Editor’s Note: This story is Part 1 of a 2-part series on myths about hospital stays. Part 2 focuses on myths about what happens during your stay.

Not everything you may have heard about hospital stays is true. Dr. Evan Hardesty, a hospitalist with UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, debunks some common myths below.

Myth: I don’t have to bring any medications to the hospital. The hospital is stocked with various medications, but it’s always a good idea to bring your home regimen along to verify current medications and dosages, and to have specialty medications, such as specific inhalers, on hand.

“Definitely bring your specialty medications, especially if you’re coming in for a planned procedure that may result in a prolonged hospital stay,” Hardesty said. “It’s also important that people bring any home medical equipment they use, such as a CPAP machine.”

Myth: I should be able to get all the tests and procedures I need at any hospital. While hospitals provide a wide range of services, they don’t always have every advanced test, imaging option or specialist that might be needed.

While YVMC has a number of advanced subspecialists and technologies, if a patient needs a higher level of care or a procedure that isn’t available locally, they will be transferred appropriately.

“It’s important to understand there’s a possibility of needing to be transferred to another hospital,” Hardesty said.

Myth: If I don’t tolerate a medication, I’m allergic to it. Patients sometimes think that if taking a medication caused any symptom, such as nausea, that means they are allergic to it. That’s not always the case.

“There are expected side effects with certain medications, and you may not have tolerated a medication for many different reasons, but there’s a difference between intolerances and real allergies,” Hardesty said. “Knowing the medicines you’re allergic to is very important.”

An allergic reaction to a medication may result in serious side effects, such as difficulty breathing, throat closure or severe rashes.

Myth: They won’t let me eat at the hospital. In most cases, good nourishment is an important part of recovery. But for people who have come in for surgery, or who have a condition that might require surgery, it’s important to restrict eating and drinking until it’s safe to do so.

“For anesthesia and intubation purposes, we have to restrict your eating and drinking until we know it’s safe for you to do those things,” Hardesty said. “If you come in and there’s a suspicion of stroke, until we know you can safely swallow, it’s unsafe to let you eat.”

Myth: Hospital food is terrible. Patients are sometimes given restrictive diets to align with specific health needs. For instance, someone who may be in heart failure shouldn’t drink too much water. But many patients can enjoy YVMC’s top-notch culinary options.

“We have great a food and nutrition services team, and they are very dedicated to providing food you enjoy and that’s good for you,” Hardesty said. “All of the staff eats at the hospital and we all really enjoy it.”

Myth: I won’t get any sleep at the hospital. Hospitals often have quiet hours when visitors are limited, lights are turned down and efforts are made to encourage rest. But for patients who are in a more critical or serious condition, it may be important to check vital signs, take labs and administer medicines on a specific schedule, even through the night.

“The hospital is for sick people – you’re there for a reason. We do try to limit interruptions, but there are situations where someone is unstable and we need to check their vitals or have labs drawn, or may need to perform neurological evaluations to monitor or rule out issues such as stroke,” Hardesty said. “We want you to sleep, but you may not be able to get a perfect ten hours of uninterrupted sleep.”

Susan Cunningham writes for UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. She can be reached at cunninghamsbc@gmail.com.