Guest guest Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 Yeah, I've put in plenty of time in hospitals protecting family and friends since I first read that kind of advice. Luckily, none of my family or friends have had to be in as long as you were. I'm thankful to your wife for being there to protect you from the evils to be found in hospitals and I pray you are never in need of a hospital again. Luci --- In gallstones , " Will Winter " <holistic@v...> wrote: > and all, > This has been a day of mourning --and celebration--for me. A year ago today > I entered the hospital after being hauled to the ER with a gallstone-induced > pancreatitis which had caused me to go from the usual pain to vomiting and > collapse. What I needed the most was the morphine and diluadid to kill the > pain. I was mostly gorked out and in that bed for the next 11 days. > > My dear wife basically saved my life by sleeping on the floor in my room and > being present virtually 24 hours a day to guard me. If I learned anything, it > was to HAVE A LOVED ONE with you when you are in the hospital. If no one > is in your life that loves you that much, get with it. It's truly a dangerous > place and vulnerable people there are killed and maimed every day. If > someone you love or care about is who in the hospital it behooves you to > guard them until they get strong enough to be safe. It's that simple. > > As much as I'd like to get rid of the anger I have about the level of care I got > and the unwillingness by medical professionals to add even such simple > things as Vitamin C and Vitamin E for ICU patients, I can't forgive them > because of things they know they should do and then chose not to. > > But today, thanks to the many things I have learned since one year ago, I > was able to go to the wonderful State Fair, eat a multitude of good foods, and > wander freely enjoying the fresh Autumn air. As I sat and pondered things > today, I couldn't help but think about and send a prayer to all the people lying > now in hospital beds and suffering all around the world while we go about > enjoying our life. > > I'm fortunate that my pain and suffering was severe enough to make me > change my life. I know that I know I will be motivated for life to do the things I > need to do to never have to go back into a hospital as a patient again. In > addition, if there is anything I can do to save one other person from going in, I > will do it. Eventually, I hope that I will rise above the anger and resentment > that I still feel. I know it is something I need to do to get totally healed. > > Thanks to everyone here, > Will, safe at home in Minneapolis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Sorry to hear of your hospital experience. Next time remember to complain as loud as you can. they will move earth to shut you up. And there is always a way for them to contact a doctor to prescribe pain meds - it's just easier to try to keep you quiet and do avoid the hassle. If anything like this happens again, be sure to document it and write a letter of complaint to the hospital officials. Hard copy has weight. Suzanne > After my hospitalization a month ago I agree totally that you MUST have > someone with you there 24/7. ........... Then shift change and late that > evening my IV became horribly infiltrated. Although my arm was huge the > nurses refused to remove it as they could not find another " good " vein. AND > I was getting NO post op pain relief since IV was not in vein. I was in > agony and I begged for even a Tylenol to no avail as it was not ordered and > they would not call the doctor. I had a night of hell for no good or even > humane reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2004 Report Share Posted September 3, 2004 Hi Judith & Suzanne - I just wanted to tell you what I did when I was in the hospital this year, and thought it was so dumb of me to have never thought of it before! One of the times I was in the hospital in June with pancreatitis, they wouldn't increase my pain meds and said I had to wait for the dr to see me the next day. So I did the same thing I would have done if I was home, in pain - I called the dr's office, left a msg w/the service that I was in the hospital in lots of pain, and I needed to speak to him - I gave them the phone # of my room. He called me back w/in 15 min, I told him what was going on, he said he'd take care of it and he did. Within another 15 min, they doubled my pain meds - and I was drugged into oblivion which is what I wanted since the pain was so severe. The last time I was in the hospital (different one from the above story) in June recovering from pancreatitis, the intern said on Fri morn, if I was okay over the weekend, I could expect to go home Mon or Tues. Well, I'd already been in the hospital(s) for most of the month, and I knew I was feeling as good as I was going to get, and it was my second day eating solid foods, so I called (different) dr (this time), got his service, and said I'm