I thought the 2 BP meds were too much and asked about it. The cardio wants him on both. Will ask again to re-evaluate. They have him on a full strength aspirin for 1 month, then down to the 81mg. The plavix, I think, is for a specified amount of time as well. We questioned the cardio about the meds each time we saw him coz we felt it was too much. Metoprolol is pretty effective on its own.
I just checked - his BP is now 100/61 with pulse of 52. He is bruised like heck at the site where they went in - actually his whole lower abdomen is black and purple. They kept an eye on it at the hospital.
As for my appt. I'm not worried, just lumpy, lol - just wish it were closer to where the other hospital keeps its medical records!
Penn
hi penn,
for the metprolol, you should call the doc if pulse goes below 50. I think, in my personal opinion, that he is being overmedicated. His B/P is low. So have him call the doctor in the morning.
Is he on Plavix and aspirin?? If so, watch for subtle signs of bleeding, like blood in stools or easy bruising, etc. You really should not take both for an extended period of time unless absolutely necessary. You might want to have him check with the PCP and make sure they want him on both meds.
Good Luck. I would also watch for muscle aches in his legs with the Lipitor. It has been known to do that.
Good Luck tomorrow.
Elaine
He hadn't been on any meds ever in his life until about 2 months ago when his PCP put him on BP meds. When he saw the cardio a few weeks ago he put him on lipitor and another BP med (enforge and metprolol). They put him on plavix a week before the angio. The only change they made at the hosp. was doubling the lipitor and adding an aspirin.
His BP had been (with the meds prior to the procedure) in the 110's/70's with pulse in the mid/high 60's to low 70's. Today it was around 90/50's and pulse around 50. I private messaged our resident doc. She gave me advice of what to keep an eye on, since my DH does not want to call his doc. It is a little better now, but not much.
He is alert, but is not very active. I had suggested he get up (slowly) and walk around the house a bit to bring it up. He has a few times and it has helped bring it up a bit. I ordered him to call the doc in the am if he won't let me call tonight.
Yes, my very first mammo screening in my life was this summer and a lump was found on the left and a weirdly shaped area on the right. They repeated and then decided to repeat every 6 months to see what they do. There is no cancer of any kind in my family so I'm not concerned. It's just not the funnest way to spend a day off, lol! The spasms, twitches and buzzes are more annoying to me.
Hey, lump ... asthma ... spasms, what the heck! I feel like Jobform the bible. If I'm being tested, I'm failing miserably!!!
Thanks for asking and for your always being there!
Penn
Penn,
How low is your husband's B/P??? Is he on a lot of cardiac meds?? Is his fluid intake adequate?? Is he lethargic or alert?? Can you take his pulse??
Your husband can sign a form at the doctor office giving them permission to talk to you about his medical issues.
Best of Luck tomorrow. You mean you have a lump to worry about too? Boy, you are a strong woman!!!
Elaine
Thanks for asking. He's doing well on the whole, but to day his BP and pulse rate are pretty darn low. He won't call the doc, just to be sure it's ok. I may sneak and do it behind his back. I know they can't talk to me, but I can just not tell him until the on-call calls back!
Penn
I'm just checking, too, Wench. How's your DH doing?
Zilla*
Checking on the thread to see how it's going for you Penn. Hope you get some answers soon.
Jazzy
Good advice. I will try. Good thing I'm of tomorrow - just have to have a follow up on a lump found 6 months ago. Should be able to make a bunch of calls.
After the experience I had following my LP, I SURELY do not want to have to repeat. They got air in the CS space and my BP spiked into the 170's/100's, on top of the migraine.
Thanks
Penn
This is unreal!!!!! If you can, and it's going to be a nightmare to try to find out, but, if you can, try to find the Lab Manager, or Supervisor. They are required to keep you fluids for a timeframe.
Tell this person what has occurred. They are usually easier to deal with than the office folks. I'm sure you will get the run around, and everyone will point the finger down the hall as to who to talk to, but from experience, the only progress I made was with the Lab supervisor, who personally, faxed over my reports to me and my office.
I hope you get this resolved, but keep at it, because if they did not run all the tests they needed to on the fluid, you might be able to get this done after the fact. Kind of look at it like them going to the fridge, and pulling back out your fluid for more checks.
This should not occur, and seems like it happens over, over, and over again. . .
ttys,
be well,
SL
Quix - "Groundhog Day" is a perfect analogy - just call me Puxatawny Phil (however you spell that). He's the poor groundhog they yank from his sleep on Groundhog Day, here in my home state - gosh I'm so proud;)
I am off for the holiday tomorrow - hopefully they are not. I will go down and try this again. If that does not work, I will enlist the help of my PCP (although he didn't order the test) and try to get a letter from the atty.
