Not doing so great. Here’s the thing. They booted me out of the hospital way too early. When I got there, the first thing was the surgeon didn’t even know what procedure he was doing on me. Thought it was just the straight panniculectomy and I had to TELL him I’d paid him 5g for the full meal deal. Then they were telling me they didn’t have a room to book me into after surgery and I’d probably go back to Day Surgery right after. Which is just a stinky old ward that’s used as a holding area to process day patients. Right.
So after surgery (I didn’t crash in recovery, just had blood pressure that held in for two days at around 79/38) I was back in a stretcher in Day Surgery and the next two days all I heard was how I wasn’t supposed to be there and I’d be discharged right away. So I’ve got low pressure, and two drains that are filling up like crazy. Dr. comes in and says don’t worry, we’ll get you a regular bed for the second night. We like to see your drains at 30cc’s a shift. I’m draining more like 5-600 on the left and about half that on the right and I have a major HISTORY with drainage problems. And I'm running a fever. Good plan to keep me in, and keep the drains in. Then another day of how I should be there from nurses that wouldn’t even bring me a face cloth. And my genitals are purple. Did I mention that?!?! I finally lost it in the afternoon and started to cry when they told me that one too many times and I’d been behind a curtain in the back of the room all day. You know what happens when you complain to nurses right?
So then the next day in comes his resident. I said so did you get all the scar? She said he got all but about an inch. Ok. Good. Then she says we’re taking out the drains and discharging you. I’m like WHAT?!?!?!?! Yup. He’d rather drain you manually with a syringe than leave the drains in and risk infection which really means you’re a pain in the ***, we don’t have a bed for you and you’re outta here. So she rips out the drains. I said what about the fact that I’ve been running a fever? She said we’ll compare your white cell count to yesterday’s and see how you’re doing. I said WHAT white cell count from yesterday. Nobody drew blood yesterday! She said well then we’ll do it today and if its ok you can leave. I said do you REALIZE home is 6 hours away for me?!?!
Then the big man himself comes in. Proceeds to tell me how all natural medicine is just home remedy nonsense with no science behind it. I see. Thanks for your informed opinion but what about my drainage, my fever, my need for CARE and what?!?! He says go home to Regina, see me in three weeks and see your family doctor in the meantime. Well **** Lo. ANYONE, and most especially HE knows that no surgeon in Regina is going to want to treat me for HIS surgery and I’m going to damn well need surgical care because of the drainage issues. And without further ado, I was out.
So… I’m now home with purple genitals, swelling so sever in my thighs it has literally busted apart the bandage material. I can’t even describe how it did this but I can’t even separate the glue and bandage from my skin its like bonded to it and penetrated the tissue. I have huge pockets of fluid on top of each thigh and I’m headed for emergency. I don’t have effective pain management and extra strength Tylenol isn’t cutting it.
Oh, and he didn't get ANY of that scar he mentioned as a btw.
I'm not doing so good. So please continue to pray. I'm very, very worried about this drainage issue.
Oh Hubs, that is just a nightmare, I am so sorry I really don't know what to say, I'm beside myself here. What hospital did you go to, or should I say butcher shop... my stars.
Hon, your post brought tears to my eyes.... you are certainly in my prayers
Oh Hubs,
I'm so sorry to hear of all of your complications. How dare a hospital with any ethics send you away so quickly and with so many issues. It sounds like after you start feeling better, and get all healed up you need to find yourself a good lawyer. Document everything they say and did or did not do, hun... you'll need it. That dr and hospital sound negligent to me. To send you away without even antibiotics and pain meds.... unethical if you ask me. And here to think I had it pretty bad. Still I wish my last meal wasn't in MARCH.
Hugs and prayers being sent your way,
Sharmel
So, afternoon at emerg. With the exception of a first year resident who told me the problem was I should have just learned to be happy as I was and not had the surgery and that my problem is pain management and I need morphine, I got good attention. There is no plastic surgeon on call this weekend but the other doctors and on call general surgeon agreed I need an abdominal ultrasound and any drainage will be done while in the scan room with the doctors hands guided by the imagery. They changed my dressing. The nurses were wonderful. They all took turns expressing disdain for the whole damn mess. So they have to bring in a special technician for this and the radiologist so I go back in the morning. At least I know I’m clean and headed for appropriate treatment. The surgeon commented that randomly inserting a syringe to drain blood offers an opportunity for infection at every single insertion and in his view is absolutely no less threatening than leaving the damn hemovac bags in. But I knew that. It was good to be validated.
OMG! This is outrageous!! I am sorry you had to go through all this hubs! And I agree with the other ladies,, you definetly should see a lawyer!! Sue the he** out of them!!
Meanwhile, I am glad that you got what seems to be decent care! I pray to God that all goes well and you start feeling better soon!
Oh Hubs, I don't even know what to say about this except it sucks majorly! Use your anger and indignation to help you get through this and get well. You are so strong and intelligent. Thank God you know your own body and aren't willing to just be ignored. And I'm sure it was wonderful to have the nurses validate what you've known all along. Geez Louise woman, you deserve better!
I'm sitting at my desk which is a good thing (instead of using the laptop beside my bed). I've spent the past two days at the hospital, today all morning, and go back in an hour.
I have three accumulations that are going to be drained this afternoon. One at the groin and the other two on both of my sides around my waist. They are bloody accumulations but still fluid (meaning they haven't turned to full clots yet) and the drainage may have to be repeated multiple times over the weeks to come but this is the correct process.
I'm really uncomfortable because these drainage accumulations are causing intense pressure but that should be more comfortable later this afternoon.
I'll have plenty of time to be vocal when I'm feeling better.
Taking legal action in Canada is NOT EVER like it is in the U.S.. Because of our legacy of socialized health care the 'old boy' protectionist thing kicks in and if you can't fine at least three other doctors who are specialists in the same field to categorically state they would have treated differently you don't have a case. Now the fact that this is an 'out of province' physician may mean he won't benefit from that protectionism. But if it was a local guy, unless you suffered loss of life or limb you'd be SOL.
You know, as I read this, I'm just pissed and in tears. I'm upset for you Hubs and how you've been (mis)treated. I don't get it. I don't have words to express myself right now. I just want you to know you are in my prayers.
Hugs to me? Now that's amazing. You are going thru so much. My heart just aches when I think about it. I was driving to work this morning and started thinking about your situation again. I just get so angry when I think about how we can be treated by medical 'professionals' not EVERY medical professional, but some - like we as people who have struggled with weight, etc. don't deserve to be treated professionally, ethically, etc. I personally have been very fortunate, but it breaks my heart and pisses me off that one of my 'sisters' in this deal is going thru this. Just take care of yourself and keep us posted.
So my new belly button just blew a gasket. I'm draining profusely. Damn. Just this past half hour it started.
I saw my family doctor today and is she PISSED!!! She got the report from the radiologist at emerg yesterday and the report said the radiologist won't touch me without at miminum an Operative Report from the surgeon stating some detail about the actual procedure he did. Everyone here is so pissed that this man sent me home with no drains, no care instructions, no follow-up ARRANGED with someone local. Nothing. My doctor said 'how am I supposed to even make a responsible referral to a plastic surgeon here to pick up your care when I have nothing to go on from the surgeon?!?'
I'm trying to keep focused on how lucky I am to be alive and to be recovering. But you know, really...
hubs update!
I really don't know what to say, I'm beside myself here. What hospital did you go to, or should I say butcher shop... my stars.
