"Ward F6"

Before the procedure I was given mixed information and mixed advice? My head was spinning.

I was called the day before my planned admission, to head to hospital for early admission within the next 2 hours. I hadn’t prepared for this not mentally or had a lift? So I couldn’t get there in the end, after all that stress of it being just throw at me.

I arrived to ward F6 on the planned day for my appointment, only to be sat waiting for 10 hours before any treatment? With no food or water, seriously dehydrated. I had to ask what was happening, I think they forgot about me?

When I went down for the procedure I wasn’t told I was moving or even acknowledged by the porter.

Once we arrived the nurses again didn’t acknowledge me & spoke about me as if I wasn’t there, things were not explained before they happened. Just done to me, as if I was not a person.

I had nothing on my bottom half, with all sorts people coming in & out of the room asking how long they would be & gossiping. I felt so undignified.

Returning to the ward at night it was very noisy- music playing, loud talking, visitors over night, main lights on until sometime past midnight.

As soon as it hit 7 am all the lights went on and curtains opened, no choice given apparently because it was morning.

Then nurses started talking about each patient in front of the whole ward and all the other patients. I felt like I was in prison & being punished. I had serious malaise from the procedure & couldn’t get any rest due to noise.

Followed by drs round, didn’t introduce selves but I think they where drs, 6 of them surrounding me asking me why i still haven’t been out of bed to mobilise & why i still have catheter in? I didn’t know and they said I could go home once catheter was out & I passed urine.

I had ask whenever I saw the nurses constantly for the catheter out, cannulas out, sick note and meds.

The nurses complained about having to work shifts, so I felt like a burden. I was told off for being sick and getting tissue in it.

They don’t say before they come in when you have the curtain closed, so personal care is not so personal or dignified.

A terrible experience, I cried so much. I managed to get myself discharged around midnight, thanks to my husband insisting.

They were seriously short staffed on the ward and some of the staff were redeployed to other areas of the hospitals?

I was told to carry on with light duties once home, with the Malaise I had I spend the first few weeks on bed rest weak as a kitten. Luckily there was information on charity website saying it was possible after the procedure & to rest as I needed, or I would have wonder what was happening to me.

It’s a couple of months ago now, I wish I had said I was self discharging. I am sure I could have managed without the meds and pain relief, just got my self home. I just felt so vulnerable & weak while staying in cell block F6