BEING SICK AND IN HOSPITAL

Here I was one summer day and feeling unwell.  After a while, I started dragging my feet, as I was in pain and could not walk properly.  I started taking Morphine and Codeine plus Paracetamol and Ibuprofen over the next couple of days but the pain got worse and after trying to self medicate at home to no avail, I knew, I needed to go into hospital.

Now my pain started at the end of a working week, thank goodness and by Sunday, I called for an ambulance, as by this time, I could hardly walk around my flat.  I do go for my regular hospital check ups and all.  I have also been admitted for intravenous iron this year.  But I have not been admitted with a full blown crisis for a while and so did not know what the procedure was.  

As the ambulance guys phoned the hospital that I go to, they were told to not take me to the normal A&E area.  Surprisingly on a Sunday, I was taken to where the Haematology department is.  We got there and because the ambulance guys had given them my details over the telephone, no questions were asked and within 5-10 minutes, I was being given Morphine injection, which I needed so badly.

I found out that, the Haematology clinic now has this pain clinic that is opened seven days a week, from morning to night.  Within another two hours, I was given another Morphine injection and about three to four hours later, I was given a last one for the day.  The pain had eased off but I was still dragging my left leg.

A friend came to pick me up and brought me home, all drugged up.  I got in and went to bed.  I called the day clinic the following morning and got there early enough.  The same process as the day before was administered and I came home late afternoon.

I did not go the third day, as if I did, I would then be admitted.  So on the third day, I rested at home and went back on the fourth day.  When I got home on the fourth day, I knew I was now on the way to recovery and the work ahead of me was to get all the Morphine that my body had absorbed out of my system, so that I could one again be a fully fledged member of society.  

My observations during this time is that a lot of people were coming and going from the day pain clinic.  I was totally amazed by this, as I could see that some people were coming from work and I thought this is really fantastic.  

Fantastic that one can go to work and leave early and come to hospital and get some Morphine and then go home and sleep and hopefully be well enough to go to work the following morning.  And if still in pain the following day, could do the same process all over again.  

This day clinic is good for everyone but most especially those who work, as they don’t necessarily take time off work because they are admitted into hospital.  When I was working and used to be sick, admission was the only option. 

My main delight is the fact that I can walk into hospital, get the pain relieving injection that I need and not have to be admitted in some strange, uncomfortable bed and eat some not so nice hospital food.  I have found from the last time that I was admitted into hospital about three or four years ago, that when I wanted to have a shut eye, that is when they are coming to get my temperature and there is so much goings on that I found being admitted into hospital a nightmare and an exhausting experience, never mind the fact, that I am ill.

I am all for the pain day clinic being opened and Sickle Cell patients coming in to get some pain relieve injection and then go to their home, a place of peace, love and comfort. 

Back in the day, doctors were reluctant to give Sickle Cell patients Morphine at home and would say, if you need Morphine, then you should be in hospital, where you can be monitored.  It seems as if that rule has been relaxed.  Personally, the fact that I can go into hospital, be given some Morphine and be allowed to come home is just a relief!

I know that there are discussions about not being prescribed Morphine however when I am this ill, that is I need and want.  Not that I like injections, as it has always been very difficult to find my veins and the process of finding my veins can go on for a long time however, I would not trade that very difficult process to not be given Morphine injection when I have a full blown crisis; over the years, Morphine has been a life saver.

Doctors are constantly looking for ways to help improve and manage Sickle Cell crisis for patients and as this was my first time of going into the pain clinic, I was pleasantly surprised and liked what I saw.  Well done science!