Errors in hospitals

Thank you all for sharing your healing process.
I would like to share one of very many bubbles from my journey of before and after PM because it just may help someone. My surgery for PM on 11/22/10 @ 10:00 am was painless.
On 11/23/10 @ 8:30 am my surgeon Dr. P. checked the follow up X-ray, everything was in place looking good and I did`t have a fever so I was preparing to go home. Everything changed when @ 10:00 am the Medtronic technician interrogated the PM and informed me that one of the leads is not working. Another surgeon Dr. S. came and very calmly let me know that.....and he will be the one doing the corrective surgery today @ 3:00 pm. A very heavy brick landed in my stomach, tears would not stop. He was in authority, my flesh was ready to react with cynicism as I was failing to overcome my disappointment. At that moment I realized that I was getting ahead of God. After surrendering my anger to God I was able to wait. Waiting increased my strength. I asked to see copies of all my tests and records before I would make a decision to have second surgery. I was not requesting because I had medical knowledge, but within minutes everything & I mean everything had change. Chaos for two hours in the hallway outside my room became my victory. They were missing the test to show and explain the need for corrective surgery. Test was redone 3 more times showing everything in place and working. Ask questions please!
Ela

2 Comments

Very important to ask

by Mongee - 2010-12-18 08:12:21

I also learned that it is VERY important to ask questions of your Dr. and of the hospital. Also, when you are admitted to the hospital, have someone with you as much as you can, to make sure after surgery, that the right meds are being given. Our whole family now has someone with them all the time in the hospital, even when having a baby. Better safe than sorry. Glad everything worked out.

I totally agree ....

by Pookie - 2010-12-19 01:12:36

Ela. Thank YOU so much for posting this. It’s sad, but true, that we, as patients, have to be on our toes at all times these days....anything can happen.

We ALL should be requesting to see our medical records - why??? to show the doctors that we want (and have the right) to do so, because they can make mistakes, it happens; it happens all the time.

It happened to me. I’m lucky to be alive today.

I’ve learned not to put all my faith and my life into someone else’s hands. This is not to scare people, but you just never know....for example, I was almost given the wrong medication when I was in the hospital, I was SO doped up, (as I had 4 surgeries within 10 days for my pacer) but thank goodness my husband was there at the time and said "that doesn’t look like the pill Karen usually gets" - the nurse then realized she had made a mistake!!!! If my husband wasn’t there, what would have happened to me????

I was in the hospital for 10 days, which is a very long story for another day, but please take Ela’s and Mongee’s advice everyone and always ask questions and better yet, try and have a friend or family member with you at all times.

We all make mistakes, right?  Well, so do nurses and doctors - because we’re all human:)  It happens.

Pookie

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