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Post by lisa813 on Aug 24, 2014 9:56:33 GMT -5
I had to have 2 PICC lines put in. The first was hitting a nerve so they pulled it so same spot in each arm and my God the pain I'm having in my arms straight through the muscle. It's been a week since the first one is out and 2 days the second and it seems it gets more painful as each day. Other problems/questions I could use help with... 1. Itchy skin! Oh boy healing is really itching that I found myself scratching in my sleep and thought I scratched something off/open 2. Does anyone take nexium everyday? In the hospital they were giving me Prilosec and then sent me home without any mention. I had really bad reflux yesterday so my hubby went and got me nexium. Others have told me I should be taking 1, even 2 a day. Just want to know what everyone else thinks. Thanks  Lisa |
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Post by Joanne on Aug 24, 2014 10:14:27 GMT -5
I've had PICC lines and drains from a few surgeries. They were annoying, but not painful the way you're describing. Does it look like they might be infected? Look for any redness, warmth, etc - and monitor your temperature. I think some annoyance, and maybe soreness is expected, but they shouldn't be that painful.
Are you itching around your incisions, or all over? Are you on narcotic pain reliever? Itchiness can be a side effect of that, if you are overall itching, especially on your upper body and face, which is where it most often hits.
You should be on a PPI / acid reducer. I'm very surprised you werent sent home with one. Reflux is one of the most common early post-op complaints. It gets better in time, but you will definitely need some medicine to help.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Aug 24, 2014 11:06:28 GMT -5
Switch to generic omeprazole and take 20mg am and 20mg pm. Way cheaper than Nexium, which is not available in generic form yet.
Prilosec is omeprazole, but you don't have to buy the brand name Prilosec. You can buy generic omeprazole.
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 24, 2014 13:38:37 GMT -5
Switch to generic omeprazole and take 20mg am and 20mg pm. Way cheaper than Nexium, which is not available in generic form yet. Prilosec is omeprazole, but you don't have to buy the brand name Prilosec. You can buy generic omeprazole. I'm gonna ask the doc Monday why I wasn't sent home on it and have him give me a script for it Lisa |
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Post by newyorkbitch on Aug 24, 2014 13:39:33 GMT -5
You don't need a scrip for omeprazole.
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 24, 2014 13:41:04 GMT -5
I've had PICC lines and drains from a few surgeries. They were annoying, but not painful the way you're describing. Does it look like they might be infected? Look for any redness, warmth, etc - and monitor your temperature. I think some annoyance, and maybe soreness is expected, but they shouldn't be that painful. Are you itching around your incisions, or all over? Are you on narcotic pain reliever? Itchiness can be a side effect of that, if you are overall itching, especially on your upper body and face, which is where it most often hits. You should be on a PPI / acid reducer. I'm very surprised you werent sent home with one. Reflux is one of the most common early post-op complaints. It gets better in time, but you will definitely need some medicine to help. I'm inly itchy where the incision is healing Only my arms hurt very bad. The first arm they hit the nerve and took out the second came out 2 days ago. It hurts to use and lift my arms and seems to be getting worse as days go by instead of better Lisa Attachments:
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Aug 24, 2014 14:36:27 GMT -5
If you were Dr. Greenbaum's patient (I think you were), you should have received the prescription for it when he gave you the prescription for Roxicet at your last appointment prior to surgery (at least that's the usual procedure.) Call the office, I would think they would give it to you immediately. I really hope you start feeling better soon!
Kelly
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Post by Joanne on Aug 24, 2014 15:24:35 GMT -5
Ouch.
I'm noticing the stripey, darker part. Is that raised? Does that itch? You might be allergic to the tape they had on your line? I've seen that before
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Post by illinids2 on Aug 24, 2014 18:57:29 GMT -5
Incisions that itch, while annoying, are a good sign.... means healing is in progress.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Aug 24, 2014 19:45:29 GMT -5
But if they itch way too much, you might be allergic to the tape or to the glue (if used), as Joanne said. I am.
