Re: Worst ER Experience...

[Guest guest]

Dear Dodge, that sounds like an absolutely horrid experience! What

did the er doc think? That you you were in just to " score " some

narcotics. I mean, what's with the drug test? Obviously that jerk was

not a REAL dr. A real one would have seen the pain that you were in.

It's kind of hard to fake that intense pain that we get. I would file

a complaint with the hospital that that sob violated you by making

you prove that you were not there as a drug abuser.

I am sorry for ranting, but I just so angry reading your letter. The

nerve of that man!

It sounds like you have a wonderful partner, willing to break the

rules for you. I will say a prayer for you and hope you get some

relief from the pain.

wendy

>

> Ok, for the past four days I've had a temp ranging from between

99.6 and 102 and my pain has been worse than normal. When my fever

stayed at 102 for about half the day, and when my pain spiraled out

of control on Monday afternoon, my partner Rod, also a medic like me,

and the reason I get up in the morning, encouraged me to go to ER and

get checked out... Here's what happened... Nightmare on Dodge

Street.

>

> Well, I hope this makes sense, as I'm a little bit sedated, no

thanks to the damn ER staff.

>

> Here's what happen. We get there and get me right in to triage. Now

I know, being a medic, that I'm gonna have to wait a while. No biggy,

we'll

> wait as long as I get treated. So we go into triage and they take

my vitals. BP was 130 over 87. Pulse was 124. Oxygen saturation was

99. Temp was 102.

> Now, the BP is a little high for me, the pulse about normal when my

pain is bad or when I'm anxious, and I was both in bad pain and very

anxious...

> So, they tell us we'll have to wait in the waiting room till a bed

opens up... So, we wait.

>

> The longer we wait, the more Rod can see that I'm in real pain.

Finally we get in a room. The doc comes in and says he wants to order

some labs. I say, " I think this is a Lupus flare and I want some

steroids. " Doc says, " No problem, I'll give you your 'roids,

something for pain and something for

> nausea. "

>

> We think...Finally, I'm gonna get some relief. Well, that wasn't to

be. The nurse comes in and Rod asks what he's giving me. He

says, " Well, I'm going

> to start an IV take some blood and give him Iso, (a steroid), and

something for nausea. " Aren't you going to give me anything for

pain? " I asked. " Oh,

> the steroids are what you're getting for pain. "

>

> Well, Rod and I look at each other in disbelief. So, they stick me

about fifty times, I lost count at 21, and finally, I say, " Just give

me the damn

> needle " and do it myself. They give me my meds and we wait and wait

and wait some more.

>

> I then turn and say to Rod, " Rod, I'm in so much pain, I think I'm

going to black out. " So Rod flag down the doctor and rather

scathingly ask when these

> steroids are suppose to start relieving my pain... He says in a few

minutes. Then, he proceeds to tell me that even if they don't work,

he can't give

> me anything for pain since my BP was 98 over 57. Now, I want to

know just how that can be since I only had my BP taken once and I

know what it was...

>

> They ask me if I will take a drug test and I say, " Sure. " They do

the drug screen and then finally, after I was literally hanging onto

consciousness

> by the thinnest of threads, come in and give me a teeny weeny bit

of morphine which only barely took the edge off and I wouldn't even

go that far...

>

> They get around to discharging us and give me my scripts. A pred

pack, a med for nausea and Norco... I was in so much pain once I got

out to the

> car that I passed out. Rod dosed me up on morphine from the drug

box we carry on our ambulance, regulations be damned, Harry our

director said he could, and now I'm at home and I'm going to try to

> eat, but I might not as I don't have much of an appetite.

>

> When I asked just what was causing my fever, I was told it was " a

Lupus thing " . Guys and gals, what is " a Lupus thing " ? I think I

missed that one in paramedic school.

>

> So... That's how it went. I had good reason to be anxious.

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world.

> A pessimist fears that this is true.

>

> Read my blog at:

> http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

>

[Guest guest]

Dodge and Group;

Wow dodge, MY mom told me to go to er room and I also knew what that

was going to be like. That was a few weeks ago before my rheumy gave

me prednisone. Haaaaa go to er, right end up worse off than I am.

Hon I am so sorry you went through all that crap, just to go and

pass out. I think you passed out from your low bp. Not that I

would dispute the doc on lupas thingy lol.

I think you meant nightmare on elm street lol. More than I like to

think, staff in the er is just doing a job and want to be else

where. I wont go to the hospital unless an ambulance has to be

called. This way you get a bed right away. Thats why I didn't go

for the last time I was in pain. An ambulance wasn't going to take

me in with what may have been to them a few aches. Discluding if

you was one of the medics, since you know the pain of RA.

