Worst night of the year so far - four and a half hours in hospital!
@VictorFrankenstein (335)
United Kingdom
August 4, 2026 3:23pm CST
Sometimes it only takes a moment of inattention to ruin your whole evening. I have a mild heart condition that I was diagnosed with almost a decade ago, and I've been taking pills to stop it getting worse ever since. Never a problem till last night.
My routine is to take four pills first thing in the morning, and then one other round about nine o'clock at night. It's so routine I almost do it without thinking.
Unfortunately, I did so little thinking last night that I gave myself an overdose. There are four different types of pill that I take, and I had them all out so that I could fill my pill organiser for the coming week. I took the one pill that I'm supposed to take in the evening, and then I should have started filling the trays in the organiser. Instead, I got distracted by some thought or other, and on autopilot I started taking the other pills too. I'd taken three out of four before I realised what I was doing. Panic time! The leaflets in the packets said to see a doctor in the case of an overdose, so into my chariot and off to hospital I go. All the time while I was driving, I was wondering how badly I'd poisoned myself, and imaging being stomach pumped.
I arrived at Accident and Emergency about 9.55pm. Saw the triage nurse almost immediately, and explained what happened. She took my blood pressure and oxygen levels, the usual kind of thing, and told me I was OK, but as a precaution she also had me take an ECG. I then had to wait to see the doctor so he could look over the results and advise me. Fair enough. Only trouble is, Accident and Emergency on a Monday night. Shortly after I arrived, the staff advised everyone that the expected waiting time was five hours. So there was nothing else to do but settle in and wait. I hadn't thought to bring a book, but at least I had my smartphone with me. Hospital waiting rooms are about the worst places to be outside warzones - really bleak and depressing. Eventually saw the doctor, who said I was fine, and left the hospital (feeling like I'd escaped) about 2.25am. Needless to say, I've been tired all day today, and taking frequent naps.
I suppose the moral of this little anecdote is to be mindful when your messing about with things like medication - don't let your mind drift or you could mess up your whole evening like I did. Or worse.
6 people like this
4 responses
@Traceyjayne (12823)
• United Kingdom
7 Aug
It is easily done …..but at least you realised and were able to get checked out.
So pleased that you are okay.
1 person likes this
@VictorFrankenstein (335)
• United Kingdom
7 Aug
Cheers Tracyjayne, thanks for commenting.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (99777)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Aug
And once again you give me the option to thank the Lord that I take no medications. Many blessings to you, and I hope you'll be all right now,
1 person likes this
@VictorFrankenstein (335)
• United Kingdom
7 Aug
No worries. I don't think I had any ill-effects (except for lack of sleep), although I was imagining symptoms. I told the triage nurse not to talk about possible symptoms, because I've got too good an imagination!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (211884)
• United States
4 Aug
Glad you were OK, but smart to get checked out.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (15136)
• Ireland
4 Aug
@victorfrankerstein You sound like a very patient patient. Happy outcome.
1 person likes this
@VictorFrankenstein (335)
• United Kingdom
7 Aug
Getting frustrated just makes things worse, doesn't it? I'll tell you one fhing for nothing, I wouldn't want to be one of the staff working the A&E night shift. Security did have to calm one guy down who was getting stroppy.




