A Different Life II

[Lily&Me]

And all that’s true, Protag...

I still find it odd...do they think people who follow their page don’t notice, or is it all just shameless self-promotion for any new followers.

Maggie

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

And all that’s true, Protag...

I still find it odd...do they think people who follow their page don’t notice, or is it all just shameless self-promotion for any new followers.

Maggie

I've decided, for me, that most social media is shameless self-promotion. So I stay away from it. I can toot my own horn in person, thankyouverymuch!

(He says, whilst typing stuff into a public forum!)

[mimiandrews]

He also believes we aging baby boomers are at greater risk of fatal lapses in care, but that anyone hospitalized who is unable to advocate for themselves is at risk....and needs a trusted someone to be their medical case manager.

Exactly why I'm moving to live closer to my daughter.

A while back, she showed up in her hospital's ER outside her normal work hours, for some purpose related to her work. A staff member saw her and asked, "Do you have someone in here?" Obviously, they planned to be exceptionally careful with a patient whose relative is at the Director level in hospital management.

Meanwhile, my new home has passed a major milestone. There's actually an airplane in my new hangar, and it's mine. I flew my Cessna 150 down there yesterday. A friend from church (retired airline captain) flew his airplane down to give me a ride back.

[Air Cruiser]

This is the third time in a two or three weeks that I’ve attempted to post this, and the first two (long posts) were “lost” after I had to resign in, so I am cutting this short in hopes it won’t time out or whatever happened before.

Maggie, I was so very sorry to hear of your medical emergency, it was difficult for me to wrap my mind around it at first as you are such a strong person, a so “take charge” person. I guess this goes to show it can happen to any of us. Such a relief to have read that you are on the mend and doing well.

As I mentioned in my PM to you, my DH had a massive heart attack on 12/10, and is doing well now. He had no significant blockages which caused the attack — in the heart cath they determined his build up in his atteries is only 10-20%! They determined his was caused by a stress-induced heart spasm. What I don’t think I shared with you is that the hospital nearly caused his death that same afternoon by giving him too many blood pressure lowering drugs (2 blood pressure meds and nitroglycerin) at one time. Prior to the heart attack he was not on any medications, and that afternoon they came in with 7 for him to take at once.

He was doing well, so I stepped out to get a quick bite to eat. He began feeling unwell then determined all was not well and rang for the nurse. They found him passed out, not breathing, pulse in the 20’s-30’s, and they whole-hospital coded him! He awoke to being surrounded by people who were screaming at him, and they gave him an injection to speed up his heart. He was immediately taken to the CCU where he spent the next two days. The full time Cardiologist came in on the next day along with his Nurse Practioner and they admitted they had given him too many blood pressure lowering drugs and that his blood pressure had bottomed out.

So, I whole heartedly agree with you all about being careful while in the hospital! However, I must say that I questioned them when they brought in all of those meds, reminding them that he was not used to taking anything; we were told he needed them and he would be fine.

My DH nearly died twice that day!

Take care, be well.

Deb

[Lily&Me]

How scary, Deb, and so glad your hubby is okay!

Is that “broken heart syndrome”?

It is absolutely surreal that patients or their advocates would have to ask in a hospital setting what medication is being given and why...has it really come down to this, being the check and balance, monitoring the medical personnel?

In 2002, I had pulmonary embolisms, secondary to very high platelets and a genetic predisposition to clotting, secondary to a previously undiagnosed blood disorder....conscious and alert, thank goodness, I watched a heparin drip running out, using my call light before the air in the tube reached critical mass...my vein.

I was also discharged with an INR of 6.0, more than twice my maximum therapeutic level, because someone didn’t check my labs before giving my oral dose of warfarin. I was cautioned to watch for signs of bleeding, of which I very fortunately had none.

And, you know, I had been on warfarin for nearly 16 years when I had this bleed 4 weeks ago. I probably should have been taken off of it many years ago, given the “provoked” clots from a blood disorder long since under good control.

It is a new medical care world out there...too many cooks in the kitchen, no one person with their finger on the pulse of an individuals’ care.

While in ICU, and I think even once I was stepped down, meds were scanned in on a computer in my room before given...probably a safeguard against dosage errors, perhaps other things as well.

Be well, folks.

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Thank you for your well wishes, Deb.

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Hooray, Mimi!

Maggie

[Al and Missy]

Glad to hear you are doing better, Maggie!

A bit of shameless self-promotion - As a trained electrical engineer turned system engineer, I have said that there is no equivalent of the system engineer in the medical profession - someone who looks at the big picture and coordinates the other disciplines to ensure the desired end result. That is what your Primary Physician would seem to be, but our doctor's office now has a "rounds doctor" whose job is to visit the practice's clients when they are inpatients, having never dealt with them in the office.

What is wrong with this picture?

Al

[Lily&Me]

Thank you, Al, and you are exactly right.

When I had my last torn knee cartilage in 2009, was the first time I encountered a hospitalist.

He worked for my pcp’s office, and was designated to do the hospital work for the other physicians so they could focus their time on patient office visits.

