Adventures in a small town ER

[BJLynn]

So I go to the ER.

Lots of abdominal pain, sudden onset emesis, R flank pain, epigastric goodness going on, and ocassional twinges in the R shoulder. My mother drags me to the ER. I told her I was an adult and I didn't want to go. She pulled rank on me and said she was my mother and I WAS going. She won. Even after thrity plus years, she wins most of the time.

We get there and I get triaged. In the waiting room I am in a pathetic ball trying not to puke on anyone and I can't get comfortable because of the pain. THREE hours later (not bad really considering their load yesterday...they got SLAMMED) I get into an ER cubicle. Both nurses who took care of me (shift change ) had the same basic reaction when they saw me: "Don't I know you?....Oh you did clinicals here under me!......Long time no see!.....So how's nursing going for you?" In hind site it was quite funny. But at the time I just wanted drugs.

Then I got into a discusison with the PA over Wygesic vs. Hydrocodone. She was trying to tell me they were the same thing. She left the cubicle and came back and appologized to me. I got my script for Wygesic. She was cool about it.

My R arm looks like hell from the blown IV attempt, the infiltrated IV, and the blood draw site (I bruise very easily). But I did get some very pleasant stuff via my IV, so I'm all good with the bruising.

Long story short, I get to get my gall bladder out soon. It hates me. So I am serving it an eviction notice. If I don't end up back in the ER tomorrow (OMG this hurts like hell, and the nausea.....ugh), I get to tell my Dr I want my gall bladder yanked out asap.

Oh....The PA at the ER gave me a work release for 72 hours. I went to work today anyway. BIG mistake. I couldn't take the drugs while I was at work (well, I could of, but then I prolly wouldn't have been able to stay upright most of the time). Meh....couldn't pass up my holiday pay and I really didn't want to call in anyway.

If I have surgery there it should be interesting. I get to be taken care of by classmates and mentors.....

[AuntieRN]

I'm sorry you are feeling poorly BjLynn. I had my gallbladder taken out about 9 years ago now. It hurts like heck until its out...anyways...I feel your pain and I also had mine taken out at the hospital I worked at. I worked in all the different units including PACU, OR and OR holding, new all the nursing staff and all the docs....guess I am quite funny and entertaining when I am all drugged up...I even accused my favorite OR nurse of trying to strangle me when they were intubating me...apparantly that was the first thing I said when I hit PACU...poor thing was mortified because she thought I honestly felt that way....I was telling the clerk in recovery how to enter orders in the computer...I was telling the nurse in recovery where to find things and how to set my IV pump...I even went so far as to call the maintainance (sp?) guy from my room to come unclogged the sink....even got to be taken care of by my best friend who was a nurse on the floor at the time...and apparantly from what my mom says...I lost all my modesty I was pulling up my gown showing everyone my little incisions....gawd....it will be ok and you will feel so much better once its out. Good luck to you and feel better soon.

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

It's something how we as nurses see things when we are suddenly patients. It can be very funny and also so very scary. I hope you get feeling better and get that mean bully of a gallbladder out soon as I'm sure you are very tired of it's abuse lol. My situation was I went in to the ER and yes it was where I worked. Anyway they said I had acute appendicitis and admitted me. After being loaded up with narcs and feeling no further pain I was starving!! The doc forgot to write me NPO so I talked my best friend who was my nurse into getting me a Snickers bar. Oops just as I finished that last bite that tasted so oh very good, my doc arrives to say "Emergency appendectomy!" Hope you havent eaten. Me, of course NOT! I'm a nurse I know better LMAO. Anyway underwent the surgery and surprisingly I didnt get the nausea or vomiting due to the last minute snickers bar but now yes there is a BUT. Upon my awakening to the docs face only to hear "Well the appendix is out, you didnt have appendicitis but you have MONO! Mesenteric Adenitis to be more specific secondary to the mono" Anyway I never have to worry about my appendix again.

