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View Full Version : How to Stay (sort of) Safe in the Hospital



Sangye
11-13-2009, 08:07 AM
Since Weggies tend to have a lot of procedures and tests done, we need to be really mindful about how to stay safe.

How to avoid falling victim to a hospital mistake - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/11/hospital.mistakes/index.html)

elephant
11-14-2009, 10:57 AM
I use to work as a Registered Nurse at a local hospital. The most important thing if your staying at the hospital is have a family/friend stay with you. Ask the nurse what medicines they are giving you and what are they for? Sometimes nurses are in a hurry and give you all your meds and some interact or should not be taken together or with food. When the nurse takes your Blood pressure, temp and pulse make sure your friend/family is writing this down. Most important be persistent!!! The squeaky wheel gets more attention. Sorry that's the way it goes. Don't be afraid to speak up if you think something is not right. :eek:

Sangye
11-14-2009, 11:28 AM
Yes, this is what I've always done. In just one hospitalization I was offered the wrong drug or the wrong dosage 3 times.

They brought me 25 mg of a drug instead of 2.5 mg. I had made a huge point of warning them when I was brought in that my 2.5 mg dose is not the usual, but that 25 mg almost killed me once after only 2 doses. It happened 2 days in a row. I caught it both times. They also brought me the wrong dose of blood thinner several times. Every time they hang an IV or offer a pill, I ask to see the label.

Often a doc will order a drug and not tell the patient. I don't take anything unless I've discussed it with my doc.

I have raised quite a stink over this stuff, but I'm still alive. I don't have the luxury of having someone stay with me. My friends would be totally lost, anyway.

elephant
11-14-2009, 01:00 PM
Sangye, thank goodness you are on top of your medical care. It can be exhausting trying to make sure the docs/nurses are ordering/giving the right drug to the right person and right amount.:eek::rolleyes:

onatreetop
11-15-2009, 12:17 AM
I have had most of my hospital expreince with my mother. I have been the only one to ever question anything except her. She has been in so much and for so many reasons over the last 13 years that she could write several books about the dos and donts, who to talk to and who to scream at. She over the years has turned me into her advact? I think thats what you call it? I am her puppet with a loud voice. We both need to understand what they are doing and why. She has had so many proplems getting all of her meds while in the hospital that we started bring hers because half the time they don't have them. That and a complete medical history. She is filling her 3rd 6 inch binder now. She has copies of all test ,letters from one doc to another, reports, etc. They are sorted and organized. I am going to buy her a rolling file cabinet for christmas. One with the handle!

Doug
11-15-2009, 08:13 AM
"Advocate" - and one definitely needs one, no matter how you spell it!:)

onatreetop
11-15-2009, 11:52 AM
Thank you for the correction and I agree. Im still trying to find one of those for myself. My mother wants to do it and has been but.........She has short term memory lose and enought going on in her medical stuff that she isnt the optium choice.

coffeelover
11-22-2009, 03:28 AM
Just an update. I have an appointment Dec 2nd with an ENT/Wegeners specilist in Rochester at Mayo Clinic. I am happy to be seeing a specialist finally, but nervous. I am feeling pretty darn good though....so hopefully my visit moves me towards feeling fantastic!
LIsa coffeelover

Doug
11-22-2009, 11:22 AM
Knowing for sure, regardless of the answer, you should feel less stressed. I pray it's "Lisa's a worrywart about nothing"!:)