N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Here's an N800 testimonial I never thought I'd write.

Last week I encountered a range of medical symptoms that made it impossible to sleep, notably abdominal bloating and pain with intense full body itching. My doctor ran a series of blood tests which confirmed elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin, in the absence of hepatitus or other known risk factors. Yellow eyes and other factors completed the classical picture of jaundice, normally treated by procedures that restore bile flow by removing the impeding gallstones and/or the entire gallbladder itself.

I checked into my local hospital Friday June 8, carrying my Nokia N800 (+2 8GB SDHC), ThinkOutside SuperSlim Bluetooth Keyboard, and Verizon MOTORAZR V3m w/data plan. Connection Manager instantly found an open "Patient and Family Nework" access point which presented one page of terms and conditions followed by free unlocked unlimited internet access. From here on out, I declare it as indispensable as the telephone, if not more so. Google, WikiPedia, Medscape and the local specialist sites are in my pocket, even in my hospital johnny between appointments. I look up each new provider and greet them from their mug shots. I backfill my understanding of new and experimental protocols, drawing the medical professionals into more extensive discussions of details and options.

When I'm overwhelmed with the technical stuff, the Canola audio player is a welcome relief. The internal speakers are entirely adequate for the hospital room environment, and if I felt the need for more isolation, I'd bring ear buds.

By June 13 my case had become more complex and I moved to a specialist unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. Once again I was greeted by ubiqutous WiFi. To me, the N800 form factor and basic functionailty are nearly ideal for this usage case. I only use the external keyboard rarely (such as for this email) and unlike a laptop, the main unit can go practically anywhere without raising an eyebrow. Those who do take notice tend to respond favorably. iPodders appreciate the big display and built-in speakers. My surgeon sees many advantages over the Palm Treo "they make us carry," whose web browser he finds next to useless, and its overpriced $110 data plan.

To me, the benefit of instant access to information in the middle of one of the most isolating and possibly scariest situations we are likely to face is incalculable. My heartfelt thanks go out to NOKIA and to the Internet Tablet community for making this device what it is today.

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

All I can say is get well soon.

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Yes, my best whishes too.

Besides, I should say that wifi in hospital is a dream that I think here in Italy we will never see. Regular hotspots are rare, and me as a fonero I do the best that I can, but we are eons back from you... :mad:

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

I'm not sure what the situation is like here in France, but I expect it's closer to that in Italy than in Massachusetts, unfortunately.

It's a shame that the medical staff have to carry Treos, when presumably the wireless would be available to them too. I suppose the Treo is a more flexible option when they're outside the hospital.

Best wishes, jpj, and thanks for the post.

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

I wish you good luck, jpj.

Everything will be fine and you'll thank someone else for it other than Nokia :)
As I am Italian too I second maxilogan, and I sold my Moto A1000 for a SE 618i that I can carry everywhere and that serves me as Internet provider for my N800.
The UMTS plan is pretty good. 9€ a day for 50Mb-soon-to-be-100Mb a day is a pretty damn good plan.

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

I hope you get better!

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Great post jpj I wonder if Nokia are listening.
Hope the E get well cards are fooding in.
All the best for swift recovery

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

All the best, and yes, a fantastic story.

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Get better soon. And I agree that N800 is so much more convenient than a full blown laptop (even my prized 12" powerbook).

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Best wishes! While my local (Newton-Wellesley, to be precise) hospital lacks wifi, it was still insanely useful to keep in touch with the family and send out e-mails when I last went in. :)

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

9€ a month ;)

If ever it was covered my area... When in roaming it's a pain in the a##! ;)

Where are you from?

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

jpj that was a very interesting post that shows the usefulness of the N800 in the real world (it is not just a "geek toy"). Keep us posted and most of all get well soon .

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Hi aleksandyr - small world, isn't it? How long ago were you at NWH? That's where my current odyssey started, and I connected up loud and clear right from the ER on up. Lost signal in the elevators (you know that sound ;-) but coverage seemed pervasive all over the main complex.

Based on their association with MGH in the Partners health system, and the fact that both sites broadcast the same SSID (phspiaguest), I'm guessing the same contractor wired up both facilities.

[saving a slot]

Thanks, everyone, for your well wishes. This facility is full of medical superstars and it seems I'm going to need them. Tentative diagnosis looks like cholangiocarcinoma, possibly atop a previously asymptomatic primary sclerosing cholangitis (Walter Peyton's disease). Because the former is impinging on the latter at multiple sites, the endoscopy masters were unable to install a bypass, so we're now draining bile through an external catheter.

With the blockage relieved, I expect to be headed home this weekend. In theory, we're looking to regain enough liver function to undergo a resection next Friday, which removes most of the organ (hopefully, including the cancer). The remainder of my liver would then regenerate over the next six months or so, if all goes according to plan.

I must admit, I'm not a prayerful type, but that could change . . . and if any of you are so inclined, I wouldn't object. In the meanwhile, take care, and maybe pause a moment to reflect on what's truly important in your life, knowing it can all change in an instant. With luck, I'll stay in touch.

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

I'll second that!

Nice to see that our gadgetry works out in cases like this :D
Although now and then tensions seem to rise a bit high on this forum, we all have many things in common.

From The Netherlands I wish you all the best. :)

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

I was in hospital for a week in september last year to have my head cut off (and put back on, as it turned out later. Pfhew! talk about luck, eh?). I decided to bring my 770 (there wasn't any N800 at the time), loaded with several movies, music and e-books on two 1 GB cards.

I absolutely had a great time with it... well, ignoring for a moment the excruciating pain after the surgery, that is :D , and even managed to steal -- er, "borrow"! -- some online time from an open network in the vicinity to check my emails (the hospital didn't even have a wireless network, open or closed).

The summum was a group watching of a few old "U.F.O." episodes on the tiny screen, with a contraband sixpack that could have earned someone (who shall remain nameless) a spot on Enema Row. The hospital administration must have a way of finding out nerdiness and put us all in one room together. Probably for insurance reasons...

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

lol@finding out nerdiness

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Thanks again to everyone, and especially Karel for the laughs (not out loud if you don't mind, it hurts too much ;-)

I'm still hospitalized, had a dye-enhanced CT scan this morning to image the blood vessels in my liver and figure out how they can get my bilitubin down faster than it has to date. I'm draining well but the numbers are not going right yet. Pain is a lot more manageable and I have a lot of confidence in the medical geniuses (genii?) here. Probably some adjustments to Friday's plumbing job and if they show results I'll be home for at least a few days before the main surgery. Stay tuned, and play nicely - I'll be back.

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

That'd be "dufii".

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Nice write-up jpj!

I related my similar experience while in for kidney stone surgery, where my N800 connected to wifi better than my laptop. More recently, during my trip to Finland I developed leg pain and swelling and had to go to emergency care, and was glad to have my N800 with me to google as different diagnoses were discussed (it may be gout).

Anyway, hope all goes well for you!

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

thanks for this post! my daughter had out patient surgery today. thanks to this post I remembered to take the N800 with me. It made the 2 hour wait go much faster :)

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

You did remember to bring your daughter back, right?

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

:D :D I like that one. :D :D

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

Hmm, I've been in the E.R. for various reasons (not me, tho!) three times over the past two months. Nothing public and internet-connected that I could find.

Can't say I'm much of a religious man, but I will keep you in my thoughts if nothing else. Get well soon: my thoughts aren't the greatest company to keep, trust me on that. :)

Re: N800 hospital companion - Don't check in without it!
 

yes! I didn't require a forum post to remind me of that :)