What Happens to Demanding Patients Under Anesthesia - Doctor's POV
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- #patientadvocacy #demanding #surgery
Many patients are afraid of being labeled as "demanding" or "needy." What can you do to work together with your doctor to help you heal and get the care you deserve?
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Some patients are unfairly described as demanding or challenging. This is a serious problem in medicine, both for doctors and for patients. Unfortunately, patients suffer the most when they are viewed as demanding or challenging, and this is most apparent before and during surgery. This hijacks our self representation and mind body power to cause more nausea, pain, and even worse surgical outcomes. Anesthesia reveals so much of the friction and inner-challenge when demanding patients are on the operating room table.
I had an emergency surgery a few years ago and I was very anxious and terrified. About 2 weeks after my surgery, I had my follow up appointment with the surgeon to get the staples removed and I had questions, such as when can I go back to work, when can I exercise, and many others, but it was my first (and only, to this point) major surgery and I think I should be allowed to know what’s happening with my body. The nurse appeared to listen, but the minute she closed the door after leaving the room to go get the doctor, I heard her say in a very rude and annoyed tone “She has a lot of questions.” It hurt a lot. The surgery and anesthesia and everything were traumatizing enough and I’m still upset all these years later, but for her to say that on top of everything really stung. I didn’t ask for surgery and I didn’t want it! They didn’t have to be rude to me!
While this is the internet and you don’t know anything else about me, my friends have described me as very sweet. I’m not a mean, rude person. I just wanted my questions about my body answered.
I'm so sorry you had that experience, but I greatly admire your vulnerability in sharing that. this happens all too often, and your experience is not singular. I hope that you find strength to advocate for yourself in the future - you are your best advocate in our health care system 🙏
That's not cool. That's why a lot of patients are quiet & don't share some things unfortunately. They assume the doctors & nurses don't wanna hear it all.
I think the problem is a general human default, because of the self centred nature of us humans.
I observed the same thing in the building trade. Nurses and doctors know there is nothing complicated about what you are having done, because they do it every day and it really isn't anything to worry about. Bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, lay bricks, build roofs and install showers every day and they too know that there is nothing complicated about it. The patients or customers who are having the operation, or having major work on their house, are both in the same situation, they really don't know what is going on and they have lots of questions.
Difficult patients and difficult customers are often simply reasonable people whom, unfortunately have to deal with professionals with their heads up their arse.
@@robinhood4640 while I wouldn't say that what doctors do is "nothing complicated," I do agree with the ethos!
@@MedicalSecrets Doctor please forgive me for disagreeing with you but i think that depends on the reason the patient is under anaesthetic. I would say changing the head gasket of a 2018, 2.0 ltr diesel, ford focus , is a bit more complicated than poking a camera up someone's bottom.
After a minor proceedure the nurse gently said "ok time to wake up". I immediately shouted "I'v got to feed the horses", then lept off the bed knocking her down and almost making it to the hall in the lovely gown before realizing where I was and that feeding time was actually 3 hours later and I had the day off. She got up and helped me back to bed. We had a good laugh and I went off to sleep again.
🤣 I'm so happy it all went safely in the end! How was the rest of your recovery?
Omgosh that’s funny. I have horses and have had quite a few surgeries. Thankfully I haven’t done that. I have freaked out wanting my husband. Tried leaving. After I got to the room the nurses alarmed my bed. I got annoyed but had to laugh. Like I’m laughing at your experience. That’s sooo something I would be worried about. 🤣
The equestrian…. Hard wired to feed the horses 😂😂😂.
I am sure that made their day.
Oh my goodness this resonates with me - I have horses & their care is in every fibre of our bodies, they are so reliant on us
As a CCRN of 37 years, I have one sentence, the patient is not giving you a hard time, the patient is having a hard time. We must go to work with many get out of jail free cards. This has been my attitude towards " the difficult" patients for almost 4 decades.
Unfortunately, not everyone has coping skills, or self soothing skills. I hear your frustration with respect 🙏
I pray for medical staff like you 🙏 Thank you
@@cmrsnowflake it's all my pleasure ☺️💯❣️
Thank you for ministering to patients during their difficult time. Fibromyalgia has complicated my life for over 40+ years, and I’ve recently had to be hospitalized for something else. I can say from experience that we all don’t want to be difficult patients, but when our filters are taken down with any medication leaving only the pain, the pains we don’t talk about are suddenly seen by others. We’re placed in a position that we can’t do for ourselves anymore and yet still want/need to reach for our typical pain-dealing-tools. Much of the time I wasn’t even able to tell them the pain I was having. I typically can’t and don’t take meds as I’m highly allergic and or sensitive to medications as well.
Sorry to any medical staff, and pray for all medical professionals as they seek to help!
I tend to be an easy patient. The one exception was when I was being made to sit on a hard chair with 50 some metal staples in buttocks and leg from femur surgery. Everyone else found me a pleasant experience.
@@marktisdale8058 oh wow and no one thought of a blanket or pillow. I would have done you better than that. That's actually very unkind as it's easily avoidable 🥹
We get demanding patients on the ambulance too. We see people at the worst point in their lives sometimes and I understand why they are demanding. They are scared and have no control over what is going on. I try and reassure them.
They are so lucky to have you taking care of them
@@MedicalSecrets thanks! I’ve reflected on a lot of what you’ve said in your videos and have put some of your ideas into practice!
I just tell the anesthesiologist that I have a lot of myoclonic jerks when I wake up and fall asleep. one time, I was waking up and I was having them and heard the staff start freaking out asking if I "needed an airway" and if I needed to be sedated again. then the nurse who actually listened to me before my procedure told them all that I warned them and I was okay.
my communication and her listening saved me a potential intubation and I'm happy about that.
I have 9 surgeries in my life. Every time the anesthesiologist came to talk to me, I had a great chance to look in their eyes and ask questions and even make a joke to see their reaction. I told one anesthesiologist that I always wake up extremely nauseous because of my Las Vegas nerve. I understand why people are terrified of giving up all control over their body and life. I never was afraid. I was blessed each time to be talking to someone who I knew I could put my trust in. It's amazing how quickly you can read a person and form a connection of trust. Thank you for making these videos. You are talking about things that nobody talks about.
Carly, It's VAGUS nerve. There is no Las Vegas nerve in the body.
@@janetarmstrong7010
I know. As I was asking serious questions of the anesthesiologist, I used to throw that in there to see what their response would be. They knew I was joking but, they also never forgot and they made sure to take care of my nausea. It was a good way to get to know someone quickly who I was going to put my life into their hands shortly after. 😊
@@CarlyFaith15 haha that’s a clever way to make sure they don’t forget! I see you Carly Hope, I see your tricks 😂🤣
I was labeled as non compliant by a neurologist because I refused to take the medication he prescribed. I told him I don’t have depression, I have pain. It became argumentative. He finally sent me for an MRI and I have chiari malformation and need surgery. All the antidepressants and hormonal birth control was not going to help. But now that I was labeled as non compliant I feel other medical professionals tiptoe around me. I then explain the situation. I want that non compliant remark off my records.
If you ask unanswered questions, you may need to become non-compliant to protect yourself. My husband’s NEW gastroenterologist wanted to prescribe for constipation a very high risk medication used to treat drug addiction.
I easily persuaded my husband to go to a functional MD who prescribed MAGNESIUM supplements - which cured the problem!
Good luck with that. I’ve found that unfortunately once it’s in someone’s records, it’s almost impossible to get rid of.
YES!!!! YES THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. Once a Dr. is 'irritated' w/ you for, God Forbid, wanting to know what's going on, if he puts His Interpretation of what happened in the record, YUP; You're Kinda Screwed :((.
I just had salvage reconstruction foot surgery last Thursday. This being the 7th surgery with many missteps along the way, I was so anxious about this surgery. I have had nerve blocks not work and procedures discussed not done while in surgery. I voiced my concerns to the nurses, doctor, and anesthesiologist. It was the absolute best experience I have ever had with surgery. My surgeon took steps to ensure I felt confident in him. The nurses were so nice and caring. The anesthesiologist actually told me that the patient before me also had past history with the block not working and she was pain-free in recovery. He said he had a good thing about my block and he would do all he could to make sure it worked. I went under anesthesia so calm and joking with everyone. It was amazing. I woke up and the block worked! Coming from having horrible experiences to this is priceless 💕. I love your videos and the mind and body connection you talk about really helped me to feel amazingly calm before surgery this time. I contribute it to watching your videos and implementing the breathing, curiosity, and positive thinking before I went in for surgery. Thank you again for having your channel and such a great outlook on life 💖.
I'm so happy to hear about the improvement with this surgery! Thank you for the kind comments! 🙏
Ret counselor here.
Here's my take:
• Positive results can occur if vulnerable pts are offered "control" over their "anxious stimuli". Ex: Senior pt dilemma might be mitigated IF doctor respectfully informs pt (b4 questioning him) that "in order to BEST serve you, Sir, it's my duty to collect vital information from you. Perhaps you could let me know how you'd want me to ask a series of important questions?" (This is just 1 script).
• By offering him control over some portion of the intake process - he likely will experience "empowerment" (dopamine flush). The method of questioning thence becomes HIS choice. Not the "scary doctor's choice". It'll give HIM power.
• "Vulnerability", by definition = a sense of powerlessness. Thus, if one can "give him power" over the questioning process - it could amend his fear/anger responses (adrenalin, etc.).
• Experientially speaking - it works like a charm!! 😊!! Especially when smiles, complements & affirmations are liberally employed. De-escalation is easy once the patient's own dopamine is generated.
Just sayin.
@Blessings 2You Thank you, you nailed it!
You should train law enforcement! Great comment!
