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Mad..... What rights do I have?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/13/2009 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
So I was in the ER last night with MAJOR pains...   They could not keep th pain under control so they were going to admit me...

I was glad that they were going to keep me because I knew I could not deal with the pain home, alone...

Anyway, like 2 hours later I was still in the ER and they said that the Internist at the hospital (who never even bothered to come see me) refused to admit me.

So I had to go home...  My friend that brought me in had already gone home for the night...   So at 4 A.M. I didnt have a ride home...  So they suggested I take a cab!!!!    Keep in mind the pain was STILL not under control and I was in too much pain to put up a fight.

Okay so my question is....    If I am in THAT much pain, do I have ANY right to make them keep me until I have it under control?  

What should I do if this happens again?   I am feeling better today..   still somewhat sore though....    But I am just so angry that I had to leave the hospital in just as much pain that I arrived in.

What do I do next time?

(PS I DO have insurance)

Posted 4/13/2009 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
That's ridiculous! I'm so sorry you weren't able to get the help you needed.  I think that nowadays so many people go into the ER demanding pain medication because they are addicts, and that's probably an easy way to get them.  Unfortunately, the doctors are aware of this, and I think it clouds their judgement when it comes to legitamate cases.  I understand you weren't able to put up much of a fight.  My suggestion would be to take a man you know (husband, boyfriend, friend) and have him stand for you when you cannot.  It may sound sexist, but I know the times I needed something done, my husband, who happened to have been a Marine, would have a "confrontation" with the medical team, and things would get done! Sometimes you have to raise hell to get things done! lol  Hope you are feeling better now.
Posted 4/13/2009 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
My number one suggestion is to ask for the "Patient Care Advocate".

All hospitals and ER's have them, and they are usually very quick to jump when you say jump. Even if you're there alone, the PAC is usually a very sympathetic ear and someone that is easy to talk to, so you don't have to "fight" the way you do with docs and nurses sometimes.

I'm so sorry that they put you through that! I had a similar run-in with my ER last year and I was so upset I didn't even know if I could stop crying long enough to talk to the Patient Care Advocate, but she was wonderful and got me taken care of almost immediately. I hope that if you return that you can get the help you need!
Posted 4/14/2009 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
That would be my advice as well.
Posted 4/14/2009 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
When I need to go to the Er it is usually for an obstruction and the pain results from that...I TELL them that I need an NG tube an IV for fluids, steriods, and pain meds...I TELL them what the problem is and what to do about it.. they hesitate ..do an xray or scan.. then do what I said..by telling them what is going on it makes them think and gets them pointed in the right direction. Also I carry with me a two page medical history of surgeries and a medication list..since I started doing these things I usually don't have trouble in the Er anymore.. Also I ALWAYS ask what meds they are giving me.
I also agree with making use of the Patient Care Advocate.
Posted 4/14/2009 9:23 AM (GMT 0)
Oh wow, I'm sorry that happened to you. It's happened to me as well though. I feel like from the moment I say I have Crohn's, I get treated like someone just wanting pain meds for an addiction. It's just ridiculous.

One visit they left me sitting in the waiting room for over 8 hours, I was vommitting constantly and was in sever pain (thought I had a blockage honestly). EVERYONE went ahead of me, even new people that even said I should go before them. They were very rude and cold to me as well. It was obvious to me what they thought.

They need to be taught to not judge people that do have chronic illnesses as addicts. I'm sure that does happen with people, but come on, there are also sick people out there in need of help too! Seems like we get blown off!
Posted 4/14/2009 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
I had never been treated in such a manner until recently. Keep in mind that I still go to the same hospital I was born in and I am 44 years old. From the moment I walked in the door and said I have Crohn's and I think I have a blockage, I get whisked away to the back for privacy and always get admitted. One of the reasons I was always afraid to go to the ER, because I didn't always want to be admitted! That was until the last 2 years or so. Its like the new health rules or something, they don't want to have too many people in the hospital at one time, don't want to over treat, who knows. Last spring I was in the ER with a blockage, very similar situation. I had sent my husband home because I was sure they were going to keep me. It had already been going on for 36 hours and I couldn't keep anything down. By the time they finished all their tests it was about 4 in the morning and the doctor came in to tell me that I was constipated and that I was being discharged. I was shocked and burst into tears. I didn't have a GI consult at all, just some stupid yahoo, who had no idea what was going on. I haven't had a solid bowel movement in over a decade, how could I possibly be constipated? I had been in the ER and had multiple obstructions over the past 10 months, but this guy has it all figured out, I just needed a good crap. I called my husband in tears and made him come get me. My blockage continued for another 4 days at home but I refused to go back to the ER. I called my GI in the morning and he agreed that the ER doc was wrong and I should have been admitted, but he didn't make me come back as long as I stayed hydrated.

I ended up sending a letter to the head of the hospital. It sure it make me feel better while I was writing it, but I never heard back. Maybe a PAC could do more. But I've often thought that I should have just camped out in the waiting room until daybreak and then had my husband come pick me up. What would they have done, kicked me out!
Posted 4/15/2009 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
This reminded me of a rerun of ER that I watched last week. A lady with longstanding Crohn's was being seen in the ER for severe pain related to the Crohn's. The intern was going to order a CT scan but the Dr. in charge cancelled it because "this woman is a drug addict and only wants the painkillers." So the poor woman got sent home with absolutely no treatment. It made me furious to watch.
Posted 4/15/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)

Zanne....

THANKS...    You made my day.

Same thing happened to me, I was so upset I just burst into tears.    Next time, I will be ready to fight.

I am going to follow the advice of the others on here and ask for my patient advocate next time.

Posted 4/15/2009 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
I think this kind of situation makes us feel so helpless. It really comes down to having an advocate there with you.
Posted 4/16/2009 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I never knew a PAC existed. I haven't run into this yet and hope I never do...at least not in the ER. That stupid *&^%%$ dentist sure didn't help my pain any!

Curly-OMG! I am sooo sorry you had to endure this as well as anyone else that has experienced this. This is so reflective of the level of care we receive today isn't it! SAD!
Posted 4/16/2009 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have any pain meds at home that will work some?

I have had mind numbing pain a few times, typically with acute blockages, and so far have thankfully avoided an ER visit. Last one, I couldn't even breathe from the pain, and called the GI oncall for my GI office who told me I was happy to go to the ER but they may or may not be able to see me in any decent amt of time and I was just a few hours away from the GI office opening. So I sobbed all night and saw my GI at 8am.

After that, he gave me a script for Vicodin and advised me to treat with that, if it wasn't an obstruction that needed emergency assistance, and call the office as soon as it opened. Again, thankfully, mine have all been acute obstructions that passed in 12 hours or so and I havent' had to face anything more longterm.

What did your GI recommend to do when you have that ER worthy pain? Has he given you anything to take the edge off so you can avoid it? I'm always curious as to what other doctors recommend we do.
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