"My Experience in 4 South"

I have had multiple experiences in and out of the hospital over the past few years. My last few visits in particular have been surrounding a recurrent Kidney infection and I have been treated in both daisy hill and Craigavon for this. In both hospitals the staff have been wonderful and so caring and understanding. Usually a patient like me would just receive antibiotics via IV at home but as I live 50 miles from either hospital the medical staff preferred to have me in to receive antibiotics so I was easier to monitor. These frequent hospital visits and recurrent antibiotic uses unfortunately lead to me contracting C diff which left me extremely ill. As a result of this I have been in and out of hospital but no amount of antibiotics have relieved the frequent kidney infections therefore my GP had decided to forward me on for an urgent referral but that was over 5 months ago now and I have still heard nothing back.

Meanwhile I left hospital and headed home but within a few weeks my c.diff had flared up again. I was in denial and didn't want to return to hospital especially given the whole Covid situation but after a while I became extremely ill and was rushed back into the hospital to be treated.

I don't remember much about my admission and for around 2 weeks I stayed in ICU and  had no clue what was going on around me. When I finally came around again I was in a lot of pain and was in complete shock to find my colon had been removed as my severe c.diff infection had lead to a toxic megacolon.

This was a lot for me to take in but I have accepted that it's what I needed and the medical team were able to make that decision based on the emergency situation they had in front of them. I have now been moved onto the 4 south ward where I am set to recover although I am still in a lot of pain and am anxious about what else could be wrong with my body. The medical and nursing team do their best to keep me informed and have been so helpful and reassuring to me they are unbelievable.

The nurses especially are so understanding and listen to me, I could give an example which happened to me this morning; I am still fearful that C.diff may have started to effect my small bowel, when I suggested this to the nurse she immediately sent for the urology consultant to come and see me which was really reassuring. So far I feel very informed as a patient and know I am listened to. Communication has been great between myself and the staff which is also a big positive. I know staff are trying their best for me.

I am currently on a low residue diet and the hospital have accommodated me on this very well although there is a restricted choice but I accept that. The heat over the past week has been terrible and has made my time in the side room quite uncomfortable but I know I can't get access to a fan due to infection control. I feel sorry for the night staff as that shift is so understaffed and they aren't getting payed enough for what they do.

The cleaners, porter staff and kitchen staff are outstanding and are so kind and helpful. I think a better Wi-Fi connection in the hospital would be so beneficial as its frustrating when trying to facetime family members (as no visitors are allowed in). I think there should also be more remotes for the T.V as I haven't been able to get access to one yet. The final improvement I would like to suggest is for a shop cart to go around during the day for patients like myself who aren't fit to get up and walk down to the shop to get the likes of a newspaper or some sweets.