BrittleBones
01-24-2008, 02:39 PM
I posted last week about going to the hospital after experiencing additional back pain, numbness and tingling and loss of bladder control. After several tests and a Mylogram with CT it was discovered that I have broken vertabrae at T4-T-3 that have collapsed in toward my spinal canal, putting pressure on my cord. I was in the hospital for about 5 days and I asked to go home to wait what I thought would be perhaps a week before my surgeon could get me into his schedule to operate. Can you believe that he STILL hasn't been able to come up with a date when he can operate? He is booked solid until at least February 8th. In the meantime I'm worrying myself sick thinking that any minute I may turn the wrong way and damage my spinal column and become paralyzed! I spoke to his nurse this morning and she said that she's been trying to speak to him for 2 days (he's been in surgery every minute) to figure out if he wants to postpone somebody else's surgery in order to get me in as soon as possible. I get so frustrated!! On the one hand I'm told that this is a serious fracture and more urgent than any of my other fractures because of the cord compression issue, but on the other hand I don't seem to be that important if he can't get me into surgery in a timely manner. Guess I'm just venting here - I really don't think I have another option. I'm kicking myself now for insisting that I be allowed to go home last week and call back for a surgery date. If I had stayed in the hospital I know darn well that I would have been given somebody else's spot on the schedule and they would have to wait. I've had 3 or 4 of my past surgeries postponed because of "emergency cases" that trumped my issues, now I'm feeling like it's time for me to be the emergency and let another patient wait. I guess that's a totally selfish attitude on my part. Anyway - don't really know why I'm taking up space here today - thanks for listening though!! K'Mac
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Fabrashamx
01-24-2008, 04:35 PM
OMG Kathy, you are NOT 'taking up space' and you are one of the LEAST selfish people I know! It's understandable to be scared, hell, terrified, and youre suffering in pain as well!
This board, and me for one, are here for you to vent anytime you want to, and you have a darn good reason for wanting to! In your place I would feel exactly the same way.
I would suggest setting a day, say tuesday, If you still have no firm date set, go back to the hospital and let them admit you! Hell, Do it over the weekend if you still are this concerned. Your fear and tenseness must be putting your pain through the roof. you are not taking up space that anyone else needs more, either here, or in the hospital or on the planet! Loads of people love and care about you, so be nicer to yourself, you would never say these things to someone else in your position.
I bet if you cut yourself at someones house, you would apologize for bleeding on the rug! Step outside yourself and think what you would say to someone else on this board who just said they didnt deserve care and concern.
Please post and let us know how you are and what happens, we all care about you so much.
Hugs, Fabby
This board, and me for one, are here for you to vent anytime you want to, and you have a darn good reason for wanting to! In your place I would feel exactly the same way.
I would suggest setting a day, say tuesday, If you still have no firm date set, go back to the hospital and let them admit you! Hell, Do it over the weekend if you still are this concerned. Your fear and tenseness must be putting your pain through the roof. you are not taking up space that anyone else needs more, either here, or in the hospital or on the planet! Loads of people love and care about you, so be nicer to yourself, you would never say these things to someone else in your position.
I bet if you cut yourself at someones house, you would apologize for bleeding on the rug! Step outside yourself and think what you would say to someone else on this board who just said they didnt deserve care and concern.
Please post and let us know how you are and what happens, we all care about you so much.
Hugs, Fabby
sammyo1
01-24-2008, 04:51 PM
I am so very sorry you have to worry so much. What a terrable thing to have to deal with, don't beat your self up for asking to come home, I will bet most of us would have done the same. Fab is right set a deadline & if it gets to be to much go back into emergency. you have every right to worry & to vent. That is what we are all here for. I am shocked that you have not heard anything. I hope you get a date soon, the stress alone can make everything worse god knows. Hang in there & share your worries with the us, Sammy
trowftd3
01-24-2008, 05:54 PM
Kathy, ditto what Fabby said!
I would be scared too! That's crazy to make you wait that long.
Maybe you should mention to the nurse that if you should turn the wrong way and (God forbid) something should happen that you might sue for negligence in making you wait. I'm totally against people suing at the drop of a hat in this country but I think just the mention of a lawsuit may get the wheels turning and get you in soon. I'm sure that every surgery he has scheduled is not that life threatening that he can't reschedule and get you in. AARRGH!!