So, when I go to er, my doc has them admit me haaaaaa, thats even

worse. I won't even need to tell you about that stay for 5 days, I

am sure you know what that was like haaaaa. Not fun for sure. I

always meet one caring person. But that person is overworked cause

he/she cares to much. Dodge hang in there we are all glad you

shared with us your experience. I bet, (if i was a betting person)

that we all have a story so much like yours. I would love to hear

everyones experience too.

God bless you sweety

Clora

[Guest guest]

Dodge,

OMG, that is a horrible experience!! I am suprised they didn't take

better care of you since you are a medic. From my experience (I was

in healthcare before I had to go on SSDI), we " take care of our own " .

I am glad you were able to get some relief from your drug box. I have

had my fair share of " horror stories " from the ED...but nothing like

that.

If I go into the ED, I always ask to be seen by a fellow or an

attending, not a resident. A " lupus thing " ...are you kidding me!?!

Did the doctor who treated you, know your not just some " joe smo " off

the street who knows a " lupus thing " or your BP is not an excuse to

treat your pain? I am sorry, I hope you get better soon.

>

> Ok, for the past four days I've had a temp ranging from between

99.6 and 102 and my pain has been worse than normal. When my fever

stayed at 102 for about half the day, and when my pain spiraled out

of control on Monday afternoon, my partner Rod, also a medic like me,

and the reason I get up in the morning, encouraged me to go to ER and

get checked out... Here's what happened... Nightmare on Dodge

Street.

>

> Well, I hope this makes sense, as I'm a little bit sedated, no

thanks to the damn ER staff.

>

> Here's what happen. We get there and get me right in to triage. Now

I know, being a medic, that I'm gonna have to wait a while. No biggy,

we'll

> wait as long as I get treated. So we go into triage and they take

my vitals. BP was 130 over 87. Pulse was 124. Oxygen saturation was

99. Temp was 102.

> Now, the BP is a little high for me, the pulse about normal when my

pain is bad or when I'm anxious, and I was both in bad pain and very

anxious...

> So, they tell us we'll have to wait in the waiting room till a bed

opens up... So, we wait.

>

> The longer we wait, the more Rod can see that I'm in real pain.

Finally we get in a room. The doc comes in and says he wants to order

some labs. I say, " I think this is a Lupus flare and I want some

steroids. " Doc says, " No problem, I'll give you your 'roids,

something for pain and something for

> nausea. "

>

> We think...Finally, I'm gonna get some relief. Well, that wasn't to

be. The nurse comes in and Rod asks what he's giving me. He

says, " Well, I'm going

> to start an IV take some blood and give him Iso, (a steroid), and

something for nausea. " Aren't you going to give me anything for

pain? " I asked. " Oh,

> the steroids are what you're getting for pain. "

>

> Well, Rod and I look at each other in disbelief. So, they stick me

about fifty times, I lost count at 21, and finally, I say, " Just give

me the damn

> needle " and do it myself. They give me my meds and we wait and wait

and wait some more.

>

> I then turn and say to Rod, " Rod, I'm in so much pain, I think I'm

going to black out. " So Rod flag down the doctor and rather

scathingly ask when these

> steroids are suppose to start relieving my pain... He says in a few

minutes. Then, he proceeds to tell me that even if they don't work,

he can't give

> me anything for pain since my BP was 98 over 57. Now, I want to

know just how that can be since I only had my BP taken once and I

know what it was...

>

> They ask me if I will take a drug test and I say, " Sure. " They do

the drug screen and then finally, after I was literally hanging onto

consciousness

> by the thinnest of threads, come in and give me a teeny weeny bit

of morphine which only barely took the edge off and I wouldn't even

go that far...

>

> They get around to discharging us and give me my scripts. A pred

pack, a med for nausea and Norco... I was in so much pain once I got

out to the

> car that I passed out. Rod dosed me up on morphine from the drug

box we carry on our ambulance, regulations be damned, Harry our

director said he could, and now I'm at home and I'm going to try to

> eat, but I might not as I don't have much of an appetite.

>

> When I asked just what was causing my fever, I was told it was " a

Lupus thing " . Guys and gals, what is " a Lupus thing " ? I think I

missed that one in paramedic school.

>

> So... That's how it went. I had good reason to be anxious.

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world.

> A pessimist fears that this is true.

>

> Read my blog at:

> http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

>

[Guest guest]

:

What made it even worse is when I finally got the Morphine I got, the measley

amount that it was, the nurse giving it said, " Well, you didn't look like you

were in that much pain to me... " I told him I know screaming and writhing on

the floor would have helped my case, but I just didn't have the energy.

On a brighter note, a doc from the ED called this morning and asked me if there

was anything the physician could have done differently. I told him. I also

told him what the nurse said. He said if I got worse to come on back... I may

have to.

--

Dodge

An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world.

A pessimist fears that this is true.

