Ive been an inpatient now for over 2 months unfortunatly and although my weight is going on slowly but surely things are moving too slowly. I'm in a wheelchair when going for meals, confined to a bed all day everyday, on 1 to 1 observations and sectioned under a section 3.
I see my doctor again on Wednesday but by the time they lessen the restrictions it feels like I'm going to be here forever including over the christmas period. Christmas for me is a very special time and I'm so worried about having to stay here over the christmas period.
I don't even know if I'm going to get out to put up the tree... Ive missed so much since being here including my new wee nephews birth and christening.
I was just wondering whether anyone else has been inpatient over the xmas period and what it was like for them and how I can make it a bit more cheerful and other peoples experiences whether they got home for the day or not?
xoxo
Each tear drop falls with sorrow, hoping and praying for another tomorrow!
Its possible that you might be able to go home for the day, if a family member agrees to be responsible for you and pick you up from the hospital and take you back.
If not, I'm sure you will be allowed to decorate your room and have family to visit you, and the staff and other patients will try and make the day as fun as possible.
I'm currently an inpatient (section 3) and not sure whether I will be out in time for Christmas. The staff have been talking about Christmas Day and it seems like they are going to try to make it as enjoyable as possible (presents, cooked breakfast, Christmas dinner).
I was inpatient just after Christmas - but from what I heard from the other patients, they try really hard to either get you some home leave over the holidays, or make the atmosphere as nice as possible if you have to stay in the unit. There were decorations, Christmas dinner, etc. On the adolescent unit I was on, they even gave out presents :)
Could you talk about home leave with your care team? Or if not, a visit from family or friends?
I was lucky to be aloud home for xmas when I was IP so long as my dad took me back early the next day. Most patients went home for at least a few hours depending on how far they lived and what amount of Section 17 leave they were allocated.
I understand the need for you to be there for observation because it sounds like you are still very very medically compromised but I would apply for section 17 leave for a few hours and ask someone to pick you up and stay with you, then take you back. If you can get it sorted the earlier the better. Maybe talk to your key nurse and explain the sort of motivation it could provide if you were to be able to see your family at such a special time.
Sorry for the rambling, I hope you see your family somehow over the xmas period.
xxxxxx
Ohh cos I thought I would be there Xmas day my parents bought me a mini xmas tree that lit up and some decorations =]
Decorate your room and make stuff in the art therapy dept. if you have time there.
Last edited by MissAnonymous : 29-11-2010 at 07:08 PM.
Last year I was in this situation, but they allowed me to go on a short leave to be at home over Christmas. I just had to have my mom sign a bunch of things taking responsibility for me. They would also call me each day to see how I was doing, and I could call them anytime for support or if I wanted to go back.
I hope things work out for you hun. Fight hard.
Also, I love MissA's idea. My friends and I in the hosptial did that for Halloween and Thanksgiving, and a bit for Christmas too. Our rooms ended up looking so cute, and it made it a little more Christmas spirited and fun.
I wanna stay inside all day
I want the world to go away
Ive asked my mum to bring me in a wee tiny tree and she told me to be creative and make cards instead of buying them. I#m so confused though cos I have all these nurses and the dieticion saying im gonna be here a while yet but then this one certain nurse is telling me if I work really hard I might get out... that was before she found out I tried to make a run for it the other day.
I'm not aloud down to the OT room so I'll not get a chance to help with decorating the ward tree, it's so uosetting cos the nurses sit and talk about putting up their trees and doing their shopping and all and I dont think they realise how upsetting it is.
A nurse told me what happened last xmas day on the ward and it seem kinda alright but it's not the same... I wanna be home for my wee nephews 1st xmas.
I continually ask the doctor about leave for xmas but he never says anything useful! I have a mutlidisilinary meeting next week so I'm hoping for good outcomes although I highly doubt they would take me off the chair, the bed and obs all in the one week would they?
I'm sure exactly what a form 17 is tho? Lol!xoxo
Each tear drop falls with sorrow, hoping and praying for another tomorrow!
Section 17 is an extension to a section 2 or 3 whereby you are given permission by a Dr to leave the place you have been sectioned to [hospital grounds] and go to a designated place with a designated person [ie, to a home address for 4 hours with your mum].
Ask your Dr about it and say you want to put in an application for S17 leave over Xmas, I believe you have the right to apply for it, it will just depend on whether or not the Dr in charge will sign it to allow you to leave the hospital grounds.
Can you ask the OT dept. to give you some art stuff so you can make things in bed. Also, I would tell the nurses that you find their conversations around shopping upsetting and explain why, maybe they can tone it down a little.