I have had many surgeries. I worked in the medical profession all my life. A Medical Technologist. So fortunately I did have SOME knowledge. And I had the best surgeons. And I knew the staff sort of. So I was most fortunate and blest to have such a good caring staff also. So basically I was lucky. A d I worked with many patients going into and coming out of surgery. I only hope and pray that I was as kind to them as I was treated. Thank you for these videos.
In an earlier video you mentioned drug addiction and anesthesiology. My late husband was a psychotherapist and a drug addiction counselor who helped many people. He always had respect for the addict but he hated the addiction. I found out that paramedics are often extremely angry when they have to pick up a person who is having an overdose. Every time I have the chance to talk to one, I tell them that the person doesn't want to be living like that. They are sick not evil. I got to experienced that firsthand. I was having trouble swallowing and I couldn't control my temperature. I was terrified and I didn't know what was happening to me. I called an ambulance because, inside I knew I was in danger. I was so dizzy that I sat down in the middle of the driveway and waited. The EMTs asked me what was going with me and I said I didn't know. They decided that what they were seeing was a drug addict. I found out later that they put the largest needle IV they could and they put it between my fingers. I had no idea why. I just knew I was in pain for five days and no one would move it from that position. Every time I needed an antibiotic added to my IV, it was excruciating. I later found out the reason I was not able to swallow was because I had stopped a medication I had been on for 20 years. I had no idea that if I stopped cold turkey my body would just freak out and wouldn't know how to continue to do its most basic jobs. It showed me just how awful a person can get treated when a so-called professional desides if they are going to help you or hurt you. I know I'll never forget that experience. Just something I felt like sharing. Thank you for your videos.
So sorry that happened to you. I, too, have had a few too many really horrible experiences in my most vulnerable times by professionals that abused me. It effected my mental well-being more than it should. Now, I will go for months in pain or sick because I'm actually afraid of those in the medical profession. The really stupid thing is that I used to be a CCRN who loved my job and loved advocating for my patients until the day I was in an accident and got permanently injured and it all came to an abrupt end. Now, I'm afraid of getting the medical care I need because of being so mistreated by a few really bad ones.
@@tchili1 I know exactly what you're talking about. I had never been sick in a way that I needed hospitalization before. It happened to be a very long holiday weekend. All of the most senior staff had taken their vacation that week. By the time my husband worked and drove home it was too late for him to come and visit me every day so, I spent five days and nights in the hospital alone. I was surrounded by very junior staff. They were running around up and down the halls and just not acting professionally. I had a terrible kidney infection because, I had stopped that medication, I wasn't able to take an antibiotic orally. I stayed there in order to get my five days worth of antibiotic before the infection got worse. They really couldn't do much to hurry the amount of time it would take for my body to adjust to going back to taking my normal medication. It was about ninety degrees out there that week and humid. Because, of fibromyalgia, my body was screaming in pain. But, that didn't bother me as much as the fact that no one would bring me a glass of water. After that first cup of ice water, no matter how many times I asked for more water, it never came. I had to stand in the doorway of the bathroom hanging onto my IV pole and keep filling my glass with warm tap water. I knew if I didn't drink a lot of water that the antibiotics would not help to flush out the infection in my kidneys. Then, every time I got a shot in my IV, I trembled because, it hurt so bad. The young ones said that they couldn't put in a new IV in my hand. That's not even the worst thing abou it. There was a woman across the hall that was elderly and had dementia and had been put in there because, she was impacted and they were trying their best to help her go. She was argumentative and not thinking straight and that annoyed the young nurses terribly. The poor woman kept going between screaming and then, apologizing. She really was not in her right mind and she didn't know what was happening. She just knew that this was not her normal self and she was in a scary place. I didn't sleep for the first 48 hours. I felt like I had been beaten up with a metal bar and I had constant migraines and feelings of electricity going up and down my spine. One morning, I was sitting in my bed and I heard one of the young nurses go into the old woman's room. I heard the sound of her slapping her so hard. Our doors were right across from each other. So, after slapping that woman a couple of times, she woke up crying and terrified. I heard her whimpering like a beat dog. Then, I heard that same nurse say to her in the most saccharine-sweet way, good morning! How did you sleep? Are you going to eat your breakfast this morning? The woman just whimpered and said yes yes yes. That got her under control. Those very young nurses were not going to put up with a difficult patient. Not only that, they had no care about HIPAA laws. They told me what everybody had in every room around me. The reason the young man in the next room was crying so loud all night was because, he had sickle-cell anemia. I had studied that so, I knew it was extremely painful. I also knew that I had no business knowing his medical condition. I woke up one morning and I pushed the button for the nurse because, I woke up with the worst migraine I've ever had and pain in my lower spine. I'll never forget this because, my son had come the night before and he spent that night sleeping in a chair next to me. That night, I got about 4 hours sleep. When the nurse came in and I told her that my head felt like it was going to explode and there was so much pain in my back, I asked her if she would get me an antihistamine because, that would help my headache and it was written in my chart that I could have that if I got one of those headaches. She just told me, no. She walked out of the room and came back with a medium sized plastic container of ice water with cubes floating in it. She soaked a hand towel in it. Not a washcloth. She didn't ring it out. She just threw it at my chest. I was shocked and soaking wet in my bed. Then, she broke open a couple of heat packs and stuffed them down the back of my pajama bottoms. And, that was my care. I had to ask my son to take the sopping wet cloth off of me and wring it out well and give it back to me so, I could put it on my neck. No one would come so he actually changed my gown for me. My fibromyalgia was getting worse and worse. On the last day, I started having crushing chest pains. I asked the nurse to call the doctor and she said, no I'm not going to disturb him. You're fine. I had enough from lack of sleep and all of the circus activity I had been in. I was pressing on my chest and I leaned forward and looked into her eyes and said, are you willing to bet my life on this? It was like talking to a robot. She just wasn't going to call the doctor. So, I looked her straight in the eyes and I very flatly but, sternly said, are you willing to bet your life on it? Because, if I am having a heart attack, your life is going to be over too. She called the doctor and by then, I was already dressed and ready to take out my own IV. I had to get home so I could get some sleep and I couldn't take anymore pain. I needed my own bed. Thankfully, the doctor signed me out. They put me in a wheelchair and took me downstairs and then told me to get out of the wheelchair before my ride was there because, they needed the wheelchair. I sat on a bench in the 98 degree sun. I had to wait 40 minutes for someone to get me. I was so dehydrated. I remember thinking that I felt more like I had been in some kind of strange camp. I think we all have stories like that so, I have to make sure I'm dying for me to ever go to a hospital. Unfortunately, my husband into a coma a few years later and I had to go to the hospital for two and a half months every single day from morning till night to make sure that he would live. I just became one of the nurses because, they were too busy. I suctioned his throat constantly. This is the kind of world we live in many different occupations unfortunately. I hope that you don't have to go through that again. It sounds like you had experiences that haunt you. In my memory, the sweetest day of my life was coming home and writing a note to my husband not to wake me. I remember falling asleep on a comfortable bed and feeling the pain easing away. It's so scary when you're there and no one will advocate for you. You better believe I advocated for my husband. I had to ask them to give him breathing treatments since he had been coughing up what looked like rubber cement and he was choking on it. So, I had to stand next to his bed with a tube and suction him all day and all night. He had a head injury was so bad that they basically said he was going to die so, that was supposed to be that. But, he didn't die.They told me he would never walk. But, he did. Because, basically I stood over his body every minute of every day and watched everything, and that gave his brain a chance to heal. He passed away five years later from something else. I think that if I'm going to die that I will just stay at home and let it happen. I had to fight for him every inch of the way and I have no one that would advocate for me. I think right now a lot of people are dying from loneliness. It's a long slow painful death. Excuse me for writing so much. Right now both of my parents are at the end of their life. And, they are my best friends. I don't know how to live without them here on Earth. I so wish my husband was alive. I can't do everything by myself. It's raining in my back hall cuz there's a hole in my roof. I can't afford to fix it so, now I feel like crying everytime it rains. Rain and thunderstorms used to be my favorite things. Now, they just scare me. Thank you for listening. If you ever need to talk to someone, I'm right here. 💕
My girlfriend once had to lay down in a parking lot from feeling faint and two off duty cops from across the lot started yelling "DOES SHE NEED NARCAN!!!" At us and even after I told them she has fainting problems and asked them to go away they continued to ask me if I even had a car...etc. we were literally next to our car.
@@jamestaylor394 I'm so sorry to hear that. I guess they're used to seeing overdoses. What's surprising is that they wouldn't listen to you. I don't think anyone listens to anyone anymore.
I'm sorry that happened to you.
So much of the language used to describe this group of patients is pejorative. “Demanding”, “maladaptive”... As I listened to this, I felt there was some level of blame (although not intentionally) directed at the apple sauce patient in the description of that story. I know it’s hard, but I feel we really need to dig deep for compassion here. Rigidity and the need to try and control situations are a trauma response. Men in particular might display a more hostile front when faced with a stressful situation. When we react badly to these people we reconfirm for them that the world is against them. We can all practice more compassion towards “difficult” people whether we’re medical professionals or just going about our daily lives.
Omgosh I pray I have never been this way after any surgery? I am a kind person. But can be rude if someone is rude to me. I had no clue we spoke after surgery, still on the surgery table. I do have bad anxiety & PTSD. That is still never an excuse for being rude. I’m so excited about your page. And know Nurse Anesthetist and Anesthesiologist are my favorite before and during a surgery. I 👏🏻 everyone of you.
That's very insightful of you! BTW Thank you for the kind comments! 🙏
Listening to the description of the applesauce patient--the first place my mind jumped to when you mentioned 'applesauce' in conjunction with that person's strong desire and absolute demand (read 'need') for applesauce after coming back from the trauma of a surgery and the depths of anesthesiology, was that it was his childhood remedy for times of high stress and/or certain ailments experienced when he was very young. Perhaps it's what his mother or grandmother gave him to help him feel better. It's soft and cool, and mostly smooth, easy on a sore mouth, or throat or stomach (or whatever else ailed him). It's just sweet enough and not too heavy. Likely it worked back then, and he equates it still, consciously or subconsciously, with security, safety, relief from pain, and peace of mind. P.S. If you ever get a chance to find out, and I'm totally off the mark, please, let me down easy, I'm a sensitive soul.
