Update on

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone,

I know I hadn't been active lately but I have been reading email and trying

to keep in touch. I have had a rough time with pain the past two months and

the last two or three weeks have been worse. I went to see my primary on

the 9th because my GI here told me I had to go to the ER before he would

even try to fit me in his schedule and wouldn't call me in anything stronger

for pain. Well I had to see a unit resident in my primary's office which

was fine for me because for once someone actually read my chart. I was

shocked. He took a look at me, listened to what I had to say and then

ordered some blood work and wrote me a prescription for Lortab 7.5 and gave

me a refill on it until I could see Dr. Hawes. We got an appointment to see

Hawes on the 30th. Well I come home, started taking the meds and they were

working fine until this past weekend. I just started hurting and it didn't

seem to be easing off any. By Sunday night I had enough. I was crying, so

I called my boss and told her that I couldn't make it into work. She was

very understanding and I told her I was probably going to the ER. Well that

night I winded up taking two lortab, an ultram and a phengan and got some

sleep. I thought maybe if I got some rest I would be all right. NOT!!!

The next morning I woke up still hurting and finally gave in to go to the

ER. Well instead of going to MUSC, I went to our local ER. BIG BIG BIG

MISTAKE. I had to wait 5 hours before they even took me back and by that

time I was in so much pain I couldn't even get undressed. My mom had to

help me. Then the lovely nurse (NOT) came in and I told her that I was a

hard stick and that she had to use butterfly needles to get blood and then

she was going to have to try to get the IV. Well she was like well we are

going to get this all at one time. Her first time she tries the vein beside

my pinkie that they have been getting blood and blows that vein and then

proceeds to let the blood drip into the vials. Then she tried my other hand

which the first try she tries so much that I scream and then she makes the

comment, " Well we are going to have to get this done so you are just going

to have to bear with me. " By this time, my mom is giving her dirty looks I

am giving her dirty looks and looking at my mom and saying this is the last

time she is going to try. Well she finally gets the iv in of all places, in

my finger beside my thumb. she then proceeds to get her blood but keeps

pulling the IV almost out and pushing it back in. To make matters worse her

last time she is like one more time before she pushes the IV back in. UGH!

So I get my Demerol and phengan, which are helping and another nurse comes

in a little while later and tells me my blood had hemo that they need to get

another sample. UGH!!. At least this nurse finds a site gets the blood and

is on her merry way. Well to make a long story short my levels aren't up,

the doc gives me another shot of Demerol and phengan and sends me home with

talwin which is making me loopy so I only take it when I get home from work.

Sorry that I am venting but it was a mess. I am in pain right now, a little

nausea, and just trying to make everything deal.

Image by FlamingText.com

[Guest guest]

> Hey everyone,

I have had a rough time with pain the past two months and

> the last two or three weeks have been worse. the meds were

> working fine until this past weekend. The next morning I woke up

still hurting and finally gave in to go to the ER... Sorry that I am

venting but it was a mess. I am in pain right now, a little nausea,

and just trying to make everything deal.<<<

,

The good thing about the PAI is that you can come and go as you need

to with the message board. And...it is okay to vent when you have had

a bad day, especially like the one it sounds like you had in the ER.

I am so sorry that you had such a bad experience. I wish ER's and

hospital beds had lap tops attached to them. I know that when I need

to have an IV and I know no one is capable of doing it, I could use

your support right then. Instead I have to grit my teeth and try to

make the most intelligent decision I can about getting it started.

The last time I was in the hospital and my IV infiltrated I adamently

refused to be stuck ONE more time. Knowing I did not want to die of

infection I allowed it, after demanding the best IV nurse in the

house. But, it sure feels lonely and scary. I am glad you came back

and told us about it. It helps just to get it out.

Karyn

Karyn E. ,RN/Founder/President

Pancreatitis Association International

/

http://www.pancassociation.org

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

I hate that you are feeling so bad. Yuck on the IV

and bloodwork stuff, that is what almost always

happens to Jackie. It is so irritating when they

think you are just blowing steam, knowing you are

telling them the truth. GET an expert but they don't.

I soooo hope you are feeling better. Jackie is

having a yucky day... I hope the pain docs do

something for her next week. Do you go to the pain

management docs in ton? Talk to ya soon, and

take it easy,

--- SNOBLES@...> wrote:

> Hey everyone,

> I know I hadn't been active lately but I have been

> reading email and trying

> to keep in touch. I have had a rough time with pain

> the past two months and

> the last two or three weeks have been worse. >

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

What a trying experience! I can see why you wish you'd gone to

MUSC instead, even the drive would have been worth it after

having to spend 5 hours waiting to get in your local ER....lol. And

the care would have been of such different caliber! I wanted to

hug the last doc I saw in the ER at MUSC, he was soooo nice

and compassionate!

