Coping with Hospitals

Just a bit of an update and a few observations. The surgery went well and I'm best part through the restricted period protection the sternum after the open heart intervention. Surprisingly most of the time in the surgical ward wasn't as stressful as I anticipated as everyone was in individual rooms. The nursing staff accommodated my request for numbing cream prior to injection/blood tests and the low levels of lighting I preferred. The consultant and other doctors were also superb. They would fully explain what was going to be done, debrief me after each stage and always ask if I had any question, 10 out of 10 for communication. In fact the worst experience was talking to the clinical psychologist, who almost dismissed me as I have yet to receive the official diagnosis. I was misguidedly assuming she might have shown more empathy and understanding that waiting lists can be protracted.

The real problems occurred in the five visits before and after surgery that I had to endure. The A&E department was very brightly lit and noisy due to the overcrowding. Whilst some of the staff were sympathetic, most totally ignored the mental health aspect of my personality. Even after the Learning Difficulties and Autism lead briefed the nursing staff and the matron did the same. The matron used a phrase that I think should be a nursing mantra, "We should be treating the whole person, not just one individual symptom". The main issue seemed to be that very little information was passed over at shift changes.

On the plus side I am now a convert to noise cancelling headphones. I also have an emergency bag partial packed with my "survival" pack and a list of everything to collect into the bag prior to leaving in an ambulance.

Thanks for all the comments previously made on this post.

Just a bit of an update and a few observations. The surgery went well and I'm best part through the restricted period protection the sternum after the open heart intervention. Surprisingly most of the time in the surgical ward wasn't as stressful as I anticipated as everyone was in individual rooms. The nursing staff accommodated my request for numbing cream prior to injection/blood tests and the low levels of lighting I preferred. The consultant and other doctors were also superb. They would fully explain what was going to be done, debrief me after each stage and always ask if I had any question, 10 out of 10 for communication. In fact the worst experience was talking to the clinical psychologist, who almost dismissed me as I have yet to receive the official diagnosis. I was misguidedly assuming she might have shown more empathy and understanding that waiting lists can be protracted.

The real problems occurred in the five visits before and after surgery that I had to endure. The A&E department was very brightly lit and noisy due to the overcrowding. Whilst some of the staff were sympathetic, most totally ignored the mental health aspect of my personality. Even after the Learning Difficulties and Autism lead briefed the nursing staff and the matron did the same. The matron used a phrase that I think should be a nursing mantra, "We should be treating the whole person, not just one individual symptom". The main issue seemed to be that very little information was passed over at shift changes.

On the plus side I am now a convert to noise cancelling headphones. I also have an emergency bag partial packed with my "survival" pack and a list of everything to collect into the bag prior to leaving in an ambulance.

Thanks for all the comments previously made on this post.