My PICC Line

The few luxuries associated with and extended stay in the hospital —room service, clean socks, constant attention—are a steep price to pay for a draining, stressful, and tense experience.  Below is a list of five ways to ensure a patient’s hospital stay is at the very least tolerable.
A warning ahead of time, this account stems from my circumstances alone, I fully understand no two people have the same hospital experience. For some this may seem a conservative  collection, to others it could seem like an arrogant boast of youth— the hope  is to find something here to make the best out of the lousiest of news, you’re being admitted to the  hospital.

1. AVOID DAY NAPPING….Nights in hospitals go by slowly, a patient’s only chance of staying sane is sleeping through them. So tire yourself  out anyway possible (without jeopardizing your health or treatment); laps around the nurse’s station, leg lifts in bed or a few stretches here and there all work.
If you have visited a hospital, its ordinary to see a television on in all rooms, everyday all day. Don’t do that. Lying in bed with a TV running without break  is a guaranteed restless night. Trading in the remote for a book, or a board game with visitors will keep the late-night ceiling stares to a minimum.

Bonus tip: Avoid your room during the day if your treatment plan allows. A patient in a room, leads to a patient in bed. Once you’re in, anything can happen. Head out to one of the lounges and interact with patients, visitors and staff.

2. LAY-OFF THE CALL BUTTON….The less you bother the staff with meaningless problems,the more respect you will receive. Leaning on the bell every time a pillow drops or  the remote is out of reach is poor form. A hospital can make you  into a candy ass if you permit it, don’t let it happen. A mandatory goal for all patients(with the encouragement of visitors) should be to attempt all things within their power.

3.WRITE DOWN YOUR QUESTIONS…Doctor will check on their hospitalized patients once a day; he or she will walk in the room and move through the the information as quickly as possible.  The patient is forbidden to waste these interactions. Your status and treatment are your greatest concern. Know everything about your ailment—ask for literature,  relevant studies and understand the most progressive treatment(s) offered. If  the effort is made, there will be questions–tons of them. Don’t be reduced to head nods, and blank stares in the presence of the physician, know your case–receiving the best treatment often depends on it.

4. TALK TO YOUR ROOMMATE...Roommate relations are crucial. Suddenly you are living in a small room with a  complete stranger, sharing a bathroom, forced to listen each others phone calls and most intimate problems. You’re both in a spot where you don’t want to be, vulnerable, dependent and highly irritable. Once admitted make small talk, ask your roommate’s story. Every person has something to teach us, take advantage of the opportunity, knowing the first name of the guy sleeping 6 feet away makes things less awkward.

5. GET DRESSED EACH DAY…As the introduction notes, this suggestion is highly conditional, some patients lack the ability to get up everyday due to whatever their going through.  But, if possible, get out of the hospital provided pajamas—they’re more on the hideous side anyway. Try to shower, brush your teeth, wash your face, even if it requires help from staff or  visitors. In an ideal world every doctor and nurse would be unmoved by the appearance of those they care for, this world is not ideal. The patient should present as aware and engaged(as possible), it holds the care-giver accountable and will result in you, the patient, receiving better care.

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