Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)
9th May 2007, 10:08
Last nite I had the unfortunate experience of having to go to hospital. When I get the flu, as I have had for the last week, it inevitably turns into bronchial asthma. Was sent home from work yesterday - they - my boss and her boss, a partner of the firm, "heard me" and said "Go back home". Stood over me while I rang the Dr, got an appt for 2.15pm. Nurse commented that I sounded worse than when I first came in. Got home had nanny nap. Got to Dr's and the lift was out of order. I thought geez the stairs are gonna finish me off.
Sitting in the waiting room, and this woman kept staring at me - apparently I'm rattling/wheezing away - cos I can't really hear it at all - the system has labelled me deaf. My Dr is excellent and was horrified I hadn't gone in sooner (he's still getting to know me!!) On the nebuliser - wow how nice to breathe. He said to me if my peak flow got to 250 to ring an ambulance. Gave me new antibiotics and steroids. $41 - payday is Thursday morning. I had spent $110 on Dr and script week before. Had to leave script there. 2 other friends couldn't help out.
One thing about all of this is I did not realise how sick I was. By 10.30pm, after laying on my bed all nite watching some DVDs my peak flow had dropped to 150-200. So rang ambulance. The lady on the phone was amazing. Asked some interesting questions, are you clammy, getting sleepy? Yes do you always talk this way?? Gasping between each word. I told her they needn't put the sirens on - I just needed a nebuliser and that I would walk down the stairs and meet them - didn't want them waking the whole apartment block. Anyway I down the first flight and I hear the bloody sirens - I had to have a laugh to myself - Now Shirl don't rush to the ambulance!!
It was a 4wheel drive one - hell it was quick. The guy got into action immediately - "Yes I can see you are the patient". This guy had brains. Put me on nebuliser, took pulse, stethescoped back and chest - he shielded me a bit - there were men resealing the road outside my place - been happening all week!! Then the guy asked me questions - by this time I could talk. Yes there are times when I am speechless lol. Kept me informed all the time and said a real ambulance was on its way. They had their sirens on too. Introduced themselves - very caring and professional. The woman said to me when you are clammy and sleepy that is the real danger zone for asthmatics - cos ya just drift off - been there twice before - lovely white light, and you just float.
Got to the hospital. By this time I had had 10mls of stuff thru nebuliser with oxygen up at 8. In the surgery that aft - the gave me 2.5mls and oxygen set to 3 - cos even that can make you a bit shakey!! Anyway I wasnt sounding so much like a rattlesnake. Both ambulance officers did the stethescope, pulse, blood pressure then the male Nurse at the hospital. then the Dr did it as well. Apparently the heart was racing quite high - and it certainly wasn't at the sight of the male nurse. Cocky shortarse little pratt - but then his attitude changed for the better after I cracked a joke.
Then the Dr came. Well by this time probably 1-1 1/2 hrs later - I was much better. Not quite well enough to give her a mouthful tho. Well what's wrong with you (try readin the fn notes you moron) don't sound too bad to me. She's checking my back so I am bent over - trying to breath and the stupid bitch is asking me questions "What is your "asthma attack program"" - I'm trying to answer - when breathing exercises and ventolin don't work - drink hot water. She must be deafer than me. She walked out and said God she doesn't even have an asthma attack program. She seems alright now - but she will need prednizone immediately and more ventolin now. Don't ya just love being talked about as if you don't exist. Now had I been able to talk more I was going to yell out in response to her "program" what do you mean I'm spose to have a fkn appendage/husband - cos she even asked me how I got to hospital. Confidence inspiring. (She had "the ring" on "the" finger). I must admit being a single person (and yes, particularly female) you become persona non gratus and they treat you like crap - cos they don't have to answer to the "support person".
She then came back and said what did you Dr prescribe - stronger antibiotics and prednizone - why didn't you get the script? Because I couldn't afford it. She looked at me like I was scum of the earth. What planet does she live on - having shelved out the week before!! Anyway as usual I have waffled on. She said I could go home shortly. Nurse had given me drugs and checked me over again and said the Dr would see me before I went. Waited half an hour she never showed. Now it was a quiet nite at A&EE. I was turfed out at 2am into the cold (knowing I'd had the flu all last week and still had it). No buses at that hour of the morning. Woke a friend up who kindly took me home.
While waiting in hospital I read their mission statement: Innovation, next word, Treaty of Waitangi, few more words and right at the bottom, quality healthcare. Go fkn figure. I rest my case.
