Re: more with shingles, venting about weekend nursing staff

[Guest guest]

Sorry for the trouble you're having with the weekend staff ... it amazes me each time I hear about "bad nurses" - why do they go into a field of Helping Others - and then fall short... anyhoot - the weekend will be over soon, OH and I cracked up at your "reacher" comment!!! What a Visual!!! Hang in there!! Hope the rest of your recovery goes well, take care, Ken.rebeccamaas <rebeccamaas@...> wrote: Well, I ended up getting moved to a private

room because of the shingles. Well, it's a double room, but no roommate (yet - that may change when things clear up). So at least I have my own room now! And luckily for me, I feel no pain from the shingles because of the MS numbness in my abdomen! Yay! One benefit of MS at least... They started me on gancyclovir (sp?), an antiviral, 5x/day for several days.I also have the crappy weekend nurses now who won't believe me that my pain meds are SCHEDULED every 4 hours, and that they were supposed to wake me up at night to give them. They theorize that if you're sleeping your pain levels must be under control, so they won't wake you to give you pain meds. However, for me, if they don't wake me, by the time I wake up, the pain is so horiffically out of control that it takes a few hours to stabilize it. Also, when the pain is that out of control, my spasticity goes nuts as well. And of course, when I hit the nurse call

button they took THIRTY MINUTES to even answer it over the speaker. I couldn't believe it. And the nurse was all snotty too. I've never had her before, but I have put her in my notebook to write about when I get out of here. She says that NOBODY gets pain meds unless they call and ask, and she didn't believe me when I told her that I've been getting them on a SCHEDULE for the past week. She replied that "she doesn't 'do' schedules for pain meds." All I could think about was if my reacher could get far enough to wack her across her stuck-up face after she made that comment. Ugh. I really hate the weekends. I'd like to see her have her front and back ripped open and have all these things done to her spine. Then with-hold HER pain meds for a few hours, just because she didn't specifically ASK for them. Well, finally my spasticity is starting to calm down (about 5 hours and 2 pain doses later). If I sound bitter about

this, it's because I am!!! Well, enough rambling! I just had a very good therapy session and I need to rest. I stood up for quite a long period of time - about 2 minutes - and was able to rock from side to side trying to bear weight on each leg. Good on the stronger (left) leg and starting to be able to do a little bit on my weaker leg - yay!! Now I am absolutely exhausted though. Sorry for the long post! Talk to you guys later!

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[Guest guest]

,

I'm so sorry your getting such lousy nurses on the weekends. I asked to be awakened for my pain meds as well. Some did it and some didn't. I had one nurse that gave my pain meds as well as Valium to knock me out for the entire night just so she wouldn't have to deal with me (that's my husband's observation). You have every right to complain. I was fortunate that my hubby would march down to the nurses' desk and start making demands when I needed something.

I'm glad you had a good therapy session. Your legs will continue to get stronger! Sorry to hear about the shingles but glad you can't feel it! I've heard that is one of the most painful conditions there is!

Peggy

[ ] more with shingles, venting about weekend nursing staff

Well, I ended up getting moved to a private room because of the shingles. Well, it's a double room, but no roommate (yet - that may change when things clear up). So at least I have my own room now! And luckily for me, I feel no pain from the shingles because of the MS numbness in my abdomen! Yay! One benefit of MS at least... They started me on gancyclovir (sp?), an antiviral, 5x/day for several days.I also have the crappy weekend nurses now who won't believe me that my pain meds are SCHEDULED every 4 hours, and that they were supposed to wake me up at night to give them. They theorize that if you're sleeping your pain levels must be under control, so they won't wake you to give you pain meds. However, for me, if they don't wake me, by the time I wake up, the pain is so horiffically out of control that it takes a few hours to stabilize it. Also, when the pain is that out of control, my spasticity goes nuts as well. And of course, when I hit the nurse call button they took THIRTY MINUTES to even answer it over the speaker. I couldn't believe it. And the nurse was all snotty too. I've never had her before, but I have put her in my notebook to write about when I get out of here. She says that NOBODY gets pain meds unless they call and ask, and she didn't believe me when I told her that I've been getting them on a SCHEDULE for the past week. She replied that "she doesn't 'do' schedules for pain meds." All I could think about was if my reacher could get far enough to wack her across her stuck-up face after she made that comment. Ugh. I really hate the weekends. I'd like to see her have her front and back ripped open and have all these things done to her spine. Then with-hold HER pain meds for a few hours, just because she didn't specifically ASK for them. Well, finally my spasticity is starting to calm down (about 5 hours and 2 pain doses later). If I sound bitter about this, it's because I am!!! Well, enough rambling! I just had a very good therapy session and I need to rest. I stood up for quite a long period of time - about 2 minutes - and was able to rock from side to side trying to bear weight on each leg. Good on the stronger (left) leg and starting to be able to do a little bit on my weaker leg - yay!! Now I am absolutely exhausted though. Sorry for the long post! Talk to you guys later!

