I Just Have to Vent This Morning

[Kathi49]

And I am now thorougly, 100% convinced that the Catholic hospitals, at least around me, are sooooooo much better! At least in regards to ER's.

I had to go the Heart Hospital this morning to get a fasting lipid profile done. No biggie...they told me to go the ER to get the labwork done. So, while there, of course my head is killing me and I am a bit dizzy and let them know that before drawing blood. (Was thinking I might need orange juice or something afterwards since I had been fasting). Then they tell me they basically have to admit me BEFORE doing blood pressure check. Okay, that's fine...but weird. Oops, forgot to add that my blood pressure has been very low lately. I DO run low but the other day it was 88 over something. And I mentioned that too...before drawing blood.

So, then the doc comes in and to make a long story short started checking my blood pressure positionally and that sort of thing. Again, no big deal. I had told them of the meds I take and the dosage. BUT...I hear the NURSE telling someone that I am taking 5mg of Klonopin!!! Boy, I pulled the curtain open and said, "Excuse me! That is .5 once a day!" She says, "Oh, I know, I just had it wrong in the computer!" :eek: THEN I hear her say a bit later..."...oh was that 5mg of Catapres?" By now I am thinking...people are going to die in here if they don't get the current meds straight! Geez, she had to be corrected twice by this time. This was pretty scary to me because not only that but she had to be told how to spell Klonopin...I heard that too!

So, by now I am getting a slight "tude" but trying to maintain. So, the doctor comes back in and wants to do a CT scan of my brain. I told him I just recently had a brain MRI done and it was fine. But he STILL insisted because of aneurisyms, tumors, etc. Hey, I tried, I told him I thought it was all occipital, I get this all the time and went through the spinal thing with him and told him of the injections. But he still said...just to be on the safe side. Okay, so he is basically right...go ahead. So, I am waiting and waiting and waiting. The nurse comes in and says the CT has to be warmed up and Radiology will call. MORE waiting! Finally, I had to say something. SHE then calls Radiology and it had been warmed up for some time. Okay, so I am just really biting my tongue now...3 hours had gone by.

I get in there and some young girl says, "I can't believe he would order a brain scan when it is just a headache!" Oh, boy, I couldn't stay quiet any longer. I let it rip with all I know about the spine, cervicogenic headaches, occipital neuralgia. So, when I was done...she knew what I was speaking of. It's like hey...you CAN'T SEE IT!!!

Of course the scan comes back just fine which I figured it would. The doc says all the labwork is fine; figured that too. And I know they were trying to be thorough. It's just that the mistakes and such got to me.

I am telling you what though. When I got to the other ER at the Catholic Hospital it is soooooooo different! They are on it right away, they consult with who they need to (usually my own docs), spell it all out, give me not only discharge instructions but my labs and all information about any meds they prescribe. This does NOT happen at the other hospital ER's. And I swear, and maybe I am wrong, but there is so much more of a humanitarian effort going on at the Catholic hospitals; I notice it more and more and more.

Ugh, thanks for letting me vent but from now on I will be going elsewhere (St. Vincent's probably) unless it is something catastrophic where I have to go to the nearest ER.

Oh, and I was waiting for them to say something about seeking drugs LOL! If that were the case, I could have stayed home and ate Vicodin! I wasn't there to TREAT the occipital pain I was there to get bloodwork done. So, this wasn't at all a matter of getting any more meds. But they didn't say anything like that. I am glad they were thorough but in another sense...it was over the top. I guess I am just a bit attitudal since I wasn't able to eat until just now. :D :eek:

[Mark N]

Kathi, I can't believe that getting blood work had to be done in the ER, geez. As if the ER isn't busy enough they make you go through the ER to do the work. Hopefully the rest of your day went better.

[illusion129]

Kathi - it's good to have a place to come and vent, isn't it? My family just does NOT understand why I go on and on about certain problems, but fellow CPers know what we're talking about.

That's crazy that your blood pressure was running 88 over something! When I first take my pain meds in the morning and night my pressure usually drops, but never that low! I think the lowest was 100/? Can't remember the bottom number right now.

