Re: femoral nerve block vs spinal When things go wrong during the night

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Gosh, , if you didn't live in Oregon, I'd guessed you were at my hospital in Virginia. My edipural needle, supposedly connected to a pain med drip, came out of my back during the night. I thought I'd die from the pain. I told the nurse I couldn't be getting my medicine. But no one was taking me seriously until I got up and the epidural needle was laying on the bed. Maybe they thought I was a wuss and not coherent. But, wow, was I ever coherent because I wasn't getting a drop of the pain med. The hospital had recently "streamlined," and only a department called Pain Management could authorize pain meds and reinserting the IV. Turns out that "Pain Management" was a doctor at home not answering his phone or page. I was also in agony for hours. When the nurse assigned to me and the head nurse came on duty in the morning, they took it upon themselves to give

me some meds in pill form, putting themselves on the line because they couldn't stand it any longer. It was another couple hours before I was hooked up to the pain machine again. by then the pain was so out of control, they gave me a stronger drug. I started out my second day in more pain than I had the first day of surgery. During that hellish time, I had the crazy thought of calling 911 to get help. Later a friend told me of a person who had done just that. He not only got paramedics, but also doctors, nurses and hospital administrators in his room. Needless to say, he got the attention he needed. Like you, before I ever submit to another surgery, I want to know there is a plan in place for when something goes wrong with your pain managment during the night. I'll also ensure I have an advocate

with me the first two nights. Interesting -- my hospital was recently in the news for huge leaps in profits while other hospitals struggle. I guess not having anyone on duty at night to deal with its pain managment mistakes obviously contributes to the hospital's financial health, but not to ours. Regards, Donna Hatley <dlatley@...> wrote: By about 6 or 8 pm the medical staff on duty began tosuspect I had a pain control problem. But there wasno one on site at that hour with the authority tochange my pain medication order and while thiscondition was extremly painful for me it was not lifethreatening. So NOTHING was done to

correct theproblem until about 8 oclock the next morning. If Ihad it to do over I would insist on a back up plan tobetter monitor patient conditions after normalhospital hours. And also if the anesthesiologist isnot going to be available for after hour callbacks heshould to leave authority with someone to authorizemedication changes or to increase the medication asneeded in the event the nerve block fails. Recent Activity 16 New MembersVisit Your

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oh my gosh i feel so sorry for the both of youDonna Hart <ohdonna_68@...> wrote: Gosh, , if you didn't live in Oregon, I'd guessed you were at my hospital in Virginia. My edipural needle, supposedly connected to a pain med drip, came out of my back during the night. I thought I'd die from the pain. I told the nurse I couldn't be getting my medicine. But no one was taking me seriously until I got up and the epidural needle was laying on the bed. Maybe they thought I was a wuss and not

coherent. But, wow, was I ever coherent because I wasn't getting a drop of the pain med. The hospital had recently "streamlined," and only a department called Pain Management could authorize pain meds and reinserting the IV. Turns out that "Pain Management" was a doctor at home not answering his phone or page. I was also in agony for hours. When the nurse assigned to me and the head nurse came on duty in the morning, they took it upon themselves to give me some meds in pill form, putting themselves on the line because they couldn't stand it any longer. It was another couple hours before I was hooked up to the pain machine again. by then the pain was so out of control, they gave me a stronger drug. I started out my second day in more pain than I had the first day of surgery. During that hellish

time, I had the crazy thought of calling 911 to get help. Later a friend told me of a person who had done just that. He not only got paramedics, but also doctors, nurses and hospital administrators in his room. Needless to say, he got the attention he needed. Like you, before I ever submit to another surgery, I want to know there is a plan in place for when something goes wrong with your pain managment during the night. I'll also ensure I have an advocate with me the first two nights. Interesting -- my hospital was recently in the news for huge leaps in profits while other hospitals struggle. I guess not having anyone on duty at night to deal with its pain managment mistakes obviously contributes to the hospital's financial health, but not to ours. Regards, Donna Hatley <dlatley > wrote: By about 6 or 8 pm the medical staff on duty began tosuspect I had a pain control problem. But there wasno one on site at that hour with the authority tochange my pain medication order and while thiscondition was extremly painful for me it was not lifethreatening. So NOTHING was done to correct theproblem until about 8 oclock the next morning. If Ihad it to do over I would insist on a back up plan tobetter monitor patient conditions after normalhospital hours. And also if the anesthesiologist isnot going to be available for after hour callbacks heshould to leave authority with someone to authorizemedication changes or to increase the medication asneeded in the

event the nerve block fails. Recent Activity 16 New MembersVisit Your Group

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Thanks, . Gosh, I don't dwell on it and I really don't want to sound like a broken record with my story. But I was appalled all over again when I read what happened to . I don't want to frighten anyone -- only encourage those who have upcoming surgeries to get their surgeon's assurances that if something goes wrong with the pain management procedures, someone with authority will be there day AND night to solve the problem immediately. That's why I recommend an advocate/friend to be there to watch over you at night when the hospital staff is spread more thinly than during the day. And out of all the wonderful nurses, what if you get the rare one like mine, that first night, that looked and acted like she was higher on meds than the patients. :-)