in the hospital, I don't think I need to be here any longer, and I want to speak to my dr and gave the phone # to my room. He called me w/in 5 minutes, asked how much had I eaten & when, did I keep it down, did I need much pain meds, and said since my bloodwork all came back great, sure I could go home as long as I truly felt better. I said I did, he was there w/in an hr signing my release papers! By the time my husband came over after work to visit me, I was getting my IV out and all dressed and ready to leave. So, just because the hospital staff isn't doing what you need them to do, nobody ever said you can't contact your dr yourself. Please, remember that if/when you're ever hospitalized and feel like you're at their mercy - you do have a phone in your room - USE IT! Cathie in PA ------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 03:37:01 -0000 From: " Suzanne " <suzanne_on_ca@...> Sorry to hear of your hospital experience. Next time remember to complain as loud as you can. they will move earth to shut you up. And there is always a way for them to contact a doctor to prescribe pain meds - it's just easier to try to keep you quiet and do avoid the hassle. If anything like this happens again, be sure to document it and write a letter of complaint to the hospital officials. Hard copy has weight. Suzanne > After my hospitalization a month ago I agree totally that you MUST have > someone with you there 24/7. ........... Then shift change and late that > evening my IV became horribly infiltrated. Although my arm was huge the > nurses refused to remove it as they could not find another " good " vein. > AND > I was getting NO post op pain relief since IV was not in vein. I was in > agony and I begged for even a Tylenol to no avail as it was not ordered > and > they would not call the doctor. I had a night of hell for no good or even > humane reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2004 Report Share Posted September 3, 2004 Applause for Cathie! Excellent solutions for your situations! You're right that it's obvious, but I have certainly never thought of doing it. Thanks for the new weapon in my medical arsenal. Lucinda > Hi Judith & Suzanne - > I just wanted to tell you what I did when I was in the hospital this year, > and thought it was so dumb of me to have never thought of it before! > One of the times I was in the hospital in June with pancreatitis, they > wouldn't increase my pain meds and said I had to wait for the dr to > see me the next day. So I did the same thing I would have done > if I was home, in pain - I called the dr's office, left a msg w/the > service that I was in the hospital in lots of pain, and I needed to > speak to him - I gave them the phone # of my room. He called > me back w/in 15 min, I told him what was going on, he said he'd > take care of it and he did. Within another 15 min, they doubled > my pain meds - and I was drugged into oblivion which is what I > wanted since the pain was so severe. > The last time I was in the hospital (different one from the above > story) in June recovering from pancreatitis, the intern said on > Fri morn, if I was okay over the weekend, I could expect to > go home Mon or Tues. Well, I'd already been in the > hospital(s) for most of the month, and I knew I was feeling as good > as I was going to get, and it was my second day eating solid foods, > so I called (different) dr (this time), got his service, and said I'm > in the hospital, I don't think I need to be here any longer, and I > want to speak to my dr and gave the phone # to my room. > He called me w/in 5 minutes, asked how much had I eaten & when, > did I keep it down, did I need much pain meds, and said since my > bloodwork all came back great, sure I could go home as long > as I truly felt better. I said I did, he was there w/in an hr signing > my release papers! By the time my husband came over after work > to visit me, I was getting my IV out and all dressed and ready to leave. > So, just because the hospital staff isn't doing what you need them > to do, nobody ever said you can't contact your dr yourself. Please, > remember that if/when you're ever hospitalized and feel like you're > at their mercy - you do have a phone in your room - USE IT! > Cathie in PA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Yay! I have some Burts Bees lip balm and some lip-color-stick in my pocket as I type this! I love the way they make my lips feel! Luci > Cathie, I applaud your abiltity to out-think the system. I would have never > thought of doing that but will certainly keep it in mind for next time. I > have never been that clear headed and rational when in pain. Also I make > sure I have a family member bring my make up to me in hospital. Slapping a > little blush on and a big (fake is okay) smile and being very very agreeable > has helped get me out of the hospital a couple of times. > Judith > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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