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 24, 2014 20:08:42 GMT -5
If you were Dr. Greenbaum's patient (I think you were), you should have received the prescription for it when he gave you the prescription for Roxicet at your last appointment prior to surgery (at least that's the usual procedure.) Call the office, I would think they would give it to you immediately. I really hope you start feeling better soon! Kelly Yes, I am Dr. Greenbaums patient. I talked to him on the phone before and told him I wasn't given anything so I bought nexium and he was like, yeah you can take that not that you have to but take it for a while to avoid any problems. I think if didn't get a lot of stuff I should have cause the office got mad at me for canceling my first surgery cause I met with him and was expecting BPD/DS and he changed it to a distal bypass. When I got home I got concerned and canceled and said I wasn't moving forward till I spoke with him again and I refused to buy their $250 protein shakes and use my own. After that the office treats me very different. Tina still has not answered me in a week for the note I need for my husbands job and non of my follow up appts have been made. I don't even no who to call now if I have questions over feeling sick other than Dr. Greenbaum himself. So I'm sure there is a lot of information I'm missing Thanks, I feel a little better each day Lisa |
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 24, 2014 20:11:28 GMT -5
Ouch. I'm noticing the stripey, darker part. Is that raised? Does that itch? You might be allergic to the tape they had on your line? I've seen that before The darker line is where the tape was. The rest I woke up with the day after surgery and have had a week now. I spoke with Dr. Greenbaum he said the pain is from the blood being caught in the muscles and should get better a little at a time. I don't know why I had to end up looking like that but it really hurts bad. My arms don't itch it's my belly, the big cut that is healing and getting itchy as it does. Just didn't know if anyone had any trucks they used. Thanks Lisa |
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 24, 2014 20:12:16 GMT -5
Incisions that itch, while annoying, are a good sign.... means healing is in progress. Agreed! Just seeing if anyone had any trucks cause I woke up scratching and I don't want to rip anything Lisa |
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 24, 2014 20:13:38 GMT -5
But if they itch way too much, you might be allergic to the tape or to the glue (if used), as Joanne said. I am. I think it's just the normal healing. I just want to avoid scratching so was looking if anyone had any tricks they used Lisa |
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Post by historytracker on Aug 25, 2014 0:05:39 GMT -5
Itching is part of the process of healing. If you go to scratch - just make sure you wash your hands. I also took off the bandages and just let the shower run over the incision and the drains.
Then I laid on the bed with the blow dryer on cool setting and dried everything. Could not use powder yet, but the shower and feeling clean is a good feeling.
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Post by Joanne on Aug 25, 2014 6:11:32 GMT -5
Hopefully it will feel better soon.
I'm a full-time caregiver to my very sick son (cancer, not WLS). When he has itchiness caused by drugs, things on skin, etc. a Benedryl helps with the itching. With the post-op meds you're on I would ask about it first, but it could help.
Other things you could do are use an anti-itch sensitive skin soap - Aveeno makes a good Oatmeal one. You might also try an anti-itch cream cortisone cream. Hopefully it will heal quickly.
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 25, 2014 7:16:42 GMT -5
Hopefully it will feel better soon. I'm a full-time caregiver to my very sick son (cancer, not WLS). When he has itchiness caused by drugs, things on skin, etc. a Benedryl helps with the itching. With the post-op meds you're on I would ask about it first, but it could help. Other things you could do are use an anti-itch sensitive skin soap - Aveeno makes a good Oatmeal one. You might also try an anti-itch cream cortisone cream. Hopefully it will heal quickly. I am so very sorry to hear about your son. I have been a caregiver to my sick family as well and know how mentally and physically exhausting it is. My prayers and thoughts are with you and him. Lisa |
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michaelp
Junior Member
Posts: 65 
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: June 30, 2014
Surgeon: Dr Greenbaum
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Post by michaelp on Aug 25, 2014 9:48:33 GMT -5
I'm a Greenbaum patient too - they don't give you great/much information - this forum is MUCH BETTER. My emails were going into Tina's junk file. I too almost cancelled my surgery for insurance reasons (I'm a self pay) and she was VERY nice about it and agreed.