That was my initial thought as well. As a youngster, I was always given applesauce and dry toast when I had a stomach bug.
That was my thought. My mother just told us to shut up, be quiet and stay in bed.
I have glasses for distance. I asked to have my glasses put on before I wake up so I could see. They always have fulfilled my request
That's fantastic to hear! I agree that is so important to minimize the risk of delirium and confusion in the vulnerable wake up.
Both times they took it from me way before surgery and gave it back hours later.. Very annoying
I have extreme PTSD from several procedures.
The first traumatic experience (not my first surgery) was something gynegological when I was 19. I was given propofol for general anesthesia, and reacted badly to it. It didn't just burn a bit, like some people experience. It crept up my arm feeling cold, and when it reached my neck, everything was on fire. It felt like flames scorched across my entire face, scalp and back down to the nape of my neck. The last thing I could say was: "Oh, my god, that hurts so much!" I guess, the staff thought, I was just babbling the typical nonsense of a patient going under. After I woke up again, the anesthesist came to me and asked how I was feeling. I told him about the pain I had experienced, and he just said: "That's just prejudice!, turned around and went away. How can you have prejudice AFTER an event? Afterwards it's an experience, and it should have been documented that I react like this to propofol, in case I ever need surgery again.
This traumatized me so badly, that I was hardly able to leave the house for 2 years and my then-partner practically had to organize my life.
I swore never to get general anesthesia again and almost died of my gall bladder nearly bursting, when stones got stuck there, but I simply went (rather crawled!) home again, taking the risk of death, instead of having something done. That's how scared I was.
In the meantime, due to some procedures with only local anesthetics and/or oral medication, I found out that opioids don't work on me. Don't kill any pain, also don't give me any side-effects, and Codeine also doesn't stop me from coughing, for example. Doctors either don't believe me or ask if I take drugs (building up a tolerance). I don't even smoke cigarettes! Interestingly, this was the case for my now deceased father and aunt as well, so maybe it's genetic.
Many years later, when I was 40, I needed a surgery on my lower colon/rectum. I convinced the surgeon to do it with only spinal anesthesia, because I never wanted to go under again. And I had told them about the opioid resistance. They said, that's not what they use in anesthesia, anyway (?). I went in hopeful, thinking I'd soon be rid of an issue which debilitates me so badly that I have to live off of welfare support and can't have a normal life.
Instead I had the worst nightmare in the operating room. The spinal anesthesia didn't work. They gave me what we call in German a "saddle block", meaning only the bum is numbed but your legs still work. Indeed the skin was entirely numb, but I felt everything the surgeon did inside. I exerted extreme body control not to flinch, so he wouldn't accidentally cut something he wasn't supposed to, and told them about the pain. They gave me painkiller infusions, which did NOTHING. It could have been water. I received two of them, and then they got a different substance (so, a third dose), and that, too, didn't work. They asked me if they should now rather put me under general anesthesia, because I was in such pain and they couldn't give me any more substances. But my terror of ever having that again was greater and I just told the surgeon to finish up the job, bit down on my teeth, still didn't flinch, even made sure I stayed physically relaxed and kept my breathing calm (I'm practiced in meditation), didn't whine, just endured it. But I wouldn't wish this on my enemy!
Again, afterwards no one even spoke to me about it. They should have asked me if I wanted to talk to a psychologist afterwards, but no. Nothing. To make matters worse, when I was home again a few days later, the problem I went into surgery for in the first place returned, and I was told, the whole thing would need to be repeated because it hadn't worked. By then, I was a mess already mentally. If I didn't already have PTSD from before, NOW I certainly have it! I have no friends or family for support. Two months after this incident the pandemic started and I've been self-isolating for about three years now, constantly fearing for my life. Thankfully, I never got jabbed nor infected, so at least so far I'm safe from strokes or myocarditis and stuff like that. But of course, I'll never repeat that surgery again. Or any other kind. I have a terrible tooth root inflammation under a crown for months now (it's been chronic for years), which is almost down to the jaw nerve. I've been told, if the tooth doesn't get extracted, my lower jaw could become paralized. But I simply can't do it! I get panic attacks now when I see doctors, syringes, or just think about walking into a hospital building. I suppose, one day I'll just die, because I end up with something severe, that I won't have treated.
I wanted to get trauma therapy. I have a psychiatrist. But he said, there's no sense in even staring to search for a place, because the few actual trauma therapists here have waiting lists that last for years. And, obviously, I'm not going into a psychiatric hospital, as that would already be part of the problem.
Damn and sorry for the long text. I never really talk about this and suppose I had to vent somehow, even if nobody might read this. I'm in chronic pain daily and despite wanting to live and trying to still make the best of it, I'll probably be grateful when it's over one day. I also don't want pity for my story or advice like "you are strong, you can do it". I just wanted to write it down somewhere, I guess. Getting it off my chest. Next life, I want to come back as a jellyfish. I've heard, they don't have nerves and can't feel pain, and there's even a species whose cells constantly renew and unless they get eaten, they're practically immortal. THAT would be bliss! lol
P.S.: I also don't think I was a demenading patient before or after the procedures. I just landed on this video when I found this channel, trying to search for answers for what had happened to me. I never even called a nurse into my room during my stay in hospital, so as not to bother anyone and because I already felt like no one could help me. I just think, they should routinely send a psychologist to at least check in with a patient after something bad happens.
Before the first surgery when I was 19, I wasn't even offered to be given something like Medazolam beforehand. Don't know if I'd have taken it, had they offered it. The thought of memory loss scares me. And with this last surgery with the spinal anesthesia, I deliberately declined it, because now I was so terrified of anything I didn't know. I took 30mg Diazepam, which I'm familiar with (by no means addicted, just in case of nervous breakdowns, prescribed by my psychiatrist). This was okay with the anesthesist, but honestly, it did nothing for me and the only thing why I stayed calm in that kind of situation and pain, was my breathing techniques and the very sweet nurse who sat eye-level next to me and kept telling me how brave I was. I'll never forget the unnaturally beautiful aquamarine color of her eyes, which I couldn't help but stare at.
This makes me anxious that I would say the wrong thing coming out of surgery.
Thanks for confirming, to your viewers, that delaying the Versed-type meds until the procedure room is something many anesthesiologists do agreed to--if we only ask. I used to get freaked out by all the lost memories, from receiving it too early. Since I'm quiet and compliant (although risk asking 'too many' educated questions), I get 'my way', but without the freak out. Also, I once freaked out mentally, post-surgery, when I knew I was awake and still having things done to me, in the procedure room, and felt it was VERY WRONG for me to be awake! Another video you did mentioned that we're all, as patients, usually awoken in the procedure room; we just don't usually remember it. Another freak out averted! Thanks for the education you present to us.
I'm so happy to hear that you're comfortable asking questions, it's so important to help us gain control over the situation. And thank you so much for sharing your experiences here with others, so they also feel empowered to do the same!
@@MedicalSecrets I will have to ask that next time. It did freak me out to lose memory so early in the process.
My last surgery (2010 for a PFO) I woke up in the operating room and remember everything. Didn't freak me out but I know 1 surgeon left, leaving the other surgeon and a resident. I heard the surgeon guiding the resident in the final steps. I assume pulling out the wires from my arteries. A PFO is a specific hole in the heart that is repaired by an umbrella type patch. They go through the groin to get the umbrella type patch to the heart. So I assume the resident was learning how to remove the wires. This was at a teaching hospital.
@medicalsecrets I'm so happy I found you because when I went in the operating room I wasn't anxious at all. I was relaxed. Thank you so much for your advice. This really helped.
I was labeled a difficult patient after a failed cardiac ablation. I've got an ICD so they can see my arrhythmias through the device records, but the electrophysiologist couldn't get it to show where it was coming from. These episodes leave me being really crappy, negatively affect my quality of life, and this doc was sure he could find the bad area and ablate it. When I came out of anesthesia, and he told me he couldn't find it so I was going to be stuck with the arrhythmias after all, apparently I got angry and told them I was going to remove my ICD with my pocketknife and I was done with living with feeling like this. They took me to recovery first, then to psych! Hours later I'm talking with this psychiatrist about my "suicidal thoughts", which I don't even remember having or saying. I was pissed that they took words of someone coming out of anesthesia as being a real threat, and I fired that EP for putting me through that. How do they hold that patient accountable for things they don't even remember saying? It was humiliating. I won't go to his group of cardiologists again because he's poisoned the well and they all think I'm crazy now, even though they've got objective proof that I'm still having tons of episodes of arrhythmias from the wireless monitoring of my device. So I'm not being cared for on that arrhythmia situation nor my heart failure now, which is worsening. Not sure of what to do! My insurance requires me to use in network doctors, who can all see the lies and crap that guy put into my medical records. It also cost me my long term disability, because he went out of his lane into psychiatry as a cardiologist. I asked to see a psychiatrist while I was still in the hospital and he told my doctor his diagnosis of my mental health was wrong. Even having the notes and letter from the real mental health expert saying I wasn't aware of what I said due to anesthesia, I still lost my LTD. Now I don't trust doctors at all and avoid them like the plague. I'll probably end up dying from heart failure because of this clown and the lemmings who work in his practice. 2 years later and I still have no income, by the way. They wouldn't go to bat for me with the LTD provider to try to get it reinstated. I've burned through my savings and 401k now and am facing homelessness in June, all because I said something coming off of propofol and fentanyl that I don't even remember.
