"Judgemental nurse on ward"

Earlier this year I had a mastectomy as a result of reoccurring breast cancer. I stayed overnight on a non surgical ward and the only way I'll return to that ward is as a visitor or an unconscious patient.

I am on some analgesics as the result of side effects from previous cancer treatment. I'm not happy about this but the alternative is constant, severe pain. With this medication the pain is generally dampened down. i'm rarely completely pain free but I have learnt to cope with it to a large extent.

On the ward a staff nurse made the judgement that I obviously didn't need these medications, this was made clear by their comments to me. At NO point did the nurse ask me why I was prescribed them or if I used them regularly. As a result I was given tablets, at doses that the nursing staff decided I needed. There was no discussion with me,

Despite telling the HCA doing my obs overnight I was left in severe pain overnight.. So severe that I didn't drink anything so that I didn't have to move to go and use the toilet. This also resulted in a horrendous headache. At no point did anyone come to check on me or ask if I needed more analgesia.

I was finally given Oromorph shortly after the surgeon had come to review me in the morning. I don't think this was a coincidence. Oromorph is not one of my usual medications.

Before I left the ward I found out that I'd been written up for Oromorph and that one of my usual pain killers had been crossed off my drug chart.

In addition it took more than 6 hours for a tissuing cannula to be removed from my inner wrist despite my asking every time i saw a member of nursing staff. By this time my hand was beginning to swell and my wristband was cutting into my arm.

I didn't cry when I was told I had cancer again but I cried while I was on this ward. I was made to feel like a complete nothing.

I'm possibly going to sound like i'm full of self pity but given that I was on the ward as I'd just had a mastectomy I would have expected a little sensitivity to how I might be feeling. Well, I won't make that mistake again. The attitude of that one nurse was disgusting, why they are a nurse is beyond me. The nurse is clearly full of preconceived and uninformed opinions and extremely judgemental. I was under the impression that nurses are meant to be non judgemental and that they are taught that pain is what the individual perceives it to be. The nurse obviously missed that lecture, they would probably be better suited to the prison service.

I can't speak highly enough of the care I've received, from initial mammogram and surgical consultation through to theatre and recovery staff. I've been seen quickly and treated well. i'm being kept informed and up to date on what is happening with regard to ongoing treatment.

I don't think i'm a particularly offensive human being so I would be curious to know why I was treated in this manner on what is apparently a 'lovely' ward. I hope the next person admitted in similar circumstances is treated better?