Fwd: [FODSupport.org] Hospital Nightmare

January 9, 2004

'Emotional and Practical Support'*

Hi all. Yesterday was another trip to the er for Matt. he has been running

104 on motrin without any other symptoms. He wasnt really eating but was

tolerating his tube feeds nicely. I spoke with the geneticist Weds. night who

said to

have my ped take a look at him in the morning. I could tell when he woke up

that he didnt look right, so I brought him right in and the ped. agreed. Off to

the er we went. This is where the nightmare began. After about 10 sticks,

they were finally able to draw his blood. I waited and waited for the results.

In

the meantime, I bolus fed him,because they could not get the iv in. At one

point he actually said he was hungry and I asked one of the nurses if they could

get him something to eat. Of course they never bothered to get him anything.

here is this poor sick 3 year old sking for food and being ignored! Finally my

ped stopped by and she got him something to eat. His fever had gone up

again(they never checked it). I could tell by feeling him. I had to stomp my

feet to

get motrin. Then they asked if he had peed yet. I said I would assume so--it

had been hours. Well, they never put a urine bag on him. Of course I carry one

in my bag (doesnt every mother?) so I got the sample myself. Finally 4 hours

after his bloods were drawn, everyone realized the tubes had never shown up at

the lab and nobody knew where they were. Can you believe that the nurse who

drew the blood finally admitted that she forgot to send it to the lab!!!!!!! I

thoiught I was going to kill someone. When the results finally came back, they

werent any good because the blood had sat for so long it had started to clot.

They told me that the results were inaccurate because the blood hd sat around

for so long. They wanted to repeat the tests, but at this point he looked

alittle better so I walked out. I had been there for 8 hours and accomplished

nothing. I feel like complaining to the head of the emergency department, but I

am afraid if I do that the next time we are there,we will be treated worse. Any

thoughts? Thanks for letting me vent. Jill, Matts mom, scad

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