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Just thought I'd post something on my hospital experience. Two weeks ago I had a consultation with a surgeon at the provincial govt hospital under which my suburb is registered. I was referred there because my GP thought I had Gallstones. My cholesterol was 5.89 (AND THIS WAS WHILE I WAS NPO) and my bp was 142 / 97. I don't know what it is now since I have taken meds and changed my diet but yeah, to continue... The surgeon I was sent to turned out to be someone who really just didn't care. Aside from being rather weak in the language of English he also suggested that my illness was psychosomatic and that may I was just having a panic attack. I told him: "Doc, check my file. I haven't been to a hospital in nearly ten years. I have not been this ill for a decade. The common flu or bug I handled with home remedies because I hate hopsitals - why would you claim that it's all in my head if this is the case. My folder is barely a page long." Mortified and a bit irritated the doctor decided to check my symptoms and lo and behold my right side was tender. He put me on an ultrasound waiting of (wait for this) 2 MONTHS!!! I was furious. I was in extreme pain, struggling to breathe and I had severe chest pains and this guy was telling me to WAIT for 2 MONTHS. At least he had me take a blood test as well - which was one point in his favour but he still persisted; "But you don't have jaundice, and you look really healthy. You've even lost weight - are you sure you're sick?" I almost strangled him! Well as it stands I have six weeks between now and my ultrasound appointment and in the meantime I am SUFFERING. Chills all the way from my stomach up to my throat, pain around the upper right quadrant of my abdomen whenever I do something excessive like lift my legs when I walk or exercise. It's terrifying. Lord knows how many times I thought I would die, hemmorage or worse, get a heart attack (and I don't even have heart problems) I have dropped a whopping 25 kilograms since November last year and I am now 86kgs, only 16kgs away from my optimum weight of 70kgs. As happy as I am about this I am concerned about the healthcare professionals we are stuck with.
I understand that they are human. I understand that they are people that can get ill from overworking just like the rest of us. I understand every human issue. BUT STILL - show a bit more compassion won't you?
4 likes, 38 replies
debbie89808 tamsyn59552
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angela72602 debbie89808
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tamsyn59552 debbie89808
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debbie89808 angela72602
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angela72602 debbie89808
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debbie89808 angela72602
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tamsyn59552 debbie89808
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anita03601 tamsyn59552
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I am lucky that I am not in the pain as others have described on here but still have all the referred aching pain down most of the left side of my body from the neck down to the foot.
Hope that you get sorted out soon.
tamsyn59552 anita03601
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Jennifer28269 tamsyn59552
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pattino Jennifer28269
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tamsyn59552 Jennifer28269
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debbie89808 pattino
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Mrs.Nicks tamsyn59552
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I was in the same situation about 2 years ago. So totally feel your pain (literally!!!).
At one stage I was even referred to a Psychologist. They made out it was all just in my head. Disgusting how ignorant people can be! Frustratingly my ultrasound did not show my stones. Luckily my GP fought by my side the whole way. Eventually managed to get a Endoscopic Ultrasound and they found the stones. With the amount of Emergency Room admissions they decided to take me into surgery a few days after to have my gallbladder removed.
Having been through all this, my only advise would be to keep on at them and don't suffer quietly at home. If you are in a lot of pain, get seen quick whether it's emergency department or your family doctor. They need to be able to see how much this is effecting you to finally do something about it. I wanted to shove my ultrasound picture of the stones in my consultants face and say, show that to your psychologist!!! It's so true what they say - the person who shouts the loudest...
I wish you the best of luck! I know how frustrating it is. Feel free to PM me if you need any advise.
Hannah
debbie89808 Mrs.Nicks
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Mrs.Nicks debbie89808
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It is appalling that they left you with no pain medication. I am always pumped full of Morphine when I am admitted, so I can't even BEGIN to imagine the pain you have to bear without so much as an Asprin as you mentioned. I must admit, it wasn't till around the 10th admission to the ER that I was finally listened to and taken seriously. I almost felt the need to make a fuss while in hospital to get someone's attention and seen to.
Please excuse my ignorance on this but is dyskinesia similar/same thing as SOD (Sphincter of Oddi Disorder)? I remember a Surgeon discussing it with me, later I found out that some medical practitioners don't even believe in SOD/or hadn't heard of it... Always a worry!
Thanks.
debbie89808 Mrs.Nicks
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Biliary Dyskinesia is where the gallbladder doesn't contract properly for various reasons. My GI consultant feels that mine is sludged up, inflamed and scarred, so just doesn't work. My surgeon said it is difficult to distinguish between SOD and Biliary Dyskinesia but first they take away the gallbladder - if the pain continues then it is SOD - but please God don't let it be the latter.
It sounds as if I have some serious pestering to do at A & E as I've only been twice but the way this pain is going I will be revisiting soon.
I can't believe how they can leave someone in so much pain - 2 years ago they actually admitted me with a fraction of the pain I am in at the moment because they suspected my gallbladder - now they couldn't care less.
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