Asking People to Visit?

ryry11

New member
I'm currently in the hospital, on isolation so I can't leave my room, and I'd love for people to come visit me, but it feels like a huge imposition asking people to do so. I've kind of joked with one person, being like "I'd love you forever and ever if you visited me!" but I don't want to flat out ask him because I'm uncomfortable asking. When you're in the hospital, do you ask people to come visit you, wait until they volunteer, or just not have visitors? I'm so bored and lonely for people my own age; my family has been visiting, but I want my friends to come too. (And I'm aware that if he's not visiting he's not being a great friend, but I know hospitals can really freak people out so I'm trying not to let it bother me. Too much.)
 

Havoc

New member
Personally, when I am sick I like to be left alone. I rarely have visitors, except for really close friends and family and they typically only stay a short time (less than an hour).
 

ryry11

New member
I think I'd be better if I could leave the room, but I'm seriously so bored. I watched six episodes of a Disney Channel show this morning, finished a book and did three KenKen puzzles...so, visitors would just relieve the boredom a bit. Generally, I like to be able to chill and be left alone too; someone came yesterday that I knew from middle school and it was exceedingly awkward. So I'm with you there. My family has been visiting a lot, but after 9 months at college surrounded by friends, it's a bit sad to have them all drop off the face of the earth. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 

Havoc

New member
Yeah I hear the boredom thing. I hate TV, so that isn't even an option for me most of the time. Sometimes you'll get a cool nurse or CNA that will sit down and chat for a bit. I usually take books and stuff and my laptop or iPad or both.

Regarding isolation, what are you culturing that they won't let you leave the room?
 

ryry11

New member
I have Netflix, but there are only so many episodes of something I can watch before I want to injure someone. Plus, the moment I get interested in an episode or movie, someone barges in "to chat" (yesterday, in one memorable moment, it was the chaplain during a makeout scene in a movie.) It's like, the nurses are awesome, but they have work to do. I have my laptop, but somehow, I cannot find a SINGLE thing to do in here. When I'm out, I can procrastinate like no one else on the internet. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">
"Floor policy" is that they won't let you leave until they get the cultures back, which take 48 hours. It's been almost 72, they have "normal flora," I just found out, and they have to call the lab. My head is about to explode. I've been asking for the past 24 hours if cultures are back yet, and when they are, they tell me they have to call the lab again to figure out what they are.
I usually culture pseudomonas and sometimes MSSA. I didn't culture MSSA last time I did a culture.
 

Aboveallislove

Super Moderator
You. Must. Be going stir crazy. When I ha d my tonsils out at lt their tie longer recovery a god friend lent me the house of cards trilogy..it is British and amazing and kept me hocked for ten hours. Not sure f n net flicks. Hang I there
 

ryry11

New member
I got to GO TO THE CAFETERIA FOR 30 MINUTES! It was the highlight of the last three days. You think I'm kidding. But yes. DEFINITELY going stir crazy. I think I get discharged tomorrow morning to finish my IVs at home! It wasn't really the plan, but I told my doctor I would do anything to get out.
 

beleache

New member
Hi,
Well I hope you are getting out today !! So I'm wondering if you've given mixed messages about visitors ?? I know I have in the past.. I didn't always want visitors, in fact I discouraged them..
Thought it was too much of a bother & that I wouldn't be in for long... Until I had kidney failure & was in for 6 weeks.. After that experience I wanted as many visitors as I could possibly get lol If I could have I would have dragged them off the street <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Anyway, I hope you are going home today <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> joni
 

JustDucky

New member
Hope you get to go home today! I hear you when it comes to boredom though. When I am in, I am in for at least 2-3 weeks, I am not a huge fan of TV either but will watch it if nothing else comes to mind. As far as visitors go, they are infrequent due to the travelling that they have to do to get to me.. I feel like total crud when I am that sick, so alot of visitors would take it's toll on me, they know to keep their visits short.. If you ever have to go in next time, bring more books (or a Kindle, those are awesome <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">), crochet, knitting, anything to keep your hands busy. Netflix saved me and Hulu.com is a good site to browse as well.. You can also say that visitors are welcome to come, put it out there if you want them to visit liberally if that's what you want.

Hope everything goes as planned today!

Jenn 40 wCF
 

ryry11

New member
I got out! BelEAche: I encouraged visitors by posting on Facebook "Everyone come visit me!" <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> I'm doing IVs at home now, which is awesome (I'm home!!!) and stressful (it seems overwhelming.) JustDucky: Yeah, I think I'm going to bring more books next time. I checked a couple out on my phone, so I've been reading those.
Thanks for all the advice!
 

Incomudrox

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Havoc</b></i> Yeah I hear the boredom thing. I hate TV, so that isn't even an option for me most of the time. Sometimes you'll get a cool nurse or CNA that will sit down and chat for a bit. I usually take books and stuff and my laptop or iPad or both. Regarding isolation, what are you culturing that they won't let you leave the room?</end quote>

Since you don't goto the hospital much. Isolation is usually not because of what we culture but what we can catch.
 

beleache

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ryry11</b></i> I got out! BelEAche: I encouraged visitors by posting on Facebook "Everyone come visit me!" <img src=""> I'm doing IVs at home now, which is awesome (I'm home!!!) and stressful (it seems overwhelming.) JustDucky: Yeah, I think I'm going to bring more books next time. I checked a couple out on my phone, so I've been reading those. Thanks for all the advice!</end quote>

Woo Hoo ! There is nothing like being home sweet home !! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> joni
 

kayers3

New member
I need visitors in the hospital. Unless I'm feeling really terrible, seeing people helps energize me. Plus my friends all know enough that they just will talk "at" me while I'm doing a breathing treatment or often visit just so we can watch a movie together. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> I usually just send out a mass text to my good friends that says something along the lines of "Back in jail, *insert hospital name and room number*. I accept all cakes with files baked inside. Or not. I'll take just the cake too."

Home IV's can be really overwhelming, especially depending on how many times you have to do them a day. I always ask if they make the meds in the gravity balls so I don't have to be attached to an IV pole. If not, you can also ask about a portable pump. I was on one last time I did IV's and it was super easy. I only had to change out the bag every 24hours. Which was great cause I still didn't have a lot of energy and the meds had to run every 6 hours....so I didn't have to wake up on any crazy schedule to do meds. You are attached to the pump constantly which is a bit annoying, but it's easy enough to carry around.

Hope you are feeling better!
 
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