Had my cath/angio today.

Had my cath/angio today and I am not a happy camper.

The procedure went fine, at least as far as no complications and as far as what they did but it is what they did and especially what happened afterwards that has left me quite angry.

For starters all they did was diagnostics today. The reason this has me mad is that I had an MRA done a short time ago under the impression that it would eliminate the need for a diagnostic angio and reduce by one the number of times I might have to undergo this procedure to get all the blockages cleared up in my right leg. This is what I was told/led to believe at my initial consult with the IR department. I honestly feel that I have been lied to.

The worst of it though started during the procedure and after it was done and I was taken to recovery where I had to lay on my back for 5 hours.

At the last consult with the doctor where I agreed to undergo the angio, as well as multiple time today I told EVERYONE that I suffered from back problems and that laying on my back is going to cause me a lot of pain. I was assured many, many times that any pain I would have will be well managed. This turned out to be nothing but one huge lie.

My back started acting up during the procedure but was tolerable with the general pain meds and sedative I was given. By the time I was being wheeled to recovery my back pain was around a 5. Within 30 minutes of getting to recovery my pain shot to a 9 and I reported it. I was given 2mg of Fentenyl through my IV. 30 minutes after that I still had no relief so they give my 6mg of oral dilaudid. Nothing, zip. While this is what I take normally for my pain I have never had to take it for a 9 closing on a 10 pain level and at home I am able to switch positions to remove/reduce any pressure. Not so in the hospital.

There next thing was to give me 1mg of dilaudid via the IV and this because I was ready to get dressed and walk out AMA. Water would have done more good.

Through all of this I was using every meditation/mental discipline at my disposal and the best I could do was to keep the pain in my back from going from the 2nd worse pain I ever had to the first. At some point in the last hour I know I passed out from the pain. Before that I was crying and screaming in pain, and was all but ignored.

The next thing I know I am being woke up by the doctor just before it was time for me to leave. He wanted to schedule the next procedure. I flat out told him that there was no way in hell I was going through another procedure with him. In no uncertain terms I told him that one he and everyone here knew before hand that I have major back problems and that I could not lay down on my back, or in any single position for long with out some major help in the way of pain management. Secondly that he as well as all the nurses I spoke to before the procedure early that day assured me that any and all pain I had during and afterwards would be taken care of and finally if leaving someone in pain at a rating of 9-10 for 5+hours was his or this hospitals idea of adequate pain management it is beyond pathetic and there is no way I was going to subject myself to any more of it. The pain I have in my legs in a pin prick compared to what I went through today.

Before the weekend is out, first of next week at the latest the hospital administration is going to be hearing from me. There is absolutely no reason why I or anyone else should be left in that type of pain. IMHO it borders on the criminal.

Yeah. I honestly thought I had covered all the bases before the procedure. I even informed the doctor that I was a CP patient and that I had been taking narcotic meds for many, many years. I also informed him that the amounts I take are just barely enough to allow me to function and that is all. That they were not enough to take away all of my pain.

In addition to all of this I explained my feelings about pain management and what I found acceptable. I told the Dr, and many nurses as well, that I do not expect to have 100% relief but that I do expect to have any pain I have to be kept at a 4 or less, which I think is being very reasonable.

Jim...I am so sorry to hear about how things went...

I can empathize as well after my last surgery...even though I have the most fantastic Neurosurgeon....his orders were not followed properly the first 24 hours and I was in so much agony it is seared into my brain...

Thankfully I have a wonderful PM who works in the same practice now who will coordinate everything....

So, the only thing I can suggest is when you find another Dr. to do any more of these tests or procedures....Is to have your actual PM DR....(or whoever is handling your pain management)....call directly to the Dr. who is performing the procedure so that they can have a heart to heart on what medicines you are on now....And what it will take to manage your pain during something like this.

This way...it's not you trying to explain this to the DRs. and nurses...but Dr. to Dr...

Anyway...I know it doesn't change anything that has happened:(

I hope your pain can calm down this weekend and that you can rest...

 

        Morning Jim!

    Sounds like you had a rough time of it there! Sorry...I know it wasn't fun for you at all. I had the same problem after my last surgery as well...and boy howdy...that makes the day rough!

   Hope you get to feeling better soon, and I bet Karen will be glad to see you back as well.

    SE

It was totally uncalled for and considering the hospital I was at is a level 1 trauma center there is even less of an excuse for it. If the doctor who did my procedure was either uncomfortable or was not knowledgeable about prescribing pain medications there were plenty of other doctors he could have called from ER physicians to trauma surgeons to seek advice from.

My day to day meds do fine for me on a day to day basis as I am not forced to remain in any single position.

After the cath though I had to lay on my back for 5 hours and that is where the problem came into play at. It is like having an ingrown toenail that is somewhat painful. You take a couple of Tylenol and it gets rid of most of the pain and you go on with your day. Park a semi truck on that same foot/toe and the pain increases 100 fold and that Tylenol isn't going to do much good.

Jim, So very sorry this happened to you and we were thinking of you.
Many Prayers and well wishes and keep us posted on what the outcome
Of this is, do make sure to keep documents on what happened as you need
to keep a paper trail. I hope nothing like this ever happens again to you or anyone.

Jim,

I am sorry I missed this earlier, and I am disgusted by what happened to you! I know that doesn't make it better, but still.

Document everything. Also, call the hospital or facility where it was done and talk to the patient advocate or the patient satisfaction department. Someone at the facility needs to be told the lack of respect and pain control you went through, so that it can be dealt with.

I pray that you find the doctor and facility that will best provide the treatment for the blockages. I agree that doctor did not know a thing about your or respect your needs as a patient and human being.

Just a thought, have you ever tried a pedaler? Its like bike pedals that can be used on the floor or bed for legs, and on a table for arms? My grandfather used one when he had DVTs and blockages in his legs also. It helped him greatly, and he was able to break the exercise down into manageable times for him.

Praying for you Jim,

Mindy

That is awful they did that to you! I'm glad you stood up for yourself. I had a similar experience when I was in the hospital with 14 kidney stones. I had had lithotripsy on one big one and then had a stint put in that was unsuccessful. So they decided to take the stint out and I awoke in recovery writhing in excruciating pain. Well the first thing the nurse says to me is you poor thing you had your kidney removed!! I totally freaked out but could tell I didn't have a surgical wound with stitches.

So they gave me small doses of pain meds and it was doing nothing and when I asked for more they said I had to wait until till I got to my room. Well once in my room, they said I had just been given some in recovery and I needed to wait. I was getting major tude from the nurse but I was like look something is wrong. I heard her sigh and tell the nurses aid to take my vitals which were off the charts so they finally called pain management and got me on a pump. What was going on was when they'removed the stint, a bunch of kidney stones began to pass. Even though they ordered the pump, by the time they got it up from pharmacy got it in and I pushed the button about 100 times, it took over 6 hours for my pain to go from a 10 to a 6,7. Never again!!

Jim, thinking of you and hope you've been doing good.
Many prayers and well wishes to you.

Jim,

I've been wondering how you are feeling.... post when you are up to it and give us an update.

--Tina