Dr.? Hospitals just as bad.

[Sabine]

My Dad had the bag until he died. Not a pleasant thing to deal with. He lived for almost 3 years after the surgery.

[Jitterbug]

I was admitted to a hospital with high blood pressure, after going to an urgent care center. Along with the high blood pressure, I had pneumonia. Well they prescribed an IV of levaquin. This came to me about 10 pm. A few minuties into this IV, my arm started to itch and I rang for a nurse. No one came and it finished up. I fell asleep and when I woke up my arm was OK.

Since they were more concerned about the blood pressure, I didn't get any more levaquin and I forgot about the incident. (I was wrong.)

I went to the doctor a few days after being released and he prescribed several things for blood pressure and for my lung condition. After 2days on the antibiotic, I developed large hives on my arms and legs. I was highly allergic to LEVAQUIN.

[Veggie Mom]

We have been to the ER a lot lately. DS's fiance has a heart problem that flaired up. She went to the ER with chest pains and low blood pressure. She kept passing out. DS called me about 4 hours after they had left asking if I could come to the ER. Her mother wouldn't go, said she had to much to do (another long story). I went and they were still sitting in the waiting room, she had an I.V. going and was very upset. They hadn't even taken any information on who she was, just started an I.V. and sent her back out to the waiting room. People who came by ambulance where put in a wheel chair in the waiting area. One of them had been sitting for over 7 hours!! One guy was laying it the corner holding his stomach crying in pain with his wife and child standing over him. I went up to the desk and told them to remove her I.V. we were leaving. Two years ago this was a new hospital and a very good one. DS even went to customer service in front of the hospital to find out what was going on. They said the ER was a seperate part from the hospital and they couldn't do anything.

We went to another hospital 45 minutes away. She was taken right in and taken care of.

[Tiptop]

I feel so horrible for all the bad experiences everyone has had. On the other hand, I have never had a bad experience at a hospital or ER in my area of the Fox Valley in NE Wisconsin. I have been in 4 different hospitals and their ERs and have had excellent care. My DD and DH have been to the ER on numerous occasions and we are in and out within a couple of hours

The thing I have learned is that you have to be your own advocate - speak up and you will be remembered and taken care of.

[Asya]

I had a really bad migraine for a week where all I could do is stay in my dark bedroom or try to sleep. My then neurologist's office tried a couple different pain management procedures in the office & told me that if they didn't help to call back & they'd do something else. I called them again & was told by the nurse that there wasn't a headache attending in clinic that day so I had to go to the ER. It was all I could do to drive the 15 minutes to the hospital. I checked in at 12:45pm and was not seen by any doctor what-so-ever until 5pm. By the time the head MD of the ER came on for his shift at 5pm and his intern came in, I was not only in agony, I was also completely exhausted & fuming mad. He apologized & told me that apparently there was a miscommunication as to who was supposed to see me, the ER doctors or Neurology. The intern gave me a bag of fluids with some meds & wanted to give me more since all of the pain wasn't gone which I declined because I couldn't & wouldn't stay there a minute longer. I've been an employee at that hospital for 7yrs & I was NOT impressed. I will not be going to the ER there if I have the choice. There are plenty of hospitals within a few miles of home.

In regards to my doctors, I have to say that I absolutely LOVE my PCP. I've been out of work dealing with multiple health issues and besides her helping me fight with the insurance companies, she's been my advocate as my neurologist wasn't listening to me about my medications not working. Mind you, I complained for MONTHS & got no where. She helped me find a provider elsewhere & yes, it took 3 months to get in & I have to drive an hour to see him but I absolutely LOVE him too! We were on the same page from day 1 & he's now managing my medication/care.