Worst ER visit of my life.*UPDATE***

[gurs]

Been just a nightmare week...when I think things cant get worse, they sometimes often do.

Just been told  a week ago that the place I moved into 3 months ago has toxic black mold? lovely..they tested it and kicked me out immediately. Been feeling super duper ill and sinus burning/throat really aggravatedd now since they removed some of the moldy drywall because they thought it wasnt the "bad mold" Is there any good mold?

Anyways, decided to head to my ER because I was short of breath, and was concerned about a fungal yeast infection in my sinsues , and my immune system is super bad.
This lady doc came in and gave me the third degree about using the ER, and I explained all my other health conditions to her...SS/lupus..the whole nine yards. I also explained about the mold issue. She told me she would run labs and do a chest xray and that was it. I told her I wanted a CT scan of my sinuses because my ENT (who is on vacation) told me the only sure way to tell if you have infection in your sinuses, is via CT scan, and that labs wont indicate and infection. She refused so I just let it go. Laying there waiting for a few hours for results, she finally came back and said no signs of infection, but she was concerned about my slightly elevated Troponin levels (heart) so she wanted me admitted. I told her that I wanted a CT scan of my sinuses as well and she went off on me in the hallway, around tons of people..she told me she would  not do it, then I asked to speak with another doc, she said "NO" you cant, then I told her I was going to call my lawyer, she said "Go ahead"...was sooooo upset, was shaking and crying...told her I was going to call my cardiologist to see what he thinks before admitting me etc....nurses no help at all. My cardio doc said he was not overly concerned about my levels, but just to be safe, see one of his cardio docs in my hospital. I had to be admitted to see him...anyways, few hours later, saw him and he said he wasnt concerned as well. My EKG was norm...blah, blah, blah, and he couldnt figure out why ER doc would not run my CT scan. After that, decided to check myself out because no one was addressing my problem with my sinsues/head...Of course, I called the hospital next day to complain about this doc..they will investigate it...anyways...my question is..dont we have the right to see another doc?
I cant wait to talk to my rheumy about her either. She didnt even bother to run any autoimmune tests, maybe to see if Im flaring or something? no ANA, no SED rate, etc? I was mostly considerate with this doc as well...I bit my tongue and tried to keep from strangling her..seriously. A few people in the hall with me were very nice and chatting with me about what happend, and most agreed with me..

In the meantime..I still dont have my head issue addressed...dont want to go to another hospital either. Its not like I go in this one all the time and request things? I go in twice a year for something minor and thats it?

She probably raised my troponin levels and caused a darn heart attack in me..thats another thing..does anyone have this? i read in autoimmune it can be elevated?

thanks for listening dear friends,
I know im rambling.

Gursie

[SjoAmy]

Whatever an ordeal to go through!

Hope things turn out for you.  Take some time for you -- recover from a stupid ER.  Be good to you.  Try not to think of it until Monday.

[engy]

Oh Gursie! I am so sorry. I do not have any answers but I can offer thoughts and prayers.

Shame on some doctors for treating patients this way!

Hope you get some relief & have a new place to stay!

[CMNK12]

  Best way to handle that is to write to the administrator of the hospital...tell him/her of your experience. This usually gets things done, you can't be rude to patients today, not with spending cut backs . Patients are the consumer now. You can choose where you spend your health care dollars. Bad surveys determine how much money hospitals will receive from the government too. Hospitals need good scores to maximize the amount of funding they keep. Just a thought, sorry for your bad experience. CK

   The sad thing is... it only takes one bad person to ruin the image of a healthcare system. I have always said " you are only as good as your weakest link".

[slccom]

There is also the issue of liability if you do have a sinus infection that gets into your brain. Wrongful death suits don't usually turn out well for the hospital.

That ER doc needs to be fired. Chewing people out for coming to the ER isn't what you call "customer-friendly." Not to mention judgmental, which does not lead to good medicine.

Breathe. Long, deep breaths. Then put a picture of that doc on your dartboard and fire away!

