| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| NotQuiteJuneCleaver |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 06:47:26 AM
I'm back. It is a lovely, rainy Saturday here.
I will spare you the details of my surgery for fear of boring you. I would actually have to make up something in order for it to be an interesting story. I do have a couple of bits that might help you if you are considering this or any other surgery or procedure that will land you in a hospital for more than 24 hours.
Disclaimer: If you are a healthcare professional I mean no disrespect whatsoever. I could not do your job. I can tend to people I love all day long. But not strangers. NO WAY. For the most part everyone that entered my room was very sweet and kind, but they needed some lessons in using their time more effectively. NO way it takes 1.5 hours to order an egg and piece of toast. NO way it takes over an hour to walk 50 feet with a prescription and one paper for me to sign. There was almost no one else on my wing. I looked as I walked around. All the room's doors were swung open and the beds were empty. So NO excuses.
These hints are pertaining to hospital stays in general.
1. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. We all know this but it especially pertains to a situation where you can be ignored or forgotten if you are too compliant. As I came to in the recovery room, the first thought in my head was we are not going to repeat my stay when I had my hysterectomy. I WILL NOT stay in here 6 hours. THEY WILL MOVE ME TO A ROOM. So that was my goal. To see just how fast I could aggravate them into finding me a room. Now I realize it is not the nurses in recovery who call the shots and I realize it is their nerves I was getting on, but nonetheless, it was my tummy with four new puncture wounds and I wanted to be treated like I was the only one there. Selfish? Yes. Proud? No. Effective? Absolutely. So they kept practically screaming at this poor moaning man next to me to use his pump, meaning the morphine pump he was hooked up to. USE THE PUMP. USE THE PUMP. Which by the way was getting on my nerves. So I say HEY! Where's MY pump.I am told I don't NEED a pump. HUH??? How do they know? So every time they yell at him to USE THE PUMP. I yell back IF I HAD A PUMP I WOULD USE IT! So long story short, I stayed in recovery about 45 minutes. Granted I didnt get a real room straight away, but I was moved back to a day surgery room where I could be with my husband and son.
2. When the doctor tells you that you can have something to eat besides jello after having not eaten a morsel since the night before at 7, and the nurse tells you she will go order you some breakfast and it will be right up, follow up on that. Finally I crawl out of bed, husband asking me if I want him to go check on it, me saying NO, I will go. So here I traverse down to the nurses station on my floor. I stand there for about 15 seconds when the woman finally looks up. I say "Hey, where is the kitchen?" She says "On the first floor, why?" I say "Because I am going down to make myself some eggs and toast." All this time I am thinking to myself I am probably really close to getting a psych consult. "You cant do that!" she says with this look of panic on her face. I say "Fine, then you better find out where the ones you ordered AN HOUR AGO are. And they best not be cold." I am not happy when I am that hungry. Oddly in about 5 minutes my breakfast arrived. Nice and hot. Just like I like it.
3. When the doctor comes around and tells you that you may go home and the nurse will be around in about 30 minutes with your prescriptions and papers to sign. WATCH THE CLOCK. After an hour has passed. Walk down to the nurses station AGAIN. Demand they take the heplock out of your hand. The same heplock you told them you didnt need because you would not be needing any intravenous drugs. If you stand there with a look of sheer anger on your face, they will immediately, at the nurses station, take it out. Then you very firmly tell them if they are not in your room with a wheel chair by the time you get your shoes on, you will walk yourself out, they will get their butts in gear. 'But your prescriptions!" they say. To which you reply "I will ask Dr. B to call them in when I call to tell him how long I had to wait to be released and how long I waited for food." Just be sure to walk close to the wall because they might run you over with the wheelchair in order to beat you to the room.
Hope these little hints help you.
I am happy to be home, though food is not settling very well with me. Dr. B told me to eat bland for 4-5 days. I dont know what I thought that meant but pork kebabs are not bland, in case you were wondering. So I spent most of the evening in the bathroom kinda ill. I suppose I will get out my dictionary and be sure I know what exactly bland means before I eat anything else. But, the kebabs were DELISH!