That is my hugest fears from medications especially anesthesia I tend to say things out of impulse and the fear that I’d say something like that and don’t remember or I start saying inappropriate stuff
If it's not to late sue that guy!
Boy do I get it arrhythmia is no joke. In AFIB now. For me it is disabling. Can’t have ablations because left A too large. On Camzyos now. But still may need to get converted.
What a nightmare. Have similar bullying. I wish doc would discuss the providers who are sadistic bullies
Until last year, I had very few medical procedures in my life. I was absolutely terrified when I had a 10 hour bilateral mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction. I remembered nothing after the IV in pre op until I woke up in my room. Everyone from the housekeeping staff on up to anaesthesia and surgeons were wonderful for the next 6 days. I did everything they asked and tried to remember to thank everyone. I hope I was never "difficult".
What a powerful perspective to take away from the situation! That gratitude I find is a very empowering tool that we can all foster within ourselves, even in the most stressful situations
How did the rest of your recovery go?
@@MedicalSecrets I had revision surgery as an outpatient last month. I was awake and talking in the OR when they put something in the IV. Then someone asked if it was OK to have an oxygen mask on. Everything went smoothly. After the first surgery, I am no longer afraid. I am still healing and wearing compression garments but feel like a new person. I was told this week that I was considered NED (no evidence of disease).
@@MedicalSecrets LLP
Really glad to see this emphasis on the huge importance of knowing your patients' mental status during the whole surgical experience,,,, pre-op, day of and post op awareness and support make it a whole different experience. I learned this by going through a nightmare that lasted months because of uninformed and uncaring staff. just more cptsd at this point.
I'm so sorry you had that experience, but I greatly admire your vulnerability in sharing that. Though I hope that experience has helped empower you with more knowledge to be a better advocate for yourself 🙏
You're supposed to review their medical records for medical info; an elderly patient may not know the correct answers or forget info. It's your job to know what the records say about them, esp previous anesthesia and medication. The surgeon visits the patient after the surgery to check on status but the anesthesiologist does not. That would be a good chance to find out the effect of your anesthesia on the type of patient you treated for the type of surgery.
I’m so grateful for what you are doing to help people like myself have a better understanding of medical mysteries.
You are clearly a very kind doc.
I just fell on this video. I work with our seniors and a lot of them have told me that they think they are being insulted when they are asked questions. One lady told me that she had to fill out a health questionnaire and it had a part that asked her if she had anxiety, depression, etc...(she does have anxiety disorder, I pulled that out of our conversation) and she was insulted that the questions were on there. She said she is old yes but she still has all her facilities and that those questions are insinuating that she does not. I explained why she was being asked those questions so that the doctors would be able to understand what else she might need so they can help her if she needs help. By the time I was done talking to her, she felt better. I too have been a difficult patient. BUT, I have had medical stuff since the day I was born. It is not pleasant to be a human pin cushion. I have had 23 sticks in my arm to get one vein. One other thing, fear looks like anger. Look at a mom whose kid just ran out into the road. They wont be lovey dovey oh my baby, they are going to freak out completely and scream their heads off. I hear what you are saying, but from being a patient myself, there is a HUGE LACK of bedside manner in a lot of places. I know you guys are all overworked. I do, but these people are sick or hurting, other wise they wouldn't be there. Some don't even have families there to comfort them and they are scared to death. I was a patient in the hospital for 45 days in my teens. I was scared to death and difficult. Not demanding but a teen. My surgeon actually took me to the docs cafeteria and bought me an ice cream and we talked about my surgery....because I was scared....after the ice cream, he pulled me to the window and showed me his car. It was a jag and in the 80's, that was a really awesome car. He said "I didn't buy that car by killing people." and it made me feel a million times better because he got personal. He talked to me, not at me. He won my trust and it went well and I got better and got out of the hospital. But after my medical life, I have trauma. LOTS of it. It would be nice if the medical professionals that are TRUSTED would at least give a little bit of empathy. I talk to snarky people every single day. It is my job and I am able to talk them into a better attitude. I don't understand why it is so hard to give a little to get a little back. I love our medical community, but I think empathy should be a taught thing because not everyone in the medical community has it.
I woke up during surgery. I could not move, but I could feel the pain! Thought I would die from the pain. I could tell by the tone of their voices that surgical team did not know I was awake. Finally, with a power that I had to summon from somewhere, I moved. They panicked, surgeon yelling "hold her down! hold her down! And to my horror, he keep cutting though my eyes were wide open and tears flowing from them. What happened? I still have nightmares today.
I'm sorry you had that! I don't know what happened but I think it was the same for my daughter. She had an emergency c-section and the sedative worked (she couldn't move or speak), but the anesthesia didn't. She felt everything.
Unless there is a medical reason to not allow some applesauce right after surgery, even a couple of spoonfuls, wouldn't it be a simple way to allay the patient's fears? Even knowing the applesauce was available as soon as he was cleared to eat, might help. Later on in the healing process, the patient can deal with applesauce demands.
Of course! It is very reasonable once the patient is conscious enough to not aspirate it
You have such a good heart. Thank you
Thank you for the kind comments! 🙏
I nearly got banned from a hospital because I was asked to show at 9am. I was in the open back gown by 9:30, and I wasn’t wheeled into surgery until 3pm. I asked why did I have to sit in a cold room for 5.5 hours? Couldn’t I have a later show time? I was told I was unreasonable and I’d be better off just sitting down and shutting up. Later I found out my surgeon was at lunch for 1.5 hours and included a workout at the nearby YMCA before he returned. This self important entitlement is why we normies have difficulty respecting you doctors who apparently decended from heaven to grace us with your presence.
Sometimes we patients are affraid to reveal our lifestyles because of a fear that we won't get the care others might .
Wether they drink smoke or street drugs .
Thank you Doctor for giving your side of the story in our care.
Yes, sometimes remembering that for the patient, this may be the first time they have had any major illness or it could be their unlucky 10th, and in each case, being allowed to just be the patient, heard and respected, is so healing. If they are not, they may try to become experts so they understand the lingo, watch videos, and can advocate for themselves--or they may be unconsciously testing whether they have to be "really good patients" to be cared for at all. I wasn't new to medical work myself, had been a nurse for 20-plus years when I had just learned I had cancer. That WAS brand new, and I was determined to be a GREAT patient but also learn all I could and ask intelligent helpful questions instead of giving in to fear. I had stage 2 of the most aggressive breast cancer there is---it has up to a 40% recurrence rate even when removed with clear margins, and regular chemo doesn't do much to it. (There are better options just 5 years later.) I went after the biopsy and staging scans to meet with the medical oncologist. She greeted me curtly with zero eye contact. I listened to her tell me what she was going to do and when, without once being told anything about the cancer itself. She never offered an overview, asked what I already knew, gave a rationale for her plan, not a single empathetic or friendly comment about how sh1tty is is to get cancer in my last year of grad school when I had papers to turn in, many clinical hours to do, and a lot of classroom time left, all while supporting myself and a child as a working adult. There was not even a hint of recognition that having cancer was new to ME. No one had yet said, "You have aggressive breast cancer, and that's an awful surprise no matter who you are, but we're not giving up on you. We can help." Finally, she said, still without looking at me, still typing, "Any questions?" I wanted to ask, "Yes! WTF made you decide you should become a doctor!?" I opened my mouth to ask one of my few most urgent questions, and she held up her hand in a "WAIT" sign, and said, "YES--you will lose your hair. What else?" I should have answered, "Actually, it wasn't my HAIR I am worried about losing. It's my LIFE." Later people tried to tell me she was the most skilled oncologist that hospital had and would take on tough cases no one else would touch. (Maybe she was the only one willing to take me on and was angry they always tapped her for every rare aggressive one; I don't know.) I didn't care right then. having a life-threatening cancer and enduring treatment is now known to be a frequent cause of PTSD. Her seeming "cancer of the heart" or incredibly bad people skills would have caused me such anger and hurt every time I saw her that it would have affected my immune system. I did my own reading up on research sites I knew about from school, learned about an experimental treatment for Stage IV related cancers, got the drug company to let me have it (after surgery and before radiation) under the compassionate use program, and am still here, 6 years later, almost to the day. I have some compassion for her...medical school might have been an uphill row with her people skills, bright or not, and she probably was tapped for a higher percentage of patients who would die anyway no matter what she did. She could have secondary PTSD herself, and burnout. But it was up to her to know her limits, so she didn't pass on her pain to people in the most vulnerable moments of their lives, when they were depending on her to help them remain alive. if possible. I had more empathy for her than she showed for me, but I know she is doing psychological harm to her patients--especially when they are still in shock and have a million questions. They may be so worried about the genius doctor's (more??) "valuable time" that, like me, they are only going to ask the top 5... and she's apparently decided the top one for every female patient is whether or not they'll be bald for a while.
I hope I'm never seen as difficult. That said there was a change in anesthesia protocols for my last surgery: two tylenol prior to surgery was thought to allow for less narcotic use and post op management w/ tylenol. I didn't want to change the plan we previously used (mind you i was minutes from rolling to the OR) and the specialty fellow bullied me. I gave in, took the tylenol, then subsequent tylenol post op, and that night I had the worst stomach pains from the tylenol. Subsequently, I found out that I should have been allowed to decline, the standard protocol should have been allowed, but I do feel this may have had an affect on future care. 😔
One thing the nurses need to concider is just after , '' Say '' Cardiac Vavle repalcement , I wasin a large amount of pain , But I could not tell them due to being intabated . I know they want us to wake up , And may be careful of how much opiods given , But my chest was hurting so much !
How does being intubated but aware feel like? That is a thing of nightmares for me. One day I might need some kind of cardiac surgery as well and it's just things that keep me up.
Having my gallbladder out in 6 weeks and I have a question.
Can I request that I not get a pre anesthesia med that makes me loopy?
