tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post4020157995063339141..comments2024-03-12T07:48:29.712+03:00Comments on Stories from the trauma bay: Shut up and listenDocBastardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224592098492491365noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-61718751822371993432016-04-14T10:38:05.287+03:002016-04-14T10:38:05.287+03:00NiceNiceAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07656881081955816444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-12559127882125505162016-03-21T04:27:54.426+02:002016-03-21T04:27:54.426+02:00Doc - I've been reading your blog for quite a ...Doc - I've been reading your blog for quite a while now. Find it wonderfully informative, and with just the right amount of snark that reminds me of some of my work, and the idiots I (occasionally) get to work with/for. I now have a new appreciation for what you do.<br /><br />Back in September, I got into a motorcycle accident. This wasn't one of those, "the only thing bruised is my ego" sorts of accidents. This was a side of bike meets guardrail with leg Oreo-ed in-between. I knew I was screwed the moment I landed on the berm on the other side of the guardrail. Figuring I needed to get somebody to dial 9-1-1, I cradled my leg in my arms and stood up. A guy knocked me down. Being totally rural, I figured it would take time to get somebody's attention. What I wasn't counting on was a utility guy up a pole seeing the whole thing. The utility guy was also an EMT in his spare time. He's the one who knocked me down and applied pressure to the artery in my leg - the one that was severed. His buddy called 9-1-1 and turned pale.<br /><br />20 minutes later, and lots of talking along with his buddy holding my hand (gotta give it to the buddy - he didn't hurl on me yet held my hand. gotta give it to the off duty EMT, he apologized for the pain while he continued to talk with me and kept me from bleeding to death), a volunteer ambulance arrived. 45 minutes later, we pulled up to the local hospital. They managed to cut off all of my clothes and then put me back into the ambulance to send me to a trauma hospital. 45 minutes later, we were pulling up to the trauma hospital ER. I finally figured out how serious the whole thing was when the ambulance pulled in front of a chorus line of doctors and nurses. Holy Shit! They were all waiting for me and my screwed up leg. I got a trauma surgeon, a vascular surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, a plastic surgeon, and a variety of nurses. I forgot everybody's name really quickly as they all asked about loss of consciousness and where my helmet was (it came with me to the trauma center) while not looking me in the eyes - much more concerned about my leg.<br /><br />6 days of ICU, 5 weeks of hospital food, rehab, and now, 6 months on, my leg is "saved", my life is saved, and I really have a much better appreciation for what a trauma center is meant for. I never want to end up on your sort of table ever again. It's not that you're not nice, competent folk - it's just that I never want to be that totally f**ked ever again. <br /><br />Thank, Doc Bastard. Keep cutting (this includes the writing). Going to read your posts with a mostly new perspective from now on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-10882882816020956392016-03-08T19:58:31.455+02:002016-03-08T19:58:31.455+02:00We wound up having to file 4 negligence reports wi...We wound up having to file 4 negligence reports with the hospital's head of Patient Relations. Somehow I highly doubt anything will come of it. We still have no answers and have to wait until the end of the month to see his new GP. Turns out his Gastroenterologist referred him to the wrong person. Woops. His fever is gone, his withdrawal symptoms are gone, and he's stopped the drops of blood in his urine, but he's still in all-over body pain, inguinal pain (from a failed surgery), and never stops being nauseated. His liver biopsy ruled out a lot, basically saying that whatever he's going through isn't being caused by the liver, the liver is being effected by it. He gets the results of his Epstein-Barr test back next week that he got at a local MedStop, and will find out from his Endocrinologist today if his hyperthyroid is causing a lot of the issues or if it's possibly Grave's disease. If it's none of those, he has to look and see if the Histiocytosis has decided to take up residence elsewhere in the body. Fun. It's like the poor guy can't catch a break for anything. Thank you for your concern!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466964571912552038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-90891263790542659252016-03-03T05:35:35.584+02:002016-03-03T05:35:35.584+02:00Kennie, I truly hope the new doctor will help you ...Kennie, I truly hope the new doctor will help you both find some real answers, and a decent treatment plan. I'm not a doctor, but even as a lay person, I'm astounded by (1) the apparent lack of attention to keeping his blood sugar levels *stable*, and (2) not checking his liver, since there was pain in that area and you'd made staff aware of the elevated liver enzymes and planned biopsy. <br /><br />Best wishes for improved health for your boyfriend, less stress for both of you, and better attention from medical staff as you continue towards this goal. Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-15373771651400689182016-03-03T04:53:50.983+02:002016-03-03T04:53:50.983+02:00I had the same thought. Still trying to figure out...I had the same thought. Still trying to figure out where Doc is physically located, so that he can be "reported" to "the authorities," I guess. <br /><br />Just for fun, I checked in at his alma mater, Google University, to see if writing a blog was sanctionable evidence of medical malpractice anywhere in the world. Came up empty. So, Doc, wherever you are, you're safe! :)Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-11263429677357159982016-02-29T21:51:47.937+02:002016-02-29T21:51:47.937+02:00Techs roll in throughout the day checking his bloo...Techs roll in throughout the day checking his blood sugar, all of his meds are verified through a pharmacist, and he eats twice in the day as he still sits in the ER. (No beds available, not the staff's fault.) No fluids hooked up, nothing. His blood sugar keeps rising after 2 meals and after 14 hours of us trying to get a hold of nurses, he's finally given insulin.. at a sugar level of 350. The doctor apparently never ordered it. Never order it or his Paxil, lithium, antibiotic he was taking after the surgery, or his long acting insulin. None of it was ordered. None of it administered.We kept asking the nurse why. She could not reach the doc over the phone. He was only given 2 more doses of insulin over 2 days and some Ativan when he had a panic attack. Again. Only at 10:00pm did a nurse let us know the results of all the blood work they were doing. Nothing. No issues other than elevated liver enzymes that we already knew about. What was the doctor even checking for? Nurse doesn't know, calls the doc, and the doc won't tell her. Next day he gets an endoscopy. For what? Don't know, but it comes back clear. What a surprise. Doc finally gives him all of his missed meds for the day at once the next night. Then sends him home with a blood sugar of 389. "Doc, WHY was I being kept in the first place? I had no acid in my urine. What was I being tested for?" Doc said, "I just wanted to watch your sugar. Go see your physician when you get out."<br /><br />THAT'S NOT EVEN WHY HE CAME IN. Thank goodness the severe pain lessened on its own. It's not like anyone helped it. He's still staying at a temp of about 100, still has whole body pain, stomach pain, flares of nausea but no vomiting, the added beauty of Paxil withdrawal, upper left not-as-bad quadrant pain, and now he has some light bleeding in his urine. THANK FUCKING NON-SPECIFIC-DEITY HE DOESN'T HAVE HIGH BLOOD SUGAR and he has an appointment with his new physician the day after tomorrow.<br /><br />Because now he refuses to go to the hospital.<br /><br />No one would listen, we still have no answers. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466964571912552038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-81634738865406394752016-02-29T21:51:05.205+02:002016-02-29T21:51:05.205+02:00A long one spanning 2 comments:
This is something...A long one spanning 2 comments:<br /><br />This is something I wish I could staple to the forehead of all the physicians, specialists, and ER doctors that my boyfriend sees. He has a LOT of health issues and has been slowly declining over the last year. (Disabled at 24) Our most recent visit to the ER last week could have been made a LOT shorter if the doctors would just LISTEN. He is a Type 1 diabetic, got tested a week prior for either what is believed to be his 3rd bout of EB/mono or his Langerhaan's cell histiocytosis, he's Flu/Pneumonia negative, he has a liver biopsy tomorrow for elevated liver enzymes over the last 2 years, and new medicines have been making him have anxiety attacks. <br /><br />Wednesday midnight, he panicked, starts vomiting and complaining of severe upper left quadrant pain, whole body aches and pains, and a light fever, we were afraid he may have damaged his spleen or something. Ambulance was called and we were taken to the ER.<br /><br />We know his history. Being Type 1 since 19 years old, he's not had many issues with his blood sugar EXCEPT when complications make him vomit. Then it gets bad. The ER tech said he came in with a blood sugar of 1050. Not possible. (He's never been over 800 since he was first diagnosed, and last time complications from the flu sent him into DKA a year ago, it was only at 500 and almost in a coma.) They only gave him 10 units of insulin. In less than 10 minutes, his sugar was only 80. 15 minutes later, 42. <br /><br />1st doc says there wasn't even acid in his blood, but admits him to the hospital for DKA. Okay...?<br /><br />Second doc comes in and says he's going to bring in his gastroenterologist because he thinks it may be his IBD. We explain he hasn't had issues with that in over 6 months and it's brought on by dietary changes, which he's remedied. How about check to see if it was mono related or check his histiocytes? Maybe even check his liver?? No doc even put their hands on him except to check the scarring of the bilateral varicocele surgery he had a month before. <br /><br />No one was listening to us or even giving us answers. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466964571912552038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-50608905447396249582016-02-29T05:24:24.820+02:002016-02-29T05:24:24.820+02:00I see cornboy is still flinging random stuff at th...I see cornboy is still flinging random stuff at the wall to see if it sticks.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-85772316253973609942016-02-29T03:01:39.399+02:002016-02-29T03:01:39.399+02:00Am I? Fascinating. Am I? Fascinating. DocBastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12224592098492491365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-31325468495142132122016-02-29T00:10:02.405+02:002016-02-29T00:10:02.405+02:00I have a friend who would be jealous of your lizzi...I have a friend who would be jealous of your lizzie borden poster.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-62787235326987234412016-02-29T00:07:20.601+02:002016-02-29T00:07:20.601+02:00actually, I was being surreal. there is no sarcas...actually, I was being surreal. there is no sarcasm font - it is used to refer to the fact we can't tell if a typed comment is sarcastic or not.