Now, the hospitalists and intensivists and whatever other “ists” there are, work for the hospital.

There are probably more deaths and near-miss disasters out there than your average person has any idea.

Maggie

[DMP54]

Glad to hear you are on the mend, Maggie, and are able to self-advocate.

Yes, friends, it is a new world in health way aheare today. Having been a practicing RN for 35 years, let me assure you things have changed! I have worked in many different settings as a nurse, and still enjoy the teaching and learning that goes on in hospitals. However, I have assured all my family and friends, "NO ONE GOES TO A HOSPITAL WITHOUT ME"!!

You have skimmed the surface on what happens in healthcare institutions. Regarding your recent experience, being young and proactive with your own health, you were measures ahead of a lot of patients. Imagine being admitted directly from a nursing home, family nowhere around, with streams of strangers through your door all day. Funny in my first days as a nurse, I followed doctors around carrying metal charts. Today, I consider myself THE- and sometimes THE ONLY- advocate for that patient.

We still have the best healthcare in the world, and we pay for it (medical equipment and pharmaceuticals). A new generation of doctors and nurses are coming out of schools, and there are plenty that I would entrust my life to. Remember to ask questions, and everyone, have your advance directives and health care surrogates WRITTEN DOWN BEFORE YOU GO INTO A HOSPITAL.

Thank you for listening to my little rant. Continued improvements in your health, Maggie, and happy and healthy airstreaming all!
As an aside, one night not long ago, a 40 foot motorhome pulled up to our ER, a gentleman came in, said his friend needed to be seen, but could not get out by himself. It took 6 young men and a rigged stretcher to get him out from where he lay in that coach. I say I wouldn't mind dying in my Airstream, but after that, I don't know...

[Lily&Me]

THanks for the well wishes, and more good information.

After my experiences in 2002, Doug and I promised each other that we would be present for the other at a hospital during a critical time...then, after being urged to “go home and let us take care of him”...”Home” being 900 miles away...I had to ask to speak with the hospital administrator to be allowed to stay with him in the ICU.

They relented, when they were convinced I would not, and I stayed.

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I’m starting to feel a bit antsy, and sense a little road trip in my future once the double vision is completely resolved.

Something southerly, but not too much, as it is not heat that I seek...maybe a little rental time in the French Quarter, someplace that will allow Lily.

We’ll see.


I am making this Stormy Isle Wrap for a friend who is going on a trip with her husband...the project underway is what I am working on, out of the gorgeous Sweet Roll yarn I have only heretofore admired.

It comes in the most beautiful colors.

Shhhhh, it’s a surprise.

[Hittenstiehl]

That is a beautiful wrap. Light but a touch of warmth.

[Lily&Me]

Yes, I thought so, too, and such a simple pattern.

She likes pink, and this would be perfect over black or deep navy.

I think she will like it.

Maggie

[mimiandrews]

That's beautiful! I admire your talent with crochet.

[Lily&Me]

And I admire yours with knitting.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Is this good news? I don’t really know, but it will undoubtedly be more of what I have recently seen, heard and been discussed here.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...=.d674f2ee916c


Maybe the changes in the health care industry are just a natural and logical by-product of the expansion of population in this country....and the aging of we mass of baby-boomers, which may be threatening to overtake available resources.

Old-school, compassionate and holistic health care delivery may simply not be an option any longer.

In the 21st century, it seems to be a business, first and foremost...more detached/objective, less touchy-feely, and perhaps our mindset needs to be to seek care, and critique/evaluate services received as if we were hiring a lawn care service, roof or washing machine repair, etc.

Interesting...

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I came across this website on the benefits of “earthing” the other day, and though it was worth sharing.

https://heartmdinstitute.com/alterna...-or-grounding/

This may explain the near-spiritual, head to toe experience derived from walking barefoot in the sand and surf at Edisto.

Maggie

[Air Cruiser]

Maggie, your post of this morning re: changes in health care, etc, hit home with us. My DH and I have spoken numerous times in the last year about this very thing.

Until 2000, our family doctor (GP) would do x-rays, give allergy injections, B-12 shots, etc —all in his office. He gave up his practice in 2000 and the new GP did not do in-office x-rays, allergy injections, nor B-12 shots — however he still, at every visit, would do coordination/strength/reflex testing; he would look into our ears and eyes, and would check out minor cuts/bruises, etc. He moved back to PA in 2010, and our current GP acts as though she doesn’t want to touch anyone any more than to ocassionally looking into our ears, has never checked our reflexes or coordination, does not test urine samples in her office, of course no x-rays in the office — almost everything is referred to a specialist and/or the hospital.

I don’t know if this is the way of the future for all family doctors, but we don’t care for it.

Deb

[Lily&Me]

Hmm, Deb.

I can’t remember the last time my ears or nose was looked at, reflexes checked, or any of those other things you mentioned...even when I was just in the hospital, what might have been considered a “physical”, back in the day.

My pcp does have a lab at their office, and did an ekg on me while I was there a few weeks ago.

I suspect the change is here to stay, tho. It’s not our parents medical care, nor if you are old enough, our own the first half of our lives.

Maggie