Back story.. a few weeks ago .. after doing some weed pulling in the yard.. I experienced some shortness of breath and really not feeling well.. so I when into the house and check my blood pressure… heart rate is 120 + and diastolic is in the low 40’s.. for some reason I was having a HYPOtensive crisis… after some rest everything return to abt “normal range”.. I called my wife’s cardio office for appt.. end up with the “deluxe” stress test package a week later.. everything appeared normal. Go back to see the cardio doc in three weeks..
A few days later .. shortness of breath, chest discomfort.. pressure is 200/100 .. took it several times… took a shower, got dressed and told Barb that I think that I need to go the ER. I now appear to have a HYPERtensive crisis..
I get to the ER.. keep in mind that this local hospital, a fairly sizable hospital with a lot of cardiac services but was recently listed in a survey of 3000 hospitals by Consumers Report as the 12 WORSE for preventing hospital acquired MRSA & C-DIF… https://www.pharmaciststeve.com/?p=11181
I walk up the ER receptionist and told her my symptoms.. strangely enough… DID NOT get told to take a seat.. but .. COME ON IN.. a nurse took my pressure and it was in the 200/100 range.. my first thought was DAMN my blood pressure cuff is NOT BROKEN …
So into the ER room I go.. attached to automated BP cuff and Oximeter.. they take medication history… no drug allergies.. but told them I was allergic to PEAS, CARROTS, NUTS.. and other medical history.. I am in this room for 3-4 hrs.. and then they decide that they are going to admit me for 24 OBSERVATION … Keep in mind the last time that I was a over night pt in a hospital was SIXTY-ONE YEARS AGO and I was being admitted to one of the worse hospitals in preventing hospital acquired MRSA & C-DIF ..
So off I go to the “observation room” .. the ER nurse stated that she had ordered me a dinner meal for me and to expect it to be there about 5:30… I go to the room .. I have my Ipad and Iphone with me and getting ready to go surf the internet.. they tell me that the hospital’s internet system is down.. no problem.. I will just turn on the “hot spot” on my Iphone and everything will be good… the ATT IPhone .. has no service.. no phone, no text, no internet.. WTH ??? Come to find out.. some idiot has cut a MAJOR fiber optic line in western KY and some MAJOR CITIES in the midwest – had no ATT service.. So now I am have not only having a hypertensive crisis but now also internet WITHDRAWAL … In a hospital where I might acquire MRSA and/or C-DIF..
Abt 06:15 PM.. no meal.. so I buzz the nurse and inquire about my meal… she will check on it… 15-20 minutes later my meal arrives and as I lift the dome off of the food what to I find but some sort of shredded pot roast and a large pile of PEAS… & large pile of CARROTS and Cauliflower … Please note FOOD ALLERGIES !!!
I call the attention to the nurse about the error in my meal vs my allergies.. she says the kitchen closes in 15 minutes.. let me see what I can do.. she returns shortly with a small bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy … and asks.. “do you think that will be enough”.. the only thing I had had all day was a soda and a pack of peanut butter and crackers… She said that she had “boxed” turkey sandwich they had in the unit frig.. so cold turkey/bread sandwich and a bag of potato chips.. at least it said it was potato chips…but their taste would make Pringles considered gourmet food.
Came time for my night time meds… all but one of my meds.. they had done medical class SUBSTITUTION.. not take the medications that I normally take… they offered me three of my PRN meds – at the same time – that the DEA claims there is no valid medical use..
I didn’t finally get to sleep until 1 AM or so… and of course, they woke me up every couple of hours to take my pressure and draw blood.. and then at 7AM one of our PCP’s partners drops in with a cheery “GOOD MORNING”… on a good day.. I am not a morning person.. and so far this day was not going too well.. so at first .. I wasn’t especially cordial !
The good news.. is my cardiac enzymes were negative – no heart attack – all my other labs were “normal or negative” and I was discharged without acquiring MRSA or C-DIF. I had been hoping to extend that 61 yr record and taking it to my grave with me…but.. that goal has been trashed…
Filed under: General Problems
[…] My ONE DAY STAYCATION at our local hospital […]
After jaw surgery, the hospital served me up a steak. A dry, thick, small steak. I took a couple of pain pills and ate that sucker. 🙂
If you want to keep your stress levels down, when all the bills come, don’t open them right away. Let them sit on the table. Draw doodles on the envelopes. Indulge in some chocolate or french fries. Practice relaxation therapies. Tell yourself it’s only money. And then, get out the letter opener…
The last time I was in the ER/hospital, I tried to keep track of everything that was being done so I could match it up with the bill. I’m not sure I succeeded, but I did learn that my antibiotic came from France. 🙂
Well congrats on making it out alive!! My last time in the hospital gave me HA MRSA, which put me in ANOTHER hospital for six months, almost killed me, and caused multiple subsequent surgeries to “fix” the damage. When my daughter was hospitalized, the hospital was given a list of her food allergies, one being eggs. Guess what was for HER breakfast the next morning? A hard boiled egg!! Thank goodness I had come out of the bathroom just in time to take the thing out of her mouth!!
Just goes to show you that whenever a loved one is hospitalized, even for overnight observation, they need an advocate there with them at all times!! You are very lucky that you didn’t go to a hospital for 61 years, but for someone like me, who unfortunately gets hospitalized too many times to count, there are ALWAYS mistakes, and when you are sick and scared, you need someone else there to always watch over what is happening!!
I for one, am glad it was just a bad experience. We need your leadership, so keep an eye on that BP. <3
You survived Steve. Remember what Nietschke said. “Whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” After working in the profession for so many decades and a night’s stay in Noscosomial ID-Land, you should wear a cape.
You just THINK you got discharged without MRSA or C-diff. Wait for it….