RSD/Chronic Hospital Stays

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From: <NOBR>byrd45</NOBR> (Original Message) Sent: 8/30/2004 11:17 PM
Hi Everyone,
Since it seems that alot of us have spent considerable time in the hospital I thought it would be helpful to discuss ways of making an unpleasant situation a little more bearable. Nobody I know wants to spend any time in a hospital, but unfortunately alot of us really have no choice if that is the only way to manage our pain levels. In the past two years I have had to be inpatient six times, a weeks stay each time, and I quickly learned some ways to make things a little more bearable for myself.I always bring a cd player and a cd wallet with a range of music. This always helps me to meditate, and is great during treatments if you are forced to be immobile for long periods of time. An extra plus it blocks out outside unwanted noise and really helps me get a little rest at night.Oh and extra batteries help alot too. It is hard being in a strange bed for me so I don't usually sleep too much when I am in the hospital, but listening to music will sometimes help me.I always ask the nurse for an extra pillow and blanket because it helps my right arm to rest it on a pillow or if my feet swell I use it to prop them up.I also get really cold at times due to my RSD and that extra blanket really helps.Don't be afraid to ask for these things when you are settling in the nurses usally are very understanding especially if you are pleasant about it. I always bring a few books and magazines,a puzzle book,paper,a pen and pencil in case I feel I can draw and my crosstitch that I am working on.Without these things I think I would have gone crazy with boredom. I even saw one of my roomates bring her laptop with her.Another roomate brought her blanket and pillow from home because it made her feel a little better to have it with her.I also bring pajamas in case I want to wear them instead of the hospital gown.It really depends what you are getting done, for example when I got intrapleural treatments after they insert the catheter in place you can wear pajamas if you choose or sweats or whatever you are comfortable in. Same thing for the lidocaine treatments, but because I have needed a central line the last two times I wore the hospital gown because it was easier and just the bottoms of my pajamas. If you have to wear their gown just ask for a second one to wear as a robe so you don't have your butt hanging out LOL I hate that don't you! Anyway I would love to hear anything that you have found to make a hospital stay a little more bearable for you. I look forward to hearing from you just add it to this post.
Robyn