My last stay in a hospital was for pneumonia. My doctor was so sure it was the best place for me. He wrote an in service for the nurses on the wing I was on. He really went out of his way because I had been so mistreated in a different hospital. It seems some of us quads are a real pain as patients and get into name calling and abusive behavior with the staff. I've seen it but always thought it was a minority of quads. So I go to this well briefed hospital wing and my aid has to set me into the bed at 11:30 pm because the only nurse that even stopped in was there to get me to sign in. No breakfast was delivered and the only person I saw was a resident around noon. My lunch was set on a table at the end of the bed. The nurse call button was impossible for me to use and by then I had to think about each breath. My doctor came in and went ballistic. I hadn't been put on oxygen and my oxy level was 84 or that area. By the third day I was put on a low air loss mattress which was a blessing since they could not leave my drainline alone and when they got done the condom cath would blow off. These people were sent to help me eat but didn't do that. After a week I was intensly sick and begging my doctor to send me home with that great mattress to at least die where a friend might give a damn. The care I received at my old apartment outclassed "PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL" in every category including cleanliness, nutrition, visitation and friendlyness. I now have a DNR, living will, and durable power of attorney and my doctor has gotten a reputation for telling hospital staffs how pathetic they really are and naming names. After all, doctor Kevorkian was sent to prison for practicing medicine openly the way many hospitals practice behind closed doors. At present I live in an assisted living apartment and while a hospital can do open heart surgery, they can't seem to master the proceedure of a bowel regime.
john ----- Original Message ---- From: RollinOn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Dan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Quad List <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 5:29:11 PM Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Hospitals and Quads You know Dan I've had a couple bad experiences in hospitals but crap anyone going into a hospital can't expect it to be like home. Just so you know I did go into a hospital that set me up in a private room and in a voice controlled bed that had a voice activated phone. These people were in fact well educated on my needs before I arrived and it was actually not home but the next best thing I guess. If you do find yourself in a situation it would be best to know which hospitals around you have this equipment because that's a good sign they know about paralysis. Mark Jackson RollinOn From: Dan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 2:44 PM To: Quad List Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Hospitals and Quads Okay, enough already! I know we all have had bad experiences with hospitals, but you're all starting to sound like they are death camps. There are many of us that don't have a close relative to stay with us in a hospital - myself being one. And frankly, you are scaring the shit out of me. Being in the hospital for many people is not a pleasant experience but you have to do what you have to do. I always have a typed list of: my medical history, surgical history, current meds regimen, and prescriptions I am allergic to and those I'm not allergic to. This is given to them upon registration. So I feel at least they are aware of the basics. Please give those of us - and I can't be the only one - who will be entering the fray alone some hope, encouragement and peace of mind. Dan At 05:39 PM 3/16/2008 -0700, Lori Michaelson said something that elicited my response: I have ALWAYS had a family member (mostly my significant other or my husband) present during any hospital procedure or stay. Because they simply do not have a clue about spinal cord injuries. In fact, it's pretty scary how much they don't have a clue about anything! A very high percentage of folks die in hospitals because of negligence or malpractice that gets swept under the carpet. They explain it away somehow and there is nothing one can do after the damage is done especially if it is death. Lori Michaelson Age - 43 C4/5 complete quad, 28 years post Tucson, AZ -------Original Message------- From: Merrill Burghardt Date: 3/16/2008 5:02:17 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [QUAD-L] Hospitals and Quads Are you suggesting to have caregiver present at a procedure? In scrubs? Merrill From: RONALD L PRACHT [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:51 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [QUAD-L] Hospitals and Quads Anytime a quad gets any procedure done at the hospital I think it is wise to have someone there as your backup. Someone that knows your disability and the in and outs. Many of these people at the hospital have no clue about spinal injuries and have a deaf ear when you explain anything. When your life is at stake you cant be to careful. ron c7 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1332 - Release Date: 3/17/2008 10:48 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1332 - Release Date: 3/17/2008 10:48 AM ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
