Sick and tired of our "medical professionals"

Thanks for the flags guys!! It does make me feel better!!!

I agree with all the stories on here about incompetent doctors. My brother was in a car accident back in 1987 and suffered horrible neck pain, getting tremedous headaches, etc...Until his new physician, shocked, told him he had broken his neck. This was last year!!!

OP: I hope you get compensated for all your pain and suffering!!

See how do you miss a broken neck?? Really come on seriously?? They took an x-ray while I was still in the hospital so my broken ribs should have shown up on that x-ray. When my husband asked what the x-ray showed the nurse said she was not supposed to say anything but that I had tons of gas rolling around under my rib cage. Which was where a lot of the pain was from. The gas rolling into the broken ribs. She never mentioned the broken ribs and we were never shown this x-ray and the Dr never brought it up!! This leads me to believe they new then I had broken ribs and hoped I wouldn't find out or say anything!!! liars!! and all the nurses acted very anxious the entire time I was there like they were hiding something!!!

Originally posted by tinkytink1207
See how do you miss a broken neck?? Really come on seriously?? They took an x-ray while I was still in the hospital so my broken ribs should have shown up on that x-ray. When my husband asked what the x-ray showed the nurse said she was not supposed to say anything but that I had tons of gas rolling around under my rib cage. Which was where a lot of the pain was from. The gas rolling into the broken ribs. She never mentioned the broken ribs and we were never shown this x-ray and the Dr never brought it up!! This leads me to believe they new then I had broken ribs and hoped I wouldn't find out or say anything!!! liars!! and all the nurses acted very anxious the entire time I was there like they were hiding something!!!

Honestly, I have no idea. This happened the same time my father died in another unrelated car accident and they blamed it on 'natural causes' because he was old. We made them change the finding to 'accidental'. Ridiculous. Are they lazy or are they afraid of a lawsuit because they initially missed it?

My feelings are yes they are constantly afraid of suits but too bad. That is what their insurance is for. I am one of those laid back kinda people and I can't believe I am in this position.
But I can't let this go not this time! I am going to press the issue because doctors get away with any mistake all the time. Normally people will not speak out but doctors are not perfect and should have to admit their mistakes like everyone else!! We could not as normal people get away with such abuse. So why should they?? Especially when they get paid so much money for their job. I expect to be treated well and I was not. I looked at this Drs reviews on the computer and they were not the greatest. I had been using her for years so I didn't research her like I should have or I would have seen the other complaints. Being I had been with her so long I trusted her. My mistake!!!

I notice no Drs commenting on my ordeal. I find it hard to believe no Drs belong to ATS?? I have heard from many that no Dr will negatively comment on another Dr. I am finding that to be true...They cover for one another. How ridiculous? Maybe I am wrong have to wait and see where comments lead.

Heya Tinky.... I had to go find something to be sure on this, but I did and I am. Alabama is just like Missouri.

You are a *ONE* Party state for audio and video recording. That means as long as ONE party to the conversation is aware of the fact it's being recorded, you're good to go. Now....Don't go by my link here, or even the law it's spelling out when you find it in the Alabama code. See an attorney about it..even if it's making use of their "free consultation" You just need one questioned answered. Is Alabama, today, a One Party state for electronic recording?

Once confirmed, I think one of the best things you can do is invest in a small recorder ...or many smart phones have mic's high enough quality to do it. My HTC Trophy recorded my college classes well enough to pick up coughs from across the room. I absolutely wouldn't converse with anyone without that rolling and recording anything said by either side for posterity. You'll also want to make sure about how, if at all, it's different on a phone. Here, I record everything in and out. I've been burned a couple times on he said / she said and vowed it'd never happen again. Recording my phone calls is legal here (interstate can be sticky....but Federal level is One party as well) and my other half definitely has reference to go back to on what a doctor (or school district..or anyone else) instructed her, lets say that.

Alabama Wiretap / Recording Law

I hope this helps...and it would just be icing on the cupcake if any of them actually said something stupid while you had it all running to a recording. BTW.. I just have my HTC on the belt holster and it works fine for a decent size room without major background noise. Nothing real fancy required.

Sending you my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery..I'm so sorry to hear about this nightmare your going through there is so many incompetent doctors out there its insane..
Id get a good Malpractice attorney and take this one to the limit sounds like you have a good case..peace,sugarcookie1

as far as the treatment post surgery that's awful and should be addressed as you see fit. as far as the pain meds, well that one's on the govt and their melding in peoples lives. you know the failure war on drugs and all has flowed over into prescribed medication. seems you have to be rich or know someone to get prescribed the proper medication. when the govt gets the hell out of our lives we can all go about using whatever medications we choose, if they harm no one else.