Have a great weekend. Husband is making steaks for everyone (but me) today. I am having a baked potato ONLY. I figure bland may also pertain to the color of food, so I am not taking any chances.
http://www.notquitejunecleaver.com
There is immeasurable value in what I do. I won't ever believe otherwise. |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sewgirlie |
Posted - Jul 31 2007 : 7:48:55 PM
Glad you are home! Sorry about the little inconveniences like no food and no one to let you leave! :) |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 11:29:29 PM
Good for you!! Glad you're back home recuperating. And glad that you gave the nurses some lessons in good patient care! Had my own gall bladder attack on Sunday at 5 AM. Seems I passed a gall stone which was not much fun. I have to follow up with the doctor tomorrow to see if they're going to do surgery.
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| Cheryl |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 7:28:39 PM
Hi Susan, You made me laugh out loud! I am glad you are home.
Cheryl :) |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 08:53:50 AM
Hi, Susan. Sounds like you were the hospital's customer from hell! I do mean customer, too, because I noticed when my father in law was in the hospital for what turned out to be his final illness that the hospital management seemed to be applying the same money-saving staff reduction policies that my big-box retailer employer had implemented. In my opinion, allowing health care to be handled entirely by for-profit corporations is one of the worst mistakes our country has made. Just look at the current thread about the troubles someone (mikesgirl?) is having getting care for her mother. This is not how a democracy should treat its citizens. Sorry, that was my preachy moment for the day.
About the food, my husband came home from the hospital after gall bladder surgery and found that someone had sent him a bag of pistachios as a get well present. Well, he ate the whole bag and that probably set back his recovery by several days! Hasn't been too crazy about pistachios since then. Common sense goes out the window when we're really hungry, doesn't it? |
| Utahfarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 6:44:06 PM
So glad you hear you're home and mending! Prayers for a speedy recovery.
Farmgirl hug,
Patricia
check out my etsy site http://ThePlayfulFarmgirl.etsy.com
Take me home, country roads |
| jo Thompson |
Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 5:45:46 PM
Sorry your stay was so terrible! I work in recovery two days a week, I have a pretty good picture of what your stay was like!
No one would want my job, most of my time I take care of people who have no idea what to expect when they wake up from a surgery........ we don't feed anyone afterwards, and if we did they would be vomiting on their way out the door or on their way home. We don't expect people to use a pain pump at all in recovery. We give lots of drugs until people close that two hour window when the pain subsides.
Alot of people have alot of unrealistic expectations and want to be pampered like a child. I try to hold hands, console people, help their pain, but I often have two very, very uncomfortable crying patients, sometimes even CRAZY patients. There are times when they are emerging from anesthesia they are hitting and slapping me, swearing. It often depends on the quality of anesthesia they received or how they felt when they went under anesthesia. I take care of critical, almost dying patients and happy go lucky ones.
No one has any idea how awful or gratifying being a nurse is. We often have lunch at the end of our shifts, our bladders are shot from not being able to urinate......
I've been an ER nurse, recovery nurse, and flight nurse. Hospitals have cut back on the people that fill your prescriptions, doctors don't completely fill out your paperwork so that we're chasing our tail. There's no one to deliver the food and we aren't allowed to go pick it up. I offer no excuses for how you were treated that day. I just know that sometimes I feel like I've let people down and it's really not my fault.
Everyone should make taking care of yourself a HUGE priority. In ten years, 50% of my co workers will be out of this field, (I just turned 50) and I don't know who will be taking care of me when I'm old. Honestly, who would want to be a nurse anymore?
So get your colonoscopies now. Eat a high fiber diet, lose weight so you don't develop diabetes. Get your mammograms. TAKE REALLY good care of yourself so no one else has to.
Sorry! I wrote so much! I've been to countries where you die from a wrotten appendix, we are still a very lucky lot!! jo
"life is drab without a lab"
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| DaisyFarm |
Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 11:25:56 AM
Oh boy I hate hospitals. My room mate and I used to play "guess the soup"...and there were days we honestly didn't know. So after five days of fasting on an IV, they decide I don't need my gallbladder out right away and consequently, I can eat. So what's the first meal they send up to me? A big greasy cheeseburger and fries. I signed myself out!
|
| Phils Ann |
Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 10:36:37 AM
Susan, I'm sorry it was that bad... but have to say your guidelines are hysterical. I'm the totally compliant type until the pain is bad... then, watch out.
Ann
Sairy Hill Thicket
There is a Redeemer. |
| doglady |
Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 06:18:42 AM
Hi Susan,
A bland diet would be like soup, mash potatoes, non-spicy, non-greasy. You may not be able to tolerate greasy food for several months or you might end up in the bathroom a lot. Hope you feel better.
