Hospitalised – Miss Write

Tuesday night, after dinner, I had such stomach ache, felt sick and had a real domed gut. I felt pregnant again and 3-4 months gone within half an hour! I went to bed early thinking I’d just eaten too much bread (!!), only to throw up three times overnight. I awoke with localised pain where it had shrunk down to a smaller than first sized area near my right hip and I called the Dr. After a video chat, she shared my concerns: This could be appendicitis. 

Fabulous. I was terrified – hospitals, as we know, have been a real hub for covid-19 and I imagined a disaster zone, even in wards out of ICU. 

I didn’t have to worry. The hospital was like a ghost town, no visitors being allowed and many people choosing to avoid hospital if they were feeling ill. The staff had put in lots of protective measures too, of course, like having just one person operating the touch screen self-checkin machines. 

An hour or two after speaking to my GP I was bent over double walking into the hospital, wincing in pain and feeling very sick, donning a mask I’d been given kindly by a ****beautiful loser stalker of a friend nearby****, I was tested (bloods and obs) and CT and Ultrasound scanned in Southmead Hospital, feeling weirdly not hungry for hours. The fever symptoms associated with appendicitis also meant I was put in my own room as a precaution during this time. 

Mild appendicitis was diagnosed and I stayed overnight with IV antibiotics. That did the trick. I’d identified my problem and caught it early, thank goodness. I even had a covid-19 test (not pleasant, I warn you now!) as is the hospital’s current policy for overnight patients. 

Honestly, the pain wasn’t ever too bad. Undoubtedly it gets worse with a burst appendix, but the worst bit was leaving behind my baby. Time for dad to step up and put her to bed haha! He did amazingly though, both seeming happy enough on video chat. 

I cannot fault the nursing staff. They were reassuring, professional, calm, friendly, washing their hands every time I looked at them, it seemed. We were laughing behind our masks quite a lot, and it made me feel a little sad to not see the faces of these angels in scrubs. 

As I walked out of the ward, exhausted but happy and upright once again, I told the staff on the reception desk I’d be clapping extra hard that night for the NHS Clap. 

Thank you (again) Southmead. You may have saved my life. 

Lou x

P.S. My family and I are now isolating to shield me as I recover from infection. I am so grateful we are together, and I am slowly getting back to normal.