[Guest guest]

Peggy,

Thanks! And I noticed that I can set an alarm on my cell phone. So

I have set that to wake me up for the first dose I need in the middle

of the night I figure if they're stupid and not waking me up,

then I'll just wake myself up and page them. I still can't believe

how much pain I was in this morning. I was crying and seriously

contemplating calling my husband (an hour away at his parent's house)

to come up and help scream at them to help me. Especially since it

took them over a half hour just to answer my call button. That was

just horrible! And of course, when they finally brought the meds,

it's not like the one dose gets you back to normal! As I'm sure it's

been with all of you guys, I was " behind " in the pain control until

well after the second dose kicked in. And the spasticity has still

been bad all day. So I will definately be setting that alarm so I

can remind any incompetent nurses tonight that I need something

Talk to you later!

>

> ,

> I'm so sorry your getting such lousy nurses on the weekends. I

asked to be awakened for my pain meds as well. Some did it and some

didn't. I had one nurse that gave my pain meds as well as Valium to

knock me out for the entire night just so she wouldn't have to deal

with me (that's my husband's observation). You have every right to

complain. I was fortunate that my hubby would march down to the

nurses' desk and start making demands when I needed something.

>

> I'm glad you had a good therapy session. Your legs will continue

to get stronger! Sorry to hear about the shingles but glad you can't

feel it! I've heard that is one of the most painful conditions there

is!

>

> Peggy

>

> [ ] more with shingles, venting about

weekend nursing staff

>

>

> Well, I ended up getting moved to a private room because of the

> shingles. Well, it's a double room, but no roommate (yet - that

may

> change when things clear up). So at least I have my own room now!

> And luckily for me, I feel no pain from the shingles because of

the

> MS numbness in my abdomen! Yay! One benefit of MS at least...

They

> started me on gancyclovir (sp?), an antiviral, 5x/day for several

> days.

> I also have the crappy weekend nurses now who won't believe me

that

> my pain meds are SCHEDULED every 4 hours, and that they were

supposed

> to wake me up at night to give them. They theorize that if you're

> sleeping your pain levels must be under control, so they won't

wake

> you to give you pain meds. However, for me, if they don't wake

me,

> by the time I wake up, the pain is so horiffically out of control

> that it takes a few hours to stabilize it. Also, when the pain is

> that out of control, my spasticity goes nuts as well. And of

course,

> when I hit the nurse call button they took THIRTY MINUTES to even

> answer it over the speaker. I couldn't believe it. And the nurse

> was all snotty too. I've never had her before, but I have put her

in

> my notebook to write about when I get out of here. She says that

> NOBODY gets pain meds unless they call and ask, and she didn't

> believe me when I told her that I've been getting them on a

SCHEDULE

> for the past week. She replied that " she doesn't 'do' schedules

for

> pain meds. " All I could think about was if my reacher could get

far

> enough to wack her across her stuck-up face after she made that

> comment. Ugh. I really hate the weekends.

> I'd like to see her have her front and back ripped open and have

all

> these things done to her spine. Then with-hold HER pain meds for

a

> few hours, just because she didn't specifically ASK for them.

Well,

> finally my spasticity is starting to calm down (about 5 hours and

2

> pain doses later). If I sound bitter about this, it's because I

> am!!!

> Well, enough rambling! I just had a very good therapy session and

I

> need to rest. I stood up for quite a long period of time - about

2

> minutes - and was able to rock from side to side trying to bear

> weight on each leg. Good on the stronger (left) leg and starting

to

> be able to do a little bit on my weaker leg - yay!! Now I am

> absolutely exhausted though.