Sharon

[ellenkerr]

Sorry you had to go through all of that.  No one likes going to the ER, but when we have to use that option, the last thing we need are

providers who don't provide considerate care.  I used to get sinus infections pretty frequently and my PCP would usually prescribe

a round of antibiotics to clear it up.  I had one time that my PCP wouldn't prescribe antibiotics for a sinus infection without seeing me and

her schedule would not allow her to see me within the next few days.  Not only was I in a lot of pain, I had to fly across the country on a

business trip in 2 days and I knew the cabin pressure and altitude would cause unbearable pain.  I explained this to PCP's office and was

just told there wasn't anything they could do.  I remembered that I needed some dental work done, so I got right in to my dentist and

he took xrays of my sinus and prescribed antibiotics in time for them to take effect before my flight!  Some times we just need to

go through another door!!!   Hang in there.

[cremer]

My father had a similar issue when he went to a UK hospital with heart pains. You can talk to someone in the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) and they help you fill out forms and get this issue resolved.

I don't know where you are based but I bet most countries have a similar service.

[gurs]

I contacted the patient satisfaction group at this hospital and talked with a very nice gal who said she would
look into this and contact the chief ER doc...Im sure they will just make a mention of it to her, and it will be done with.

I have antibiotics at home, but if my problem is yeast/mold, will make matters worse. I have severe systemic yeast anyways. I need to get it checked out..could also be inflammatory from the allergies.

Thanks for all the support and advice guys.

Gursie

[ktfabian]

Hi Gurs,

I'm so sorry you ran into such a  horrid doctor. I'm not sure where you're from, but in the US, you have the right to see a patient advocate. I'm not sure if one is in the hospital all the time, but I would call and see if they have one you can speak to.

I had a really bad experience about 10 years ago where I was given lousy treatment in the ER, admitted and given no treatment as patient. I finally decided to sign myself out an was given more grief by the staff.

I asked to see the patient advocate. By the time I was done explaining my complaints to him, I had a written apology from the hospital and the bill was  totally wiped out.

They're there to work on behalf of patients having difficulty, I would certainly ask if there is one that can help you.

I hope you feel better soon and don't have another visit like this with doctors who are supposed to help us, not make us feel worse than we did when we walked into the hospital!
Tracy

[gurs]

I think alot of ER docs are not trained on how to handle "autoimmune" patients. We are prob the hardest to figure out, and just not your standard emergency issues like they are used to. A few years ago I remember an ER doc came in and right away, kept stating that they really dont deal with autoimmune stuff, and I would need to contact my Rheumy..he kept saying this over and over again. I went in having major stomach pain and trouble breathing, feeling super ill...not autoimmune ill? its hard for us to figure out as well. We are scared and want to feel better....

I still have to get my sinus issues addressed. Trying to get in to see my ENT is hard...crazy..makes me so mad because If i would have had my CT scan, would have been easier. Im sure its mold related..prob a severe allergy or something and then set me into a flare,  If I dont have some type of infection, I will def contact the hospital and take this further..maybe a lawyer too? Its also not like I go into the ER all the time requesting tests? Last time i went in January, I felt super out-of-norm ill. I had a slight fever, sore throat, etc. I thought I might have the flu..they kept telling me "NO"  when I was there..did CT scans, chest xrays and was ready to go home, when the doc ran in and said that my nose/sinus culture indicated I did indeed have influenza virus? go figure?
I never get fevers so they think right away not infectious..Labs like WBC never show anything abnorm either..when I have infections too? I just think our bodies are so abnormal..not like healthy folks? I dont think
they should go by the labs anyways.

Thanks again guys.. I know I could count on you for support.

Gursie

[gurs]

we'll, I finally got in to see my ENT today...at least I wasnt losing my mind in all this. I told him about my ER visit etc and then told him how bad my head/throat felt. He looked and saw a blister on my vocal cord and said I prob have some type of shingle/herpes virus. Maybe in my sinuses too then. He said a CT scan  would not show this, but he gave me a script to have one done. He wants to start me on valtrex, but I tried it years ago and felt sicker on it. Just hoping this will clear on its own. Wish I could relax..all this stress just causes all this stuff to POP out doesnt it? no one understands again how much damage the stress can do to us.