I have had a number of surgeries in the past and I feel like when I got that and it makes me feel drunk basically then I often feel more sick when u wake up. Vs when I haven't gotten it. Plus I like to feel like I'm in control of myself until I'm actually going to go under.
I had bi-lateral surgical breast biopsies prior to my cancer diagnosis - I declined all meds other than lidocaine - or other topical and was fully awake - at my request. I somehow didn't want to bother any of my friends / family to drive me home, lol. Anyway - came through it just fine and really did appreciate being awake for it all.
driving yourself home after sugury isn't cool - there are other people on the road, too, not just you. I get that you didn't have anesthesia, but your mobility might have been limited by post surgical pain causing you to react slower. Most hospitals I'm familiar with even won't let the procedure begin unless your 'chauffeur' is already there, they know the dangers involved with your kind of bullheadedness.
Interesting! The mind & body are so fascinating! Your channel helped me to prepare & get through my surgery last Wed. I'm grateful for that. I have a panic/anxiety disorder. It's under control through zoloft & lots of hard work on my end. I changed my diet, started a daily yoga/ meditation practice (it's amazing the difference just 10 mins can make), I use food as medicine as much as possible, the only pharmaceutical I take for it is the zoloft.
I got the idea from watching your channel to prepare for my surgery by doing a 5-10min meditation every day the week before it was scheduled. I made sure I did this the morning of as well. It was important because so much was out of my routine that morning. I couldn't have coffee, water, etc. At this point I hadn't been able to smoke weed or use my herbal teas for a while. My anxiety always get worse when I need to eat. (Blood sugar hormones are little bastards! Lol) All these things I had on my mind because I use so many different things for my anxiety. Vit D is another one I couldn't use. CBD, I use CBD more than I use THC, but I use both. I was a bit worried about having to stop all these helpful things. I got inspired by your channel to mentally, physically, & spiritually prepare for my surgery. I didn't have any anxiety symptoms that morning at all except a little shaking when I first arrived. It quickly passed & I felt at ease the rest of the time. No anesthesia problems. Recovery is pretty smooth.
That was my experience & it's been a good one! Just wanted to share & say thank you.
Is it possible that the elderly person is losing memory or cognitive functioning and is defensive about it? Is it possible that they had a spouse or child or sibling who poked at them about their forgetfulness, and it turned into the pt being angry about questions? I know it is hard to work with such patients, but just like people in the world, it is something in their life that has made them like this and understanding makes a better experience, and perhaps would have made the patient less defensive and angry.
Great antithesis insight with curiosity, gratitude and anxiety, anger.
I hope this was helpful for you!
@@MedicalSecrets yes. I have basic associates science under belt. But lifetime grateful learner. Have 10yr colonoscopy scheduled in Dec. I am small and old. Last surgery was hemorrhoidectomy 2015. I don't do well with clearing anesthetics. My surgery was 15minutes. Same surgeon for all 5 colonoscopies and hemorrhoidectomy. Always best communication. Unfortunately the anesthetist odeed me in 2015. Pulse plummeted. Woke up 2.5 hours later. With good recovery team efforts. Full disclosure of incident. So my job is to be grateful and remind the team of the 2015 event. Then relax🤝🤲🙏😅😉
Following surgeries I've had involving "big" anesthesia (breathing tube, etc.) vs. a regional block all resulted in what the nurses described as emergent delirium. The first time it happened I just remember someone saying, "go get Dr. F----;" the thought running through my head was that I had to get to the phone b/c a friend was calling to make sure I had gotten up. The second time involved a huge methane molecule coming at me in the form of a transparent balloon; I think I was trying to get off the trolly to catch it. Why a methane molecule you might wonder? I'm a chemist and at the time I was writing a paper on methanol. The third time all went well, maybe they read the notes in my chart! Seriously, I told them what had happened the previous time I was there. It's fascinating how our brains work.
I recognize my son in the “difficult” category and some personnel thought he was not worth their time. He had a major surgery on his large and small intestines and the surgeons were concerned that he may not survive the surgery. He woke up with a stoma and was crying and asking for water when he was in recovery. Like me, he has vascular Ehlers Danlos. At the age of 31 having to live with stoma is not an easy situation. He was begging us to stay with him all day as this was the only way he would be treated respect. It was very sad.
You are possibly the most caring person I have ever witnessed.....
If health-care professionals recognize there is underlying trauma that can cause a patient to be "demanding", why expect that patient to be self aware enough to address it when they are at their most vulnerable? These patients aren't going to change. Remember their demands, pat them on their little heads, and make sure they get their creature comforts after what has been hours of pre-surgery discomfort.
I recently had a second scope. The first one was over 10years ago, I woke, so this time I told them but no one took me seriously. I suggested to keep an eye on me or perhaps give me a tad more so I don't wake up & go through excruciating pain in the middle of the procedure. Well, no one in that room listened. After I came to, ready to go home I was informed indirectly that I was given a double dose because I gave them a hard time 😂 As a kid when I had my tonsils removed I woke up immediately right after the opp while I was still on the operating table. As soon as they saw me wide awake under those bright lights, they gave me more anesthesia even though it was all done. My mom said, I was about an hour out after they wheeled me into the recovery room. I seem to not have much luck with anesthesiologist 😐
“Difficult” patients may have developed rigidity, oppositional behavior and behavior that leaves those around them shocked/surprised etc as a mechanism to cope with perceived loss of control and resulting anxiety.
People with chronic medical issues are very often elderly. However, chronic pain patients are a good example of possibly younger people who may have the same issues. TMJ pain patients are a good example bc their are few good answers for their problem which can lead them to distrust and have anger toward medical professionals.
Power and control are at the basis of much of human behavior. Chronic sick role or difficulty dealing with sick role can equally result on defensive behavior toward those (medical professionals) associated with their situation, although Association does not men causation, a fact that they may not understand.
Thank you for that very thoughtful, and accurate, comment! Have you managed patients with those comorbidities before?
@@MedicalSecrets Yes, I spent 10 years as a child & family therapist in private practice then re-educated by going to dental school and then pediatric residency.
Just after undergrad I assisted in a pulmonary cancer project.
I so enjoy your presentations! I have had anxiety disorder since early childhood. Well controlled for last 30+ years.
I had foot surgery (GA) recently and I noticed how much better my mild, vestigial depressive symptoms were!
I haven’t read the Ketamine research, but if it is like my recent effect I like the idea!
I’m eager to know more about your clinic! I ran my pediatric dental clinic for almost 20 years. With pediatrics you get not only a patient, but a client, parents, so there is “Dual agency” in that you have responsibilities to both client and patient that at times may be at odds and present a “Difficult patient/client” problem.
Thanks for your interest!
Bob
Also, as a pediatric dentist I saw children in surgery and always enjoyed and appreciated my anesthesia staff. I wouldn’t trade places for all the money in the world!
Or my personal opinion? Some people are just a-holes. What your personal situation it doesnt give you the right to treat people like s-t for no reason. I have everything wrong in the book at just 47, but was raised to have respect, realizing that you're not the only one there is certain protocol that needs to be followedand the f-in world doesn't revolve around you. The good old USA seems to have alot of these people lately. I wait for karma
Please also consider the impact of any past poor medical care, doctors who don't listen, specialists who can't be bothered to talk with each other and thus prescribe meds that are containdicted for another medical condition, procedures done carelessly that cause pain. When my dad was quite ill we fired several nurses who ripped off his bandages and others who would not take his blood pressure incorrectly. I ended up going with him to every doctor's appointment to ensure he received competent, compassionate care and communication. Situation was the same when my mother was ill.
I heave on steroids, so I told the anesthesiologist a few weeks ago for my broken wrist you can't give me that and why. He said, 'Okay, that's fine, we don't have to give you that'. I also am in a legal marijuana state, so I told him that too. He asked when the last time I had some. He when 'you're good'. I was also molested as a kid, so I wanted to be tranked before they intubated me. He looked at me and said, 'I understand, we will give you something for anxiety before we start, so you will be okay'.
And after everything wore off in recovery my pain level was at ten. I asked the nurse if doctor Van could give me something for pain. She went, hang on, he's right over there, let me ask and came back with something a few minutes later. The team were all very kind to me. Of course, Dr. Van told me to do exercises for my hand *before* I could start making memories and expected to remember them. I was like 'Dude really?'. Ah well.
I recently had G.A. with Propofol and fentanyl, I can remember dreaming as I heard the nurses shouting at me to wake up. That's the first time I can recall dreaming under G.A. Upon waking I felt great and wolfed down some toast a few minutes later. No nausea at all.
That's so good to hear!
How I wish I had watched videos like yours along time ago. I’ve had several surgeries (1 right after my dad died while in the hospital), and, also I was in an elevator accident….I was in an elevator crash…..so…….PTSD and anything medical causes anxiety…..but, your education and explanation would have helped me so much…I am going in for a spinal cord stimulation surgery and I look forward to applying your techniques, thank you!! FYI…..1 anesthesia doctor, I chalked it up to he was having a bad day, lets just say……I yelled at him, and I never do this, like ever!!
Omg that is terrifying. Holy crap
There is a difference between being difficult, and knowing what your body wants and needs when stressed; and making sure they're not going to be ignored, or taken advantage of when your weakest. Being neglected by staff, who have a bad habit of ignoring people they label as being difficult; is sadly a far too real thing. And something people legitimately don't have time for, when they are weak and recovering from a surgery.
The sad truth is, sometimes patient don't know if the guys and gals supposedly there to help them; are truly on their side, working for their best interests, or not.
And so they may need to see that they are giving them the level of care they see as minimum. Making sure they won't be left in pain, without the little comforts they need to feel at peace, and truly recover and heal appropriately; when they won't be able to get things for themselves.
That the doctors are aiming for the same goals you are.
Ps.. Even if it is a thought loop in your opinion, it's probably something important to that person that made it a thought loop in their mind to begin with.