Read my blog at:

http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

---- <man_u8@...> wrote:

=============

Dodge,

OMG, that is a horrible experience!! I am suprised they didn't take

better care of you since you are a medic. From my experience (I was

in healthcare before I had to go on SSDI), we " take care of our own " .

I am glad you were able to get some relief from your drug box. I have

had my fair share of " horror stories " from the ED...but nothing like

that.

If I go into the ED, I always ask to be seen by a fellow or an

attending, not a resident. A " lupus thing " ...are you kidding me!?!

Did the doctor who treated you, know your not just some " joe smo " off

the street who knows a " lupus thing " or your BP is not an excuse to

treat your pain? I am sorry, I hope you get better soon.

[Guest guest]

Hi Clora:

No, unfortunately not. I passed out due to my pain being so bad. My BP never

was low...that was the point. They only checked it once and it was 130 over 87.

--

Dodge

An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world.

A pessimist fears that this is true.

Read my blog at:

http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

---- CLORA <clora4jesus@...> wrote:

=============

Dodge and Group;

Wow dodge, MY mom told me to go to er room and I also knew what that

was going to be like. That was a few weeks ago before my rheumy gave

me prednisone. Haaaaa go to er, right end up worse off than I am.

Hon I am so sorry you went through all that crap, just to go and

pass out. I think you passed out from your low bp. Not that I

would dispute the doc on lupas thingy lol.

I think you meant nightmare on elm street lol. More than I like to

think, staff in the er is just doing a job and want to be else

where. I wont go to the hospital unless an ambulance has to be

called. This way you get a bed right away. Thats why I didn't go

for the last time I was in pain. An ambulance wasn't going to take

me in with what may have been to them a few aches. Discluding if

you was one of the medics, since you know the pain of RA.

So, when I go to er, my doc has them admit me haaaaaa, thats even

worse. I won't even need to tell you about that stay for 5 days, I

am sure you know what that was like haaaaa. Not fun for sure. I

always meet one caring person. But that person is overworked cause

he/she cares to much. Dodge hang in there we are all glad you

shared with us your experience. I bet, (if i was a betting person)

that we all have a story so much like yours. I would love to hear

everyones experience too.

God bless you sweety

Clora

[Guest guest]

:

He even asked me if I was just there for drugs. I told him not at all. I told

him if I wanted drugs, Rod and I keep a drug box full of them, or I could always

go stand on a street corner downtown and score some in about fifteen minutes.

--

Dodge

An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world.

A pessimist fears that this is true.

Read my blog at:

http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

---- <wendymp@...> wrote:

=============

Dear Dodge, that sounds like an absolutely horrid experience! What

did the er doc think? That you you were in just to " score " some

narcotics. I mean, what's with the drug test? Obviously that jerk was

not a REAL dr. A real one would have seen the pain that you were in.

It's kind of hard to fake that intense pain that we get. I would file

a complaint with the hospital that that sob violated you by making

you prove that you were not there as a drug abuser.

I am sorry for ranting, but I just so angry reading your letter. The

nerve of that man!

It sounds like you have a wonderful partner, willing to break the

rules for you. I will say a prayer for you and hope you get some

relief from the pain.

wendy

[Guest guest]

Hi Dodge,

Is this settling for you ?

Is your temp down? Let us know.

It seems sad that these modern times there seems no pathway to attend

to /address the brewing  potential crisis effectively, to avoid/prevent the

emergency' trouble shoot' approach which cannot of  course tackle  the

underlying ongoing condition appropriately and can be horribly dehumanising. So

you have to justify, to submit to 'tests', quizzes, because you turn up a

'blank slate' and have to prove your ill status as being no fault of your own.

And still dont get proper pain relief. Shocking! 

Nevertheless as you so very well know, there will be great caring people in

these' firefighting trouble-shooting' emergency teams also.They must not get

'burn-out' or 'blank-out' and also need support.. Thank goodness for you all!

Best wishes

retired doc UK,

friend of RA sufferer, no computer

============ =

Dodge,

OMG, that is a horrible experience!! I am suprised they didn't take

better care of you since you are a medic. From my experience (I was

in healthcare before I had to go on SSDI), we " take care of our own " .

I am glad you were able to get some relief from your drug box. I have

had my fair share of " horror stories " from the ED...but nothing like

that.

If I go into the ED, I always ask to be seen by a fellow or an

attending, not a resident. A " lupus thing " ...are you kidding me!?!

Did the doctor who treated you, know your not just some " joe smo " off

the street who knows a " lupus thing " or your BP is not an excuse to

treat your pain? I am sorry, I hope you get better soon.

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

[Guest guest]

Dodge, all I can offer is gentle virtual hugs, and a prayer that you

will get the meds you need to manage your pain. I have an internist

who is so gentle and understanding - then I found out she is a breast

cancer survivor. She understands. She's my lifeline sometimes! I

wish I could clone her for all of you. Thank God you have Rod!

