Where was Sondra? & Expected nausea

[Guest guest]

,

Yes I was there on the floor - Room 309B. There were actually a

couple of " those people " still there on the 10th floor on Wednesday as

I passed one or two in the hall in my haze. I am not surprised that

you were given a blanket " those people went home " response. It fits

with all the other blanket obnoxious statements or dismissals the

staff tends to provide in lieu of actually doing any work.

I will be following Steve's advice and writing the hospital

administrator when I am up to it. Actually there were a couple of

other exchanges that transpired that I didn't go into here but will in

my complaint.

One thing I regret not doing - dialing the number for the Patient

Representative during my stay. I recall seeing it listed on the phone

pad but every time I tried to use the phone internally for other

purposes it gave me instructions to call another number or ask the

floor staff (something that prevailed no results). I was also quite

honestly concerned with retribution from the staff if I made an

" official complaint " during my stay. I was in enough pain and worried

it could only get worse.

As for home - I am constantly nauseous and looking through my papers

for what helps. I had yogurt in the hosptital and cottage cheese at

home (two diff days) and thought that might be doing it (the lactose).

The egg I had this am felt a little better but still gave me acid. I

took the chewable mylanta and that seemed to help a bit. But it seems

that as soon as a liquid (ie. chamomile tea, broth) goes in, the acid

(reflux[?]} starts. I am presently trying a cracker for absorption of

the acid.

And of course at this stage all my BMs are driving in the fast lane,

so to speak:)

I will look in the archives for what helps (besides time) with nausea

and acid/reflux. I know there were a few things mentioned.

Thanks for trying and for your concern.

Sondra

BPD/DS w/Dr. Herron 6/18/01

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I am finally home. I am switched. I am grateful to be alive. I

> > know

> > I could never know how much pain I would be in til I was in it,

but

> > that fact amplified by the worst care I could have imagined was

> > almost

> > more than I could bear.

> >

> > My surgery was scheduled for between 11-am & 1am. It didn't

> actually

> > happen until 5:30pm. All day I worried that I would be bumped

> > because they had no clear information on when (and actually if)

this

> > might begin. My advice - make sure you get the doctor's block

time.

>

> > Even Dr. Herron surprised me by seemingly not being that familar

> with

> > my case (moments before surgery) when he said something to the

> effect

> > " ok I will attempt lap and hope that works for us " . I reminded

him

> > that he had adamantly suggested open because of table time two

weeks

> > prior. He revisted my history, re-examined me and I reminded him

of

> > his concerns about an enlarged liver and then slowly turned his

> > attention back to open. Quite frankly, I am glad I was not on the

> > table for more then my 5 hours (with open) because in hindsight

the

> > idea of being in surgery for 7-8 hours (which he mentioned) is

> > terrifying given the ppl at the hospital. Although I am sure

> " open "

> > had alot to do with my intense pain.

> >

> > I repeatedly asked for a pillow or some padding to be put under my

> > back as I knew the length of stay on the table and the fact that

my

> > flab does not allow my back to actually touch the table would

> > contribute to all of the pain afterwards. That never happened.

> > Needless to say my mother says I screamed most of the night in

> > recovery about my back and that I thought I would die.

> >

> > Dr. Herron said the surgery went terrific. For that I am grateful

> > that I chose him. However, I would not chose him again based on

the

> > hospital and their uncaring staff. Thankfully I had one person

from

> > my personal life there every day at some point to help where I no

> > longer had a voice. I spoke with pain management every day and

> every

> > day they indicated that I was being treated sufficiently even

though

> > the pain was excruciating. Not intolerable or uncomfortable but

> > excruciating. Perhaps as a supersized person it simply takes much

> > more to ease my pain, I didn't have the answer but knew I was

> > suffering unbearably. Yes, I had toradol, some other drip and on

> > occasion tylenol for the intense headaches. Some say the edge was

> > taken off a bit - my edge was very much there but perhaps not as

> > serrated as it could have been without all the pain meds.