It's like the recurring nightmares you have when you're a little kid. What is so difficult??? The LP was on 11/13 for goodness sake!. The part of the report I ddi get says it was prepared 11/15!!!! The EEG test was a few days shy of a month later. I'd like ot find the person who wrote the patient description as the patient is a 42 year old woman with multiple sclerosis too. Very insensitive error.
Penn
Did you ever feel that you were in the movie, "Groundhog Day?". What a malicious soap opera! Sheeesh!
Quix
ELAINE,
I AM GLAD THAT THE TONIC WATER IS HELPING HIM,TONIC WATER CONTAINS A MINUTE AMOUNT OF QUININE WHICH DOES HELP WITH MUSCLE SPASMS.WALMART SELLS A PRODUCT FOR LEG CRAMPS THAT I HAVE BOUGHT FOR MY SON,IT ALSO HAS SOME QUININE IN IT.ITS IN THE VITAMIN SECECTIONS.
PENN.
CHECKING TO SEE HOW YOU ARE DOING,MY BODY HAS DECIDED TO DO ITS ETERNAL BUZZING FROM HEAD TO TOES TODAY,PLUS THE SPASMS.
THAT DARN ICE CREAM DIDN'T HELP EITHER.HOPEFULLY ON MONDAY YOU CAN GET SOME HELP WITH RETREIVING THE MED RECORDS.
THE FACILITY THAT DONE THE TEST HAS TO HAVE THEM ON FILE OR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT OF PAID.
I'D BE DOING SOME FOOT STOMPING ON THERE DOOR STEPS.
T
Penn,
I am so sorry. This is a really bad nightmare. I don't think contacting a lawyer means you have to sue. you can just ask the lawyer to send a letter or call the hospital and get the records for you.
Just tell the lawyer to help you get what is rightfully yours. if you find there is a mistake, then you can think about suing. However. lawyers rarely sue doctors or hospitals anymore unless there are BIG damages. So right now, just ask the lawyer to help you get your records and figure out where the he** they are.
This is Craig's advice, being he is an attorney licensed in PA, but is not practicing in PA.
Elaine (Craig is feeling better. the tonic water is helping his spasms and I did range of motion exercises on his legs this morning and having his legs stretched makes them feel less like there is cardboard in them when he walks. he went in to work to try and catch up. he is missing alot of time).
I would never want to say anything hurtful about your son. I wasn't lucky enough to be a mother but I am an aunt of a really nice young man ( ageing myself ) he's thirty. But between the ages of sixteen and twenty - two , he wasn't very pleasant to be be around, self-involved , he's wonderful now. Your son will snap out of it
Got to go get my rice dream
Jo
Wow Penn, this must all be so disconcerting for you . The ineptness of this medical group and your son's attitude, while you are trying to take care of your DH's ( dear husband??) medical treatments must be so distressing .
I'm pretty much without words , the paragraph above sounds so lame... How can this be going on ? and so often ? I cried this morning reading the responses to my post and some of the difficulties others are having in their lives... We're alone in this , and that is very sad to me. The energy we spend on this cr*p, when it could go to much better use. Having to flimflam our way around the system to get help , answers... its mind boggling . I'm not a deceitful person or a liar but I have had to resort to these tactics AND have encouraged others here to do the same ....
OK OK, enough .... SorryPenn for ranting on your thread ...I think I have found a few more words , I'll say a little more over on my last thread (later , fisrt i need something yummy , I eat through my sorrow, good thing I walk everyday)
since I'm off chocolate cake , ice cream sounds super ( rice dream for me )
Penn I am so sorry you are going though this HUGS and PRAYER Jo
OMGosh! What incompetent nincompoops!
I agree with T that you should probably follow through with the lab. Or, maybe ask your PCP to do so on your behalf. Would he/she? This is beyond ridiculous!
Hang in there!
Zilla*
WOW. What an emotional set-back. That's a tough one, Penn. Remind me to borrow some of your determination before I go back for my next Neuro. :0) Keep your head up.
~Ley
YOU MAY HAVE TO GET A LAWYER TO GET THE MEDICAL RECORDS,THATS A CROCK OF ****!!!!!!!!!!!
YES, KIDS TODAY,DEFINATELY ARE RAISED WITH DIFFERENT OBLIGATIONS THEN WHAT WE WERE.
THAT BOY NEEDS A GOOD TALKING TO,THESE KIDS TODAY SEEM TO PUT FAMILY ON THE BACK BURNER FOR THEIR OWN PLEASURES.IT'S JUST NOT YOUR SON,IT SEEMS LIKE IRS THE GENERATION.
YES,IT MUST BE VERY HARD FOR YOU TO COVER UP YOUR SYMPTOMS TO HELP HUBBY RECOVER FROM HIS PROCEEDURE.ITS LIKE WE ARE DANGED IF WE DO AND DARNED IF WE DON'T.