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-82966953099867552432016-02-28T23:58:59.007+02:002016-02-28T23:58:59.007+02:00Doc is Australian. I think Paul Offit is working ...Doc is Australian. I think Paul Offit is working on a vaccine to prevent glandular fever. He's done messing around with anti-diarrhea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-71963773146698381372016-02-28T23:27:57.261+02:002016-02-28T23:27:57.261+02:00It isn't just in emergency situations people d...It isn't just in emergency situations people don't listen, or maybe don't trust patients, not sure which. Several years ago I started feeling so tired I couldn't get out of bed. I lost my enthusiasm for usual activities, but was not what I believe to be depressed. Because I was a woman of a "certain age," with my last child off to college, I was diagnosed as depressed (empty nest syndrome and menopausal)and put on several different antidepressants to find the right one. Never found the right one but did find several wrong ones. I swear one came with a Lizzy Borden poster I hung over my bed. I kept telling several doctors I wasn't depressed. I liked my life, my job, my husband and children. I just didn't have the energy to do anything. There was a very quick check of my thyroid, and then I was given the all-knowing smile, and handed a new antidepressant. Finally, I demanded that my doctor run every test possible - over $2,000 of lab work later, they found I had a very severe case of mono (or for you Brits, glandular fever). I was so relived to finally be taken serious after months of no one listening or believing what I was saying. I think this happens to women more often than men, from the anecdotal stories of many women friends. You know how moody we women get after all (sarcasm). Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15774136748160249961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-64364353763327047282016-02-28T23:10:54.409+02:002016-02-28T23:10:54.409+02:00Don't laugh, please... What is sarcasm font, o...Don't laugh, please... What is sarcasm font, or were you being sarcastic?Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15774136748160249961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-58413169090015192372016-02-27T16:29:58.376+02:002016-02-27T16:29:58.376+02:00you're welcome. have some strĂ¼del.you're welcome. have some strĂ¼del.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-63505762253667134932016-02-27T07:51:28.443+02:002016-02-27T07:51:28.443+02:00Thank you Ken Brown. You ultracrepidarian you.Thank you Ken Brown. You ultracrepidarian you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-28341439787631139232016-02-27T03:51:25.189+02:002016-02-27T03:51:25.189+02:00if changing the background image from books to a t...if changing the background image from books to a tangerine tile pattern overloads you, you might need to see an optometrist.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-48081228566436325372016-02-27T03:07:45.855+02:002016-02-27T03:07:45.855+02:00Fair point. But this one was over-the-top egregiou...Fair point. But this one was over-the-top egregious. DocBastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12224592098492491365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-9293225725004077762016-02-27T02:52:50.776+02:002016-02-27T02:52:50.776+02:00Devil's advocate (and yeah, I know they acknow...Devil's advocate (and yeah, I know they acknowledged they didn't ask). But for the benefit of lay readers, medics don't always know if they can trust the patient's history. I've had patients swear blind that they didn't yada yada pick your poison. And yeah, the medico-legal climate sucks. A geriatric sitting in a wheel chair, may not need to fall to fracture a hip - osteoporetic fractures, steroids, pathological fractures, yada. Ranging from displaced fractures to subtle undisplaced fractures on plain imaging, with masked symptoms and signs - geriatrics do not necessarily have the same pain perception as younger people. Somebody ordered a hip X Ray, if not protocolised, I'm assuming this is why someone ordered itm even though she did not seem symptomatic residually. Hell, over the top CYA may even result in a CT to rule out an occult fracture not showing on plain imaging. Yeah, sucks, but that's the reality of CYA medicine - the perfection 100 % no miss rate lawyers demand, not sane or rational medicine. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-25782448284155093752016-02-26T20:04:12.356+02:002016-02-26T20:04:12.356+02:00It's called sensory overload. When the body&#...It's called sensory overload. When the body's senses tries to compete with each other in trying to process changes in their environment they experience sensory overload. We call it the 'kryptonite' effect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-39055158128563960062016-02-26T18:02:53.518+02:002016-02-26T18:02:53.518+02:00my favorite antisocial networking site changes for...my favorite antisocial networking site changes formats very frequently. occasionally one is less legible, it's never a big deal.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-2892859101182763302016-02-26T13:39:54.993+02:002016-02-26T13:39:54.993+02:00Yes, because I was tired of looking at the same dr...Yes, because I was tired of looking at the same drab colours. But you seem to think I had something more nefarious in mind, so I'm just dying to hear your hypothesis. DocBastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12224592098492491365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-61688008885380694972016-02-26T06:06:54.156+02:002016-02-26T06:06:54.156+02:00You know damn well why you changed the format. Th...You know damn well why you changed the format. That's really mean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-12379035469982392952016-02-26T02:51:49.998+02:002016-02-26T02:51:49.998+02:00Oh i come for the stories as well. Its just if a f...Oh i come for the stories as well. Its just if a format for some reason is bad enough that it annoys me to read ALOT, i wont neccessarily find it worth reading anymore.<br />That said, I would still push through to read this blog.<br />ConnorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-12386668362348829602016-02-26T01:55:35.156+02:002016-02-26T01:55:35.156+02:00I don't know what the problem is since I rever...I don't know what the problem is since I reverted to the exact same template I had before. Hm. I'll try playing with it and trying new ones in a bit. DocBastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12224592098492491365noreply@blogger.com