And.. to be blunt.. Its the way they think, and who are you to tell them its inflexible? They probably have just as many reasons for the things they think are important, as you do.
You don't see them saying your belief in your medical knowledge, is highly repetitive, and they don't see the value, so its no more than a destructive thought loop that makes you unable to get along well with them.
That would be rather dismissive of your knowledge and experiences. Yet you guys do it, and think its ok, because your the "experts."
However.. they have lived within their body, subject to their decisions for their entire lives. They probably know what to likely expect from their body under stress, far more than you could ever find out with a multiple choice questionnaire. So.. maybe you should cut them some slack when they tell you they may need something when they wake up, so that they feel at peace.
Its just being respectful of their experiences, as much as you wish them to put trust in yours.
Patients shouldn't have to deal with feeling like they have to be at odds or combative with doctors who are refusing to show them the same respect they want them to show them and their expertise. Especially when they are ill, and trying to find a way to feel better. Doctors should be making it easier, not harder. And being shown respectful tones, and treatment are important to some people. Repetitive thought loop or not.
Well said.
I recently had an egd. And the procedure went well. I personally havent been under anesthesia in 20 years. And I forgot how it was. I remember being wheeled into the surgery room. And that's about it. Was like having a wild dream. But things went well and I was very comfortable. I don't think I was difficult at all. But I certainly was nervous. The staff did an excellent job.
I was so very calm when they wheeled me back to the operating room and I woke up calm and relaxed!
Being in such a vulnerable state and having to place unearned (personal) trust into another’s hands is counter intuitive. Even more so for people with a history of trauma/s.
I met fantastic anesthesiologists, but met the worse...
Last year I had two endoscopies, I was having them within 3 months, but in January/2002 the resident on my room injected Propofol with the force of a bull, I felt all my veins/arteries exploding and itching and she knocked me out, I asked last month to go easy with Propofol she replied:
"That's the way it works, it causes pain (oi?), and can give you pain"...
I treat everyone inside hospital with manners and being polite, but I am still waiting for the resident of the night shift to give me pain killers, since 2007; as I am allergic to opioids and Plasil was and red haired some things like Nubain, don't work for me, acetaminophen also doesn't work.
At a San Francisco hospital after a scheduled major abdominal surgery. I woke up from anesthesia by a nurse yelling at me I TOLD YOU TO WAKE UP! WE NEED THE SPACE!!! These were the first words I remember. I was in agony as I was wheeled out to a hallway and abandoned near a busy nurses station where i was ignored. Then sent to a single room already occupied with 5 visitors present. The nausea began to set and when I asked for help was angrily told they were in the middle of a shift change. I could have ripped my staples by vomiting and couldn't sit up. It was traumatic to realize I was not in a safe space of healing. I was able to grab the shirt of a janitor to hand me the phone and somehow called the hospital administrator and ordered her to call me an ambulance because i was leaving. I was not kidding. She was down in 5 minutes. Magically I got a room. Worst hospital experience ever.
Thank you so much for your kindness and insight. I just wanted to share why I have trouble with being questioned when I go to the hospital. My brain freezes and I can’t remember things. I feel so overwhelmed trying to think and cope with the situation that I can’t deal with it. It is so difficult for me and I find that I am asked the same questions by many different people and when the answers are documented, they are not even accurate. They are also not read by the doctor. The thought that comes to my mind is why do I have to go through all of this stress and pain when nobody gets my medicine or answers right anyway. The last surgery that I had, I prepared my medication list ahead of time and copied off all of the detailed questions and answers that I had filled in on line prior to my surgery. That way, I didn’t have to go through the painful process of trying to remember and answer so many questions. I feel overwhelmed with the speed of everything that happens in the ER and in the hospital. I can’t think fast and that level of activity is too much for me. I definitely have PTSD from so many surgeries myself and from caring for loved ones who have had chronic, serious hospitalizations. I have seen so many life threatening mistakes. It makes me feel out of control. For me, handing over the control of my comfort and survival to people who make so many mistakes is terrifying. It would be so much better if I could just fill in the answers to the questions ahead of time. It would be helpful if I could enter them myself. The old game of telephone where people relay your information for you is prone to unnecessary mistakes. The people relaying your information are not always capable of relaying it correctly. I just had a total knee replacement and the pain was so bad that I wanted to die. My surgeon was his own on call physician and had instructed his answering service not to bother him with medication questions. I talked to the surgeon ahead of time about my last knee replacement. My pain was not managed well and there were several times when I was left in agony without medication or guidance. I have fibromyalgia. My pain is far worse than normal and lasts longer than normal. Even after talking to the surgeon ahead of time, I ended up not having enough medication or guidance to deal with my pain. The anxiety and panic that comes from the level of pain that I experienced was totally unnecessary. It was cruel. I felt completely abandoned. When your pain is so bad that you want to die, it is no joke. Some people live with that indefinitely. I feel so sorry for them.
Still fairly new to your channel but appreciate all your efforts and trying to educate us if I only knew even the half of what I know now after listening to you I probably wouldn’t have such memory loss because I’m always so full of anxiety .... Plus was a victim once in my early 20s…I think people just wanting to get their jobs done with onto the next number
It’s really sad because I just don’t wanna die I love my grandkids you know... and I’m 60 years old now but in my 30s had a back injury my job as correctional officer
and was labeled so to this day I don’t get treated very well… Even though I haven’t had narcotics in decades !,,,,I’ve been treated so unfairly and bad I would rather suffer in pain then ask for anything ... in fact if I wanted to be treated somewhat decent I would have to wear my uniform to some appointments when I didn’t feel like dealing with it. Sorry to complain I just am very grateful to hear you educate the public... May God bless you as you speak truth only… Thank you 😇
Thank you so much Dr. kaveh 🙏🙏
I was having a pacemaker implanted in an emergent situation and when they tied down my hands I began having flashbacks. Then they covered my face. I was struggling to remain calm and asked for anyone to please tell me what the doctor was doing. A deep voice asked “What do you want a blow by blow?” To which I responded “yes!” Not one word was spoken to me after that.
I'm so sorry you had that experience, but I greatly admire your vulnerability in sharing that. How did the rest of your recovery go?
@@MedicalSecrets perfectly. Thank you.
I did inform my new cardiologist of my entire experience and as she had to revise the pocket, my hands were not restrained and I was quite comfortable.
If I was being restrained and something being out over my face while being aware of it all ide of had a full blown panic attack. I can't do most things medically without something to make me chill or completely sedated.
It's to the point I rather die than be in a situation like that.
@@RitzyBusiness i immediately went into a panic attack. It was terrifying
Didn’t you say in another video that the thing you ask them is “what are you going to eat after a surgery” to prime them to have less nausea?
Prior to surgery my procedure was explained in detail. Scope to right foot and ankle. 1/2 incision. 45 min total time, ace bandage over clean dressing for 4-6 weeks recovery.
What is procedure if the surgery deviates from the expected? Should I have come out of surgery 2 hours and 45 minutes when I was scheduled for 45minutes? How about finding out the ace bandage was now a full split cast 12 weeks and the a regular full cast for additional 12 weeks. My 1/2 inch scope incision is over 7” ? Shouldn’t just have an effect on the fact that I wanted a second opinion on whether I had a more serious injury or not my first doctor said that I had a sprain, and in fact, got offended when I asked for a second opinion, in a referral to an orthopedic surgeon and the orthopedic surgeon, for some reason sent me through nine weeks of strengthening physical therapy before physical therapy sent me back to him, and in the end, I ended up having a severed ligament two torn ligaments And my life ruined my my 18 year in career with AT&T gone my custom home in a custom neighborhood that I lived in for 14 years gone. It’s the front end of the story that is most horrifying and that I haven’t told yet, but I’d like to know what you think of what happened to me so far.
I think the word you’re looking for is bodily autonomy. Patient’s deserve to know the reason for each specific medication and why that medication was prescribed over another one. Most doctors are just dismissive when a patient ask for clarification to get the best treatment possible so they dismiss the patient and then label them as argumentative so other doctors can be similarly dismissive and arrogant.
It’s funny how doctors label patients who demand informed consent, argumentative and demanding.
Again, the sound on the video is bouncing around the walls. It is too dis orienting for me. I will read the transcripts. ❤
I’m a difficult patient. Lol 😆
I’ve stayed in hospitals many times. My experience is that nurses just don’t care if they bring your scheduled medications on time. I take meds 4x a day - at certain times. If I don’t get them on time, my body freaks out with muscle spasms, shooting pains, and heart palpitations. Fun, right? So, I bring my meds from home and keep them with me in my purse, in case my care turns out to be of no concern to the nurses. If they bring meds on time, then great. I take them. If they are late, I take my own. If they show up an hour or three later with meds….I just explain that they are late, so I took my own. They don’t like it. And usually freak out.
Oh welll! They should have been on time. 🤷♀️
They are usually on time after that. Lol 😆
Medications should be taken on time, you're absolutely correct! Always disclose what you're doing to the medical staff though, because you want to make sure there are no double doses. Please be safe and communicate with your care team clearly an effectively 🙏
@@MedicalSecrets I always communicate clearly and effectively. I’m also not a moron and know better than to take any more or less of my medication than I’m supposed to. The last time I was in the hospital was for a pacemaker. I explained to the nurse on duty which meds I take, and at what times. I also told her if I didn’t get them on time, I’d be taking my own. She insisted I needed to hand over my medications to her. I told her it’s unlawful for me to hand over my meds to anyone. Not to mention, what guarantee do I have that she, or any of the other nurses were going to do what they promise? My health is at risk…I retain full autonomy over my health. Im no longer making myself dependent on, or vulnerable to people who don’t care.
I concur...the few bad apples always seem to come into my room...and like you said, quite capable of making our own decisions...and most times, need to.