I didn't realise when I went on the Ambulance Charity run recently that I would be needing their services. I cannot praise them highly enough.
Nice to be home and I'm as high as a kite at present, drugs are strong.
Sitting in the waiting room, and this woman kept staring at me - apparently I'm rattling/wheezing away - cos I can't really hear it at all - the system has labelled me deaf. My Dr is excellent and was horrified I hadn't gone in sooner (he's still getting to know me!!) On the nebuliser - wow how nice to breathe. He said to me if my peak flow got to 250 to ring an ambulance. Gave me new antibiotics and steroids. $41 - payday is Thursday morning. I had spent $110 on Dr and script week before. Had to leave script there. 2 other friends couldn't help out.
One thing about all of this is I did not realise how sick I was. By 10.30pm, after laying on my bed all nite watching some DVDs my peak flow had dropped to 150-200. So rang ambulance. The lady on the phone was amazing. Asked some interesting questions, are you clammy, getting sleepy? Yes do you always talk this way?? Gasping between each word. I told her they needn't put the sirens on - I just needed a nebuliser and that I would walk down the stairs and meet them - didn't want them waking the whole apartment block. Anyway I down the first flight and I hear the bloody sirens - I had to have a laugh to myself - Now Shirl don't rush to the ambulance!!
It was a 4wheel drive one - hell it was quick. The guy got into action immediately - "Yes I can see you are the patient". This guy had brains. Put me on nebuliser, took pulse, stethescoped back and chest - he shielded me a bit - there were men resealing the road outside my place - been happening all week!! Then the guy asked me questions - by this time I could talk. Yes there are times when I am speechless lol. Kept me informed all the time and said a real ambulance was on its way. They had their sirens on too. Introduced themselves - very caring and professional. The woman said to me when you are clammy and sleepy that is the real danger zone for asthmatics - cos ya just drift off - been there twice before - lovely white light, and you just float.
Got to the hospital. By this time I had had 10mls of stuff thru nebuliser with oxygen up at 8. In the surgery that aft - the gave me 2.5mls and oxygen set to 3 - cos even that can make you a bit shakey!! Anyway I wasnt sounding so much like a rattlesnake. Both ambulance officers did the stethescope, pulse, blood pressure then the male Nurse at the hospital. then the Dr did it as well. Apparently the heart was racing quite high - and it certainly wasn't at the sight of the male nurse. Cocky shortarse little pratt - but then his attitude changed for the better after I cracked a joke.
Then the Dr came. Well by this time probably 1-1 1/2 hrs later - I was much better. Not quite well enough to give her a mouthful tho. Well what's wrong with you (try readin the fn notes you moron) don't sound too bad to me. She's checking my back so I am bent over - trying to breath and the stupid bitch is asking me questions "What is your "asthma attack program"" - I'm trying to answer - when breathing exercises and ventolin don't work - drink hot water. She must be deafer than me. She walked out and said God she doesn't even have an asthma attack program. She seems alright now - but she will need prednizone immediately and more ventolin now. Don't ya just love being talked about as if you don't exist. Now had I been able to talk more I was going to yell out in response to her "program" what do you mean I'm spose to have a fkn appendage/husband - cos she even asked me how I got to hospital. Confidence inspiring. (She had "the ring" on "the" finger). I must admit being a single person (and yes, particularly female) you become persona non gratus and they treat you like crap - cos they don't have to answer to the "support person".
She then came back and said what did you Dr prescribe - stronger antibiotics and prednizone - why didn't you get the script? Because I couldn't afford it. She looked at me like I was scum of the earth. What planet does she live on - having shelved out the week before!! Anyway as usual I have waffled on. She said I could go home shortly. Nurse had given me drugs and checked me over again and said the Dr would see me before I went. Waited half an hour she never showed. Now it was a quiet nite at A&EE. I was turfed out at 2am into the cold (knowing I'd had the flu all last week and still had it). No buses at that hour of the morning. Woke a friend up who kindly took me home.
While waiting in hospital I read their mission statement: Innovation, next word, Treaty of Waitangi, few more words and right at the bottom, quality healthcare. Go fkn figure. I rest my case.
I didn't realise when I went on the Ambulance Charity run recently that I would be needing their services. I cannot praise them highly enough.
Nice to be home and I'm as high as a kite at present, drugs are strong.