If you have to go to the ER...

Absolutely, one of the reason I am in Health Care is to understand the physiology for myself and my family...

I am pretty demanding AND I do my homework.

--------- You GO Mom :;

Yeah, I do thatt.

I had tonsillitis one time, went to urgent care. Couldn't speak. I had my s/s written down along with how long I had them, and had a list of my meds/dose/last dose...

The triage nurse looked at me and said "Which part of healthcare are you in?" :chuckle

Sometimes I hate knowing so much. When having DD, I looked down before the nurse put in my IV, I saw green, started to freak b/c I knew she was putting a big IV in me.

:chuckle I do the very same thing that all of you do. I'm so up front and personal that way anyhow, but especially when it comes to my health, and that of my family. My daughters have often had me accompany them to the doctor or hospital when either they or their children were sick because they know I get results. Do the docs appreciate it? Some do, some don't...but that's just too bad. Don't offer me "go away" advice.......do your jobs!

I went to my own ER and told the doc what I had, and very politely treated me for it, although he didn't agree, because he knows me. turns out I was right. I told him we would both save time if he would just assume that during our shifts together too.

:chuckle Don't offer me "go away" advice.......do your jobs!

:roll :roll :roll Oh yeah!

I think most of us do this, to some degree. I try to control it as much as I can, because I don't want to seem pushy.

Last month I went to my doc because I had a cold that had progressed to major wheezing and it felt like someone was gripping my throat, like it was so swollen I felt like I was being choked. I asked for a strep test because I wanted to know if I was okay to go to work or if I needed to start antibiotics first. They said it didn't look like strep but tested me anyways. Then I asked if it could be RSV, and since I work in the NICU I was worried. They wouldn't do it and said I was probably fine. So then she prescribed albuteral MDI, antibiotics for sinus infection vs. bronchitis. I really wanted an albuteral neb in the office, I mean, I felt so wheezy and dry. I was going to ask for one, but then I figured I had caused enough trouble so I just left and went to pick up the MDI instead.

Oh yeah...but I am also open to other possibilities too. Like the time I thought I *just* needed a little Lasix to get rid of the postpartum fluid retention and turned out I was in congestive heart failure (had never heard of that at the time.)

I had a patient a month ago who came in with a list of what he needed. I was kind of irate at first, but it turned out he was just a very introspective and thoughtful older man who instinctively knew what was wrong. He listed:

1.)admit to the hospital for a few days of rest

2.)please check my lungs...something is wrong with my breathing

and so on and so on.

Turns out he was in failure due to atrial fib. I think (for a lot of patients, not all !) they know what is wrong as well if we will listen.

I went to my own ER and told the doc what I had, and very politely treated me for it, although he didn't agree, because he knows me. turns out I was right. I told him we would both save time if he would just assume that during our shifts together too.

That's like my doc a few years back when I had a bad sore throat. I was on antibiotics for 3 weeks (infected, then removed impacted wisdom teeth) and this sore throat was like swallowing knives. I didn't feel sick otherwise, though, so I asked if it could be thrush. My doc laughed at me, because I didn't have a single white patch in my mouth. I said my mouth was fine, it was deep in my throat. She practically rolled her eyes at me when I insisted that I had thrush. Finally, after a gag-inducing look deep into my throat..."OH MY GOD, that's the WORST thrush I've EVER seen!!!"

Hmph!

Since I was about 16 I've been doing that to various doctors. I have had asthma since I was a baby, and I know what works if I am having a bad attack. I think I've only had to play the "I've had asthma longer than you've been a doctor" card only once in an ER. It's kind of nice that I'll be a nurse soon, because I have more credibility now. I agree that so many healthcare professionals don't listen well to patients.

She practically rolled her eyes at me when I insisted that I had thrush. Finally, after a gag-inducing look deep into my throat..."OH MY GOD, that's the WORST thrush I've EVER seen!!!"

Hmph!

ROTFLMAO

I hope you said "I told you so!":chuckle

I work in a busy busy ER, before this I have worked on PCU/ICU/CCU, and as Im sure many of you Nurses know when you get a pt. demanding TX before diagnostics or even after diagnostics it can be frustrating. It's people telling you how to do your job. I agree no one knows their body better themselves but its never proper to demand treatments or interventions as a healthcare person. There are ways to suggest and be diplomatic about what you want and then their are the ones that are demanding. Now when it comes to your child I completely understand, but instead of saying No Dr. he has to have this, say Dr. you know what worked well for him before, or Dr. you know he had trouble with that before. I see many Nurses as Pts. and even Physicians, and for the most part if you let them know the TX path your taking and the results of all diagnostics they are extremely happy. Nurses do not deserve special care, nor do physcians, (I do agree children do), I treat all of my pts. the same, as if they were family..........and sometimes family disagree. Just because you hav RN,MSN, or MD on your name badge is irrelavent to me. And as many of you ER nurses know when they are in the ER they basically post their badges on their forhead, so all can see that this some how makes them VIP. I understand there are bad nurses out there just like in any profession, so its always good to have some one that can understand and translate the medical interventions (hows and whys) to your family if they are being treated. But on the other hand a good nurse will do that for their pt.