You said your GI wouldn't even schedule you until you went to the

ER, hopefully this will be enough to activate him/her to do

something more for your pain, and disregard those misleading

a&l levels. I hope you can get in to the doc and start feeling

better soon.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi in SC

> Hey everyone,

I went to see my primary on

> the 9th because my GI here told me I had to go to the ER

before he would

> even try to fit me in his schedule and wouldn't call me in

anything stronger

> for pain.

> ER. Well instead of going to MUSC, I went to our local ER. BIG

BIG BIG

> MISTAKE. I had to wait 5 hours before they even took me back

and by that

> time I was in so much pain I couldn't even get undressed.

[Guest guest]

:

Reading your note I realized that this could be me writing this

letter! Everything you said down to the detail is what I have been

through! I have found out some ways to cope with the IV problems,

the blood draw problems, etc. etc. Here goes.

1. YOU have the RIGHT, THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT to not only ask for

numbing medicine before they put in an IV but you have THE RIGHT to

DEMAND numbing medicine.

The needle stick thing has been my problem from day one. I have very

tiny veins anyway and was always a hard stick before I got sick. Now

its pretty much impossible. Sometimes they will give you lip service

about how the numbing med distorts the vein, yada, yada yada. But an

IV specialist or the IV team uses it and canb get the needle in Ask

for them. Also, because your veins are bad, you can demand that an

anesthesiologist come in and put the IV in......they will numb it

too. They do that anyway when the put someone to sleep.

I guess out of all the problems with this disease I have encountered,

this is the biggest one of all......the needle business.

Because my veins are so damaged I had to go to a vascular surgeon for

a consult. While there I asked him about this numbing thing and how

the nurses pitch a fit everytime you ask for it so what could I do.

His words to me were to tell them that because my veins are so

destroyed and I have had permanent heart damage from the superior

vena cava thing, that they cannot stick me without a specialist

unless they want to face a medical malpractice suit! Now that is

what the surgeon said! I did have one guy one night bring in his IV

stuff in the ER and I told him he had to numb it first. He said if

he had to numb, he didn't stick. So I told him he wasn't going to

stick me then. Well he proceeded to throw the metal tray with the

stuff on it across the room! I got somebody else though and they

numbed it. Just remember, please............you have the right no

matter what excuse they give, stick to your guns and let them numb it

up before they poke and prod!

2. Hospital ERs. If you can get to MUSC you are a lot better off.

I think MUSC has started a program in their ER that if you present

with pain, nausea, vomiting and have a documented history of

pancreatitis, they have a different protocol where they get you in

and get you treated quickly! That is on their web site.

3. Remember no matter how much they try to intimidate you, you stick

to your guns......especially on the needle thing. I guess you

figured I hate needles too. Until we all stick together and stand

our ground, the medical profession is not gonna get it!

Take care ok

Kaye

@y..., " " wrote:

> Hey everyone,

> I know I hadn't been active lately but I have been reading email

and trying

> to keep in touch. I have had a rough time with pain the past two

months and

> the last two or three weeks have been worse. I went to see my

primary on

> the 9th because my GI here told me I had to go to the ER before he

would

> even try to fit me in his schedule and wouldn't call me in anything

stronger

> for pain. Well I had to see a unit resident in my primary's office

which

> was fine for me because for once someone actually read my chart. I

was

> shocked. He took a look at me, listened to what I had to say and

then

> ordered some blood work and wrote me a prescription for Lortab 7.5

and gave

> me a refill on it until I could see Dr. Hawes. We got an

appointment to see

> Hawes on the 30th. Well I come home, started taking the meds and

they were

> working fine until this past weekend. I just started hurting and

it didn't

> seem to be easing off any. By Sunday night I had enough. I was

crying, so

> I called my boss and told her that I couldn't make it into work.

She was

> very understanding and I told her I was probably going to the ER.

Well that

> night I winded up taking two lortab, an ultram and a phengan and

got some

> sleep. I thought maybe if I got some rest I would be all right.

NOT!!!

> The next morning I woke up still hurting and finally gave in to go

to the

> ER. Well instead of going to MUSC, I went to our local ER. BIG

BIG BIG

> MISTAKE. I had to wait 5 hours before they even took me back and

by that

> time I was in so much pain I couldn't even get undressed. My mom

had to

> help me. Then the lovely nurse (NOT) came in and I told her that

I was a

> hard stick and that she had to use butterfly needles to get blood

and then

> she was going to have to try to get the IV. Well she was like well

we are

> going to get this all at one time. Her first time she tries the

vein beside

> my pinkie that they have been getting blood and blows that vein and

then

> proceeds to let the blood drip into the vials. Then she tried my

other hand

> which the first try she tries so much that I scream and then she

makes the

> comment, " Well we are going to have to get this done so you are

just going

> to have to bear with me. " By this time, my mom is giving her dirty

looks I

> am giving her dirty looks and looking at my mom and saying this is

the last

> time she is going to try. Well she finally gets the iv in of all

places, in

> my finger beside my thumb. she then proceeds to get her blood but

keeps

> pulling the IV almost out and pushing it back in. To make matters

worse her

> last time she is like one more time before she pushes the IV back

in. UGH!

