My Journey in Hospital

No one goes to the emergency department for fun, you go because you know there is something terribly wrong. For me, it was a debilitating flare-up of chronic pain in my lower right hand side of my abdominal, an agonising sharp pain.

The Limbo of the waiting room

When you are dealing with severe abdominal pain, every minute seems like an hour. Sitting in a chair for 28 hours watching everyone else walk in and out and finally being the only one in the emergency room. (watching master chef for 12 hours straight) Mental resilience was pushed to its absolute limit. Walking out was no longer an option.

Within that time I was sent for a CT scan, which came back as inflammed all around my appendix area.

My private Room in an Unexpected Place

When the nurse finally took me to my room, it wasn't just a bed; it was completly my own private room. After more than a day of complete chaos around me I had my own four walls around me. I finally fell into a deep sleep. (apart from being woken up every 2 hours for obs)

The next afternoon, my friend popped by with some lovely gifts and card. We went out for a drink and stroll. On our way back into the ward my frind asked me "Do you know what ward you are on?"

I had no idea, I just knew it was full of old people. Men to the right and woman to the left.

"You're on the dementia ward" my friend replied.

It all clicked into place. Because the hospital was gridlocked, the staff had simply used the only empty bed there was.

We both thought it was hilarious! I am only 36.

Enter the dream Teams

While my surroundings were unexpected, the medical care I received once settled was nothing short of amazing. Managing complex lower right tummy pain requires serious expertise, and I was incredibly lucky to be looked after by both the surgical team and the specialist IBD team.

They listened to my history, validated my chronic pain and collaborated seamlessly to figure out the best path forward. They didn't just treat my symptoms ; they treated me like a human being who had jusy been through an ordeal. Their kindness, sharp expertise and reasurrance became my ultimate anchor.

Heading Home with a New Outlook

Walking out of those hospital doors after 6 day, not seeing my children and very little of my husband because he was keeping everything up togeter at home as well as having a full time job and building our forever home, into the fresh air was an incredible feeling. While I am still recovering and navigating my IBD journey, my outlook on life has become more positive. This is why I have started this blog, to help me keep on the right path and to help others.