I'M UP BECAUSE I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN,I FELL IN THE GARAGE YESTERDAY,I DON'T KNOW WHAT HURTS MOST MY BACK,HIP OR MY EGO.TEACH ME TO CARRY IN FIRE WOOD,BUT BOY DID MY 16 YEAR OLD SON GIVE ME HECK.
I DON'T THINK I COULD HANDLE A 2 YEAR OLD, A 4 YEAR OLD WOULD BE NICE.
T
I'M UP SPAZZING TOO, BUT NO ICE CREAM:( TWITCHING IS AWFUL TONIGHT TOO. CAN'T SLEEP SO AM PLAYING ONLINE POKER - LOVE IT!
IT WAS DR ITIN IN MOVEMENT DISORDERS WHO ORDERED THE TEST. THEY DIDN'T SEND ANYTHING TO ME EITHER - NOT TO MY PCP EITHER! HE SAID I COULD HAVE IT DONE DOWN HERE AND NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL BACK TO CCF AGAIN.
HE ORDERED THE TESTS YOU LISTED PLUS OLIGOCLONAL BANDS AND A COUPLE OTHERS. NO SIGN OF THOSE TESTS.
WE REALLY DO NEED A BREAK FROM ALL THE DRAMA! IT'S BEEN ROUGH. OUR SON'S BEING A SNOT TOO (HE'S 20). YOU'D THINK HE'D SPARE US FURTHER DRAMA FOR A LITTLE WHILE UNTIL THINGS SETTLE DOWN. BECAUSE HE PROMISED HE'D BE AROUND FOR MY DH'S PROCEDURE AND THEN WENT TO W. VA INSTEAD, IT WAS A 3 RING CIRCUS FOR ME TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DOG WITH NO NOTICE (AND A SNOW STORM), GET BACK AN FORTH TO THE HOSPITAL WHILE BUZZING FROM TOES TO CHEST, AND LOOK LIKE EVERYTHING IS MOONLIGHT AND ROSES, SO I DON'T WORRY MY DH. KIDS! YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER WHEN THET'RE OLDER, BUT I'LL TKE A 2 YEAR OLD ANY DAY!
PENN
I'M SORRY SORRY THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED,ON THIS REPORT DOES IT HAVE THE LAB COMPANY'S NAME THAT RAN THE TEST?ON MY LP RESULTS IT HAS THE FIRMS NAME THAT DONE THE DIAGNOSTIC MS LAB.
WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT NOTHING GREW,I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS WAS THE PART OF THE TEST THEY LOOK HEPITIS AND SO FORTH.
ON THIS REPORT IT SHOULD STATE A RED BLOOD CELL COUNT,WHITE CELL COUNT.
IT SHOULD OF HAD SERUM IgG ,CSF IgG AND SO FORTH.THIS FACILITY ARE IDIOTS.THE DOCTOR THAT REQUESTES THIS SHOULD HAVE THE REPORTS WAS IT DR.K? IF SO SHE HAS SINCE MOVED AND ANOTHER DR HAS REPLACED HER.I HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION IF YOU NEED IT.
I HATE TO SAY ,BUT THE CC IS BAD FOR TRYING TO GET REPORTS,EVERYTHING HAS TO GO THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT FIRM AND THEN THEY RETREIVE THE MEDICAL RECORDS.
HOWS YOUR HUBBY DOING.
I GOT ICE CREAM AND THE SPASMS GOING ON TONIGHT.
I HOPE YOU GET THESE RECORDS SOON,YOU MAY HAVE TO CAVE IN HAVE THEM SENT TO YOUR GP,IT MAY SAVE YOU SOME AGGRAVATION.
YOU AND HUBBY NEED TO GET SOME RELAXATION TIME.
HUGS
T
After fling a complaint with the insurance company, I went to the meidcal records buiding the group of hospitals (this group owns most of the healthcare facilities in Pgh) and picked up what was supposed to be the results page that was "missing". All that is on the page besides my name is the result for ONE of the several items the script called for - only says that no organisms grew after 2 days - so glad to hear that! O-bands and proteins, of course, not there. The test result that is there is even labeled with a "1)". Gee ya think that might mean there's more????
Naturally they don't know why that's all. Soooo now I have to try to figure out how to find where the rest of the test results are, if they were even run at all. This is really devastating. Not sure how much more of this lunacy I can take. Maybe it IS time for the lawyer. I may threaten one occasionally but am definitely NOT the suing kind.
Anybody got some ice cream?:(
Penn
I am so sorry this is happening to you. It's not fare and you certainly don't deserve it. Keep us informed as to what they do next to make your life miserable. I'm just joking there, I hope that isn't going to be the case. Hang in there.
I'll be praying,
Carol
This is getting beyond ridiculous. What the heck is their problem. I sure hope you get through this all okay. I'm thinking of you.
Hugs
Moki
WHAT A BUMMER., KEEP US INFORMED.
KITT