GOING INTO HOSPITAL AS A SICKLE CELL DAY PATIENT – PART 1

IV drip intravenous

Here I am, being told that I have to come into hospital for a blood transfusion and for an iron IV because both are low, after check up at the doctors’.

The fact that I (TD) have to go into hospital, fills me with so much dread, even up till now!  Believe me, I have had my fair share of going back and forth to the hospital to last me a life time.  Anyway, here we are and I am full of so much expectation.  I mean trying to be positive and thinking about the outcome and not the ordeal of it all.  What makes me dislike going in, even though I have not choice is the blood tests situation.  

Finally make it to the Haematology outpatient clinic.  I’m told to wait…then I am called in, to presumably start the blood or iron IV right, since I was booked in by a doctor.  I am then told, they cannot find my file, they cannot find my notes…does this happen to you or your loved one when you go with them to hospital?

Eventually, they find what was lost in their system and tell me, they need to do a blood test.  This is the beginning of the dread; are you perhaps like me, with very difficult veins?  They cannot find the veins and various attempts are made, about 3-5 attempts. It is always quite an exhausting and painful experience each time I go into hospital.  These unsuccessful attempts leave marks on my hands and they become swollen and painful veins that last for a week or more sometimes.

After, I am told that they will need to do a blood match before the blood is ordered up and as such, I cannot be given the blood on the day and to come back another day.  Sounds familiar?

Or with the iron, again I am told the doctor should have ordered the iron and didn’t and so before it is ordered from pharmacy and gets to HOC, it is better for ‘yours truly’ to come back another day. 

Can someone pls tell me why they cannot inform the patient that even though you have been told to come in as a day’s patient, the process might actually take two days or if you go in on a Friday, you might be told to come back on Monday?.

I know all medical staff are overworked and underpaid, in fact junior doctors held a strike a couple of weeks ago, the first time in  40 years.  But that does not help my frustrations does it?  

I am trying to be very patient and not loose my cool, as it would not be nice.  I smile, say thank you and leave, totally frustrated with the system.  Can you see an employer being happy with you taking time off like this all because you have to go into hospital for a very small procedure?  Nooo!  

Is it just me?  Does this happen at your part of the world?  Pls let me know your most loved and hated hospital experiences?

There you have it, going in as a sickle cell patient part 1.  The story as they say continues…