Myelogram (Re: To Beth:spinal stenosis and neuropathy)

[Guest guest]

Dear Artistatheart,

I was so sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with your recent

ct myelogram. I was offered and accepted versed? to calm my nerves

right before my ct myelogram and it did the trick.

If I were you I'd file a complaint - there is some info on the UAB

website on how to do this -

http://www.health.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=55327 & site=2729 & return=9885

I try to remember to find out the name and phone number of the

patient relations dept. (a.k.a. patient advocate or patient

representative) in advance of any major or invasive procedure or

hospitalization and bring it with me. If I was receiving sub-

standard care, I would not hesitate to demand that they call or page

the patient relations dept. immediately. I think that if you show

them that you are familiar with the complaint process, they may be

more attentive to your needs.

I hope you never have to have another myelogram. Even though mine

went fairly smoothly, I still cringe at the thought of having another

one. Good luck to you,

loriann

> Dear sallybr,

> Thanks to you and loriann for the info. I had my myelogram CT done

> this past Thursday at U.A.B. (the University of Alabama at

> Birmingham). U.A.B. is a teaching hospital and is huge. I will not

> be using that facility for any other test or procedures ever

again.

> I do plan on taking my films to other ortho. surgeons who are

> associated with private hospitals for their opinions on my " spinal

> situation " . I hope the films from this past Thursday show in detail

> what is causing my pain because I will NEVER have another myelogram

> as long as I live. I had to become quite upset in order for the

> doctor who was performing the test to order some drugs to help me

> get through the procedure. He was not compassionate. I had to

wait

> over 4 hours after I arrived during which time I ask every nurse

and

> tech. that came into my room for drugs to calm my nerves. It was

all

> to no avail. I did finally get a little something in my I.V. only

> because I was in the process of coming off the table and heading

for

> home. I did not find it unreasonable to request something to help

> me get through such an evasive procedure. Anyway the doctor was a

> jerk. Later the nurses who were seeing to me went to check my

> bandage and there was none. He did not even bother to put any type

> of bandage over the puncture site. The next day at home I was not

at

> all well with pressure type pain down my leg in the lower back. I

am

> fine now but boy what an experience. I feel sure that had I gone

to

> a private hospital the care would have been better. The only

glimmer

> of light in that place was a nurse named who truely was a

> caring soul.

>

>