Hesperian Health Guides
If You Need to Go to the Hospital
HealthWiki > Where Women Have No Doctor > Chapter 3: The Medical System > If You Need to Go to the Hospital
- Bring someone with you who can help you get the attention you need and help you make decisions.
- Different people may examine you. Each one should write down what they did on a card that stays with you. This way the next person who cares for you will know what has already been done.
- Before anyone begins a test or treatment, it is very important to ask what they are going to do and why. This way, you can help prevent mistakes and decide if you want them to do it.
- Try to make friends with the staff at a hospital. They can help you get better care.
- If you need to have some kind of operation, ask if it is possible to have an injection to stop pain only in the area being operated on (local anesthetic). It is safer and you will get better more quickly than if you are given medicine to make you sleep during the surgery (general anesthetic).
- Ask what medicines you are being given and why.
- Ask for a copy of your health records when you leave.
A blood transfusion may be given in an emergency, when you have lost a lot of blood. It can save your life. However, if the hospital has not tested for and rejected contaminated blood, it may carry diseases such as hepatitis or HIV. Avoid blood transfusions except in cases of life or death emergencies.
If you must have an operation that you know about ahead of time, ask to have your own blood taken in advance and stored at the hospital. Then if you need it, you will get your own blood back. If you cannot have your own blood stored, ask a friend or relative if they are willing to donate blood that you can use. The person has to have a blood type that will work in your body and be checked for hepatitis and HIV.
If you must receive blood from an unknown person and the hospital does not test its blood for HIV, there is a risk that you might become infected. After the transfusion, protect your partner by practicing safer sex for 3 months and then get tested for HIV. For more information, see Chapter 17, âHIV,â and Chapter 12, âSexual Health.â
After you have an operation
 |
| To keep your lungs healthy and prevent pneumonia, leave your bed each day to move around if you can. While in bed, take deep breaths and try to sit up often. |
Before you leave the hospital, ask:
- How should I clean the area where the cut is healing?
- What should I do about pain?
- How long should I rest?
- Are there foods I should eat or avoid?
- When can I have sex again? (If you feel too shy to ask this, perhaps your partner or a friend helping you can ask the health worker.)
- Do I need to see a doctor again? If so, when?
Rest as much as you can. If you are at home, ask your family to take care of your daily chores and caregiving responsibilities. A few days spent taking care of yourself can help you get better faster.
Watch for signs of infection: fever, or the area that was cut is red, swollen, hot or painful, has pus, or smells bad. See a health worker if you have any of these signs.
If your operation was in the abdomen, try not to strain the area that was cut. Press against it gently with a folded cloth, blanket, or pillow whenever you move or cough.