DO NOT EVER feel bad for coming here to vent. You have supported us all when we were down and now it's time to return the favor!
Definitely take it easy and I agree...set a date and tell them you cannot wait any longer. Put me back in the hospital and take care of me!!
I hope you here soon and keep us posted as you can. Good luck with the surgery. I pray it will be successful and not add to your pain.~Mush
I would be scared too! That's crazy to make you wait that long.
Maybe you should mention to the nurse that if you should turn the wrong way and (God forbid) something should happen that you might sue for negligence in making you wait. I'm totally against people suing at the drop of a hat in this country but I think just the mention of a lawsuit may get the wheels turning and get you in soon. I'm sure that every surgery he has scheduled is not that life threatening that he can't reschedule and get you in. AARRGH!!
DO NOT EVER feel bad for coming here to vent. You have supported us all when we were down and now it's time to return the favor!
Definitely take it easy and I agree...set a date and tell them you cannot wait any longer. Put me back in the hospital and take care of me!!
I hope you here soon and keep us posted as you can. Good luck with the surgery. I pray it will be successful and not add to your pain.~Mush
123dietdrpepper
01-24-2008, 06:32 PM
Heck, I would truck right on into the surgeon's office with my pain pills in one bag, slippers on the feet, and wearing my pj's and plop myself down on his chairs and not move until you get an answer. I would also sit there and moan......make sure you are seen and heard.
I am lifting this up in prayer. This is ridiculous.....go gett'em.
I am lifting this up in prayer. This is ridiculous.....go gett'em.
ladybumblebee
01-24-2008, 06:38 PM
Hello,
I know we've not chatted before as I'm really new to the boards but I wanted to post as I really feel for you. It's shocking that you're in that position at all. I would go back to the emergency room and make them admit you so you can be bumped to the top of the list.
I know it's tough as you always end up thinking of the other people who then have to wait but it sounds like your surgery is an absolute must have quickly and it's probably time you really thought about yourself.
I was in the same position 2 years back needing surgery to get bone fragments out of my neck as they were severing nerves and I had a really bad cord compression from 2 slipped disc and got given a date of 4 weeks later. I was so scared I got myself admitted and am really glad I did. it's horrible being so scared but trying to be unselfish at the same time. It seems like right now you need to look after number one and that's no bad thing.
I really hope you're not in too much pain and sincerely hope you get in quick.
LBB
I know we've not chatted before as I'm really new to the boards but I wanted to post as I really feel for you. It's shocking that you're in that position at all. I would go back to the emergency room and make them admit you so you can be bumped to the top of the list.
I know it's tough as you always end up thinking of the other people who then have to wait but it sounds like your surgery is an absolute must have quickly and it's probably time you really thought about yourself.
I was in the same position 2 years back needing surgery to get bone fragments out of my neck as they were severing nerves and I had a really bad cord compression from 2 slipped disc and got given a date of 4 weeks later. I was so scared I got myself admitted and am really glad I did. it's horrible being so scared but trying to be unselfish at the same time. It seems like right now you need to look after number one and that's no bad thing.
I really hope you're not in too much pain and sincerely hope you get in quick.
LBB
BrittleBones
01-24-2008, 09:16 PM
My New Year's Resolution is going to be: "I will stop apologizing for things that I have no need to apologize for"! Fabby - you made me laugh when you wrote about what I would do if I cut myself and bled on someone's rug!! Actually, I would apologize and then write them a check to have the rug replaced!! I think it's my Irish-Catholic "eternal guilt complex" that causes me to say that I'm sorry for anything and everything, whether it's in my control or not. I can't stand when other people do it and it sounds so phony, doesn't it? So enough from me! I'm NOT SORRY!! LadyBumbleBee, you did the smart thing when you insisted on being admitted and getting some satisfaction well ahead of the time they wanted to make you wait. I've decided to take everyone's advice and give myself a time limit on hearing about a surgical date. If I haven't received a date "certain" that's within an acceptable time period, I'm going to take the advice of one of my surgeon's colleagues who told me to just return to the emergency room and be re-admitted on an urgent basis. Perhaps if I'm sitting on the orthopedic floor staring them in the face they will find a way to squeeze me into the surgical schedule! Marcia, Pepper, Sammi (and anyone else I may have missed!) thanks for listening and taking the time to respond. It does help to just vent. In the meantime I'm going to stop worrying - I'm sure that if there was a real chance that leaving the hospital would have put me in imminent danger of damaging my spinal cord, they never would have let me check out. I'll just try and relax, be thankful that I'm in a position to be able to stay home and rest in bed with my kitty kats beside me, my cable t.v. control in one hand and a loving and supportive husband to check on me. I'll give the docs office until close of business on Monday to come up with a surgical date. Then I'll have to come up with Plan B. Thanks folks - all the best - K'Mac
Fabrashamx
01-24-2008, 11:22 PM
Yay! I think thats a great solution, and the reason I know about the apology thing? I'm irish catholic too, I think 'sorry' was my first word, lol.
