[Wander]

Currently I am IP in a great private hospital being treated for a nasty mixed episode. This treatment is helping but this week they have started renovations on the hospital, and when I say reno's I mean demolishing part of the hospital. How on earth can I recover in the middle of this noise! It is driving me banana's! I am considering discharging as being home alone may be safer than being here. What do I do? The noise is not going away for weeks so I cannot wait it out. I am in the middle of ECT treatment and I am still very depressed.

[~Christina]

What does your Pdoc think? Do you have someone that can help you stay safe? 24/7?

[Wander]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

What does your Pdoc think? Do you have someone that can help you stay safe? 24/7?

I am seeing my T today and Pdoc tomorrow so I will run it by them. if I get discharged I can stay with my parents if need be, but I would rather be at home in my flat. It will be a tough call as the feeling of being trapped here with the noise triggers my PTSD but I am not that well either. I know it is best I take the advice of the professionals in my life I was just wanting some feedback to help me ask the right Q's when I see them.

[~Christina]

I hope your figure a workable plan. I'm sorry that on top of everything you have going on of course "now" is when all this construction is taking place

Another reason for me to stay out haha.

Earplugs? Nurses might be able to find you some. But I know the feeling. I discharged after 3 days of someones snoring disrupting my sleep patterns. Then had a terrible episode at home but got through unhurt.

Can you go in to some of the communal rooms rather than your own room? They may be quieter away from the noise.

What about music on an ipod or something like that?

Are you allowed out? Perhaps it will encourage you to spend more time outdoors?

[UpDownMiddleGround]

I was thinking earplugs as well, they are not likely to completely reduce the sound. Can you have noise cancelers? I have PTSD too and when i need to reduce stimulation (usually noise, light, and touch), i have to shut it out! Not sure if the nurses will truly 'get it.' I'd ask to speak to whichever pdoc who might be able to help.

[Wander]

Thanks guys.

My T has encouraged me to stay in hospital as he doesn't think I am stable enough to manage on my own. I think he is right but man I long to be home, away from the noise by the beach where I live. Now a nurse knows how desperate I have felt in the last few days (I just confessed to her) I know my psychiatrist will not sign off on my discharge so if I want out soon I will have to sign myself out AMA (against medical advice) and if you sign yourself out AMA then it is very difficult to work with that pdoc and hospital again...so I guess I will be staying here a while longer.

I do listen to a lot of music and that does help, in fact playing my guitar and singing helps but I cannot make that kind of noise throughout the day, only at certain times. My Mum took me out for coffee today and will do the same tomorrow. My boyfriend is unfortunately on a work trip in Sydney so I have not been able to see him. Bad timing all round really. Right now I am exhausted so I will head to sleep soon. At least I am sleeping ok. I have plenty of support too, which I am thankful for. I just need my mood to shift and break through the despair and hopelessness I am drowning in at the moment.

[Wander]

Originally Posted by UpDownMiddleGround

I was thinking earplugs as well, they are not likely to completely reduce the sound. Can you have noise cancelers? I have PTSD too and when i need to reduce stimulation (usually noise, light, and touch), i have to shut it out! Not sure if the nurses will truly 'get it.' I'd ask to speak to whichever pdoc who might be able to help.

Thanks, that is a great idea. I will have to look into that.

[Wander]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

What does your Pdoc think? Do you have someone that can help you stay safe? 24/7?

I am seeing my pdoc tomorrow and I doubt he agree to me being discharged. My Mum, who would be the 24/7 carer, doesn't want me discharged either as she knows I am unstable. I don't really have a choice but I am thankful for the care and support. I just panicked today as I felt trapped; that is always a difficult feeling fore me to manage well. Realistically I 'only' need to manage this experience for another week then, all going well, I will be able to discharge with my doctors approval and less anxiety for my Mum and boyfriend.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm sorry you're not ready to go home.

I'm blown away that yall get to take e devices into the hospital with you.

I hope you get better!

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

I'm blown away that yall get to take e devices into the hospital with you.

I hope you get better!

I've wondered about that too, I see a lot of people posting saying they're inpatient, every hospital I've ever gone to you don't have access to your cell phone or a computer.

Anyway, I hope you feel better too

[Resident Bipolar]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

I've wondered about that too, I see a lot of people posting saying they're inpatient, every hospital I've ever gone to you don't have access to your cell phone or a computer.

Anyway, I hope you feel better too

It's been the same with my stays. One of the hospitals I went to had mobile phones loaned to you for your stay which were very basic - no camera, no Internet, no media files except for the default ring tones etc but you had to give them back at night and weren't allowed them back until after breakfast. Most of the wards I've been on have had computers for education sessions but only a set allowed of websites are allowed to be used (all others were blocked).

I think it depends on each hospital's privacy policy, as cameras on some devices can invade privacy and these vary on the hospital type too (open, low secure, medium secure, high secure) and also whether it's an adolescent or an adult unit. It can also depend on the circumstances and needs of the individual along with, but not necessarily, their status (informal/voluntary/section).

[quasicrystalline]

During my last hospital stay, we were also allowed nothing. They stored all our belongings in a storage area in the nurse's station. I convinced my nurse to let me give my phone to my mother for her to keep track of. Every time she came to visit, I was then able to use it with her in the visiting room, but I otherwise would not have been able to use it at all.

You could tell how underfunded the hospital was. They had us watching motivational VHS tapes. FREAKING VHS TAPES.

As for the noise, I hope it gets better. When I was in middle school, the school was being renovated and the jackhammering made it all but impossible to learn. The dust set the fire alarm off all the time too.

[Wander]

In this hospital, on a unlocked ward in Australia, I am allowed to use my computer phone which has unlimited internet access (from my network provider). If I was on a locked ward it would be different. Here, we are only not allowed to use our phones during groups.

I am going banana's in here. Like run away from hospital banana's. I will see my pdoc in a few hours so I just need to hold on until then and hopefully he will have a better option than staying in this room. The room I am in is right next to the de/construction site so perhaps a move to the other side of the hospital will help. As I am unstable I am not allowed out on leave. I feel trapped in here which is really triggering PTSD stuff making the situation worse. I am very panicked. Hold on a few more hours I keep telling myself.

[~Christina]

In my State... TN, Phones are not allowed at all due to HIPPA laws. Taking pictures of other patients is a violation to their right for confidential care. Plus, I really don't need the distraction of texting or facebooking etc. When apparently I lost my shyt and needed IP to stay safe.

Wander I know the noise is going to be terrible to manage, but I think your Doctors are going to be right about you needing to stay until your much better.