Thanks again

Gursie

[gurs]

****UPDATE****

Ok, now Im really boiling. I explained that the ER doc refused to give me a CT scan of my sinuses and what a nightmare she was to deal with. I complained ,and hospital sent me letter explaining that this was not a necessary test etc...blah, blah, blah, even though I was having severe, head, sinus pain...explained my toxic mold issue, and also that I had a very poor immune system (no t-cells) immunodeficient, SS, Lupus.
Requested another doc, they refused to let me see one.

Anyways, finally had my CT scan by my ENT about a month ago after a bit of begging. Results came back a week later, and I couldnt understand them..didnt think anything of it. We'll, guess my ENT was on vacation and just called me yesterday. He stated that looks Like I might indeed have a fungal infection in my sinuses, or another type of infection, could be inflammation, but he said prob not. Im so mad right now..been suffering horribly with no treatment because the ER doc refused my CT scan in the first place? Im not letting this go. Going to contact the hosptial President and threaten legal action. IF the doc wasnt such a nightmare, I might have let it go, but the fact they kept blowing me off when I was miserable, screaming in pain, and she made me cry the entire 8 hours I was there..what do you think guys? I need your advice?

Now, I have to deal with trying to get my sinuses under control. My yeast seems to have gotten out of control over my body, even with daily diflucan etc. He said more steriods? are you kidding me? Im on enough of them.
Ughhhhhhh....always something right?

thanks for listening

Gursie

[quietdynamics]

****UPDATE****

Anyways, finally had my CT scan by my ENT about a month ago after a bit of begging. Results came back a week later, and I couldnt understand them..didnt think anything of it. We'll, guess my ENT was on vacation and just called me yesterday. He stated that looks Like I might indeed have a fungal infection in my sinuses, or another type of infection, could be inflammation, but he said prob not.

Now, I have to deal with trying to get my sinuses under control. My yeast seems to have gotten out of control over my body, even with daily diflucan etc. He said more steriods? are you kidding me? Im on enough of them.
Ughhhhhhh....always something right?

thanks for listening

Gursie

I'm not seeing why people are talking about an "attorney"?

Your own ENT said:  He stated that looks Like I might indeed have a fungal infection in my sinuses, or another type of infection, could be inflammation, but he said prob not.

Not exactly definitive. And that was a CT he had for a month? " my CT scan by my ENT about a month ago after a bit of begging."
So although you did not get the treatment at the ER you wanted...exasperating to you.
The ER doctor wanted you admitted, you said no...exasperating to doctor...and then signed yourself out. That is not something for legal recourse. As soon as you signed yourself out against their advice, you ended the hospitals liability.

I would be questioning the ENT if anyone, since he had the CT for a period of time? 
And pulled them out to review after your ER visit.
I would be wondering if he Rx'd just to cover his 'butter"?

[LadyDi]

Adding an attorney to the mix would only increase your stress levels, which will probably make you sicker.

My suggestion would be to get the appropriate medical treatmet for what was diagnosed on your CT scan. If the ENT who ordered the scan and had it sitting on his desk for too long can't treat you than get a copy of the scan on disk and take it to another doctor.

The only way for them to know if it is definitely a bacterial or fungal infection is to have it cultured.

One of the reasons for our rising medical costs is that we live in such a litigious (everyone suing their docs) society. The lawyers end up the richest in the end.

Good luck.




S

[anita]

I agree with several different points mentioned.  I don't see any legal recourse, since you left AMA and they did basic checks for acute emergency.   However, the ER doc seemed to be insensitive and rude...uncalled for in any circumstance. 

It sounds more like your ENT dropped the ball.  Did you call them before heading to the ER?  If so, why didn't they get you an appt right away...certainly they know your history?  You should not have to 'beg' for treatment/testing from anyone...much less your own doctor.

I would focus on healing as others have said.   The added stress from legal issues and anger will have a huge impact on your progress/improvement.

Take a deep breath and try to put this awful experience behind you.  Hopefully the admin will give this ER doctor a ripping for her actions and she won't treat others the same.

Take care Gursie.  I'll be keeping you in thoughts.