Medical Mistakes On Oprah Tuesday 3-10-09

[kmar]

http://www.oprah.com/tows

Just heard that On Tuesday March 10th,
Oprah's topic is Medical Mistakes.

It is not on the website yet, but was announced on the show.


March 10th, 2007 is the day my mother
died from a medical mistake in the ER.
( very careless medical care )

[faithinacure]

Kmar:
Sending prayers your way. It's hard enough to lose a love one, but when it could have been prevented, that's the Lord's test. Thank you for the heads-up with the Oprah show. I'm so grateful she's addressing this.
Blessings, Faithxoxoxoo

[kmar]

Thank you Faithinacure (love the name),

She was in the ER for 8 hours and they failed to daignose her, instead
they gave something to thin her blood (not knowing what was wrong).

She had all the signs of a blood clot in the lung, breathing problems, low
oxygen blood level and according to that diagnosis, with immediate medical care, she should have lived since she was right there in ER. If only they gave her the correct meds for the pulmonary embolism which would have DISOLVED the clot. Instead, they gave a blood thinner which let loose the clot from the vessel wall and it traveled to her heart and killed her immediately.

She was in the ER for 8 hours before she died. My sister didn't call myself or my daughter who also works in the medical field. The doctors just kept giving her breathing treatments which were not helping. They thought she was just having anxiety because she had a history of anxiety.

The Doctors felt terrible and came to the funeral and were speechless cuz they knew they were wrong. My father opted not to sue. It wouldn't bring back our beloved mother.

I know my mother is at peace now and as strange as it sounds, she has
"visited" with me since her death. It have given me faith!

Thank you for letting me blab on. I just thought that the show on medical
mistakes being aired on the same date my mother died seemed kind of special to me. ( given the predicament we are all in with our medical condition)

Kmar


.

[faithinacure]

Kmar:
When my inbox in emptied, I can pm you with the name of an interesting book which might help you deal with this loss. I lost my father. I feel still in contact with him and feel lucky, a human being such as he -was in my life. I love knowing there is no death.
Lots of Hugs,
Faithxoxoxoxox

[niecy]

Hello Karen,

I have been planning on responding to your new thread since you started it. I just realized that tomorrow, March 9th, is my own dear mama's birthday. Her name was Emma, and I lost her in August of 1994. I was close to 30, but still her little girl. Not a single day goes by without thinking of her. It is now about the good things instead of the horrible way that she died. I know your pain, and it will never go away, but it will get just a little easier to bear everyday.

I want to tell everyone here of my recent experience with "medical mistakes". I just had a hysterectomy on February 10th. I was sent home from the hospital, after three days, with a fever of 102.......that they said "I don't know what's causing it" to. Also, a catheter, and with a prescription for Keflex.

Well, as if the first two weren't enough, the last one could have easily killed me.....of course I would have died at home, not the hospital, so it wouldn't have looked bad on the facility.

But!! And this is a large one!! I am allergic to Penicillin, and Ceclor. It is on my records at the doctors office that performed the surgery, and at the pharmacy that filled it. And, to boot, I had "allergy" bracelets on my arm. Not to mention the fact that before I was put to sleep for the surgery I was asked no less than 10 times what all my allergies were.

After I came home on Friday, I continually was getting WORSE, not better. As I said I still had a catheter, and my urine was the color of coke in the bag. My fever got up to 103 that night, and stayed high until I, with the help of a good friend, figured out what was happening, and it was by total accident even then. I got in the shower on Saturday, just hoping that it would make me feel better.

I was very sick, and forgot to get a bath cloth when I got in the shower, so I just had to soap up and rub it with my hands. As I was doing that I noticed a "sand-paper like" rash on my whole torso. I then knew that I was having an allergic reaction to the anti-biotic. IF I had of had a bath cloth instead I could very well be DEAD right now!! And that is not an exaggeration!!!

My whole mouth had swollen up by this time, and I had literally hundreds of tiny blisters on and around both of my lips. My tongue was covered in them, my throat also. I called a nurse friend and she suggested taking benadryl, which I did, 50mgs every 4 to 6 hours for 24 hours. And it still took my mouth and lips over three weeks to totally heal from this.

The next step I am sure, had I kept taking the antibiotic, would have been anaphylactic shock, and I am a good 20 minutes from the nearest hospital.
Take note in this link about this reaction to allergens. Penicillin allergies are top on the list!!! Anaphylaxis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"An estimated 1.24% to 16.8% of the population of the United States is considered "at risk" for having an anaphylactic reaction if they are exposed to one or more allergens, especially penicillin and insect stings."

My two daughters were taking care of me that first night and the second day, "according to doctors orders". It is just a very very SAD fact that we cannot trust the medical profession in general anymore at all!!!

Here are a couple of links, and just a couple of excerpts about using Keflex.
Keflex | Prescription Drug Information, Side Effects | PDRHealth
Most important fact about Keflex

If you are allergic to either penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics in any form, consult your doctor before taking Keflex. There is a possibility that you are allergic to both types of medication and if a reaction occurs, it could be extremely severe. If you take the drug and feel signs of a reaction, seek medical attention immediately.



Keflex
What is the most important information I should know about Keflex?