I will follow that advice!! I have one more follow up with my "old" doctor just to get information like you are saying. She does not know I have already gotten a 2nd opinion and changed drs. I haven't let them pull my records yet until I am done fact finding!! So I will do what you stated next week at my visit and review some of the problems cracked ribs etc and try to get it on recording. Won't be hard cause every time I go she looks at the bruise and restates it wasn't her fault which means it was someone's fault!! She knows this!!! great idea and thanks!!

I agree the government has a lot to do with the problems in medicine. Since the government decided too many people were taking pain meds the doctors shiver in fear in prescribing them. So instead of doctors doing what needs to be done they let the government dictate what they do. I think it is so crazy! The doctor should treat each patient and not worry that the gov is going to do something to them?? Each person is an individual and now we are lumped into one package. Since some abuse we are all bad!! Just ridiculous!!!!! so let's just suffer in pain so we might not become addicted to not being in pain??? Even if it's just a short time problem. I could see if this was months or so we were talking about????

Originally posted by tinkytink1207
While I am on here if there are any lawyers here (And I believe there probably are) any advice I should know?? I have already collected all my records from the hospital in question. Hopefully before they could purge any evidence?? But I doubt they listed "dropped patient dead on floor" on my record??? Or did they HAVE to list that something happened?? I have documented everything day by day from when I left the hospital, and am following up with experts in each area of injury. I even have the doctor admitting something happened after she "left" me and Iwas not like that when she left. So any other advice?

There ought to be a copy of an incident report in there for when you hit the floor.

I don't know how many other doctors you've seen other than your new one, but when surgery is recommended, it is always wise to get a second and even a third opinion.

So sorry to learn of you problems. What you're experiencing sounds horrible. I do hope you can get some relief from the pain.

Originally posted by tinkytink1207
While I am on here if there are any lawyers here (And I believe there probably are) any advice I should know?? I have already collected all my records from the hospital in question. Hopefully before they could purge any evidence?? But I doubt they listed "dropped patient dead on floor" on my record??? Or did they HAVE to list that something happened??

Yes. They absolutely legally have to document that something happened. They also are legally obligated to tell you that something happened. If you can prove that they did not document an incident, and further did not inform you about it then you will own that hospital.

The more important aspect beside your hospital records (because if events transpired as you say they probably DID NOT document things as they should since they did not even inform you) is to get proof immediately that you have sustained an injury within that time frame, that could not be a result of your surgery. This may tough, and further, if it goes to court the obvious defense will be that you injured yourelf immediately after or possibly prior to the surgery. You may very well have a difficult time getting an attorney to tackle this.

Originally posted by tinkytink1207
I have documented everything day by day from when I left the hospital, and am following up with experts in each area of injury. I even have the doctor admitting something happened after she "left" me and Iwas not like that when she left. So any other advice?

Good. Get everything in writing, including the testamony from the doctor. GET. IT. IN WRITING. I can't say it enough. Be specific, keep documenting. If your family doctor (or any doctor really) got x-rays of your broken ribs within 72 hours of the injury, that is your best solid evidence for proof that the injury at least occured within the time frame that you claim.

However, for the record, I have a difficult time believing that the hospital would actually drop you and not inform you, particularly if it was dire enough for you to sustain the injuries that you describe. There is a push for pain management within the medical community; most medical professionals who can prescribe something for pain will, for even minor complaints, let alone for what you are describing. Also, there are many, many alternatives that are not addictive.

I'm sorry, from what you have said here you send up red flags all over for a drug seeker, and/or someone seeking to fabricate, or take advantage of a circumstance for a lawsuit.

If it is what you say however, do what I said and screw that hospital to the wall. If you can prove that the hospital was actually trying to cover up an incident where you were dropped they will be shut down. and they damn well should be.

Originally posted by tinkytink1207
See how do you miss a broken neck?? Really come on seriously?? They took an x-ray while I was still in the hospital so my broken ribs should have shown up on that x-ray. When my husband asked what the x-ray showed the nurse said she was not supposed to say anything ... This leads me to believe they new then I had broken ribs and hoped I wouldn't find out or say anything!!! liars!! and all the nurses acted very anxious the entire time I was there like they were hiding something!!!

