[OT] I hate hospitals...

[Tsyr]

At eight this morning my dad woke up feeling really bad... he has been sick the last couple days, but he was in a lot of discomfort this morning, and asked me to drive him to the emergency room. The nurse who was checking his symptoms muttered an "uh oh" under her breath when he listed some of them. Great bedside manner. Now it's been almost two hours and I'm still waiting... I just heard he got out from xrays a few minutes ago, but they still wont tell me anything. I had to come home to get something, and I'm posting this just before I go back... Why won't they tell me anything? He's been in their for two hours now, and supposedly hes the only person in there... they won't even let me back there to see him...

I'm sorry for posting this, I'm just really nervous... one of my college proffessors is out right now because he got West Nile, and my dads symptoms seem to match west nile, according to a pamphlet thoughtfully placed in the waiting room (This hospital tries to scare people away, I think), and they won't tell me anything... I mean, I know it could just be a really bad cold or something, but...

 

[Ricochet]

The hospital is just trying to keep you collected... You shouldnt hate hospitals, they are a good thing, and I'm sure your dad will be fine.

 

[alsih2o]

our thoughts and hopes are with you and your dad tsyr!

let us know how it goes.

 

[Thorntangle]

Don't be afraid to ask questions, a lot of questions. Ask about everything - ask about tests, what they are looking for, what they found and what it means. Ask about any drugs they may give him. If you don't understand, make them explain it better until you do. If no one is available, pester them until they make someone available. They are probably busy, but make them make the time.

 

[Drawmack]

I belive that Tsyr misspoke. I don't believe he hates hospitals but rather that he hates being in the state of not knowing the physical condition of a loved-one he has reason to worry about. However it is easier to hate the tangible then the intangible so the hatred is coming out sideways and pointed at the hospitals.

Tyrs, my advise to you is take a good d20 book with you to the hospital and read that in the waiting room. It keeps all who are not gamers away and when I did that recently I met someone I've been talking to through message boards for the first time recently.

Also, I can relate to how you feel I just spent four days running back and forth to the hospital everyday because my fiancee had a severe infenct and instead of admitting her they made up come in for treatment everyday. Meanwhile saying things like, if it's not better in a week we'll have to amputate.

I got really good at sitting in the waiting room and reading Freeport.

Tysr - you and your father will be in my prayers.

 

[Eben]

Hope you're worried over nothing.
I know, hospitals can be a drag. Sometimes they seem like factories and forget there are people involved.

Whish your dad well from me (us)

 

[Buttercup]

Tsyr, you have my deepest sympathy.

It's possible that the hospital won't tell you anything because they're not sure they should. Usually they are uncomfortable giving confidential patient information to anyone other than a spouse or the parent of a minor. Adult children, unless they have guardianship of their parent, don't actually have any legal right to make decisions or receive information, absent an advance directive (sometimes called a living will) from the parent. Even with an advance directive, the adult child has no legal rights unless the parent is incapacitated.

In which case, being denied information is a good thing, because it means you father is going to be fine. The time to worry is when they come to get you and start asking for the living will or court order. Trust me, I've been there.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Don't be afraid to ask questions, a lot of questions. Ask about everything - ask about tests, what they are looking for, what they found and what it means. Ask about any drugs they may give him. If you don't understand, make them explain it better until you do. If no one is available, pester them until they make someone available. They are probably busy, but make them make the time.

Read the above statement 10 time. Make them answer your questions. Keep asking for a nurse or doctor. They are charging your dad about $2000 an hour for these type services, you have a right to know what is going on.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you. I hope your father is OK.

WHEN your father walks out of the hospital and is fine, talk to him about a Heart Check America test (I am assuming he is over 40). It is a very very comprehensive test of the heart and cardiovascular system. This test may save your dads life by detecting heart problems before they develop into threatening symptoms. I say this because I was going to get this for my dad 68th birthday, but before I could he started seeing a doctor about his heart and diet. The doctor ran standard stress tests and saw no real concern. My dad died two months after his birthday from heart disease. I am telling you this because my dad was one of my closest friends and the loss was immense. I would like everyone who reads this to at least research into this and think of his or her fathers.

Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Zappo]

I think they probably aren't telling because they aren't sure and because you technically have no right to be told (though I don't know much about laws in the USA).

Not getting told is bad, but getting told something and then getting told something else, and then again until they complete all the tests is much, much worse than not getting told at all - I've been there. They know that, too.

 

[VorpalBunny]

Listen to Buttercup and Zappo - they've hit the nail on the head. Just be patient, ask questions (but don't be a nusiance), and realize that physicians are people - they don't have all the answers right away. Sometimes it takes a few hours for tests to be performed and the results interperted.

The important thing is to trust the people working on your dad - know that they have his best interests in mind and they'll let you know something as soon as they know something definitive themselves.