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Welcome to the club!!! Hun, don't worry going into the hospital becomes old hat for us CF folk, but I totally understand how you are nervous. Take it from me, once you get used to it you'll get to know all the nurses and you form a routine, it goes like clock work.
From my experience, which I have alot of, if it's your pulmanologist (yes I know thats spelled wrong, I swear I'm in college) who wants you to go into the hospital, it should be your CF team and your doctors who should be setting it up for you, they are also the ones who deside how long you stay, its usually anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks, there are too many variables to give you a definate number, they should have a room prebooked, and orders written for your IV's and respiratory therapy. Unfortunately going into the hospital isn't like going into a hotel where you just walk up an get a room. Can you imagine, walking up ("I would like a room with a view of the cabana, hehe) That would be awesome.
Anyways, usually for me what they do is they admit you and you don't really do much the first few days, thats when they put the orders in and get there ***** straightened out. Then they will put in a pick line, it's like an iv sort of, it just lasts longer and actually is less of a pain in the ass. It can hurt going in but if your like me and get anxiety you can ask for attivan to calm your nerves (god bless whoever made up that drug) From then on it's pretty boring, just respiratory therapy 4 to 5 times a day and iv drugs, again thats just my experience though.
I know your scared cause it does suck going into the hospital. I have to go back in on May 24 and I'm definitly not looking forward to it. Here are a few rules from my experience that I go by in the hospital.
- You are never to old for coloring books and sudoku
- DON'T BRING ANYTHING VALUABLE!!! - Last time I was there I got my cell phone stolen, no joke
- Bring lots of books
- Make sure you ask for the good menu, not the shitty three choice menu. You have CF damnit you need as many calories as you can get - but beware the food sucks
- trust your instincts and always ask questions, if you don't think the nurses or the interns are doing the right thing don't let them, you know your body better then anyone
- if you ever get a med student working on you, make sure to teach them what it's like being a patient, remember you are a person, not a disease to be studied (but you can also mess with them a little, yes I know I'm cruel)
- Make friends with all of the staff, from the cleaning people up to the attendings, it will make your life go much smoother
- before you go in treat yourself to something for the hospital, like a new pair of comfy PJ's or a few new books
- remember, the phones in the room can be used to call from room to room, two words: PRANK CALL
- Lastly always remember you are in charge and you are allowed to say NO if you don't want something done (example, like when then try to test your vitals at 2 ***** 30) you can say you don't want it. IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU!!!
You be okay suga, I promise, I know it's hard but you'll get through.