Does your ward have a family room?
If so your nephew + family could come and visit, if not Christmas day then at least sometime over the holidays and you could see him open a present or two?
Even when my brother was on 24hr supervision he was allowed down to the family room to see our other little brother if accompainied by a nurse.
I do still thing you have a chance of being allowed home for a few hours though. Like others have said, someone (usually a parent) just has to sign to say they are responsible for you and will stay with you and bring you back at a specified time. or occasionally a nurse will go to your house with you for a few hours.
If its that important to you then keep pushing for leave and hope for the best.
Hey lovey, im sorry things are hard right now and i hope you manage to get some leave for xmas. If you dont then try to make the most out of it at the hospital.
I had to stay over xmas and new year when i was 13 (8 years ago now) the staff tried really hard to make it a nice day with decorations, christmas dinner and gifts. My family bought presents and gave them to staff who put them by my bed so i saw them when i woke up.
Obviously it is still tough if you arent with your family but you can talj to them on the phone or even possibly arrange for them to come and visit??
Usually the other patients help support you too so really try not to panic too much.
Hope you manage to get leave though hun, let us know how it goes xx
Through the dark, a strand of light, the light continued to get bright, with it came the strength to fight (Gem)
I was inpatient in an adolescent unit during christmas, but not under section, I was given leave over christmas but I know they did small gifts, christmas dinner, and tried very hard from what the few stuck there said.
I have been IP over xmas a couple of times I think. I remember both wards made it a fun time - well as fun as it can be, but still. They made an effort. Try and join in on any activities that are going on that you can, but also try make sure the day is relaxing. :)
I understand how you will really miss it though (if you don't get leave). *hugs*
The Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated. By the side of the river he trotted as one trots, when very small, by the side of a man who holds one spell-bound by exciting stories; and when tired at last, he sat on the bank, while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.
Wind in the Willows.
When I've been IP over xmas they've let me apply for (and for the most part granted) leave to go home for at least the day. Depending on where I was in the IP process; i.e., when I was admitted in August I was allowed out for a few days over xmas, when I went in in November I was still on 1/2hr obs so they only let me home for a few hours.
In the ward we had a tree and some small gifts, they got us all involved in decorating the tree/ward n stuff.
But I do really understand xx
Whatever Happened to our Inner Glow?
<3 Sarah, My brilliant, beautiful, RAWR little sis
They made the tree's in the ward the other day but I wasnt aloud to help decorate it cos they seen it as too much activity! Then my mum brought in a few things and was going to buy a wee xmas tree but due to fire and safety hazards I'm now not aloud one and the tinsel in my room was taken away! =( the ward does look nice but im rarely outta my room (bedrest) so its just not the same and having to do xmas shopping online just doesnt feel right.
I actually get really upset when I hear xmas songs and see the ward all christmasy and all.
I really need to be at home for xmas because my 2nd cousin who my mum was practically nursing died yesterday morning and she was very close with him and its going to be so tough on her.
I seen the doctor on wednesday and I gained a bit of weight so I'm now off the wheelchair. I have a multidisiplinary meeting on wednesday with everyone involved in my care and I should no more then but everytime I ask the doctor he always says we have to leave it closer to the time. My BMI still is quite a bit away from being normal and by the time I see the dr again its going to be closer to 2 weeks 2 xmas!!
I really really need out but I dont know if theres anything more I can do to get out now I'm cooperating and not running away and doing silly things like refusing and gettin into restaints! I'm really doing my best but I'm not sure if its enough.
It's good to hear other people experiences and I hope everyone has a good xmas!!xox
Each tear drop falls with sorrow, hoping and praying for another tomorrow!
Just a little update to say i'm getting home for a few hours on xmas day! I'm off the wheelchair complelty but still on obb's but the doctor said if I keep up the good work this week I'll be let home for a few hours on xmas day! I was so delighted but it's gonna be so so hard having to come back in! =( xox
Each tear drop falls with sorrow, hoping and praying for another tomorrow!
Really glad you will get the chance to go home for Xmas.
I understand it will be hard to go back, but its important that you do so that they will know they can trust you and then they might start gradually letting you have more leave.
thats brilliant hun :)
well done for really working and getting to this point, i hope you have a wonderful time at home. I'm sorry about your cousin, its nice for your mum to have you there for support but make sure you look after yourself too.
Keep us updated, yeah?
xxx
Through the dark, a strand of light, the light continued to get bright, with it came the strength to fight (Gem)