If they took x-rays get them. The broken ribs should be on there (depending on location and view).

The nurse cannot legally tell you the results of the x-ray exam, that must come from a licensed medical practitioner (Dr. P.A. etc...), which R.N.'s and L.P.N's are not (which is most likely the qualification of who you were talking to). That is why she is "not supposed to say anything", not because she was in collusion to hide something from you, but because she could lose her license by telling you.

The good thing is the bruising was there before I ever left the hospital so that is documented before I ever left. So I have proof that I was fine before I went in. I had x-rays taken by my regular doctor as my obgyn couldn't get me in to see a specialist for a week and we wanted to know right then if they were broken. So she was really freaking out trying to get me x-rayed asap on her end. Which she stated straight out something happened but it wasn't her fault. so that pretty much proved my theory. She just didn't want to be blamed for whatever happened. she just kept saying it happened after she left me in surgery and my regular dr agreed. so that's 2 drs same conclusion. I am certain something happened just not sure what. either dropped or hit against the bed. we will see what the lawyers find in the hosp med records.

ohhh,I hate to say it, but I hope you sue 'em. I had an abusive husband that cracked 3 of my ribs, and I fled to
Arizona to get away from the guy. Those ribs really still hurt to this day, and if has been about 2 years. They were 3 bottom ribs on my left side, that are apparently, "floaters." I can't tell ya how painful it still is to this day if I sleep the wrong way.

Last year I contracted valley fever which is similar to pnuemonia....Sever bouts of coughing attacks that really got those ribs hurting again.

Every time I go to the ER for the complications of Valley Fever, and complain about my ribs hurting so much, they tell me there is nothing they can do. They can't be casted, set straight, etc.....

If you had no rib injury before your surgery, you need to file a complaint right away with the administrators office. I also had ovarian cysts that took a quite bit more surgery to be repaired, but I was also undergoing a hysterectomy at the same time, but everything was done laposcoprocy, with no ill effects than a couple of quarter inch scars on either side to remove my uterus. Even for the repair to my ovarian cysts. I had to fight with the DR. not to remove therm because I was 38 at the time and refused to be on hormone replacement therapy.....

There is no way, you should have suffered rib injuries!!!!!!!!! None at all!

thank you so much for your kind words!!

reply to post by tinkytink1207
did you get pictures of your injuries?
hope you feel better soon can I ask what state you live in?

One of the things you need to do is report your doctor or the one who is refusing to give you adequate pain control to the American Medical Association. As a nurse I can tell you this in and of itself leads to a very strong case against the treatment you received.

Pain control is a very big thing. In fact it is unethical to not treat a person whom is in pain even if they have a history
of addiction. when you give a pain med. in a hospital, no less than 5 pieces of paper must be filled out by the nurse
each and every time that medication is given. Why? Because too many doctors were being sued for not adequately treating a patients complaint of pain. Your claim will be taken very seriously. I would definitely look for another doctor from this point on.

In the 17 years I spent as a nurse in several specialties, it is unheard for a patient whom undergoes surgery no to receive pain medication upon discharge with their instructions. Something is very wrong with this picture. You will have time for attorneys but right now you need to focus on getting well. if you are in serious pain you can go to the ER and they will give you something there. Do report your dr. asap.

There are some real arse holes in this field, but there are also some of the most caring individuals you will ever find. Don't lump all docs. into a negative category.

Hang in there and am praying for you.

Pax

Thank you everyone for your kind words.
I am seeing my regular practitioner this morning for more x-rays and he is setting up a consult at a back doctor to have everything checked out. Thank you for the advice on the pain relief. He is going to take care of that also. He seems very upset at my treatment thus far. He knows me very well and has treated our family for years so he knows I am not a drug seeker etc. Really after all this that really seems less important than the other problems that seem to be arising. The back problem, the 2nd surgery, broken tooth??
It all just seems like a lack of general care from my OBGYN and the hospital I was in. I was in a lot of pain yesterday so probably was not the best time to post a thread,but I was just so frustrated at the entire deal! I am used to doing everything around here, and I have had to do nothing for weeks. School time is here and I really thought by now I would be back to my normal self. That is frustrating. Anyway now I have to deal with all these other problems that I didn't even have before. The tooth they chipped is a crown so that will be fun replacing!! Just more doctors and time to deal with it.
My husband has been wonderful, but he and my children have been through a lot with mommy being out of the loop. I know it has been hard on them. That makes me feel bad for them.
Anyway thanks for all the support!!