I’ve had over 15 surgeries (mostly orthopedic) in my life. I had good experiences with all of the anesthesia except for one of my knee surgeries and my carpel tunnel surgery. I was in my late teens when I needed a pin to be removed from my left knee/lower leg. I remember being on the operating table and the anesthesiologist was trying to put an IV in my arm. It took him forever, digging around, and several types of needles. I was so agitated by the time my orthopedist came in that he actually put the IV in my arm himself. First attempt and without any issues I might add. After my surgery was over the anesthesiologist told my parents that I was not very happy with him and a bit about why. Very strange situation. When I had carpel tunnel surgery on my right wrist several years ago, the anesthesiologist decided that he would apply a tourniquet to my right arm and that I would be awake during the surgery. I told him that having a BP cuff on causes me severe pain. Needles to say, I was not looking forward to having a tourniquet on my arm for the 45 min. procedure, but I managed to tuff it out for awhile by chatting with everyone in the room. Toward the end of the surgery the pain in my right arm had increased to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore. I asked them to please hurry and finish the procedure because I was in a lot of pain. My right arm hurt worse after the surgery that my wrist did. Fast forward to about three years ago when I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which explains why I was (still am) hyper sensitive to BP cuffs and tourniquets. I will never allow another tourniquet to be used on me as a means of blocking the sensation to a surgical site.
I'm so sorry you had that experience, but I greatly admire your vulnerability in sharing that. I hope you feel empowered to discuss that with your doctors for any future surgeries
That sounds awful, I’m so sorry. A bp cuff and a tourniquet are usually different, particularly during surgery, with a tourniquet being thinner and tighter to either reduce blood supply to an area in and out, and also used to help locate veins and arteries when performing an intravenous venepuncture or to access/put in situ the arteries for taking an arterial gas or to perform an arterial line. A blood pressure cuff if often thicker, usually fastened with Velcro, and fills with air therefore squeezing the arm quite tight at various intervals in order to obtain a BP. During surgery for example, this is left on the arm and set to take regular bp readings at intervals which are mainly down to protocol and the head medical teams preference, plus changing due to the type of surgery also (usually every 5 to 15 minutes). My team in orthopaedic surgery would usually go for every 10 minutes, with the option to take an unscheduled bp at any time. However, when working in cardiac surgery, it was set to much more regularly.
Do you know which one was left on your arm tight the entire time? Did they tell you of any reason for it? Unless you were bleeding out from your arm/hand/wrist etc, I can’t see why they would do that with either tool. It sounds very very uncomfortable and I’m so sorry you had to endure that on top of everything else.
I am 71ys l had sigmoid cancer out but l remember in the ward after surgery l said some words that l don't know why thinking a few things but I still don't know why.its not me at all
Thank you for sharing your experience, you are certainly not alone! Your doctors and other providers understand that these words are coming from a different place altogether. Were you told anything unusual was said?
After a hysterectomy I remember waking up and asking if they dropped me on the floor because my back hurt so bad. I remember the guys wheeling me back to my room snarking back that they didn’t drop me.
Sorry I missed the broadcast. I just wanted to say that I've had over 40 surgeries in the last 42yrs and it's kind of a joke now but I loved & still do love biscuits and gravy and would ask for it once id finished my deep breathing to awaken fully from anesthesia every time in the early days. The positive memories of my Granny fixing B&G was a powerful positive reinforcement to a happy & healthy recovery from so many corrective surgeries after my MVA when I was 15. On the flip side of that is the last 5 "procedures", now that I'm in my late 50's, due to their using propofol & its burning as its delivered or my allergic reaction to it and the Drs refusal to believe me. 5 times! ... I've since advocated with the help of my PCP to have it added to the long list of documented allergies in my medical records. Waking up angry is not something myself or the medical staff enjoyed. I am now looking forward to the next several surgeries. I know, I'm a tad bit weird. 😂
I can imagine a situation where there *are* too many questions. Sometimes the elderly just crave conversation of any kind and they think they have a captive audience and enjoy being the center of attention in a medical scenario. Medical staff need to diplomatically extract themselves from this situation (after answering real, nonrepetitive questions, of course)
I was very relaxed for both my recent surgeries… but probably won’t be if I need another in the future . They gave me a “ nerve block” this last time along with general anesthesia … to help with pain after surgery .. it didn’t work and I was in horrible pain after this last surgery .. unlike the first surgery … if I can’t trust what I’m being told preop about anesthesia .. what can I trust .. nothing.. 3 weeks out my pain level is still much worse than the first time .. both surgeries were knee replacements .. Thank God I only have two knees
Nurses and doctors do understand that invasive medical care can be among most stressful conditions a person will experience and not easy for many to cope. We probably all agree that patients will benefit by having the right mindset and preparation. I wish this kind of education was common among providers and facilities. Thanks for this doctor spreading the word and educating all of us.
We may be demanding, once under the demands are on the floor.
I had surgery some time ago and had to bring my cpap machine in . I woke up feeling the cpap mask on my face and the machine ramped up. The person next to me was complaining big time about pain and that in the most vociferous way. He only got the attention of the nurse because she noticed I was trying to pull the mask off and she came to me to tell me to leave it on
Oh my... How did the recovery go after that?
@@MedicalSecrets it went well for me . I’m not sure though for the man there I felt sorry for him .
I am scheduled for my 47th surgery and I am very nervous. They want to cut me from the base of my skull all the way down to my L6 or seven. I have never been nervous before a surgery but this one really makes me nervous. My spinal cord is compressed in four places and I’m going paralyzed from the neck down. I’ve had 2 neck surgeries because my C4 C5 and C6 were all compressed and I was paralyzed from the neck down in 2018 and I also had another one in 1998 when I became paralyzed on my left side. It’s happened to me a few times that the anaesthesiologist Gave me the paralyzing agent before putting me to sleep and I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t talk to tell anybody that I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t move. That really scared me. What can I expect?
🙏✝️💖
The anesthesiologist asked me what I wanted to be called and because I was nervous, I answered " queen who wants coffee and blueberrie pancakes." 😂😂😂 apparently he did, but I don't remember 😂
I had surgery before. How come I keep asking the same question over and over? How come I can't remember?
It's likely because of the amnesia caused by anesthesia. That means the brain cannot remember anything, including any short-term memories... It's kind of like being a goldfish, put colloquially
See my response below!
This is during the wake up from surgery.
I feel you Carly Hope, you are not alone 🙏
What you were saying about Apple Sauce kind of stung a bit. I too reach for apple sauce quite often in the middle of the night or upon waking in the morning. I have dry mouth & a bad gag reflex that is aggravated by thick saliva, extremes in temperature, humidity, iced beverages, & your friendly oxygen mask, etc. In my experience Apple Sauce & Apple Juice have pectin in them to help alleviate the mouth slime. Bringing Apple Sauce with me to hospital isn't very practical, so I bring single serving size Apple juices & Spry Xylitol "Mints," which also help me. I often encounter resistance & disrespect from the nurses that call before surgery, due to this request to have these available to me upon waking. And also the request not to forcibly hold the oxygen mask against my face as I am waking up.
The last time I had surgery they decided to keep my mints away from me in the pharmacy. I also had another container of them in my travel bag, but couldn't get out of bed to get them. I said to those nurses in a none to pleased voice, that I'm about to become a real witch if I don't have them...then immediately changed to my usual cheerful tone & explained that that isn't my usual way to be rude, but that I really need them. The mints were returned to me almost immediately, I had no further problems & got along fine with the nurses for my 3 day stay. They even allowed me to have my evening supper, which I was afraid they would try to withhold. I am smart enough to know when I've had enough to eat. And that hospital had wonderful food...which I think is very important to physical & mental health 🙂 Thank you for listening!
Thank you
I remember crying before surgery and the Dr. asking if I basically had any mental issues. I was just really scared (my uncle died in surgery yeas ago). He gave me magic medicine and within minutes I was completely fine going back. Now I always get it.
Could also be time is money for the surgeon to aim at the organ surgery and not the mental state of the parient?
When the anesthesiologist told me to breathe when he put the mask on for the oxygen to get oxygenated before being knocked out i took your advice and while i was breathing out i was breathing slow to relax and i heard my heartrate go down on the heart monitor. You are so right when you say this. I relaxed more. It was actually fun to be in control.
I have always had the greatest respect for my doctors and nurses. My mother always worked in the hospital. I do look upwards about surgery even though I had a second surgery when I had lumbar fusion and a second after Appendix. I have trouble healing inside but of course it is just proud skin If I thought I woke up abusive I would be mortified.
I am going to test with my upcoming surgery i am going to specifically mention it in my pre-surgery appointment
My lumbar surgeon was holding my foot when I woke up and he said wow you’re a tough cookie 😂😂
I am having abdominal surgery with general anesthesia soon. I am interested in possibly integrating psychological treatment into the anesthesia portion. What are some options for that? Do you have any videos focusing on that as far as asking for something like that from whatever anesthesiologist your surgeon decides to use that day?
Hi, I'm wishing you the best for your surgery. I have that in other videos, but maybe I'll do a live stream on it too answer more questions... Stay tuned!
@@MedicalSecrets 🙂please.
I’m always amazed I’m alive when I first wake from surgery 😊
I had a TURP done. Before that I was a "I can do anything " kind if guy. I came out of the surgery a completely different person. I couldn't sleep for 8 months. I finally went to a major well known clinic and got help. They said "All you need is sleep, we dont usually see healthy patients like you." My hometown doctors were not up to par in recovery situations. Im ok now Praise God, but it was a very traumatizing time then.
A doctor insisted that I had to be asleep during colonoscopy; I had always been awake before, and did not want to be unconscious. But not wanting to make trouble, I reluctantly consented. Yet when I met the anesthetist I again asked to remain awake and she also refused. I was feeling sedated before the anesthesia even began. I woke up deeply depressed and agitated, angry. I had not anticipated how bad it would be. I was still confused the next 3 days, and depressed for weeks. Yes, it was about PTSD, though I didn't even recognize this at the time.
