Single and unemployed Stomper struggling in hospital: 'Don't think the worst won't happen to you'

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Moi

Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight.

A Stomper who was recently discharged from a local hospital has some advice to dish out to fellow Singaporeans.

Stomper Moi, 37, said she was warded from April 1 to April 10 after feeling "no strength" in her whole body.

She added: "Technically, I couldn't move at all because my whole body has no strength. The doctor told me no serious illness could be found after doing 10 days of tests and referred me to physiotherapy."

Moi said she found her hospitalisation to be exceptionally challenging, especially since she is orphaned, unemployed and single. She rents out her three-room flat as a source of income.

"Take my advice: do not think the worst will not happen to you. Prepare what you need for a long hospital stay so that if anything happens, you can take care of yourself because there is no one to depend on," she urged.

"My wish is for singles whose conditions require adult diapers not to stay in hospital.

"It was a really hard week having to be hospitalised urgently while naked due to illness. Here, at least I have two friends."

The Stomper shared that she did not have the most pleasant experience at the hospital where she was warded.

She citied the food as one of the downsides, adding: "You have huge fights with the nurses and doctors daily. Getting insulted. Doctors treating patients like KPI. Nurses who love treating themselves like gods. Fighting with your own set of behavioural standards, like being thankful to nurses for helping with your adult diapers while you are forced to be a pesky bug. The staff is doing a quicker job than whatever illness I might have.

"I met only two lovely nurses who actually solved my problems instead of giving me problems after staying in hospital for a week."

Moi, who had to wear adult diapers round the clock during her entire hospital stay, told Stomp: "I could feel the pain of the nurses who had to deal with urine and faeces due to the uniqueness of my illness.

"I could not tahan their bad faces so I even changed the diapers on my own on my last day.

"I have the deepest respect for nurses because they really do the dirty work. Same for doctors who are on the frontlines when a serious illness strikes the nation."

However, the Stomper's ordeal has left its mark: "My physiotherapist was worried and told me to stay in hospital. But because of my experience, I made her agree to let me go home, where I believe I will recover better."

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