> Sorry for the long post! Talk to you guys later!

>

>

[Guest guest]

HI ,

I am so sorry you had to put up with that witch of a nurse. As well as needing a bigger heart, she sure needs a lot of education. Is there anything you can do to make sure she gets the word to give you your meds on schedule? Maybe a talk with the head nurse? Also there should have a patient advocate on staff who might be able to help you. You've been through so much. You shouldn't have to deal with poor care on top of it all. Good luck with this. And I'm happy to see you are having some progress with your bad leg.

Bonnie

[ ] more with shingles, venting about weekend nursing staff

Well, I ended up getting moved to a private room because of the shingles. Well, it's a double room, but no roommate (yet - that may change when things clear up). So at least I have my own room now! And luckily for me, I feel no pain from the shingles because of the MS numbness in my abdomen! Yay! One benefit of MS at least... They started me on gancyclovir (sp?), an antiviral, 5x/day for several days.I also have the crappy weekend nurses now who won't believe me that my pain meds are SCHEDULED every 4 hours, and that they were supposed to wake me up at night to give them. They theorize that if you're sleeping your pain levels must be under control, so they won't wake you to give you pain meds. However, for me, if they don't wake me, by the time I wake up, the pain is so horiffically out of control that it takes a few hours to stabilize it. Also, when the pain is that out of control, my spasticity goes nuts as well. And of course, when I hit the nurse call button they took THIRTY MINUTES to even answer it over the speaker. I couldn't believe it. And the nurse was all snotty too. I've never had her before, but I have put her in my notebook to write about when I get out of here. She says that NOBODY gets pain meds unless they call and ask, and she didn't believe me when I told her that I've been getting them on a SCHEDULE for the past week. She replied that "she doesn't 'do' schedules for pain meds." All I could think about was if my reacher could get far enough to wack her across her stuck-up face after she made that comment. Ugh. I really hate the weekends. I'd like to see her have her front and back ripped open and have all these things done to her spine. Then with-hold HER pain meds for a few hours, just because she didn't specifically ASK for them. Well, finally my spasticity is starting to calm down (about 5 hours and 2 pain doses later). If I sound bitter about this, it's because I am!!! Well, enough rambling! I just had a very good therapy session and I need to rest. I stood up for quite a long period of time - about 2 minutes - and was able to rock from side to side trying to bear weight on each leg. Good on the stronger (left) leg and starting to be able to do a little bit on my weaker leg - yay!! Now I am absolutely exhausted though. Sorry for the long post! Talk to you guys later!

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

Yes!! Tomorrow (Monday) I will talk to the patient advocate lady

about the situation. She gave me her card last week when she

introduced herself, and I specifically remember her saying she worked

Mon-Fri, so I knew it wouldn't do much good to try to look her up

this weekend. And it has been fine so far this weekend - I had a

different nurse last night (a good one that I've had before) and I

will have a brand new nurse tonight (a male from what I heard from my

old roommate next door).

>

> HI ,

>

> I am so sorry you had to put up with that witch of a nurse. As

well as needing a bigger heart, she sure needs a lot of education.

Is there anything you can do to make sure she gets the word to give

you your meds on schedule? Maybe a talk with the head nurse? Also

there should have a patient advocate on staff who might be able to

help you. You've been through so much. You shouldn't have to deal

with poor care on top of it all. Good luck with this. And I'm happy

to see you are having some progress with your bad leg.

>

> Bonnie

>

> [ ] more with shingles, venting about

weekend nursing staff

>

>

> Well, I ended up getting moved to a private room because of the

[Guest guest]

:

First of all, GREAT NEWS about the use of your legs. Take it slow and steady. It

must have

been amazing to be able to start feeling something in your weaker leg again.

Keep it

going, you will do fine.

Next, and equally as important, and since I haven't read all the posts after

this, maybe it's

happened already, or someone else has suggested it....the type of nursing care

you are

describing below is, as far as I'm concerned, completely unacceptable. Ask for

your patient

advocate immediately and report this person. That is what they are there for.