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 25, 2014 10:08:45 GMT -5
I'm a Greenbaum patient too - they don't give you great/much information - this forum is MUCH BETTER. My emails were going into Tina's junk file. I too almost cancelled my surgery for insurance reasons (I'm a self pay) and she was VERY nice about it and agreed. Very nice about you canceling? She started out very nice with me but once I refused to purchase the protein shake and canceled the originally surgery date because I wanted to remeet with Dr.Greenbaum with my husband she has basically stopped answering me or I get 1 or 2 word replies, literally, from my emails. I don't care anymore. I just need a note for my husbands job that I asked her for last week but I'll have to work on that today and other than that I doubt I'll have to deal with her anymore I just need to make my appts and ask Dr.Greenbaum all my questions. I just don't like how it makes you feel like you're a problem or you don't have all the tools you need and they're being held from you. I have an hour and a half trip each way down and I'm not financially in a great place so using my own protein shake is easier for my family and what I need to do and rescheduling I feel was the best decision because I'm not going under without knowing what is happening to my body. Yes, the forums seem to have WAY better and MORE information than anything I've gotten from the doctor or my nutritionist. I'm greatful Connie told me about it Lisa |
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michaelp
Junior Member
Posts: 65
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: June 30, 2014
Surgeon: Dr Greenbaum
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Post by michaelp on Aug 25, 2014 11:08:05 GMT -5
I assume you'll have your surgery at Virtua Memorial - I had such a BAD experience in ICU I hated to complain but I was encouraged by both my sister (a nurse practioner) and another friend who is a Trauma nurse. Lisa Shaw at Virtua is amazing and I sent her the letter that I sent in with the survey. My wife too was at least 1 hour away and I didn't want her there after the surgery and that was a BIG mistake - you need a patient advocate to watch over you to make sure you're getting the right treatment. Lisa Shaw said your pain level should never get to a 5 (1-10) and for the first 18hrs I was at an 8+ until a doctor came in and helped me. All the nurses from recovery to ICU said - "oh course you're in pain - you just had major surgery". I have a fairly strong personality in that if someone pisses me off I am quick to let them know, however while in the hospital I really felt afraid - like you were at their mercy, a very weird and unique feeling for me. FYI Lisa Shaw though great will give you info regarding your diet after the surgery - it doesn't apply to us DSers - use this forum!!!!!
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 25, 2014 13:18:09 GMT -5
I assume you'll have your surgery at Virtua Memorial - I had such a BAD experience in ICU I hated to complain but I was encouraged by both my sister (a nurse practioner) and another friend who is a Trauma nurse. Lisa Shaw at Virtua is amazing and I sent her the letter that I sent in with the survey. My wife too was at least 1 hour away and I didn't want her there after the surgery and that was a BIG mistake - you need a patient advocate to watch over you to make sure you're getting the right treatment. Lisa Shaw said your pain level should never get to a 5 (1-10) and for the first 18hrs I was at an 8+ until a doctor came in and helped me. All the nurses from recovery to ICU said - "oh course you're in pain - you just had major surgery". I have a fairly strong personality in that if someone pisses me off I am quick to let them know, however while in the hospital I really felt afraid - like you were at their mercy, a very weird and unique feeling for me. FYI Lisa Shaw though great will give you info regarding your diet after the surgery - it doesn't apply to us DSers - use this forum!!!!! OMG! you are the second person telling me this! I had my surgery on 8/18 and my husband is an hour and a half away. He stayed during surgery and till I got in my room and then I woke up and rushed him off because our son is 5 and was with a sitter all day and I was worried about him, WHAT A MISTAKE! The first 30 hours were pure HELL! I kept begging them for more medication and it's hard cause I'm allergic to pain meds but they put me on a morphine pump so they'd come in and yell at me to push my button and grab my hand, push it, and throw it back down telling me keep pushing it every 6 minutes. My teeth started chattering cause of the pain and my blood pressure was 204/94, I've never had high blood pressure in my life, I kept telling them please I need something more. Finally one nurse got me a shot of toradol but after that shift change and I had the most abusive nurse/helper team I've ever met. She took my cath out and I had to go to the bathroom and she insisted I go on the camode which was hurting my leg. I had back