Missed Thanksgiving...but home now....

I just got home from the hospital. I was rushed by ambulance early Thanksgiving day to Providence St. Vincent. I had acute abdominal pain and had been vomiting non-stop for 6 hours and had gotten dehydrated. Turns out that my intestine had kinked causing a partial bowel obstruction. They moved me up to OHSU to be where the surgery was done and somehow the CT scan diagnosing the obstruction got lost. My Doc was on leave and the residents were obviously more interested in football than patient care. Was the worst hospital experience ever. The obstruction self-corrected (which I hear is common) and by the time I saw a surgeon on Saturday, he was not sure there was ever an obstruction. My regular surgeon was on leave. I had asked the residents on Friday morning through a stupor of pain meds to re-do the CT scan but the group of boys (can they really be doctors at their ages?!?!?!) said it was probably constipation and ordered an enema. I would have loved to reciprocate that lovely idea with each of them! Of course, nothing happened. Finally, on Sunday my surgeon returned from his long weekend and ordered another CT scan on Monday as well as a copy of the original scan done on Thanksgiving. He said there was and obstruction (that self-corrected) and that my remnant stomach is producing too much acid and started me on a H2 blocker. Then as I was getting discharged this morning the nurse was going over the paperwork from the surgeon and read that the CT scan also diagnosed diverticulitis. I was like "What the heck?!?!?" and she was obviously thinking that I had been informed. I am still not sure what that is but I will follow up with my primary to get the info I need. Let's just say I am not pleased with my surgeon, his team or the hospital. I am just glad to be home.

Jill, thank goodness you are okay! That is really scary! I see that you and I had our surgeries a week apart ... it makes me realize that things can still happen, even though we aren't newly out from surgery. I am really glad you are okay, even though you got some crappy care. Keep us posted when you find out more from your Primary! Deanna

Jill, I am so glad that you are home and okay. What an awful way to spend your Thanksgiving but you are home now...woo hoo! Let me know if I can do anything for you. Vicki

Oh wow! What a bummer way to spend Thanksgiving! I'm glad you are feeling better now. If it helps any, my Thanksgiving day was a real bummer too. Hugs to you.

I just saw Dr. Deveney and Vickie today. I can understand you being upset. Really, I can. But, you haven't described anything that they could have done differently or that they were responsible for causing. Please give them the opportunity to hear your feedback and the opportunity to explain what you want explained. Trust me, they have gone out of their way for me and I suspect many other patients. But, they can't read minds. I hope you are feeling much better. I'm so glad you were spared another surgery (which I am sure was the goal) I was in hospital for Thanksgiving, too. Another day, another turkey feather, eh? best, tee