On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 11:10 PM, Dodge <medicdodge@...> wrote:

> Ok, for the past four days I've had a temp ranging from between 99.6 and 102

> and my pain has been worse than normal. When my fever stayed at 102 for

> about half the day, and when my pain spiraled out of control on Monday

> afternoon, my partner Rod, also a medic like me, and the reason I get up in

> the morning, encouraged me to go to ER and get checked out... Here's what

> happened... Nightmare on Dodge Street.

>

>

--

South Pasadena, CA / Lilydale, MN

You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

M. Schulz - " All you need is love. But a little chocolate now

and then doesn't hurt. "

[Guest guest]

Dodege,

I am glad they called you back even if it was a friendly follow-up. I

am sure a ton of us here have heard " you don't like your sick, your

too young to be in pain, etc " . I didn't know pain has a age limit,

or you have to " look " like your in pain.

I hope you don't have to go back to ED; but if you do...make sure you

get what you need, even if you have to demand to be seen by different

doc. Did they even tell you what could be causing this? I hope you

get better soon.

>

> =============

> Dodge,

> OMG, that is a horrible experience!! I am suprised they didn't take

> better care of you since you are a medic. From my experience (I was

> in healthcare before I had to go on SSDI), we " take care of our

own " .

> I am glad you were able to get some relief from your drug box. I

have

> had my fair share of " horror stories " from the ED...but nothing

like

> that.

> If I go into the ED, I always ask to be seen by a fellow or an

> attending, not a resident. A " lupus thing " ...are you kidding me!?!

> Did the doctor who treated you, know your not just some " joe smo "

off

> the street who knows a " lupus thing " or your BP is not an excuse to

> treat your pain? I am sorry, I hope you get better soon.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris:

Nope temp is still at 102 and pain is out of this world. I'm going back there

cause the doc who called me said I should...So, I shall.

--

Dodge

An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world.

A pessimist fears that this is true.

Read my blog at:

http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

---- Petheram <chris65peth@...> wrote:

=============

Hi Dodge,

Is this settling for you ?

Is your temp down? Let us know.

It seems sad that these modern times there seems no pathway to attend

to /address the brewing  potential crisis effectively, to avoid/prevent the

emergency' trouble shoot' approach which cannot of  course tackle  the

underlying ongoing condition appropriately and can be horribly dehumanising. So

you have to justify, to submit to 'tests', quizzes, because you turn up a

'blank slate' and have to prove your ill status as being no fault of your own.

And still dont get proper pain relief. Shocking! 

Nevertheless as you so very well know, there will be great caring people in

these' firefighting trouble-shooting' emergency teams also.They must not get

'burn-out' or 'blank-out' and also need support.. Thank goodness for you all!

Best wishes

retired doc UK,

friend of RA sufferer, no computer

[Guest guest]

Hi Dodge,

Are you kidding me right now?!!!I read about your experience and it

just further confirms why I don't do the ER!!You know what,you would

have been better off letting Rod take care of you at home,with

a " little " help from the paramedic truck!HeHe!We are all so helpless

when we are in this condition and are treated like drug seekers.Hope

you are feeling much better very soon.

[Guest guest]

LOL!

>

> =============

> Dear Dodge, that sounds like an absolutely horrid experience! What

> did the er doc think? That you you were in just to " score " some

> narcotics. I mean, what's with the drug test? Obviously that jerk

was

> not a REAL dr. A real one would have seen the pain that you were

in.

> It's kind of hard to fake that intense pain that we get. I would

file

> a complaint with the hospital that that sob violated you by making

> you prove that you were not there as a drug abuser.

>

> I am sorry for ranting, but I just so angry reading your letter.

The

> nerve of that man!

>

> It sounds like you have a wonderful partner, willing to break the

> rules for you. I will say a prayer for you and hope you get some

> relief from the pain.

>

> wendy

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dodge

I feel for you! I had a similar experience a couple of years ago, when my

flare seemed to go into overdrive and every joint in my body was painful:

I've never had worse pain in my life (and I've had a baby and a hip

replacement LOL) and yet the dr didn't take me seriously. But, I insisted

that he ring my rheumy there and then and my rheumy told him to give me

prednisone and morphine (as prednisone usually takes a day or 2 to kick in).

My rheumatologist was there for me in my darkest hour and I will never

forget the experience. I wrote a letter afterwards, to make a formal

complaint about my treatment, as I didn't want others (less feisty!) to

suffer similarly.

Hope the steroids are working for you now

in NZ

P.S: that incident prompted me to ask for a letter from my rheumy to carry

around, stating my medical condition and what drugs I am on or may need in a

crisis - maybe a good tip for others out there?