surgery and have perm nerve damage and the chair hurt really bad. I said can I please just sit on the toilet, it's another 3' away, she said no, either the chair or a bed pan. I said that's not happening with the pain I have so she said then they'll put the cath back in. 3 times I went threw this and was threatened with the cath. The incredible pain to get out of bed, ALONE, they provided NO help, just let me strain to get myself up, it kept raising my pressure more and more. Then I was told to walk, by myself, I said my leg goes out on me at home normally and I have bad pain in it now and am afraid it will and I will fall can I have a walker, they said no so instead left in bed. I woke up at one point and thought I was going throw up and pressed the buzzer for help. I couldn't reach the bucket so I started yelling, help, help, I need help. For 15 minutes I yelled for help as I watched 2 nurses at the station look at me, could see me clear as day and just ignored me. I even knocked things off the table trying to reach it and no one came. My pressure was through the roof I could feel my neck veins and my head ready to explode and finally after 15 minutes the helper walks in like nothing is happening and presses my morphine and then tells me to press it again saying they are busy with a man going south in another room. From Sunday midnight till Tuesday 7pm they refused to give me anything to even wet my lips. I had such bad cotton mouth I could hardly breath and it took till Thursday to get any better. Then Lisa came in and by this point several other people had been in and kept saying how bad they felt for me, the dietician and someone asking me if I had an advance directive, but Lisa says you should have been up walking by now, sitting in your chair and using your breathing machine. I started crying and said no one is helping me and I keep begging them. She went and got me a chair and tried to help me use the camode as again I was refused using the toilet but couldn't use it. She left me with a pillow in a chair but that was about it as the nurse fought her as well. I told the nurse I needed more pain medicine and she told me I was fine, she had been in there and saw me snoring. I said of course everyone keeps pressing my button but it's just knocking me out for short periods not helping the pain. So she yelled at me that she isn't the doctor and if he doesn't get back to her there's nothing she can do as she walked out like she always did. Then her assistant threw the pillow Lisa left me from across the room and hit me right in my stomach, I actually screamed out, mother fucker and she just walked out of the room. That night a new nurse Liz S. Came on and she was my ANGEL. As soon as she came in I said please can I please use the toilet and she was like of course and actually helped me get there. I kept asking if I was dreaming and she would giggle then I told her what happen and she was just shocked. She helped me get into my bed clothes so I wasn't so hot and up for a walk and I brushed my teeth and got ice chips and a cool towel for my head she helped me so much now I was crying that someone was finally helping me. It was truly like being in an abusive situation that you are fighting for your life. Sadly after Liz left it started again till I finally went to the 4th floor. The more I think about it the more I want to go further I to it with the hospital. I did leave a comment and award for Liz and they told me they'd call me today but I think they need to hear more. Really bad situation for people. I heard the woman in the room next to me overdosed on pain meds in ICU when doc greenbaum was in talking to her. Makes me happy I'm alive now that I think about it ;( Lisa |
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michaelp
Junior Member
Posts: 65
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: June 30, 2014
Surgeon: Dr Greenbaum
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Post by michaelp on Aug 25, 2014 14:00:14 GMT -5
I assume you'll have your surgery at Virtua Memorial - I had such a BAD experience in ICU I hated to complain but I was encouraged by both my sister (a nurse practioner) and another friend who is a Trauma nurse. Lisa Shaw at Virtua is amazing and I sent her the letter that I sent in with the survey. My wife too was at least 1 hour away and I didn't want her there after the surgery and that was a BIG mistake - you need a patient advocate to watch over you to make sure you're getting the right treatment. Lisa Shaw said your pain level should never get to a 5 (1-10) and for the first 18hrs I was at an 8+ until a doctor came in and helped me. All the nurses from recovery to ICU said - "oh course you're in pain - you just had major surgery". I have a fairly strong personality in that if someone pisses me off I am quick to let them know, however while in the hospital I really felt afraid - like you were at their mercy, a very weird and unique feeling for me. FYI Lisa Shaw though great will give you info regarding your diet after the surgery - it doesn't apply to us DSers - use this forum!!!!! OMG! you are the second person telling me this! I had my surgery on 8/18 and my husband is an hour and a half away. He stayed during surgery and till I got in my room and then I woke up and rushed him off because our son is 5 and was with a sitter all day and I was worried about him, WHAT A MISTAKE! The first 30 hours were pure HELL! I kept begging them for more medication and it's hard cause I'm allergic to pain meds but they put me on a morphine pump so they'd come in and yell at me to push my button and grab my hand, push it, and throw it back down telling me keep pushing it every 6 minutes. My teeth started chattering cause of the pain and my blood pressure was 204/94, I've never had high blood pressure in my life, I kept telling them please I need something more. Finally one nurse got me a shot of toradol but after that shift change and I had the most abusive nurse/helper team I've ever met. She took my cath out and I had to go to the bathroom and she insisted I go on the camode which was hurting my leg. I had back surgery and have perm nerve damage and the chair hurt really bad. I said can I please just sit on the toilet, it's another 3' away, she said no, either the chair or a bed pan. I said that's not happening with the pain I have so she said then they'll put the cath back in. 3 times I went threw this and was threatened with the cath. The incredible pain to get out of bed, ALONE, they provided NO help, just let me strain to get myself up, it kept raising my pressure more and more. Then I was told to walk, by myself, I said my leg goes out on me at home normally and I have bad pain in it now and am afraid it will and I will fall can I have a walker, they said no so instead left in bed. I woke up at one point and thought I was going throw up and pressed the buzzer for help. I couldn't reach the bucket so I started yelling, help, help, I need help. For 15 minutes I yelled for help as I watched 2 nurses at the station look at me, could see me clear as day and just ignored me. I even knocked things off the table trying to reach it and no one came. My pressure was through the roof I could feel my neck veins and my head ready to explode and finally after 15 minutes the helper walks in like nothing is happening and presses my morphine and then tells me to press it again saying they are busy with a man going south in another room. From Sunday midnight till Tuesday 7pm they refused to give me anything to even wet my lips. I had such bad cotton mouth I could hardly breath and it took till Thursday to get any better. Then Lisa came in and by this point several other people had been in and kept saying how bad they felt for me, the dietician and someone asking me if I had an advance directive, but Lisa says you should have been up walking by now, sitting in your chair and using your breathing machine. I started crying and said no one is helping me and I keep begging them. She went and got me a chair and tried to help me use the camode as again I was refused using the toilet but couldn't use it. She left me with a pillow in a chair but that was about it as the nurse fought her as well. I told the nurse I needed more pain medicine and she told me I was fine, she had been in there and saw me snoring. I said of course everyone keeps pressing my button but it's just knocking me out for short periods not helping the pain. So she yelled at me that she isn't the doctor and if he doesn't get back to her there's nothing she can do as she walked out like she always did. Then her assistant threw the pillow Lisa left me from across the room and hit me right in my stomach, I actually screamed out, mother fucker and she just walked out of the room. That night a new nurse Liz S. Came on and she was my ANGEL. As soon as she came in I said please can I please use the toilet and she was like of course and actually helped me get there. I kept asking if I was dreaming and she would giggle then I told her what happen and she was just shocked. She helped me get into my bed clothes so I wasn't so hot and up for a walk and I brushed my teeth and got ice chips and a cool towel for my head she helped me so much now I was crying that someone was finally helping me. It was truly like being in an abusive situation that you are fighting for your life. Sadly after Liz left it started again till I finally went to the 4th floor. The more I think about it the more I want to go further I to it with the hospital. I did leave a comment and award for Liz and they told me they'd call me today but I think they need to hear more. Really bad situation for people. I heard the woman in the room next to me overdosed on pain meds in ICU when doc greenbaum was in talking to her. Makes me happy I'm alive now that I think about it ;( Lisa Wow - I didn't tell you everything that went wrong but there was more but yours was worse than mine - these people need a law suite to fix them!!! |
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Post by lisa813 on Aug 25, 2014 14:11:07 GMT -5