<arkiegirl43@...> wrote: oh my gosh i feel so sorry for the both of youDonna Hart <ohdonna_68 > wrote: Gosh, , if you didn't live in Oregon, I'd guessed you were at my hospital in Virginia. My edipural needle, supposedly connected to a pain med drip, came out of my back during the night. I thought I'd die from the pain. I told the nurse I

couldn't be getting my medicine. But no one was taking me seriously until I got up and the epidural needle was laying on the bed. Maybe they thought I was a wuss and not coherent. But, wow, was I ever coherent because I wasn't getting a drop of the pain med. The hospital had recently "streamlined," and only a department called Pain Management could authorize pain meds and reinserting the IV. Turns out that "Pain Management" was a doctor at home not answering his phone or page. I was also in agony for hours. When the nurse assigned to me and the head nurse came on duty in the morning, they took it upon themselves to give me some meds in pill form, putting themselves on the line because they couldn't stand it any longer. It was another couple hours before I was hooked up to the pain machine again. by then the pain was so out of control, they gave me a stronger drug. I started out

my second day in more pain than I had the first day of surgery. During that hellish time, I had the crazy thought of calling 911 to get help. Later a friend told me of a person who had done just that. He not only got paramedics, but also doctors, nurses and hospital administrators in his room. Needless to say, he got the attention he needed. Like you, before I ever submit to another surgery, I want to know there is a plan in place for when something goes wrong with your pain managment during the night. I'll also ensure I have an advocate with me the first two nights. Interesting -- my hospital was recently in the news for huge leaps in profits while other hospitals struggle. I guess not having anyone on duty at

night to deal with its pain managment mistakes obviously contributes to the hospital's financial health, but not to ours. Regards, Donna Hatley <dlatley > wrote: By about 6 or 8 pm the medical staff on duty began tosuspect I had a pain control problem. But there wasno one on site at that hour with the authority tochange my pain medication order and while thiscondition was extremly painful for me it was not lifethreatening. So NOTHING was done to correct theproblem until about 8 oclock the next morning. If Ihad it to do over I would insist on a back up plan tobetter monitor patient conditions after normalhospital hours. And also if the anesthesiologist isnot going to be available for

after hour callbacks heshould to leave authority with someone to authorizemedication changes or to increase the medication asneeded in the event the nerve block fails. Recent Activity 16 New MembersVisit Your Group

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no they would never put a needle in my back, they done mine in with my i.v. and i had a friend stay with me just in case,but the meds made me ahousanate, so i had no choice but to take oral meds,its the worse mistake i ever made but i dont plan on having it done any time soonDonna Hart <ohdonna_68@...> wrote: Thanks, . Gosh, I don't dwell on it and I really don't want to sound like a broken record with my story. But I was appalled all over again when I read what happened to

. I don't want to frighten anyone -- only encourage those who have upcoming surgeries to get their surgeon's assurances that if something goes wrong with the pain management procedures, someone with authority will be there day AND night to solve the problem immediately. That's why I recommend an advocate/friend to be there to watch over you at night when the hospital staff is spread more thinly than during the day. And out of all the wonderful nurses, what if you get the rare one like mine, that first night, that looked and acted like she was higher on meds than the patients. :-) <arkiegirl43 > wrote: oh my gosh i feel so sorry for the both of

youDonna Hart <ohdonna_68 > wrote: Gosh, , if you didn't live in Oregon, I'd guessed you were at my hospital in Virginia. My edipural needle, supposedly connected to a pain med drip, came out of my back during the night. I thought I'd die from the pain. I told the nurse I couldn't be getting my medicine. But no one was taking me seriously until I got up and the epidural needle was laying on the bed. Maybe they thought I was a wuss and not coherent. But, wow, was I ever coherent because I wasn't getting a drop of the pain med. The hospital had recently "streamlined," and only a department called Pain Management could authorize pain meds and reinserting the IV. Turns out that "Pain Management" was a

doctor at home not answering his phone or page. I was also in agony for hours. When the nurse assigned to me and the head nurse came on duty in the morning, they took it upon themselves to give me some meds in pill form, putting themselves on the line because they couldn't stand it any longer. It was another couple hours before I was hooked up to the pain machine again. by then the pain was so out of control, they gave me a stronger drug. I started out my second day in more pain than I had the first day of surgery. During that hellish time, I had the crazy thought of calling 911 to get help. Later a friend told me of a person who had done just that. He not only got paramedics, but also doctors, nurses and hospital administrators in his room. Needless to say, he got the attention he needed. Like you,

before I ever submit to another surgery, I want to know there is a plan in place for when something goes wrong with your pain managment during the night. I'll also ensure I have an advocate with me the first two nights. Interesting -- my hospital was recently in the news for huge leaps in profits while other hospitals struggle. I guess not having anyone on duty at night to deal with its pain managment mistakes obviously contributes to the hospital's financial health, but not to ours. Regards, Donna Hatley <dlatley > wrote: By about 6 or 8 pm the medical staff on duty began tosuspect I had a pain control problem. But there

wasno one on site at that hour with the authority tochange my pain medication order and while thiscondition was extremly painful for me it was not lifethreatening. So NOTHING was done to correct theproblem until about 8 oclock the next morning. If Ihad it to do over I would insist on a back up plan tobetter monitor patient conditions after normalhospital hours. And also if the anesthesiologist isnot going to be available for after hour callbacks heshould to leave authority with someone to authorizemedication changes or to increase the medication asneeded in the event the nerve block fails. Recent Activity 16 New MembersVisit Your Group