Snowpocalypse

[Sangye]

I continued to go downhill with the GI stuff Sunday night and was spiking dehydration fevers throughout the night along with hallucinations. (At one point I woke up soaked in sweat, aware that I'd just been hallucinating myself as some sort of muffin in a muffin tin. LOL)

Yesterday my friends came over and dug a path in the snow and then I called an ambulance. The paramedics had to carry me out in a weird little chair--bouncing me all over the ice. They did the best they could but being bounced when your gut is churning is unpleasant. They said it was one of the easier "extrications" they'd had all day. (That term always makes me think of removing 900 lb people from their homes) Most had required National Guard to come and dig people out. Even as we drove, their radio announced "ambulance stuck" several times. The ice on the roads was so bad I had to hang onto the stretcher rails to keep from flying all over. We bounced and slammed around the whole way. They kept saying "Don't let go of the rails!" I was so weak it took all my strength, I tell ya.

The hospital was hugely overcrowded and instead of putting me right in a bed they plopped me in the waiting room. I finally talked them into an isolated supply room so I could be away from germs. They wouldn't allow my friend back there, so it meant no way to get a nurse, no way to get to a bathroom, having to sit in a wheelchair, etc.... I was really going downhill. They wouldn't allow me to drink anything either, so I became way more dehydrated. Five hours later they got an IV in. I had long stopped producing urine, which didn't even phase them. Today I'm calling the hospital patient services person about it. Even with a busy ER, they could have started IV fluids and stuck me in the waiting room. They had the orders for blood work and an IV, for pete's sake.

Today I'm still not interested in food. It doesn't disgust me, but it's like the switch is off. I ate some cereal and my gut is churning already.

In the CAN YOU BELIEVE IT department, we're expecting another 10-20 inches of snow tonite and tomorrow. I'm gonna get pedialyte and saltines today.

[elephant]

Your back Sangye, how are you?
I just got done calling two doctors and waiting for their call. I am also having cold hands and feet.

[Jack]

Hope you feel better soon Sangye. Glad to hear that you have people who can look out for you, I was concerned about how you would manage. Still sounds a bit grim though!

[Lightwarrior]

Sangye,
I have found Ginger root tea or Canada Dry Ginger Ale helps some with the naseau. You need the pedialyte to replace what you have lost though. Are you home? I hope your little muffin oven slows down (lol). You might try asking for a patient advocate when they won't let your friend go back with you. Unfortunetly ED's can be really unsafe places, buzz words that may get their attention are: Patient safety, asking for patient advocate up front??? May or may not help. I'm sending you energy and light.

[jola57]

Any thoughts as to what caused it? Waiting 5 hours for an IV is unacceptable, you are right - talk to administration and ask for a formal explanation Don't let them smooth it over the phone and ask for a written explanation. If you are feeling up to it write a complaint letter. This is not to be mean but to make sure they talk about it at their next rounds meeting.
Were you at least a round fluffy muffin LOL

[JanW]

Poor Sangye! Thank goodness you made it out okay. Hope your condition will continue to improve.

[Lightwarrior]

Jolanta,
I agree to ask them to talk about it at their next rounds, if you are up to it ask if they have a patient safety committee that includes patients. You may not want to put that much energy into it but even if you don't they may have a committee.

What causes this??? Overpopulated, understaffed Emergency Rooms, patients who are force to use ED's for primary care because they can not afford primary care or can not get an appointment timely, or they are third or fourth generation who thinks that what ED's are for.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, if you are not demanding that you be cared for, that you want to see an administrator NOW that you want your friend with you then they will move on to the ambulance that just backed into the bay and the guy who is being the squeaky wheel. I don't believe that most ED Doc's and nurses intend to leave you hanging, you just have to make sure you make their priority list. If you are being ignored, call someone who can call in and ask for a house supervisor, tell them to ask for the adminstrator on call.

[Sangye]

Thanks, you guys. I've often called for a Patient Relations rep and it really gets everyone's attention. It was the combo of not being allowed to keep myself hydrated, not receiving treatment and not allowing me to have a personal advocate that really put me in harm's way. Inexcusable. I've got a call in to them.

[Sangye]

Eww. Just saw that pedialyte has splenda (sucralose) in it. That causes diarrhea in many people. Gonna make my own electrolyte solution.

I'm surprised that all you pred-soaked Weggies haven't gone to town with Muffin comments. ("What kind of muffin?" "Mmm I love blueberry." "Have you ever had hot muffins with a snickers bar inside it..."

[AnnaG]

Oh Sangye a snickers sounds heavenly right now. *sigh*
Unfortunately, I am still completely snowed in and there is no way I can even get out the driveway. And I'm pooped after doing so little as cooking lunch for my dear heathens. Bless thier hearts, they did the dishes.
And the hosp just called to make sure I'll be there for my CT in the a.m. I told them yes if my street ever gets plowed. So then I called city halll and they are trying to get someone out here to clear it, tho they said not likely til at the earliest sometime tonight. If I needed help right this minute, I would surely croak, as the closest an ambulance cud even get is nearly a mile away.