OMG! you are the second person telling me this! I had my surgery on 8/18 and my husband is an hour and a half away. He stayed during surgery and till I got in my room and then I woke up and rushed him off because our son is 5 and was with a sitter all day and I was worried about him, WHAT A MISTAKE! The first 30 hours were pure HELL! I kept begging them for more medication and it's hard cause I'm allergic to pain meds but they put me on a morphine pump so they'd come in and yell at me to push my button and grab my hand, push it, and throw it back down telling me keep pushing it every 6 minutes. My teeth started chattering cause of the pain and my blood pressure was 204/94, I've never had high blood pressure in my life, I kept telling them please I need something more. Finally one nurse got me a shot of toradol but after that shift change and I had the most abusive nurse/helper team I've ever met. She took my cath out and I had to go to the bathroom and she insisted I go on the camode which was hurting my leg. I had back surgery and have perm nerve damage and the chair hurt really bad. I said can I please just sit on the toilet, it's another 3' away, she said no, either the chair or a bed pan. I said that's not happening with the pain I have so she said then they'll put the cath back in. 3 times I went threw this and was threatened with the cath. The incredible pain to get out of bed, ALONE, they provided NO help, just let me strain to get myself up, it kept raising my pressure more and more. Then I was told to walk, by myself, I said my leg goes out on me at home normally and I have bad pain in it now and am afraid it will and I will fall can I have a walker, they said no so instead left in bed. I woke up at one point and thought I was going throw up and pressed the buzzer for help. I couldn't reach the bucket so I started yelling, help, help, I need help. For 15 minutes I yelled for help as I watched 2 nurses at the station look at me, could see me clear as day and just ignored me. I even knocked things off the table trying to reach it and no one came. My pressure was through the roof I could feel my neck veins and my head ready to explode and finally after 15 minutes the helper walks in like nothing is happening and presses my morphine and then tells me to press it again saying they are busy with a man going south in another room. From Sunday midnight till Tuesday 7pm they refused to give me anything to even wet my lips. I had such bad cotton mouth I could hardly breath and it took till Thursday to get any better. Then Lisa came in and by this point several other people had been in and kept saying how bad they felt for me, the dietician and someone asking me if I had an advance directive, but Lisa says you should have been up walking by now, sitting in your chair and using your breathing machine. I started crying and said no one is helping me and I keep begging them. She went and got me a chair and tried to help me use the camode as again I was refused using the toilet but couldn't use it. She left me with a pillow in a chair but that was about it as the nurse fought her as well. I told the nurse I needed more pain medicine and she told me I was fine, she had been in there and saw me snoring. I said of course everyone keeps pressing my button but it's just knocking me out for short periods not helping the pain. So she yelled at me that she isn't the doctor and if he doesn't get back to her there's nothing she can do as she walked out like she always did. Then her assistant threw the pillow Lisa left me from across the room and hit me right in my stomach, I actually screamed out, mother fucker and she just walked out of the room. That night a new nurse Liz S. Came on and she was my ANGEL. As soon as she came in I said please can I please use the toilet and she was like of course and actually helped me get there. I kept asking if I was dreaming and she would giggle then I told her what happen and she was just shocked. She helped me get into my bed clothes so I wasn't so hot and up for a walk and I brushed my teeth and got ice chips and a cool towel for my head she helped me so much now I was crying that someone was finally helping me. It was truly like being in an abusive situation that you are fighting for your life. Sadly after Liz left it started again till I finally went to the 4th floor. The more I think about it the more I want to go further I to it with the hospital. I did leave a comment and award for Liz and they told me they'd call me today but I think they need to hear more. Really bad situation for people. I heard the woman in the room next to me overdosed on pain meds in ICU when doc greenbaum was in talking to her. Makes me happy I'm alive now that I think about it ;( Lisa Wow - I didn't tell you everything that went wrong but there was more but yours was worse than mine - these people need a law suite to fix them!!! They certainly need something. I'm gonna sit down and try to remember everything and write it out and then think about what to do. I'm waiting to hear from them too. Lisa |
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