OT: My Dad

[element]

Haven't been here for a while for one reason or another and this is the 1st thing I read. Was sorry to hear about whats going on with your father. For what I know, over here in the UK things like that don't occur (not knockin' the US in any way) so I was really amazed to hear about the way they treated the situation! Hope he gets well soon.

 

[jongitarz]

Travis...I am so glad your Dad is doing better. I am also really glad you decided to hang out here. You are a good guy and this place would not be the same without you. If you ever need anything, you know how to find me.

 

[bottle12am]

Travis, it's horrible the way ERs are run now days. But let this be a lesson to everyone that reads this.

If you are having a heart attack or you think you might be having a heart attack, call 911. Help arrives faster than you can get it on your own and you become a priority at the hospital. When you come in on a stretcher, they pay a lot more attention to you than when you walk in on your own (unless blood is pouring from some part of you.). There are drugs that they can administer to heart attack and stroke victims now that, if they are given in a certain time frame, can considerably reduce the damage caused by either of .

I wish this were the case. I suffer from pancreatitis. For those of you that don't know what it is, it's when your pancreas decides to shoot gasoline into your digestive tract rather than normal digestive juices.

It almost killed me in May of last year, but my doc thought it was a one-time hit, and let me go on vacation in June.

I had a second attack while on vacation. I called 911 and arrived at the hosp via ambulance. I waited four hours on a stretcher in E/R with 10/10 pain. Only interaction with nurses was when I vomited on myself and was yelled at for not making it to the restroom.

I was admitted to the facility; next day they ran all kinds of tests, told me a doctor would be there shortly. After waiting until 8:30pm, we realized no doctor would be coming. Wife and I decided to leave Against Medical Advise (AMA) and return home to my local physician.

We hauled back to Louisiana. By the time I got to my regular doctor, I was jaundiced, dehydrated, and going into septic shock. I had emergency surgery for an infected abcess the AL hospital failed to mention to me (surgeon told us going into surgery that I had a 50/50 shot of making it). I spent a week in ICU on a breathing tube, three weeks on a stomach pump, 4 months on a feeding tube, etc. Not good for a non-drinker in his mid-30's.

Long story short, this coming Monday I will face my fifth surgery related to my ailment.

To make things worse, we recently found out that the hospital in AL discovered 17 different abnormalities in the tests I ran there, and knew about them for at least 4 hours before I left, yet no one acted on them. Thanks to their neglect, I've had eight hospital stays in eight months.

To add insult, they've been messing around with the bill.

Needless to say, I've asked the hospital's parent company (HMA), Joint Commission, and the Alabama State Med Boards to investigate. I've written to AL state reps in the region. And while AL's Malpractice Laws are water-tight and heavily favoring the 'professionals', I do have an attorney also looking into the matter.

P.S.-- Sorry if it seemed I hijacked this thread, but had to vent. Prayers for my upcoming surgery are greatly appreciated, too, (as well as for Travis' dad, I'm sure).

 

[Motojunkie]

Travis - it's great to hear that Dad is doing well!

 

[maddog]

Travis, Good to hear that your Dad is doing well.

Not good to hear about the nightmare.

I wish hospitals would get their act together.

Tom

 

[bovinehost]

Prayers for my upcoming surgery are greatly appreciated

You got it. I'll also add a small thought for your lawyer.

 

[Aussie Mark]

That's good to hear Travis (other than the hospital BS). I agree with the suggestion to rip the hospital a new one via your local media.

 

[strummer]

travis
The hospital treatment sucks, but I am so happy about your dad. Prayers, thoughts & whatnots your and your dads way!

 

[DaveB]

Even though I'm from the "whiney high pitched bass" side.

The treatment you have received for your Dad is sh*t. But Over here in the UK my mum was recently due to have a mastectomy because of breast cancer - she was admitted to the hospital and by mistake a student nurse injected her with 4 times the correct dose of blood thinning chemical.

4 times!!

We expect the health service (whether we pay directly or not) to be perfect and foolproof - unfortunately it isnt.

I hope your Dad is well on the road to recovery,

Dave

 

[Dr Stankface]

Very good news about your dad's recovery!

Was this St. Francis that he got the horrible attention from?

Andrew

 

[kbaim]

Travis, it's horrible the way ERs are run now days. But let this be a lesson to everyone that reads this.

If you are having a heart attack or you think you might be having a heart attack, call 911. Help arrives faster than you can get it on your own and you become a priority at the hospital. When you come in on a stretcher, they pay a lot more attention to you than when you walk in on your own (unless blood is pouring from some part of you.). There are drugs that they can administer to heart attack and stroke victims now that, if they are given in a certain time frame, can considerably reduce the damage caused by either of these.

And I'm very happy and relieved that his recovery seems to be progressing well. Keep us informed. We do care.

This is a really smart suggestion.

I'd only add that the ambulance driver will most likely take you ONLY to the closest hospital. If you prefer a different one, it'll take a lot of yelling and possibly signing some papers.