[Fuzzy]

BJLynn, I hope things are going better. I remember the nausea and pain that I went through for 10 years when I would have one of these attacks. They would get so bad that I wanted to cut it out with a knife. After the first scary attack, I went to the MD who ordered an ultrasound where the problem was found. I never went to the ER with them because I couldn't afford to--no insurance--not wealthy--not an illegal alien--you get the message LOL. I would just stop eating. I would go ahead an drink water. I did lose a little weight by eating low fat food. It wasn't enough. So last year after a really bad acute attack, I went in and had the thing taken out. I had never had surgery before and I was scared feceless. One of my dog training clients was my nurse. She put me at ease as she explained everything to me. We joked back and forth and compared job duties. Surgery went well with no complications. The surgeon was impressed that there were no complications after having problems with it over 10 years. My heart didn't flutter too bad when I received all the bills. I'm fortunate that everyone was willing to work woth me and my lack of ability to pay at the time of service. I would also work during the attacks. Tylenol was my friend--lots of tylenol. Get better soon BJLynn. Once you get the little bugger out you will feel much better.

Fuzzy

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

JUst dont put off getting it out. Hopefully you will have it done BEFORE it gets bad enough they cant do a lap and you can be out in a couple days at most. If you wait and have to go the old fashioned way (open) you will be there a bit longer. And it isnt fun.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Ok this in not medical advice, but personal experience: GET RID OF THAT Gall bladder, if that is your problem and your doctors say it's bad!

Mine was taken out 2 weeks ago-----tell ya what, easiest surgery I ever did. Not that any surgery is routine or that easy, but I have had quite a few iin the past, and compared to those experiences, it was a walk in the park.

And remember, this, you have the "hometeam" advantage if you are treated in your own hospital. I had my gb out at my hospital of employment, too. I had the same worries you do. But I tell you, it was great for me. I got the anesthesiologist of my choice, who rocked. TBest experience ever...he listened to me when I told him I emerge from generals VERY badly and stay sick for hours. He fixed me right up, from putting scop patches on me, to giving me IV meds that worked, to obviously using the right concentrations/types of anesthetics for ME personally, based on my history and complaints.

The surgeon was the bomb. I got to choose from several, and knowing OR nurses and techs----they are the experts here---- I listened to their recommendations and chose the one they said would do best by me. (another "home team" advantage). He was the best ever---great bedside manner, too, which was awesome.

Best part? I had wonderful care from the nurses. They knew me, and that stunk at first. I thought " I do not want them all in my business!" BUT they treated me well and were right there if I needed anything. I have always had a great repoire with all the nurses where I work, from the ambulatory unit, to the OR to PACU. All of them went out of their way to see I was cared-for. I felt really safe and cared-for. Such a different experience than in the other hospitals I was in....(military mostly).

I even had the PACU nurse of my "choice". She was on that day and agreed to be the one there when I woke up. That was a really comforting experience.

You see: There ARE advantages to having staff who know you care for you. Just be crystal-clear on your limits. HIPAA is not just a bunch of letters, you know. And if you have to, remind them, you are NOT a nurse in their care but a PATIENT, and to please treat you as such.

Oh and my post-gallbladder life? WONDERFUL. Just knowing I won't have another attack ----(and believe me you will have them again, if you ignore this)---- is a new lease on life for me. I can't tell you what a relief I feel now that it's said and done.

Quick recovery. OH yea, cause it's done laparoscopically these days. WOOT, no giant incisions across the abdomen means you go in, have the procedure done, and go home, all within HOURS, not days. I was in at 0530, home by noon in my own bed. Nothing beats recovering at home in all your creature comforts.

Do see this "attack" as a warning, (even if it's not your gallbladder, but something else)--- and take care to follow up. Get the recommended scans and tests, and if they say it needs to go, don't hesitate to follow dr orders. You won't believe how good you will feel when it's over and done!!!

I wish you clarity in your situation, good medical and nursing care and wellness.......hang in there.