Ok, so a lot of people have talked about how wonderful this hospital is, how highly awarded it is an how great the staff is. I know I was excited to learn that I’d be transferring here, because I’ve been talked to countless times about the care I’d been getting. Everyone just thinks its a fantastic facility and you know what, I’m sure they’re right.
But, then it happened.
One off the things I was rather specific about before moving over here was my need to have ‘full disclosure’ as well as open and honest lines of communication. It isn’t an unreasonable request. In fact, it’s a pretty standard request. Also, most all of you who know me know how important this small detail is in my life.
Yet here we are.
It started like this. I was assigned this physician on my case who, for whatever reason, took considerable exception to the fact that the tests her team had ordered were taking longer than expected. It put a crunch in her (I assume, otherwise seamless) schedule. Anyway, I’m running late (by no fault of my own, understand), she’s running hot and the next thing I know, I’m asking for pain meds so I can go to sleep and I am informed:
- Pain meds have been discontinued from my case
- The only meds available for distribution are a laxative and some Vit K.
What?! I have been getting pain meds fairly consistently for 7 days and when I do, I continue to report a pain level of 6-7 and, during this same 7 days, nothing is being done to reduce my pain, I’m not being treated, I’m not getting antibiotics or any of that jaz which, under normal circumstances, would justify a reduction in pain meds. By 7 days, there really is very little, if any reason for the Dr. to take me off the meds. In fact, now I really starting to question what my file says. Does it say I’m drug seeking? I ask and really get no response (so that’s question number one, can I sit down in a room and go over my book/records, one at a time?)
At any rate, at this point it appears that the Dr. who has now gone for the day and isn’t returning calls, has made a pretty significant medical decision about my treatment without even speaking to me about it.
Again, it’s not about the decision she made, per say. I am sure she had a fantastic reason for making it. My problem is, I could tell from pretty early on (and it’d have to be early on, since she spent 4 or fewer minutes with me before coming to this conclusion) she had some kind of ‘beef’ with me. She made several comments about not being able to keep me in the loop because so much was unknown. Naturally, having just gotten back from this test that I had waited (and fasted) all day to get done, I was sitting there trying to drink a little and eat some, because I felt like crap and I made very little to no effort to call her on her BS.
(I realize this is all discombobulated, I’m sorry)
When I discovered that my meds had been yanked, that communication was not taking place and that the only meds I could continue was the laxative, which was already doing a really fantastic job at what it was designed to do, if you know what mean. Basically, I’d had it.
Had. It.
I called the old man and told him to head this way – I was checking out AMA. I told the nurse to get me ready to go. Everyone was pissed (including me and heck, maybe me even more!) when the overnight floor MD shows up. We had a long talk (including John) and I basically said I need to stay, I want to say, I’m sick, but if I do:
- Dr. K would NOT be writing my end of day orders anymore, period. I don’t trust her and I’d prefer to have her off the team all together, but *shrug*
- I want Dr. K talked to, at length, about why what she did was unacceptable. I want her reprimanded. A lot.
Tell me, old wise friends, what else should I do. I am livid! Even this morning, I am still livid!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m sooooo sorry you experienced this. My guess on why she discontinued your meds:
1)the liver breaks down medications. Sometimes, when your liver is bad they try to stop using pain meds.
2) After some procedures (surgery, biopsy, etc.) all medications are d/c’d and the dr. has to re-order them. They forget sometimes.
3) If something bad happens again ask to speak with the campus co-ordinator or the night supervisor. All hospitals have a nurse whos job is to run around and put out fires, helping advocate for the patients and work with the Dr. They have a lot more authority than a regular floor nurse and more experience with conflict.
Praying for you!
Amanda,
I totally get it – and I totally understand all 3 points. However, number 1 is, in my opinion, her only legit excuse and even then, it’s not the point that she stopped – it’s the point that she couldn’t tell anyone that she was or why she was (it goes beyond me).
Again, I don’t object to her making the decision – I do, however take HUGE exception to her making the decision without letting me (or anyone else, including my chart) know why…