that and now I can’t even take care of my own basic needs without unwanted discoveries. Yuck! Disgusting! 🙁

But it’s OK, you know. RBH being the centre of excellence it is, it will soon be catering for even more dregs of human society with even less staff as it becomes the central hub for healthcare in east Dorset! Don’t forget to bring your own marigolds, disinfectant and bio-hazard suits if you’re ever ill and incarcerated here!

But, I feel I must jump to the staff’s defence here. They are all wonderful, trying to do their utmost best in the direst of circumstances which are only going to become much worse. I can’t have a word said against them, they are all angels, underappreciated by those they try to attend to, especially underappreciated by those who employ them/pay them their pittances. And, yet, somehow, from conversations I’ve overheard, they still love their work. Every credit!

Still waiting…

Well, I am back from my endoscopy. Bit of a sore throat now but, apparently, I did very well, especially so as I had no sedation. The good news is no issues were found so that’s a major relief. For timeline, I went down for it at 14:10 (and found out, despite assurances that I was being done early doors, they don’t do inpatients in the morning, always in the afternoon. If I’d known, I could/would have adjusted my expectations. Ah well, ’tis done now). Went for the procedure itself at 15:30 (bit of a queue). Done and dusted by 16:00 and finally back to my ward for copious amounts of tea and biscuits at 16:45 (had to wait a recovery period (during which I was visited by a pair of mallard ducks – the endoscopy unit backs on to a small lake and they had the doors open) and then wait to be collected). The procedure itself was a little uncomfortable but I’m glad I had no sedative else I’d still be down there recovering (for an hour or so with regular obs). Think the doctor and nurses were suitably impressed with my, ahem, bravery. Truth be told, the sedative carries, for me, extra risk, so we mutually agreed to attempt without. Attempted and succeeded. Yay!

Heh, sorry, another down and up day. Got back from endoscopy, busting for a you know what and, guess what, the loos are still in a mess. So quick relief followed by big disinfectant for me (yuck!) and now I can enjoy my tea and biscuits. Let’s hope I’ve not picked up anything nasty.

Phew, I am full up. The lovely nurses here on my ward, aware I had had no food since yesterday evening have fed me copious amounts of food on top of what I ordered myself – and ordered me to eat it! Soup I didn’t order, enough tuna to feed a cattery to put on my jacket potato, a strawberry jam to add to my rice pudding, and the aforementioned biscuits and mugs of tea. I need a lie down now to let my poor stomach recover from the assaults (the endoscopy and the food) it has recieved this afternoon/evening! Treating the staff with kindness and respect certainly pays dividends 🙂

I don’t think there will be any more news as such to share but if there is, you’ll getting it tomorrow. This is your inside reporter, reporting from poor broken NHS, signing off for today.