And they actually expected me to go back for a follow-up! I did read the results online, and didn't see any reason to see that doctor again.
They told me that I played a baseball game during surgery once. Lol I was on a morphine drip prior to a major surgery and had a nurse stealing my meds. The head nurse caught her putting a needle in the bag and filling it with the meds for herself. She was arrested in the hallway outside my door. My legs swelled so huge, I thought they would bust, I told the other young nurse to get me some lacets to help get rid of the fluid. The Dr said it was because I had been getting air in my iv line and caused blood clots. I have been scared ever since and I'm going to have shoulder surgery soon. I have two rods, metal plate and two cadaver bones in my neck.
I was having a injection in spinal area-- -- unfortunately somehow a rib broke- I tried to tell them, but nurse said for me to cough and she would let me have a sip.. all I could do was let tears fall down my face.. I tried even when being released I had a problem.. I was not listened to-- I was released went home, in such pain I had to go to local hospital and they did ex-rays confirming I had a broken rib.. it was painful.. I still can not understand why they would not listen.. I eventually walked out with the Dr.. I tried to tell him.. --after It was confirmed at another hospital he said he was sorry and told me he would have prescribion at desk for me-- I said no thanks--Hospital who found it gave me something and told me what ro do.
As the patient, you are probably nervous, anxious about the up coming surgery and different nurses keep asking you the same questions over and over and over again. You start to wonder if their is any communication between the Pre-OP, OR and PACU nurses? That makes the patient even more anxious and nervous. That is why I come prepared with many copies of the medications I take so I can give one to each person who asks me. I always ask for NO MIDAZOLAM. I also research my procedure, and the types of Anesthesia there are. Also I ask my questions of my surgeon prior to the surgery and I pre-register if that is an option.
Does this get into any physics side ?
My elderly mom gets a bit testy when first getting in to the hospital. She has a printout that hands to the nurse of all the meds that she takes and what procedures she has had so if she is asked what she thinks is too many questions she gets agitated. My brother and I both have tried to explain to her that not everyone in the hospital knows who she is or her medical background. I think some elderly patients expect the medical staff, doctors, etc. to automatically know who they are and what their problem is.
She carries her own chart. What a smart lady!
Speaking as an elderly testy patient, I expect the doc to have read my medical file. This is apparently too much to expect. Apparently "medical records" are now only used to document billable and not used to inform treating docs. As a former records person, this offends me.
I have had 9 surgeries and besides the difficulty of coming out of surgery except once at Stanford I had zero problems. One time my thirst was so intense, it literally felt like I was passing away, and was just letting go. I am now intense about ALWAYS having water, with me, stored at my house in every room, and will not go anywhere where there is no access to water and have a plan of what to do if somehow I can’t get to water, because I would rather die of most anything but that.
Also my husband was practically pleading with the recovery nurse to at least let me suck on an ce chip after more than 45 minutes after surgery. Her response was that she didn’t feel like cleaning up vomit. I had not vomited that surgery.
Excuse me sir. I have two questions for you. How do you deal someone that has taking pain medicine? What can I do to prepare myself for my ankle fuse surgery?
I wish you the best for your surgery 🙏 preparation for any surgery, including ankle surgery, involves optimizing mindset, nutrition, and physical activity. As I've discussed in many other videos, we change anesthesia med dosing based on medication that patient is taking, like pain meds. Feel free to hop on the next live stream to learn more
Busy careless overworked exhausted medical personnel cause 50% of hospital deaths. When you know this you know this. In college my boyfriend had a serious knee injury playing basketball and the surgery was intense rerouting of tendons etc.old school 1976. He was in excruciating pain 4 hours after surgery and no one would take me seriously when I was advocating that he needed meds. I was only told that his doctor was not in the hospital and he was the one that had to prescribe them, so outrageous. When I had surgery as a child when they were still using ether I was very nauseous post-op but they wanted me to walk immediately like they do and I understand it but I told her I couldn't go far because I was going to throw up nevertheless the orderly led me down to the children's dining ward and I threw up all over the breakfast table. Most of the time when you tell your subsequent physicians stories like this they write you up as a problem. You are a rare breed, remember. I asked a question about a referral and I was written up as "demanding a referral" when, and I quote, I simply asked, "do I need a referral?". Medicaid patients are treated like less-tgan and why I always try to pay out-of-pocket even though I qualify as a single working mother. No one I've ever paid out of pocket has ever said a negative thing about me in chart notes.
I had the worst experience this week not just with the anaesthetic as I understood them completely. They however hadn’t read my notes as to why the investigation was being done under general. A few years ago I was assaulted in my lower region. Since then I haven’t been able to get a smear done or have any type of exam in that area but due to severe pain I’ve had over a few years and had many tests for and also operations for I had to have a internal scan. The results showed a mass 3.5 mm in my womb. At the same time I have copd and emphysema and had bulea and collapsed lungs previously. Seeing the doctor consultant fast tracked me as they thought I had cancer so everything was done urgently. I felt like I have no choice but to have exploratory exam and treatment and they said they could only do so via the vagina which I couldn’t cope with while awake so I was offered a general. A week before the surgery I attended a and e with shoulder blade pain and also chest pain. They did an X-ray and told me they couldn’t see any problem and put it down to skeletal muscular pain and jumping acid and I was sent home in pain with trouble when I did anything to exert myself. I went had the pre op and the pain eventually subsided. So this week on the day of my surgery under general I get a call from a and e they have reviewed the X-ray and believed I may have a collapsed lung and also see bulea on the X-ray due to living area they haven’t seen previous chest X-rays to see the bulea were there previously and caused a collapsed lung before. Anyway I had to go into a and e the day of the surgery and have a contrast ct before I could go to my surgery. They told me the lung wasn’t collapsed and I had a large bulea on the top left lung. I then was discharged by the a and e dept. I then went half hour late to my planned surgery under general. I was already anxious as they wouldn’t allow my carer to come in with me so had to go in alone. Then the aneasetist came on wanting to change the op to a spinal op not under general. I asked her had she read the notes so I didn’t have to explain why a spinal wouldn’t be acceptable. We ended up having an argument and she then said she would do the general as long as I am aware of the risks. Prior to this I’ve had 2 surgeries under general and the lung issue I’ve had since 1992 have never been an issue or mentioned before. I told the women I’ve been assualted and could she make sure if I had a spinal I wouldn’t see what was done to me vaginally and I wouldn’t see instruments or people in that area. She said she couldn’t do that so said she would do the general. She moved me up the list as it caused me so much anxiety I had to call my friend to ask her to come back as she’d left as I felt I couldn’t cope. When I did get onto the pre operative area she immediately gave me a iv drug she said would calm me down. They then had a chat and asked had I signed the forms etc and put a mask on my face. Then said I’d taste something funny. I don’t recall going to sleep but I do recall waking as they removed the tube from my throat. It was orange in colour weirdly. I was in pain so they gave me pain meds. Somehow my face had been scratched and also my labia was grazed from the procedure. I’m waiting on other tests at the same hospital but don’t feel after this experience I can ever be treated there again, I know a week previously they sent me home dismissed my pain as nothing when it may of been a small lung leak that by the time they saw me again had resolved, then the bad experience with the aneasetic lady and overall with my carer not being permitted to be in with me. I then found out they couldn’t locate any mass so didn’t take a biopsy so the op I was forced into having urgently within a week wasn’t even needed to begin and even asking for a second opinion I was told I needed this to be done and it couldn’t be left and rescanned within 2 months. I did question the scan and why they didn’t know what they could see. I was told it may of been an uneven area due to the doctor changing the Hrt and also stopping it a month before on and off because I needed to go in for them to see them before they would give me a repeat prescription. Nightmare for sure I won’t go for treatment there if needed in future as after I had raised voices with the anaesthetic lady I was treated different too and rushed through to surgery.
I always wake up enraged at the automated BP cuff and have told my anesthesiologists this and they have adjusted accordingly but it never occurred to me until just now that that is 100% a trauma response and I am ALWAYS bothered by literally anything touching or gripping my upper arms - shirt sleeves, people bumping into me, etc. Its not just the painful cuff post anesthesia. Holy crap.
If you expect the first thing out of a patients month to be "Thank you Doc or even how did it go" you are not very realistic. I had surgery 5 days ago and the first things out of my mouth were. "WHY am I in SO MUCH PAIN, I am SO COLD and how did I get here? Isn't that your job? My next statement was I did not go into surgery with this much pain! I need to get my pain under control I am at a 9 to 10 RIGHT NOW! WHY!?
As a patient, you have been moved from the OR to another room, you are trying to get your bearings and the pain meds (if any) used in surgery had obviously either worn off or were not enough in the first place. So you, the patient comments on these things not "THANK YOU DOC". You are concerned about your current state of being, where are you, you are cold and in pain. You ask the PACU nurse for help. The doctor is NOT even there to say "Thank you Doc" to.
That's is an interesting piece of art
Sometime there could be a dysphagia issue...
Absolutely, in what context are your thinking of?
I have had good experiences with the Madison VA anesthesilogists. I had 2 cataract surgeries with implants. Eye MDs were telling me that the anesthesilogist would give me something to put me into a dream state (After I told them that I had a near panic attack during RK surgery years ago) When I taked to the anesthesilogists (team of 3) prior to my surgery that said that I had 2 options (no drugs or general anesthesia) They said if I was put into a dream state my eye could move during surgery. I thanked them and had a general for both eyes.
A week before thoracic surgery I learned that I have a genetic variant which can complicate anesthesia. So I needed to know which anesthesia would be used. Some were higher risk for MTHFR. I never got the anesthesiologist to call me back.
The experience definitely made me less comfortable with traditional medical care.