You Need to Know Before Being Admitted

By Barbara Moore

3 min read

Many of us have had to have extra care lately and have been hospitalized. It seems that winter is an extremely tough time for us.

Being isolated during Covid meant that our resistance to viruses has lowered, and this has left us susceptible to everything that is going around. This could increase our chances of finding ourselves in the hospital for a little bit of time.

Things to remember while being admitted into the hospital

Here is a list of things to consider that I have found helpful when being admitted.

Have a bag packed

If you have taken a few minutes to prepare your go-to bag for hospital emergencies, it will come in handy now. This ensures that you will have the things you need so you can have a comfortable stay.

Also, have an up-to-date list of your medications, a brief history of your chronic illness, and a book to keep track of follow-up appointments.

Length of time in the hospital

Your likely stay will be for at least a week or two until you become stable enough to breathe on your own. This is a great time to get your questions ready to ask doctors and nurses and keep a journal of the answers.

You will see some young and eager doctors who are willing to tell you what they know about your COPD. The nurse has lots of information for you as she reads the charts and regurgitates them to the doctor.

Social services are there to help you

These in-hospital incidents have a way of setting us back. Assume that you will have a tough time recovering and request the services of a social worker.

They will investigate services that are available to you in the community and help you get set up for successfully leaving the hospital. Social services may be able to help with recommending equipment you may need and help you source funding for it.

Pay attention to what they say because the last thing you want to do is return to the hospital after you are discharged.

Sleep may be hard to come by

Being in the hospital does not mean that you will be sleeping. You may be in a bed, but it is a busy place with doctors and nurses coming and going at all times of the day and night.

Often I want to tell them to use their indoor voices because there is so much happening around me, and it can get loud. I take earbuds and a sleep mask to help me get the best sleep I can.

Your stay may be intense

You will likely have a stint in the ICU if you are in serious trouble. You could be prescribed ventilation, noninvasive ventilation like a BiPAP, or oxygen.

Remember that the choices you make now are yours and yours alone. Speak up about your concerns and have your voice heard. Once stabilized, you will no longer need intensive care.

You will likely be sent to the step-down ward. This is a time to rejoice. You are on your way to better days and being released.

Respiratory therapists can help after you are discharged

Get medication sorted out, and be sure you know when and how to take them. Ask about smoking cessation and pulmonary rehab programs. Accept as much in-house support as they are willing to give you.

Do you have anything that you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments.

Editor’s Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on January 7th, 2024, Barbara Moore passed away. Barbara’s advocacy efforts and writing continue to reach many. She will be deeply missed.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

