And by that I mean when is the last time you were a patient at a hospital, and why.

I hadn't been admitted to a hospital since the day I was born - until tonight. I got a prescription for painkillers from the emergency room. I was in a lot of pain due to an infection, but it should be cleared up in the next few days. And thankfully, in Canada, hospital visits are free.

First, I'll say that I hope you feel better soon.

I've been lucky to have actually been away from hospitals for a good while... but I used to be in the all the time as a kid. I injured myself so many times, I've lost count.

I've cracked my head open from slipping and falling, fallen out of trees and incurred fractures, twisted my ankle just running around playing...

I think the last time I had an injury bad enough to be hospitalized was when I was about 12 or 13... got hit in the eye with a baseball and was bleeding. Was kinda worrisome because my eye was bleeding and I wasn't sure if I'd have use of it again after that or not... but I guess there was no damage to the actual eye itself. It musta been a laceration on the eyelid or something that caused the bleeding.

But yeah... I think the fact that I've made it over 10 years without being a hospital patient is some sort of victory for me xp

Besides the day I was born, I believe I had been in a hospital twice.

The first time I do not think was very serious; I was very little and had just gotten a very high fever. My parents said I was delirious, singing Old McDonald over and over. I do not remember that part, just remember being in a foreign bed stripped down to my underwear and feeling scared, not knowing why I was there. They brought my fever down, apparently, and the fever may have affected my memory, thus why I only recall up that point.

The second time was a life changing hospital visit. It was during the summer just after finishing 6th grade and I was hanging with friends when I noticed my heart was pounding a lot. I figured it must have been just the excitement I had been feeling so I just ignored it. Unfortunately, it persisted all day. When it was time for bed, I still felt it and began to get scared, and told my parents. After dad took one listen, I was zoomed right to the emergency room.

They did all sorts of things to help lower my heart rate; dunked my head is ice cold water (to "shock" my system apparently), deep breathing exercises, "bearing down" as if I were to be making a bowl movement without actually meaning to make said bowl movement, to injecting this stuff that flushed through my veins which was so uncomfortable, my body convulsed on its own and it felt like I was going to throw up without the actual stomach pain feeling. Unfortunately none of it worked. I remember the feeling of when they gave me some morphine though, and wow, that stuff was powerful! They also knocked me out with something so they could do a cardiogram (I think that is what it was called), which was frightening for me because when I was knocked out, I did not have any dreams. I remember the blackness, feeling and hearing vague things of what was going on but unable to do anything. After I awoke, they said they were not sure what else to do, and after some time passed, they transferred me to a kids' hospital that specialized in heart and lung problems.

This hospital was really awesome despite the terror I was feeling. The worst was the first few days where they did blood tests every 12 hours and visitors were only allowed 6 hours a day. My mother and father alternated shifts to keep watch over me, thankfully, even if they had to stay right outside the room. The first room had no television or anything, but luckily my parents brought up my old Game Boy for me. After a few days passed, they finally got my heart rate down by putting electric paddles to me. They knocked me out with the last thing I remember being lifted into a strange room with them reassuring me. This blackness I do not remember at least, so that is something to be thankful for. While I was knocked out, they also had operated on me to get a small heart tissue sample by going through part of my thigh to make it less invasive. After the fact, it kind of creeps me out, but I hardly felt any pain afterwards and I am still alive today, so I cannot really complain.

This is when the hospital got better, probably because they finally got some headway onto what happened to my heart. Visitors whenever, mom and dad could stay with me at night if needed, television in my room, and they even had a Super Nintendo video game cart they wheeled in different rooms, which I played massively. I think they only had Star Fox, but that was good for me even if I sucked at it. And the nurses loved me because I was the oldest one around, able to talk and understand better, so I got excellent service.

I was diagnosed with Ventricular Tachycardia, and I cannot have caffeine. I never was a big soda drinker, nor ever really drank coffee so, this was not and is not a big problem to me. They only thing they slightly upset me was they limited how much chocolate I could have. As years went by, I was allowed to have a little more until it barely matters as long as I do not eat like a pound of chocolate, haha.

Annette : I guess the last time I actually went to the hospital was about five years ago when I had sun poisoning. I went swimming with my family which is something I rarely do. (Rarely leaves the house unless I have to.) It was a typical hot summer day and the sun screen I put on was one for pre-teen and teenagers unbeknown to me at the time. So I went swimming for about three hours and I should have gotten out and gone and sat in the shade long before that. Anyway I was fine until I went back to my house, once back in my house after a nice shower I began experiencing my body temperature going up and it felt like it was from the heat etc. Well I kept getting warmer and warmer and honestly felt like I was going to have a stroke. I should have gone to the hospital then but I didn’t because I have a phobia with doctors and hospitals and do everything to avoid them.

The next day I had yellow water blisters all over me and it was so bad that even the slightest touch would really be painful. Again knowing I should have swallowed my pride and gone to the hospital I ignored it despite not being about to sleep for two days and being in near constant pain from the burns and the blisters. On the third day I was so exhausted and in pain that my mother finally irritated me into going to the hospital. I had burns on my face and all over my upper body. To be honest even then I didn’t want to go but my thinking at the time was, I was already exhausted and in pain, I didn’t want nor need a headache on top of it.

So my dad took me to the hospital and to be honest I was glad he was there because I could barely move and I needed help. While at the hospital I was shot with a steroid and given a prescription for pain medication. In all, I had been awake nearly four days… Although I am a writer and when things are normal, I pull a lot of all nighters and really never sleep straight through without getting up at least a couple of times, it was honestly one of the most painful and in some ways regrettable experiences of my life. I am disabled and have had ten surgeries over the course of my life. Although I am use to having pain periodically, this was one of the most painful things I ever went through.

