During my most recent hospital admission, I became convinced that my nurses were scheming against me. This theory began taking shape in my mind after I started IV antibiotics, which, unfortunately, almost always cause diarrhea. Sorry if this is TMI, but my sense of privacy is a little dull after being in the hospital. Privacy in a hospital is like snow in San Jose...not gonna happen. When I began experiencing this aforementioned side effect, I dutifully reported it to my nurses, informing them that I no longer needed the Colace (stool softener) they had been bringing me to counteract the possible constipation caused by my pain meds (seem complicated? Try balancing the side effects of over 20 medications, which is what I’ve been on for the past 8 months). So imagine my surprise when I find the little red Colace pill in my next round of meds! Assuming the nurse forgot or made a careless oversight, I removed the pill and casually reminded her that I definitely didn’t need to "soften my stool" while having diarrhea.
The next day, I was quickly glancing through the vast array of pills I was to take with breakfast when I noticed not one, but TWO Colace pills in my medicine cup! I wasn’t sure whether to be appalled or suspicious, but my mom and I laughed it off, joking about what would have happened had I not caught the nurse’s mistake (definitely TMI). I reminded the nurse again that, having diarrhea, it probably wouldn’t be prudent for me to take the Colace, and she agreed. If the problem had stopped there, I would’ve written it off as one of the small mistakes that are bound to happen in the hospital, especially with a medication list as extensive and complicated as mine. But the Colace continued to show up in my med cup at least TWICE A DAY until my discharge, all while I was reporting daily my ongoing issues with the dreaded D word.
So my conspiracy theory is this: apparently I’m so much fun that the nurses will stoop to pretty low-down, underhanded methods to keep me in-patient. Come on, guys. If you want to hang out, just ask me, but please stop trying to secretly slip me laxatives. That’s just not cool.
The next day, I was quickly glancing through the vast array of pills I was to take with breakfast when I noticed not one, but TWO Colace pills in my medicine cup! I wasn’t sure whether to be appalled or suspicious, but my mom and I laughed it off, joking about what would have happened had I not caught the nurse’s mistake (definitely TMI). I reminded the nurse again that, having diarrhea, it probably wouldn’t be prudent for me to take the Colace, and she agreed. If the problem had stopped there, I would’ve written it off as one of the small mistakes that are bound to happen in the hospital, especially with a medication list as extensive and complicated as mine. But the Colace continued to show up in my med cup at least TWICE A DAY until my discharge, all while I was reporting daily my ongoing issues with the dreaded D word.
So my conspiracy theory is this: apparently I’m so much fun that the nurses will stoop to pretty low-down, underhanded methods to keep me in-patient. Come on, guys. If you want to hang out, just ask me, but please stop trying to secretly slip me laxatives. That’s just not cool.
That is a very sad commentary - a great hospital; staff that knows and loves you; and still errors.....errors are not good....and a good reminder that you are your own best advocate. Hope today brings some answers. Love you, Aunt D PS Are you getting any sleep posting at all hours???
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