> So I get my Demerol and phengan, which are helping and another

nurse comes

> in a little while later and tells me my blood had hemo that they

need to get

> another sample. UGH!!. At least this nurse finds a site gets the

blood and

> is on her merry way. Well to make a long story short my levels

aren't up,

> the doc gives me another shot of Demerol and phengan and sends me

home with

> talwin which is making me loopy so I only take it when I get home

from work.

> Sorry that I am venting but it was a mess. I am in pain right now,

a little

> nausea, and just trying to make everything deal.

>

> Image by FlamingText.com

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

Thanks for the words. I am not going back to that GI. I am going to

continue with Dr. Hawes and deal strictly with him. Last night the pain was

bad and this morning was bad too that I came home from work at 2. This is

the last day I can do that for a while because the guy that I work with is

leaving and there will only be two people working once. At least right now

my boss is being real understanding. I am just trying to get some rest

today and taking the stronger stuff so it will work and I get some rest.

Hope you are doing well.

in Sumter, SC

Re: Update on

Dear ,

What a trying experience! I can see why you wish you'd gone to

MUSC instead, even the drive would have been worth it after

having to spend 5 hours waiting to get in your local ER....lol. And

the care would have been of such different caliber! I wanted to

hug the last doc I saw in the ER at MUSC, he was soooo nice

and compassionate!

You said your GI wouldn't even schedule you until you went to the

ER, hopefully this will be enough to activate him/her to do

something more for your pain, and disregard those misleading

a&l levels. I hope you can get in to the doc and start feeling

better soon.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi in SC

> Hey everyone,

I went to see my primary on

> the 9th because my GI here told me I had to go to the ER

before he would

> even try to fit me in his schedule and wouldn't call me in

anything stronger

> for pain.

> ER. Well instead of going to MUSC, I went to our local ER. BIG

BIG BIG

> MISTAKE. I had to wait 5 hours before they even took me back

and by that

> time I was in so much pain I couldn't even get undressed.

[Guest guest]

,

I'm so sorry you are doing so poorly. I wish I could help.

Next time, go to the MUSC ER for sure. I'm a hard stick, so I know how

much problem it can be to get a good IV site, but I've never had one

repeated pull and push on the IV needle. ICK. you poor baby. You have

all my prayers that this passes soon.

Kimber

--

Kimber

hominid2@...

California State Chapter Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

[Guest guest]

,

Nope I don't go to the pain management docs at MUSC. Until this past week I

really felt I hadn't needed them. I use to be so good having to only take

pain meds while I was home but now I am having to take them while I am at

work and it is scaring me. I am getting to the point where I don't know

what to do and I am getting more and more scared and it is driving me

insane. I have gotten to the point several times where I just want to cry

and I can't because I don't want to upset my mom. She has enough to deal

with besides me getting sick. I am sorry to be dumping everything out but

everyone on this list knows what I am going through and I am one of these

people that bottles everything up. I have to stop that and I can't. I

worry about everything going on around me, how bills are going to get paid

and how my mom is going to be today. she is ill also and we live together.

So I am trying to take it one step at a time. Hopefully on the 30th we can

get some idea of what is going on.

Re: Update on

Hey ,

I hate that you are feeling so bad. Yuck on the IV

and bloodwork stuff, that is what almost always

happens to Jackie. It is so irritating when they

think you are just blowing steam, knowing you are

telling them the truth. GET an expert but they don't.

I soooo hope you are feeling better. Jackie is

having a yucky day... I hope the pain docs do

something for her next week. Do you go to the pain

management docs in ton? Talk to ya soon, and

take it easy,

--- SNOBLES@...> wrote:

> Hey everyone,

> I know I hadn't been active lately but I have been

> reading email and trying

> to keep in touch. I have had a rough time with pain

> the past two months and

> the last two or three weeks have been worse. >

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Kaye,

Thanks so much for this. I don't really hate needles I just can't stand

when people don't listen when you know your own body. I am going to be

demanding numbing medicine from now on because I can't deal with all the

bruises. I have a feeling though that when I go back to Dr. Hawes he will

tell me that he wants to put in something that will be easy access. I think

I am to the point where I will be happy for that. Right now my knuckles and

arm look like I had a fight. Hope you are doing well.

in Sumter.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kimber,

I had to take off work early today and I am going to be resting all weekend

this weekend after work tomorrow because after Tuesday I won't be able to

take off at all. We are loosing a guy and until we can get someone hired and

trained we will only have me and another person. Thanks for the prayers.