I Am Freaking Scared. Pissed. Where Are My Mom’s Drive-by Doctors?

June 13, 2011 by in accountability, Be Your Own Advocate, Mom Updates

Just got a call from Mom. I could barely understand a word she was saying. Her voice so weak and raspy.

She says her right eye is swollen and extremely painful. She cannot open it. She called for the nurse late last night to check on it. The nurse said her eye is red, watering and somewhat bulging. The nurse said she would get a doctor to come see Mom about it. That was HOURS ago.

Mom & I on the phone last night

I called my Mom’s nurse to explain her discomfort and try to expedite the doctor’s drive-by. The nurse said she had put the order in for an opthamologist, but had no idea when exactly he/she would get there.

My mom says she hasn’t been seen by a doctor since she was admitted Saturday night. When you are dealing with blood clots, Superior Vena Cava Syndrome, Stage IV cancer, the administering of Lovenox and now a deeply painful eye that has kept my Mom up all night, this more than distressing. Something ELSE is very wrong. Something additional.

She is sitting in her hospital bed with both eyes closed…scared and afraid she now has a tumor in her eye. It’s probably from the “back-up blood” pressure caused by the clot, but who the hell knows. I’m sure many more thoughts are racing through her mind. She said she thinks her body is jinxed. I don’t disagree.

I realize there are more patients in the hospital than just my Mom. I understand things take time. But, with this new development with my Mom’s eye, I would think someone would want to check it out immediately.

Perhaps they need to get the thoracic specialist in to see my Mom sooner, as perhaps the Lovenox isn’t thinning quickly enough? Hell, I don’t know. But, something is really wrong…again.

DAMN IT. Where are my mom’s drive-by doctors? A quick pit-stop could possibly save her life. I’ll even give you an effing Slurpee.

15 billionth reminder….BE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE. YOU MUST!

8 Comments - Leave a comment!
  • Stayman

    OMG! I don’t know where she is but I’d be finding some 1 or going straight to the top. This is absolutely unfathomable.  I will be praying for you all.

  • Claire Celsi

    Jennifer, I’m so sorry about this. But just think about this for a moment…Not only do your doctors have no earthly idea who you are and what you do…but they obviously are not even listening to the online conversation. Where is the hospitalist? Three days without a doctor for someone who has life threatening ailments? Ridiculous.

    Now that they surely will find out eventually who you are and how big your bully pulpit is, I wonder if they will change their behavior accordingly? Think about all the nameless, voiceless people out there with no advocates or no blog about lung cancer. They are screwed.

  • Guest

    Been there done that. You have to be on top of them EVERY minute. Once when my grandmother was ill and a doctor was explaining to me her options ( she really didn’t have any other than him trying to push unessary surgery and making me think I was a monster for not agreeing with his opinion) another Dr. approached and started talking GOLF while I was standing there questioning my families decision!
    I was too flabberghasted to respond. When I think back now..I wish I would have slapped that Doctors face.

  • Hazescrochet

    Thats what happened with my Dad.  seisure after seisure, and couldnt breathe without choking, even with a tube in his throat.  In his last few days, he was choking horribly and convulsing, and I had to grab a doctor and literally pull him in there!   Its extrememly hard to findd a doctor worth anything anymore.  If there isn’t money involved, they wouldnt be there.  We’ll keep praying for your Mom, as well as you and the rest of your family.  Just keep fighting, and grab someone by the ear and yank them in there, if you have to! 

  • Lynda

    Jen, Are you going out to where your mom is at?

  • Jenniferbushor

    Jen -
    My heart breaks reading about the pain and fear that is filling your life right now.  I hate that feeling of no control!  You and Leslie are in my thoughts and prayers.  Today you WILL get answers!
    Hang in there and keep leading the fight.
    jb

  • Cworkman

    Wow Jennifer, my heart really goes out to you and your Mom.I had a similar experience in January…the blood clots are horrible and waiting three days??? Ridiculous. Call, yell scream…that’s the only way to get attention. Oh gosh I just know your frustration level is so high….

  • meg

    UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!  I am soooo mad!!!!!   MY mom went thru the same damn thing!    HORRIBLE nursing care on the palliative floor in a hospital here in Missouri.  I am so glad you are using this platform to draw some attention to this!!!  But I hate that it is at the expense of your sweet Mom…keep up the fight…for my mom, too…who lost her battle last month.  Terrible medical care changed her opinion about her course of treatment…she said she would NEVER be admitted to a hospital again…and she was’nt.