Even if they

are understaffed, etc, they have no reason to cop an attitude with your or

disregard your

complete medical condition. Not only have you had one of the most invasive,

difficult

surgeries to recover from, but you also have MS, and now shingles, to boot. Ask

for that

advocate, and don't shy away, and explain the whole story t them. It made a big

difference

when I did so with some of the sub-quality nursing I experienced.

Hugs, and keep on moving, girl!

Edie

>

> Well, I ended up getting moved to a private room because of the

> shingles. Well, it's a double room, but no roommate (yet - that may

> change when things clear up). So at least I have my own room now!

> And luckily for me, I feel no pain from the shingles because of the

> MS numbness in my abdomen! Yay! One benefit of MS at least... They

> started me on gancyclovir (sp?), an antiviral, 5x/day for several

> days.

> I also have the crappy weekend nurses now who won't believe me that

> my pain meds are SCHEDULED every 4 hours, and that they were supposed

> to wake me up at night to give them. They theorize that if you're

> sleeping your pain levels must be under control, so they won't wake

> you to give you pain meds. However, for me, if they don't wake me,

> by the time I wake up, the pain is so horiffically out of control

> that it takes a few hours to stabilize it. Also, when the pain is

> that out of control, my spasticity goes nuts as well. And of course,

> when I hit the nurse call button they took THIRTY MINUTES to even

> answer it over the speaker. I couldn't believe it. And the nurse

> was all snotty too. I've never had her before, but I have put her in

> my notebook to write about when I get out of here. She says that

> NOBODY gets pain meds unless they call and ask, and she didn't

> believe me when I told her that I've been getting them on a SCHEDULE

> for the past week. She replied that " she doesn't 'do' schedules for

> pain meds. " All I could think about was if my reacher could get far

> enough to wack her across her stuck-up face after she made that

> comment. Ugh. I really hate the weekends.

> I'd like to see her have her front and back ripped open and have all

> these things done to her spine. Then with-hold HER pain meds for a

> few hours, just because she didn't specifically ASK for them. Well,

> finally my spasticity is starting to calm down (about 5 hours and 2

> pain doses later). If I sound bitter about this, it's because I

> am!!!

> Well, enough rambling! I just had a very good therapy session and I

> need to rest. I stood up for quite a long period of time - about 2

> minutes - and was able to rock from side to side trying to bear

> weight on each leg. Good on the stronger (left) leg and starting to

> be able to do a little bit on my weaker leg - yay!! Now I am

> absolutely exhausted though.

> Sorry for the long post! Talk to you guys later!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bonnie and :

I might have known that Bonnie would recommend the patient advocate route! I

should

have read all the posts before replying, but at least I can honestly say that

great minds

think alike

Best to you both,

Edie

> >

> > HI ,

> >

> > I am so sorry you had to put up with that witch of a nurse. As

> well as needing a bigger heart, she sure needs a lot of education.

> Is there anything you can do to make sure she gets the word to give

> you your meds on schedule? Maybe a talk with the head nurse? Also

> there should have a patient advocate on staff who might be able to

> help you. You've been through so much. You shouldn't have to deal

> with poor care on top of it all. Good luck with this. And I'm happy

> to see you are having some progress with your bad leg.

> >

> > Bonnie

> >

> > [ ] more with shingles, venting about

> weekend nursing staff

> >

> >

> > Well, I ended up getting moved to a private room because of the

>

[Guest guest]

Edie,

Thanks for the compliment!

Bonnie

---- Original Message -----

From: edie_scratch

Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 2:50 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: more with shingles, venting about weekend nursing staff

Bonnie and :I might have known that Bonnie would recommend the patient advocate route! I should have read all the posts before replying, but at least I can honestly say that great minds think alike :)Best to you both,Edie> >> > HI ,> > > > I am so sorry you had to put up with that witch of a nurse. As > well as needing a bigger heart, she sure needs a lot of education. > Is there anything you can do to make sure she gets the word to give > you your meds on schedule? Maybe a talk with the head nurse? Also > there should have a patient advocate on staff who might be able to > help you. You've been through so much. You shouldn't have to deal > with poor care on top of it all. Good luck with this. And I'm happy > to see you are having some progress with your bad leg.> > > > Bonnie> > > > [ ] more with shingles, venting about > weekend nursing staff> > > > > > Well, I ended up getting moved to a private room because of the>