Hang in there, stay strong, we need you here!
Hugs, Fabby
Hang in there, stay strong, we need you here!
Hugs, Fabby
SpinalMalady
01-25-2008, 09:22 AM
KathyMac:
My surgury was at 7:30 pm on a Friday night. So in severe cases docs can and will do anything and everything to book a surgical suite. Mine situation was CES and had been "blown off" by a receptionist for two days BEFORE I even got a chance to get to see the whites of the docs eyes. Then, as soon as he heard, "the symptoms are getting worse", "the leaking of urine more frequent", "the numbness spreading" he got me into his office at 5:45 pm and scheduled me for an MRI first thing in the am. Even said if I couldn't get an opening for an MRI, would have to just admit me for the MRI, cuz if the hosp. has a patient "as a captive audience" they HAVE to get the test done so to speak! Then had to wait for the reading of the MRI, went back the next afternoon at NOON for the reading of the MRI, and the NS's consult, and I honestly think if he hadn't had an afternoon booked full of patients, he would have taken me in right there. He didn't give ME a choice of hospitals (as he normally would have done), he called and found out which one could get him a surgical suite emergency team ready when his last patient was finished at 5pm and he met me at the hosp. and walked me up to the surgical suite. Did the labs, and waited on the results, meanwhile, I'm meeting with the anesth. and as soon as the labs were done......whooooosh....off I go into the surgery.
So, I guess my point is....IF your symptoms are worse, you DO need to present yourself to either the dr.'s office, or to the ER and MAKE yourself become a priority. How else will the doctor be aware of this???
Good luck K'Mac, and please know that I am still praying for you...and LOUD!!!
:angel:
My surgury was at 7:30 pm on a Friday night. So in severe cases docs can and will do anything and everything to book a surgical suite. Mine situation was CES and had been "blown off" by a receptionist for two days BEFORE I even got a chance to get to see the whites of the docs eyes. Then, as soon as he heard, "the symptoms are getting worse", "the leaking of urine more frequent", "the numbness spreading" he got me into his office at 5:45 pm and scheduled me for an MRI first thing in the am. Even said if I couldn't get an opening for an MRI, would have to just admit me for the MRI, cuz if the hosp. has a patient "as a captive audience" they HAVE to get the test done so to speak! Then had to wait for the reading of the MRI, went back the next afternoon at NOON for the reading of the MRI, and the NS's consult, and I honestly think if he hadn't had an afternoon booked full of patients, he would have taken me in right there. He didn't give ME a choice of hospitals (as he normally would have done), he called and found out which one could get him a surgical suite emergency team ready when his last patient was finished at 5pm and he met me at the hosp. and walked me up to the surgical suite. Did the labs, and waited on the results, meanwhile, I'm meeting with the anesth. and as soon as the labs were done......whooooosh....off I go into the surgery.
So, I guess my point is....IF your symptoms are worse, you DO need to present yourself to either the dr.'s office, or to the ER and MAKE yourself become a priority. How else will the doctor be aware of this???
Good luck K'Mac, and please know that I am still praying for you...and LOUD!!!
:angel:
123dietdrpepper
01-25-2008, 09:33 AM
I know it is terrible but sometimes you have to take drastic measures to get thru that receptionist or nurse to the doctor. Sometimes not all the times but they think they know everything.
Does your neuro have an email? Both of my surgeon and gp have emails that they read themselves - it does not go thru the nurses. :) Could this be an option for you?
Does your neuro have an email? Both of my surgeon and gp have emails that they read themselves - it does not go thru the nurses. :) Could this be an option for you?