Living with Chronic Illness, especially Cystic Fibrosis, means that hospital admissions are a fact of life. I don’t like it but it is something that I have to do for me to have something of a normal life outside of here. I need to spend time here to recharge and renew my batteries. I need IV antibiotics to help with the ever present infection in my lungs. I need dietary supplements to help me keep up with my high calorie/high energy needs. Tomorrow I will have a blood transfusion to help with my iron levels. These are all things I need to do help keep me out of here most of the time, to keep me with my loved ones. I know all these things. I tell myself every time I am here why I need to be here but that doesn’t always help with the isolation you feel.
Isolation is probably a funny thing to feel when you are never actually alone. And you are NEVER alone in hospital! And while I know I have to be here and that my loved ones are only a phone call away there are times when I feel so lonely. Tonight, during my phone call home, I could here activity in the back ground. I could almost see my family having dinner and relaxing afterwards to watch a movie. I wanted to be there with them, chilling out. It made me feel so far away.
The isolation comes with the territory so I have had to teach myself how to deal with it. Apart from reminding myself that my loved ones are only a phone call away or that they will be down to visit soon, I also give myself things to do so that I distract myself from feeling so lonely. This admission I have a had a friend also in which has given me someone to talk to when I need a chat, that has been great but sometimes there is no one else in. That’s when I set myself projects. It might be to finish a Workbook from my course. It might be to read a book I have wanted to read for awhile. It might be to organise something to do when I am out of hospital. This time I have given myself a writing project. I have been writing about living with Chronic Illness. About what to expect and how to cope. It has kept me entertained this admission and although I don’t know what I will do with it when I am done I have enjoyed being able to get all my experiences and opinions out of my head and into something else. Doing things like this really helps me feel like I am doing something productive and useful instead of just sitting around, doing nothing. It helps me deal with the isolation. If I am able to do something to distract myself it doesn’t hurt so much.’
Every body is different, everyone has different ways of coping with their admissions but I have found, through my own experiences and from what I have seen around me, that those who keep themselves entertained seem to heal quicker and get out of here faster. And by keeping entertained you can keep that feeling of isolation at bay for a little bit longer….
I am going home on Monday so I only have another couple of days to go, I am excited to go home to my loved ones and I will talk advantage of their closeness.
Have a great weekend, Lily
For more information on this blog or myself please see the ABOUT page, or the great posts on the ARTICLES page
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Lils,
I miss chatting with you! I hope your stay has gone as good as to be expected and no bumps. I see you get to go home MOn. That puts a HUGE smile on my face! Hang in there girl!
Lots and lots of hearts!
Somer
Lils!
I am so glad you get to go home Mon!! I hope this weekend goes by quickly and that you are feeling so much better!
Lots of hearts,
Somer