My very long ordeal and solicting opinions

[Guest guest]

I encourage the patients I have contact with, through the support groups

I moderate locally, to keep a copy of their surgical report in the glove

box of their car in case of emergency. I realize this does not help an

ER doc make a diagnosis, but in a life threatening emergency I believe

it would be helpful to a surgeon. I also wear and encourage a Medic

Alert bracelet that states " Gastric bypass; no blind NGT placement " .

Sue you are SOOOO right about this happening all of the time - and not

just wls patients. I sent one of my managed care patients to a local ER

(big city, big hospital) for chest pain radiating down the left arm

yesterday after lunch. I felt it necessary as the man was in a car

accident 2 weeks ago and sustained a fractured sternum (breast bone)

which complicated things as he is also a cardiac patient and very

fragile. He sat in the ER waiting room until after 9 PM last night

waiting to be seen!!!!!!!! Apparently the hospital " was busy " !!! Well

busy or not, I think at best that was appalling and at worst

negligent!!!!!!! No wonder we nurses are terrified of hospitals!!!!

Amber/FLRN

Re: My very long ordeal and solicting opinions

> I'm sitting here livid and could use some direction. I had posted a

> bit ago about abdominal pain,

*** not sure what 'direction' you would like, but I can tell you this

happens all the time, all over the country. when I was in VA I went to

my local ER twice only to be told I had rearranged my insides and they

didnt' know how to treat me. they would do an xray, bloodwork and give

me very low dose of demerol that did nothing and after hours I would

just check myself out and drive the 2+hr. to my surgeon. you can't see

adhesions at all and rarely see bowel obstructions on xrays, ct scans,

etc. so it is difficult for any surgeon but especially for one who knows

nothing about gastric bypass. sue

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/4/04 10:47:24 PM, Graduate-OSSG writes:

Dear Sherrie: I ditto 's advice --it is pragmatic and realistic and

therefore very good.

love,

ceep

<< Well, a couple of things come to mind. I'm a firm believer in going

right to the top. I would contact your State Dept. of Health, and

whoever is in charge of doctors AND hospitals. You might also

consider contacting the news media with that little tidbit of

information, telling them they're getting an " exclusive, " and letting

them do further investigation because I simply don't trust the big

guns to investigate their own...too many hands in the pot, too many

golf games, and then, there's that good old boys network. >>