I was taken to hospital in early January by paramedics. My dad found me in the house. I remember being in the ambulance with Marie one of the paramedics. I don't remember much after that. When I came round a bit I remember the doctors saying they were going to have to tube me. I was getting 100% oxygen through a big mask. I took a picture of myself but I don't remember taking it.
From C7, they took me to ICU. All I can remember from ICU is the hallucinations. When I started coming round I was very cold all the time. I was on dialysis at this point. My kidneys started functioning again. The hardest part for me was being awake and seeing people dying. I heard a phone call from a priest giving someone their last rights. I cried sore. But I was thankful it wasn't me.
I had a tracheostomy and I wasn't able to speak. I wasn't able to communicate. I felt like I was pinned to the bed because my limbs weren't working. It was very frustrating.
The staff in ICU were amazing. I couldn't of got better care. And I want to reassure people who lost family members in ICU that they were never alone. The nurses were praying and held their hands.
Jenny the nurse had to cut my hair because there was a big mat in it. She cried when she did it. Yvonne, Liz, Claire, Amy, Aaron, Duncan and Ryan, Bronagh and Shauna, I remember them. A special shout out to the Army Medics. They were brilliant.
After ICU, I was transferred to A4. It was so busy. They kept forgetting about my dinner, I felt always left until last. Nicola, Melanie and Clara were great. Janine, Angela, Samantha and Mia I remember being very helpful and attentive. Nicola was amazing, she rang up to sort my food out and showered me and shaved my legs. Made me feel a million dollars because I hadn't had a shower in so long.
I was quite lonely as I was in a room on my own. The hardest part was not being able to have visitors.
I went to Whiteabbey Nightingale for one night and took an infection and had to go back to Antrim ED. They were very good. I went back to C7. The staff in C7 were lovely. had the same staff for three days. Nicola and William. I was getting IV antibiotics and IV fluids
A4 could do with more staff. It took so long for them to answer buzzers.
I was then transferred back to Whiteabbey Nightingale. We had a bit of craic on the way over with the ambulance crew.
When I got to Whiteabbey, it was so welcoming. Nothing seems to be a problem here.
Physios see me every day and give me exercises. I also see the OTs. I can walk on my own with assistance of one staff member. I'm going to the kitchen today with the OTs to see what I can do.
The ward is spotless. I see a doctor every day. I'm having a lot of bloods taken today.
I'm really happy here. It's a lot friendlier and staff are attentive.
"Covid journey"
About: Antrim Area Hospital / Accidents & Emergency Antrim Area Hospital Accidents & Emergency BT41 2RL Antrim Area Hospital / Intensive Care Unit Antrim Area Hospital Intensive Care Unit BT41 2RL Antrim Area Hospital / Ward A4 Medical Antrim Area Hospital Ward A4 Medical BT41 2RL Antrim Area Hospital / Ward C7 Haematology/Renal Antrim Area Hospital Ward C7 Haematology/Renal BT41 2RL Nightingale Wards / Nightingale 1 Nightingale Wards Nightingale 1 BT37 9RH Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency ambulance response Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Emergency ambulance response Belfast BT8 8SG
Posted by EMS80 (as ),
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