It certainly isn’t something that I would recommend to anyone although I can certainly understand someone having a phobia of doctors and hospitals. It took me a couple of weeks to heal up from the sun poisoning and although I don’t regret spending quality time with my family, I basically said after that, that if they wanted me to go swimming again then it would have to be after sun down. I will say though that after I got the medication, both the one that was shot into me and the medication for the pain that it was probably the best night of sleep I’ve had and I probably haven’t slept that good since. I am by no means recommending medication to help one sleep but as someone who doesn’t sleep well on a regular basis, I’m just making an observation.

bvd1022 : I went through a similar thing, although my sun stroke wasn't as severe. I also got it through swimming all afternoon with the sun beating down on my head (We have a pool at my house).

I know the feeling you're describing though- The high body temperature, unable to move. I was unable to eat and unable to get any real rest due to the pain, I basically just lied in bed. My parents almost took me to the hospital, but for me, it only lasted a day. To get my temperature under control, my dad carried me into the pool after sun down to cool off in the water. After that I felt much better.

I also understand what you mean about drugs and a good night's sleep... I just got painkillers at the hospital, as mentioned above. Compared to how I've been feeling for the past five days, these make me feel so good, and I got a good sleep last night for the first time since becoming ill. xD

Annette : As I said I’ve been through ten surgeries. The surgeries have been on my back, legs, eyes, feet, and hips. I have been through a lot and still have normal pain but it’s mostly because I don’t exercise as I should (needs to get that through my head) the sun poisoning though was very painful and at least rivals the surgeries I’ve had in terms of pain. I think it was the most painful because I was burnt but either way it wasn’t fun.

I don’t know if feeling good is the term that I would use but I was just happy I was able to sleep without being in pain because before I went to go get checked out I couldn’t really lay down because the water blisters were all over my upper body including my back and arms so even just laying on my back was extremely painful. I admit I am hard headed when it comes to going to the hospital or to a doctor for a regular check up but I was literally willing to continue being in pain if it meant staying away from the hospital. My mother pretty much knew I was miserable. I honestly think that she deliberately got on my case because she knew that I wasn’t going to budge otherwise.

It’s not something I take pride in but I’ve been told that I have a high tolerance for pain. Those three or four days I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy though. My mom has been dealing with injuries from a car accident four years ago. She’s had surgery on her neck and needs another one on her neck and one on her back. One of my sisters has been battling stage four breast cancer for almost the same amount of time.

The one thing I tell both of them periodically is that I wish I could trade places with both of them because at least I’m use to dealing with pain. I know it probably sounds insane but I would rather be the one in pain rather than watching someone much less my family being in pain. I wondered when I was younger what it must have been like for my mom to sit through all those doctor’s appointments and sit with me after my surgeries and such.

I can honestly say it’s not any easier seeing things from the opposite view although I’ve only seen it from in my house and haven't gone to any appointments. I would rather be the one in pain then having to watch it. It’s horrible.

Far as my problems sleeping… My main problem other than being an admitted night owl is that I often sit up thinking about what’s going on in my life or my regrets and such. So often if I get more than three hours of sleep at once it’s because I pass out so it’s not really restful sleep, even when I am not really active with my writing. Again this is something I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It’s how I’ve been for years though so I have become use to it.

I hope you feel better.

The last time I was in a hospital was earlier this year, don't remember the date. Had to go because my gum was swollen from a chipped tooth I to this day have not been able to get pulled or fixed. Dear god, that swollen gum hurt so much. Couldn't even eat solid food.

Lesson to all you kids out there: Always brush your teeth. Don't end up like me.

Not sure if this counts but the last time I was in the hospital was at the tail end of July when I had just given birth to my daughter. Other than that, I haven't stayed in any hospital overnight.

Annette : Beside being born, I have been in hospital three times. Two times for my foot and recently for my leg. That recent one was the worse, glad it's over already =-

Well the last time I was in the hospital for something serious.. would have to be when I broke my left arm.. at about 8 years old. Other than that.. I have pretty much escaped it.

about 3 years ago. i had (stupidly, as i am) decided not to listento the guide teaching us how to cut out handmade tridents. i did exactly what he told us not to do and i ended up putting a gash in my knuckle with a hand saw. i could see my muscle and tendon!!! it was AWESOME!!!! i shouldve gotten about 15-20 stitches but the nurse was in a hurry (it was getting late) so i got seven instead. ah, fun times

Well I believe it was early this month I had to get x-rays because the doctors believe I had scoliosis but it turns out I didn't after all so pretty much all that time was wasted that day.

When was the last i been to the hospital , oh it looks light I'm in the hospital right know , so that means the last time i been to the hospital was 0 minutes and 0 seconds :3

I was 3, I played on with toy car down the stairs... eheheh

I was in the hospital as a patient about a year ago when I got a severe concution playing rugby.

Relatives Births or Deaths.

My body is made of some fairly stern stuff.
What do you want me to say?

Good Luck To All.
Peace.

It was four or five years ago. I was hit in the head with a bottle and somebody even called an ambulance, though I could walk just fine and without that person would have just gone home and would have gone to sleep and forgotten it all. After a two hour wait I got some stitches and went home. While waiting to get patched up I met a lot of crazy people who had even worse wounds than I did but they had much more cheerful attitude than I. While we would stay outside smoking, waiting for our turn, they would leave bloody tracks where ever they went. I had almost stopped bleeding already. But they were in good spirits and I was just angry to be there.  It was weird, I tell you...

Luckily, the last time I've been a patient at a hospital was when I was born. Haven't had anything serious that I had to go to a hospital.