kloker Member
Barbara - This is good stuff! Interestingly, as many times as I've been to the hospital in these first couple of bad years, I must have been thick headed, because I never even thought of a go-bag. That is, until this last episode, the ice storm, where I wasn't sick, but my power was out for a week! The EMT's took me to the hospital. All I had was my shorts, a tank top, and my shoes on, plus my hoodie, my home concentrator, and my phone and its charger. That's it! I wound up transported from the hospital after 40 hours of nightmare, to a shelter, where they took very good care of me! They even gave me an ambo ride to my house to get everything I needed! Wow! So, I got my meds, my nebulizer and those meds, some clothes, my med-log, my kindle, it's charger, some extra bottled water, etc., in my bag. I learned a lot from that experience. I just got my new go-bag, which is twice the size of my overnight bag. It has room for my NIV machine, my nebulizer, my laptop, my kindle and other electronics and chargers, lots of clothes, supplies, and even a pillow! I bought another nebulizer compressor, so now I have one for home and one for the go-bag. I am going to pre-pack it with all I need minus the things I use daily, leaving them for last minute. That way, I can gather it up in 5 minutes or less and be ready to go. I may also get a dolly to attach to the bag like a carry-on one, with a telescoping handle, etc. Depends how heavy it is when fully loaded. Anyway, Next time I will be ready! I'm going to set it up so that if the EMTs have to finish it, I can make it easy for them to do it very simply and quickly. Because duh! Usually when I need to go to the hospital, it's because I am in bad shape - too bad to pack for myself. But the EMTs are always very ready to help! Geez, Larry. Thimk!
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="kloker" user-id="4235094"/> It my have taken a few times but you have it all figured out now. Now you are becoming an expert. Thanks for commenting. We always like to hear what you have to say. Barbara Moore (Author)
2. Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="kloker" user-id="4235094"/> Love this. COPD requires a person to rethink so many aspects of their life, but once they come up with a new strategy, it can really pay off in comfort and peace of mind. You did a great thing here, Larry. Super smart. Thanks for all the wisdom you share with us! I guarantee you someone out there will read your post here and say "hey, that's a good idea..." -Melissa, <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
Bixd Member
 I would add a couple of things, including the two midnight rule. If you are admitted to a hospital and stay for two midnights, if you are on medicare, the medicare will pay for it. Otherwise, the bill is yours. I found this out the hard way. Also, I would be leery of cost and the hospital "social workers" will often knowingly or unknowingly give incorrect information about billing cost -- hospital employees generally do not know the specifics. Recent changes in the law were meant to address this, but I don't see it happening. 
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Bixd" user-id="4541955"/> thank you for your contribution to this article. We appreciate the information. Barbara Moore (author)
jcupdike Member
Comfortable stay, she writes I think I came closer to committing a serious crime during my hospital stay than at any time in my other nightmares. "Get some rest" was the last thing they told me after waking me up at 3 a.m. to get my weight, give me a breathing treatment or take another blood sample. "Get some rest." That aside, a laptop and the electrical sort is the only way to remain sane while in the hospital. I took along some of my meds and they refused to let me use them. I guess their versions were fresher. 
1. CharleyTuna Member
 <inline-mention username="jcupdike" user-id="2439678"/> fresher and 100-1000x more expensive. I just spent 23 nightmare hours in an ER, “sleeping” in a hallway in one if the finest teaching hospitals in a major U.S. city I too am lucky I had enough self control to save my rage till after I left. Every hospital board member and every Dr from intern to Dept head should be required to be gagged and strapped to a gurney in a ER for 24 hours so they see the hell process they have created. 
2. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="jcupdike" user-id="2439678"/> I always have my phone on hand, as it is my only way to connect with the outside world. Also, it drives me crazy when they wake me thoughout the night. I have such a tough time sleeping anyway, then they wake me and I am done for the night. Thanks for commenting. Barbara Moore (author)
Susan Ciesla Member
 <inline-mention username="Barbara Moore" user-id="2412663"/> Thanks for this article! It's so helpful. So are all the other comments! I just wanted to remind everyone that hospitals is the US often require the you have a written "Power of Attorney for Health Care." This would designate someone who could make decisions for you in case you are incapacitated, and the level of care you desire. The question is asked, "Would you want extraordinary measures taken to keep you alive, especially if you are in a vegetative state?" Sometimes people will get the document done when they get their wills done, but sometimes social workers or nuns at the hospital can help you with this. I have a copy on file at each of three hospitals I'm likely to go to, and I keep a copy in the pocket of my suitcase for when we travel.
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Susan Ciesla" user-id="4165408"/> This is excellant information that I forgot. We had a Power of Attorney done when we had our Wills done. Barbara Moore (author)
dltld Member
Great article, so helpful and then the comments by others amazing too! Looks like I will be busy trying to get something set up ASAP! 
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="dltld" user-id="6656116"/> thank you for saying how much this article resonated with you. So happy to share useful information. Barbara Moore (author)
Retiree Member
I answered no because I've already taken the survey, once last year and once this year.
1. SamanthaSarube Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="Retiree" user-id="4165969"/>, thanks so much for taking our survey! We appreciate you sharing your perspective with us. All the best, Sam S. (<a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>, team member).
CommunityMemberfe5a87 Member
How do you know when you need to go to the hospital? I am 72, on home oxygen, and have had copd for several years. I have had days when it's hard to breathe, but rarely have I thought I needed to go to the hospital. What makes you know its time to go?
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberfe5a87" user-id="6652450"/> Hi CMfe5a87, and thanks for your post and question - it's a good one! The answer to your question can actually vary from patient to patient. Each patient, generally speaking, can feel when their disease and its symptoms are getting to be somewhat more than they can handle themselves while at home. If this is not something you are able to determine for yourself, we actually have an excellent article (published right here, on <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>), that reviews some of the indicators that may be helpful to make one's own determination. For your convenience, here is a link to that material: https://copd.net/living/signs-to-seek-help. Does this help to address your concerns? All the best, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
2. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberfe5a87" user-id="6652450"/> I just asked my doctor this question. He said if your symptoms last more than 3 days with no improvement, it is time to consider going to get yourself checked out. What do yòu think of that? Barbara Moore (author)