Do not use Keflex if you are allergic to cephalexin, or to similar antibiotics, such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Cefzil, Duricef, Fortaz, Omnicef, Spectracef, Suprax, and others. Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor.

Before using this Keflex, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially penicillins), or if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• a stomach or intestinal disorder such as colitis;
• diabetes; or
• if you are malnourished.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Keflex, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.


This is just my most recent example.....and it is a very good one of how careless they are. The pharmacy that I have been using for over 10 years now should have caught this mistake also. There is no excuse anymore for them.



I recently had to speak with my attorney about some other personal business, but also related to medical problems. He told me that unless serious damage, or DEATH occures, there is no grounds for suit!!!!!!!!


Just wanted to share that with you all. We HAVE to be so careful, with ourselves, and our loved ones. I really hope that everyone is doing their homework when it comes to taking any meds prescribed to them. Your life, and your loved ones, is literally in your own hands!!


Take care, and God bless!!!
Love and prayers to you all!!!
Niecy

[niecy]

Karen,

Here is just a little something I want to dedicate to you, in memory of your mother. It is true for me as well, and my precious mom. This is for any of you who have lost your mother, it is a loss that we cannot ever forget, but these words are very comforting.

Love,
Niecy

When I Must Leave You

When I must leave you
For a little while,
Please do not grieve
And shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you
Through the years,
But start out bravely
With a smile.
And for my sake
And in my name,
Live on and do
All the things the same.
Feed not your loneliness
On empty days,
But fill each waking hour
In useful ways.
Reach out your hand in comfort
And in cheer,
And I, in turn, will comfort you
And hold you near.
And never, never
Be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you
In the sky.
~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

[kmar]

Niecy,

I cried reading that beautiful poem. Not sad tears, but rather kind of joyful tears cuz I know my mother would have said and felt just what that poem expressed.

Thank you for your kindness. I too am so sorry for you loss. Mothers are so special.

Love back to you,
Karen


Oh, I agree with what you said about people needing to pay attention and take responsibility for what happens when they go in for surgery or any medical procedure.

Perhaps it was you mother watching over you making sure you didn't
have a wash cloth that day so that you would realize the reaction you were having!

Yeah, I believe in spirits who love us being around to protect us.

.

[jonsi]

Faith wrote: "I love knowing there is no death."

Both of my parents are still alive, but I have lost so many of my best friends. I feel them around me.

kmar wrote: "Yeah, I believe in spirits who love us being around to protect us."

Amen

And niecy, your poem was beautiful!

In the white light,
~jonsi

[niecy]

Hi Kmar,

You are very welcome for the poem.....it sounded just like my mom too!! Oh how I miss her.....

I just wanted to share something here on this thread that I heard last night on the news. I actually made me laugh out loud, however it was a rather sarcastic one. I was thinking to myself.....well if you would do your job, and treat folks with dignity and respect you wouldn't have to worry about this mess. You are getting what you deserve ***hole!!!

Anyway it was on latenight ABC news, they were interviewing a doctor about his "Internet" ratings, that were less than satisfactory for his liking.I am so sorry for thinking this is funny, I know I shouldn't be this way, but it's just so darn ironic that I can't help it.

He had found his name and ratings on the internet, and the patient in particular had signed their name, and written a nice little paragraph on his "less than satisfactory" treatment for her. He was livid!! He made the statement that it should be illegal for a patient to be able to get online and rate a doctor with negativity!! Ha!! I am still having to laugh.

He mentioned that because of "HIPPA" he had to keep the patients records private and couldn't even go on and make a comment about her health. Still laughing.......And it should be a common courtesy that a patient should not be allowed to slam a doctor's reputation online...ha ha!! Oh, and BTW the news broadcasters were totally in agreement with.......THE PATIENTS RIGHT TO RATE THE DOCTOR ONLINE!!!!! They thought it was kinda odd that he would be as upset as he was, knowing that if it had of been a "good" rating he would have never thought another thing about it!!

I mentioned earlier in this thread that my attorney said if something a doc or facility did didn't actually cause severe damage or death, then there was just "nothing we can do about it". As you all know I live in Mississippi, which is a "Tort" state, that is known for it's medical malpractice suits. Well, the docs and hospitals won a couple years ago in congress.....they have LOT'S of restrictions in place now concerning lawsuits, and the patient ain't the one that came out on top!!

I told him that was ok....that when I got through with my letter to the editor to our local papers, he would be hurt enough, and I knew I couldn't mention his name (the doctor). He said to me that is absolutely NOT true. You can mention names as long as you tell only the truth in your letter. And he actually CHALLENGED me to do so!!

Well, I had already known that you could get doctors ratings online, and after listening to the pompous arse on the news this morning I decided that not only can we GET ratings.......but WE can do the rating!!!

You guys may not look at this like I do.....but I intend to rate every single doctor who has labeled me DOP......and tell my story, on their dime.

Niecy PS: Thank you Jonsi!!

[weredIgo]

Hi,
Honest to God it makes you wonder, how could they have not known. I mean between records,pharmacy,bracelets,asked 10 times. Your story could have had such a different ending. Makes me think thats what they want. I have lost all respect and trust though. Don't like thinking this way. Drs., I don't know how they sleep at night after the oath they took. Maybe theres some kind of new insur.,pharm. oath they take we don't know about.

C