Question:
What do you think?

On Monday night I ended up in the emergency room with a severe pains on my side. It ended up being that I might have been trying to pass a kidney stone and I had a kidney infection for sure. First part of the question is: they gave me antibiotics, since then, one bite of anything or a sip of water makes me so full that I'm tempted to throw up, and if I did take two or three bites, I did throw up. I'm thinking it's the antibiotics, what do you think? Next situation and question: While at the hospital, when they took me to get a catscan, the tech told me that he wanted me to see something, but that it didn't come from him(I imagine meaning that only the dr. is suppose to read the results)he showed me the screen where the results of the catscan where, there was an object by my gallbladder, he said it was a loose staple(not that a staple had come loose, but just a wandering staple). He also said that I should come back to the hospital and get copies of the test and go see a lawyer. I was groggy from the pain medication so I didn't ask a lot of questions. Later on, none of the dr.'s mentioned anything about this object that I saw on the results of the test. I didn't ask either because I didn't want to get the tech in trouble. Either way, why do you think this tech would say something like "go see a lawyer" and then none of the dr.'s even say anything. Should I take this seriouly or forget about it? (rny 11/7/02, -87 lbs.)    — Jessica Hernandez (posted on April 18, 2003)

April 18, 2003
The Dr's may argue with you about it, but you have a legal right to your Medical Files, they are your files! I would get copies of the test results and see what is said in them. Could be that the Tech was seeing something wrong as well, but I wouldn't just let it go! Good Luck! ;~)
   — Tambi B.

April 18, 2003
I agree with the last poster. You should never take a tech's word for it, because even though they do get good at reading results after they do it for a while, they are not a doctor. The doctor will dictate a report that will be typed up in your file. Get a copy of all the reports/paperwork from this visit and see what it says. Then maybe see your PCP or your surgeon first and see what they have to say. In my opinion, I wouldn't run to a lawyer right away, that could cost you money and there could be nothing wrong. Legal battles are expensive, long and emotionally taxing, worry about your health first and the legalities next. Good luck!
   — beeda

April 18, 2003
Ach. This reminds me of the time a "tech" volunteered to me that a spot on a breast ultrasound was "probably cancer," which put me through six weeks of hell and an excisional biopsy that revealed, finally, that it wasn't cancer. I'm not knocking techs in general -- I've dealt with some really nice, responsible, thoughtful ones -- but I don't think any responsible technician would say, "Here's a staple, get a lawyer." It'd be a different story if the tech had said something like, "I think this is a staple, find a doctor, and be sure it's not a risk to your health."<P>I'd absolutely follow up on this if I were you, by getting a copy of your CT scan, taking it to your surgeon, pointing to the spot, and saying, "Hey, what is this? The tech said it's a wandering staple." Then get an explanation of what the doc thinks it is, why it happened, and what (if anything) should be done about it. No need to be worried about the tech; the point should be, is that spot a threat to your health. If you're not completely satisfied with your surgeon's response, take your scan to another doctor and get a second opinion. I don't think it's fair to condemn the doctors for not saying anything when they weren't even asked about it; there's always the possibility that what's on the scan is no surprise (and no mistake), and the tech could've been *wrong* in what he told you, but you don't know until you start asking. Don't let yourself be too shy or intimidated or nice to ask questions -- it can be done nicely and firmly, out of concern for your health, and you'll get better answers if it doesn't come through the prism of "I'm thinking of getting a lawyer" right off the bat. Based on what you learn, you can decide whether pursuing contact with a lawyer is in your interset -- but if you start out with a lawyer, his focus is on money, and your litigation posture, and only secondarily on your health. And no lawyer can give you a good opinion on what any of this might be "worth" without first getting a doc to tell him what's in that scan, anyway. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

April 18, 2003
Well I can see why the "tech" thought it looked like a lose staple. I had a xray which showed a spot that looked like a staple and I asked the physician who did the reading, he asked me " did you have your gallbladder removed" Yes. well that's what they use to tie it off. So my response is, ask your Dr. it may be that it's suppose to be there.
   — Jeana S.

April 18, 2003
Personally I would do as the Tech suggested. I'd get my medical records, see a lawyer AND take those records to another doctor/surgeon for a second opinion (in case your health depends on it). CYA (cover your arse).
   — Danmark

April 18, 2003
Which antibiotics?
   — vitalady