At least your bloodwork came back A-OK! You can be thankful for that. I do believe the doctor ordering a head CT scan was a bit over the top; just think what the charges will be JUST because he had to order some expensive test to rule out (what?) for your bloodwork. Some guys are just out there for the kickbacks and other profits. Such a shitty society we live in; we help others in other countries yet we can't take care of our own...it's just pitiful.

By the way, I had a good rant a little earlier. It's my latest thread. I won't go into details because I'm trying not to think about it since I got it out there in the open. LOL. It just ticks me off to no end.

Hope everything is going better for you this afternoon and I hope you have a great, less-pain evening. :)

[Kathi49]

Mark,

Ooops, I should have clarified. My cardiologist is WITH the Heart Hospital. He said I could have the bloodwork done there OR go to my GP. All I was to do was to report to the "LAB" at the ER of the Heart Hospital. I chose to go to the Heart Hospital since his office is right there; figured he would get the results faster plus I got the impression he would prefer if it I did. Also, I wanted to go this Saturday while my husband was home and my GP of course is not open on the weekends. It really wouldn't have been a big deal except that I mentioned my blood pressure was running low and I felt dizzy. Oh, let me clarify that too...lightheaded. :) I was corrected on that LOL! Guess there are various versions of dizziness. THEN it was a different story from there. And, no, they were not busy at all...I believe I was the only one there. I also went early since I had been fasting; figured I'd get it over with fast so that I COULD go and eat and then take my meds.

Illusion,

I don't know why I run low...just always have. But since it was 88 the other day it had me a little concerned. I don't think it was from the meds since I take the same dose all the time; usually like you said it is 110 over something. Today it was 114 over something...geez, I can never remember the bottom number either LOL! Only once did it drop terribly low. The night of my hysterectomy and of course I still had a lot of anesthesia in me, it must have dropped to 50; something like that or so they said. The nurses just woke me up told me it was very, very low and made me sit up and then walk around for a bit. They told me it was the anesthesia because I wasn't using my pain pump at all. I just didn't need it...was sleeping great! I guess a little too great for them. :)

[Boxerlover]

Kathi, I'm glad you finally got to eat!:D I know how that goes. Is your blood pressure normally low or is from meds? Mine used to run 80/40 normally. I know that is low but as fitness was my career, I was(note I say WAS:( ) pretty fit and I had not one problem. Since I have been ill, mine now runs in the "normal range", 120/80. I was given catapress patches years ago to help with my TMJ, but when I read that it effects blood pressure I got scared to take it.

Melissa

[Kathi49]

Melissa,

For as long as I can remember it has always run low and way before I had spinal disorders or CP. One doc thought I was anemic years ago but it turned out I wasn't...I was just tired from having a newborn. :)

[Sara1979]

How absolutely miserable. I am so sorry you had to go through that. 5mg of Klonopin. I think you might be drooling unless you had worked up to that dose. I have been on it for almost 10 years and am at 2mg.

[BrokenBladder]

Kathi,

I'm sorry I'm late on replying to this. How horrible to have to sit in the hospital for that length of time.
I have to say that the Catholic hospital here is wonderful too. Its the one I stayed in back in March. They were kind and helpful and the food was alot better than some of the other hospitals around here.
I hope you're feeling less frustrated after your long stay for simple blood work. I agree that the brain scan seemed over the top but at least now you have an updated scan.
Wishing you a nice restful day.

[Kathi49]

Lisa,

LOL! They ARE a lot kinder and yep, the food is better too!

And the one my sister went to, a little further North of me, was the absolute best! I could not believe it! They couldn't do enough for her. :) No, seriously, there is a BIG difference. I don't know what it is...can't exactly pinpoint it...other than to say what I already did plus they just seem to be more "on it". And it is not like I expect to be babied or anything...they just seem kinder all the way around. And my PM has recently moved his office or rather is the Director at the spine center at another Catholic Hospital. I noticed a big difference in the staff there too! My husband even remarked on how friendly the nurses were so he noticed it too.