At Thu, 24 Dec 2009, IAS Admin wrote:
>
>From: adhesions@adhesions.org [mailto:adhesions@adhesions.org] On Behalf Of
>HERB F DIXON
>Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 10:14 AM
>To: adhesions-request@adhesions.org
>Subject: Re: Uninsured-Disrespected & Still in Pain
>
>Angela,I am so sorry to hear of your health and poor treatment.
>I cannot believe that they released you both times without
>having a BM.
>
>Not that it helps, but their is a patient advocate at the
>hospital and I would call and ask to speak with that person to
>let them know how poorly you were treated. It is your right to
>ask for a 2nd opinion. I would call Gastro's offices until you
>find one that will accept payments. I do hope that the Hospital
>has a plan to help with your bill, sometimes they even write it
>off after sending you paperwork to fill out, but it is worth it.
>
>Is there another town nearby that you could go to a hospital
>there? or find Doctors and specialists there too? Please don't
>give up, I know it is so frustrating but its not right to not
>have a BM in 3 weeks, I just cannot begin to understand why you
>are treated so horribly yet you are still suffering. It's just
>not right. I also can't imagine not having pain meds to deal
>with your pain, yes they do mask the problem, but also make it
>bareable. It just scares me that you could have a blockage.
>
>I would also call the records dept. at the Hospital and ask
>for your records from the past month so you have it in hand
>should you choose to see another Gastro. I'm sorry I am not
>much help. I just want you to know you are not alone, and I
>am scared for you too. Please get back on the phone and keep
>calling, or go to another town and get the help you deserve.
>
>You take care, and please keep us posted on this website.
>We are all here to listen and support each other. Cheryl
>
>> Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:36:03 -0600
>> From: tracy.joslin@adhesions.org
>> To: adhesions@mail.obgyn.net
>> Subject: Uninsured-Disrespected & Still in Pain
>>
>> Sender: alegna2017@aol.com (angela)
>> Subject: Uninsured-Disrespected & Still in Pain
>>
>> Three weeks ago I was in extreme abdominal pain with tenderness to all
>> areas of my stomach.My PCP referred me to the ER for evaluation where I
>> was admitted & spent the week of Thanksgiving & Thanksgiving day in the
>> hospital.I had a CT scan which revealed an ileus.I was admitted
>> inpatient for 9 days which 4 days I was on clear fluids had to plead for
>> another CT scan. My GI physician after being in the hospital 4 days
>> came for a consult. His first order of business was the endless
>> questioning of why I did not have health insurance and if I had applied
>> for medicaid. He then told me that he could prescribe Amitiza but I
>> would have to come to his office to receive it. I asked him why he
>> could not prescribe it to me in the hospital but he made up some
>> ridiculous answer and advised me to make an appointment to see him. I
>> was upset and requested a 2nd opinion with another GI physician. The
>> new GI basically told me the same thing and to make an appointment with
>> him.That was my treatment!I was discharged with prescriptions for
>> narcotics,stool softeners, and laxatives.I was told that the ileus will
>> resolve when I passed stool(I hadn't passed stool for about 2weeks at
>> that time).
>>
>> Two weeks after being discharged I had the same symptoms of abdominal
>> pain with tenderness that hurt to walk,sneeze or urinate.I had still not
>> passed any stool even after taking colace,senokot,miralax & drinking
>> gallons of water.
>>
>> I contacted my PCP who advised that my problem was out of his realm of
>> practice and that I should call my GIphysician. I called the GI's
>> office & was told the next available appointment would be in 6weeks and
>> that there were no available emergency appointments & that I should go
>> to the ER.I made another call to my PCP for a referral to a GI & was
>> told because it was a Friday no one would see me(1st day of Hanukah)so
>> go to the ER.I looked in the phone book and found a GI but because I am
>> uninsured they would accept me as a patient.So I went to the ER admitted
>> for the severe abdominal pain & tenderness.I received an EGD? promised a
>> colonoscopy within 2-3 days after EGD? well, long story short I never
>> received a colonoscopy and after 2weeks inpatient nothing wlse was done.
>> I was discharged today or should say thrown out of the hospital.An
>> attending came to my room this afternoon whom I have never seen &
>> discharged me without so much of an examination.I refused to be
>> discharged without speaking with the GI physician because nothing had
>> changed I still had the abdominal pain and now have not defacated as of
>> 3weeks.Because I had questioned authority I was forced out,humiliated by
>> security!!!!I am more than upset and still in pain.If I had health
>> insurance would I have been treated with such disrespect?Are there any
>> physicians out there who care about their patients & want to see them
>> healthy?I have been sufferring for many years with this adhesional pain
>> & the only medical treatment I have received are
>> NARCOTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are not the answer,narcotics just mask the
>> symptoms. I need help desperately.I am not getting any better & I am
>> scared for what my future holds.......
>>