> >

> > The first time I tried to get up I was obviously in a stupor. I

was

> > mentally unable to adjust my bed (didn't know they could be

adjusted

> > in my stupor) and the screams I let out caused 8 staff people to

run

> > into my room. NOT ONE OF THEM ASSISTED ME. They stood over me,

did

> > not adjust the bed for ease, did not offer a hand for leverage but

> > continued to tell me my screams were scaring the other patients.

> The

> > first two attempts at wrenching my body up using the bed guards

for

> > pulling were unsuccessful because my altered body could not pull

up

> > my

> > weight - something the 8 ppl seemed surprised at. I fell back

into

> > the bed and started hyperventilating - all the while being stared

at

> > by 7 staff members and the other coaching me. Finally she put her

> > arm

> > down on the bed so I could use it as leverage and I yanked myself

> up.

> >

> > I had a fever two or three times and had to do the GI series.

> > Again there was this expectation of the patient being able to

> > manipulate their body during what would have been a challenge

> > without surgery. I no longer had the strength and told them they

> > either helped with some leverage or I stayed on the GI machine

> > indefinitely.

> >

> > The staff was rude and angry about doing their jobs. They ignored

> > you

> > regularly by yelling from across the room, someone will come in to

> > help you, but hours later no one came.

> >

> > One particular night my iv was leaking down my arm and I asked a

> > nurse

> > to change it. Only to find out he put me off for several hours

till

> > the next shift arrived who of course knew nothing about it. My

arms

> > were severely swollen probably because of the IVs and my concerns

> > about them went unanswered. The IV was eventually switched to the

> > other arm about 8 hours later with no comments on the swelling.

> >

> > I actually had a pain management surveyist visit me on occasion

and

> I

> > stupidly hoped she would faciliate assistance however after the

> > second

> > visit she clearly indicated she could offer none but was doing the

> > survey for future evaluations and better service.

> >

> > There was one nurse Janet who seemed to really care and when she

was

> > there offered as much assistance as she could given the " its not

my

> > job " attitude surrounding her.

> >

> > Forget about having someone help you wash up or guide you while

> > walking, it didn't happen. Up until the moment that I left almost

> > all

> > of the staff there seemed to be doing you a favor by any small

> effort

> > they put out. I was told I was leaving on Thursday when I just

had

> > the IVs for pain out and was getting adjusted to just oral meds.

I

> > refused to leave. NOT THAT I LIKED IT THERE. But at least by

> > Thursday I started to feel quasi human and wanted another day to

> > regain my strength before having to deal with the ins and outs of

> > home

> > life by myself. Dr. H didn't argue with my refusal.

> >

> > When I asked for a wheel chair to bring me downstairs I was again

> > ignored for hours. I had a few thing with me and quite frankly

was

> > very concerned I would fall in the maze like corridors trying to

> > figure out how to reach my destination. When they did bring me a

> > wheelchair it was of course for an average size person. When I

then

> > waited longer for another chair I was told, " We brought you one

but

> > you don't fit so you may have to walk " . I told them I would take

a

> > nap and when they had a chair, let me know.

> >

> > Finally several hours later, it arrived. The orderly left it by

the

> > door and said " whenever you are ready " . I got in it and my friend

> > took my things. When we got to the exit the orderly insisted that

> he

> > did not have to bring me down the ramp to the curb as that was

> > " outside the hospital and it is really there so bikes use it for

> > parking " . My friend wound up pushing me to the car 25 feet from

the

> > ramp. The orderly took advantage of his " down " time to smoke that

> > much needed cigarette.

> >

> > I am home, tired and my stomach is grumbling and adjusting. The

> > protein drink didn't sit well, but at least it stayed down. My

BMs

> > are basically the runs but I expected that this soon out. At

least

> I

> > have a bathroom in my room

> >

> > That was my story. I made it through but would not recommend Mr.

> > Sinai to any person for any reason, even with the " great doctors " .

> > In

> > my opinion it was a hell hole.

> >

> > Thank you for anyone who tried to contact me. And thanks to

> > for getting through. My phone got turned on somewhere around the

> 3rd

> > day after the nurses station got tired of yielding calls from my

> > family and friends.

> >