Tina
The dogs own the house but the people pay the mortgage!
www.kennelcreations.com |
| Carol Sue |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 9:29:06 PM
Susan, read your expert opinions and had him in stiches. WE have had our major share of hospital episdoes. Oh how very true what you wrote. Funny!!!!
Enjoying life. |
| Ronna |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 2:22:12 PM
Susan,
I'll remember your instructions when I go have my gall bladder out-which should have been done a year ago. Have a big ol stone that I'm sure isn't shrinking. Surgeon told me many procrastinate and end up in Emergency, so I hope I don't wait that long. Haven't been able to coordinate with my husbands work in Alaska schedule, so think I'll have my daughter take me and spend the first night here just in case I have a problem-which I don't anticipate. She can go to the thrift shop while I'm in surgery :)
I was at UCLA for surgery some years ago and the gal next to me had a liver transplant. For some reason, one day she asked for a turkey sandwich and for the next two weeks got 4 turkey sandwiches every lunch after that, plus a regular tray. That day, she was going out to lunch and they sat there untouched.
I think that was the surgery (thoracic outlet) when they charged for a extra large jock strap on my bill. Sheeessshhhh
Glad you didn't have to stay long and are recovering okay.
Ronna |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 1:36:38 PM
I had my hubby go get me a turkey sandwich after my surgery. He was much more prompt at delivery! Glad this is over and you can get well and enjoy more foods. Here is what I have found after 4 years since my surgery - if I eat a lot of fatty foods, my liver now has to do all the breakdown work, and I sometimes visit the potty a lot! Word to the wise! Get well soon!
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 1:22:52 PM
glad that you are doing better. hope you heal up real quickly.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 1:07:03 PM
I LOVE that you are so spunky Susan!! I am the quiet one who gets ignored in that situation..not the best thing for sure!
I am so glad you are home now...I hope you find something tasty that is bland enough.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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| Alee |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 11:55:25 AM
It's the truth though! Hospitals are bad about losing food for patients! When I was in the hospital with Nora they told me that dinner would be served between 5:30 and 6. At 6:30 I called and asked where it was, they said the lady was making her rounds and it should be there soon. Well they had changed what room I was in so when the lady went to deliver it to my old room and no one was there, she assumed I was discharged. So at 7pm I called and asked where my food was at and the nurses had no clue that I hadn't eaten. So at 7:30 the finally got me some food but I couldn't eat it because it had pork in it- so I finally got a sandwich around 8pm! I was starving!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Nance in France |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 10:55:44 AM
Welcome back, Spunky! After reading your post I am sure that nickname fits. So glad you are on the road to recovery and that hubby was home, too! Nance |
| mima |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 09:19:38 AM
Susan! You crack me up!!!! I wish I had your gutsiness! I'm such a chicken and a pushover! You go girl! Hope your on the mend really fast! |
| NotQuiteJuneCleaver |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 08:46:47 AM
Oh Kim...I so would love to see you!!! Jerry leaves to go back to Tunisia on Monday afternoon...please come see me soon. I will be up there on Wednesday to get my staples out...maybe we could have lunch or something. Maybe I will be up to a chicken salad sandwich from Julianne's by then!
http://www.notquitejunecleaver.com
There is immeasurable value in what I do. I won't ever believe otherwise. |
| The Handmaiden |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 08:36:10 AM
Susan - Color me sad since I picked you some zinnias from my mother's garden and then completely missed you at the hospital. Color me happy that you are well enough to post and eat, even if it is bland. Thanks for the hints! I found all you said to be too true from our stays in the hospital with my daughter. "the patient" or family must ask for what is needed, and you're right sometimes with force. Inquiring what they are doing and giving you is also a good idea. Anyway, rest, rest, rest and be well soon!!!
"Faith shall finish all that Hope begins."
joan walsh anglund |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 07:50:11 AM
Glad you are the road to recovery. A bumpy one at that. They say the meek shall inherit the earth but unless they speak up LOUDLY they will never get out of the hospital. MB
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"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 06:55:44 AM
Susan,
Glad you are home and on the road to feeling better. BUT!!!!! I CAN'T EAT PORK RIBS ON A GOOD DAY WITH NO SURGERY. So stick with the toast, and soup and oatmeal, and poached eggs, NO NO GREASE!!
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
