January 29 – February 4 – Antelope Valley Hospital, Lancaster California. Second Floor East.
This will be a series of blogs as so much happened that I am still trying to process my thoughts. I am lost and trying to find my way back. NO ONE should ever be treated with the dis-respect and outright disdain when they are at their worst. I have good, private insurance and[+] medicare, and was treated like cattle. Even without good insurance or any insurance, NO ONE should be treated this way. I was humiliated and I am here to share my story and NEVER let this happen here [AV Hospital] again.
This may have some TMI moments, but in order to help someone without a voice I will let my vulnerabilities show.
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Per the National Guidelines for medical care – IV Insertion:
No more than two attempts at cannulation per nurse per patient should be done to avoid unnecessary trauma to the patient (Fischer, Knob, & Durivage, 1997; INS, 2000).
All medical personnel, nurses, etc, need to adhere to this guideline by law.
I was ‘poked’ in order to put in a line 12 times. The veins on my hands were fine. But after shoving the line in, pulling out a tad, adjusting, shoving in a different spot, my veins blew. The same thing was done to my left hand next by the same nurse. I count these as 4 times. [2 each hand] She decided to wait for the next shift. REALLY!! Already going into my 4 hour awaiting my treatment for pain. None as of yet. In to the 5th hour a couple more nurses came to see if they could get a line going. Seems my veins are not the best due to medications etc. They tied off my arm about 5 or 6 more times [talk about pain] Tried to get into vein 2 more times, no go. Time to bring in the ultrasound to find a vein.
- 3 days later
- 7 days later
They bring in the ultrasound, find a vein on my left bicep and get in a line. I have now been admitted and this hell hole for over 6 hours and finally getting my pain meds. A couple hours later had to go to the bathroom. I cannot use a walker, wheel the iv line and walk, so she unhooked the iv line for the time it took to pee. When she hooked me back up to the line, the vein was gone. My body went cold and I cried. The pain getting this one in was so intense and I was not sure I could do it again. I had heard mention of a pick [?] line, but no one did this. The CN [charge nurse, I think] came in and checked around. After a few, stop the blood flow to the rest of my body tie offs…she found one in my right forearm. OMFG, it was in, it was working, and all was good. Or so I thought…
The next couple of days were fine, IV wise…but somehow I knew it was too good to be true.
Tuesday night…the iv seemed to be leaking when my pain meds went in. Sure enough. So, the RN came in, un-taped it, slid it back in the same spot further, and re-taped! Hmmmm, seemed to work…for an hour or so. The pain and the itch became quite unbearable and my arm had swollen up and became very red. After 2 button pushes for a nurse, one came in and removed this IV. It was now bad. Fear took me over and another chill set in. WHAT THE F*#* NOW!!
- The day after…ouch
After a couple more, please just cut my arm off elastic tie offs, no veins found. So, why not get use the ultrasound again?? No answer. An incompetent, cocky lil know it all nurse comes in and acts all cool like. ‘oh, look at me I found a vein!’ She sticks me in what she calls a ‘juicy’ vein in the crook of my right arm. UM NOPE, not in a vein. I do not care that you THINK blood was flowing, not a vein. She flushed it and the pain was as if someone put my arm into a fire. Mind you, this is just below where the other bad line was removed. She tells me it is fine and leaves. They come and give me pain meds and again it was fire and no pain relief. IT WAS NOT IN THE VEIN!!!! First clue you incompetent baffoon…PAIN PAIN PAIN. They never hooked me back up to any fluids, only gave me pain meds…that obviously were going into my arm someone other than a vein.
After a night of Hell and arm pain, I was taken to the GI LAB for my colonoscopy…
GUESS F*#*ing what… the IV WAS NOT IN MY VEIN!!! This according to the nurses and techs in the GI lab!! HELLO!!!!!!!! [sidenote; GI lab was full of professional caring people, the only light in my week of hell]
As the nurse went to add fluids to get my IV going, I started shaking uncontrollably, chills took over and tears flew. I could not control my body. The pain was immense. This was how she found that the IV was not done properly. NOT IN THE VEIN!! She immediately removed it. Now, what do we do?
By now, I just want to go home. I have no more veins, I cannot handle anymore pain, please just let me go home.
- please no more
The only place left are my legs/feet. A male tech first tried my left upper foot. OMFG, the pain…WOW!!! No go..
Right foot!! SUCCESS!! Not without pain though. But it was in and it was working well. Sadly, the colonoscopy did not go well so a redo was set up for the next morning. [stay tuned! lol]
The nurses on my floor were not too happy with my new IV, BUMMER!!
- niiiiice!!
See what a great job floor 2 did a gr8 job giving me pain meds in my foot IV, this was fun!!! But, this was after I was left sitting on a commode for 3 hours!!!!
**to be continued
As always…
Blessings and hope!
Making it Through the Rain 
oh no!!! I’m so sorry that happened to you! i was on a cruise and had a horrible allergic reaction to shellfish and they took me under the boat to emergency and a really stupid nurse stabbed me with the IV about 4 times. I teared up and she yelled at my bf to “control her” she should have just used a baby IV like I told her to… my bf’s dad later joked that SHE was no nurse… SHE was probably a waitress on the boat during the day! 🙂
good of you to get your word out. great documentation, the pics. would really help in that future lawsuit, wink wink.
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Wow, yelling at your bf to control you. I thought nurses were nurses because they have compassion for people and want to help!
🙂
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Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!! How inhumane! Even when I would go under and go into the Er for re-hydration due to my stomach problems, it may take them 10-12 times at my sickest points to find a vien usable BUT they’d put in a pick line so they wouldn’t need to re-poke. Unbelievable and shocking how you were treated, it makes me sick! Huge Hugs!
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I was actually thinking ‘Where is amy?’ She would be taking good care of me!!
xoxo
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Tracy I am so sorry you had to go through all that pain. Bless your soul. Nurses can be so cruel. They were like that with my Mom when she was in the hospital.
I do not like hospitals at all they treat like your dog crap…. Glad you are at home now and away from the hell hospital!!!!
God bless you are a trooper I do have to say. Thanks for sharing this with us. I was crying when I was reading this…. So sad people are so heartless!!!!
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I guess I ASSumed that when someone goes in to the medical field they do so because they care. Guess not for all!!
Sad…
xoxo
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I am so sorry Tracy!!! This is one of the reasons why I got out of the medical field… I got tired of medical people treating patients with no respect… I hope you get to go home soon sweetie… Sending you lots of love from California…
(((HUGZ)))
Mz. V
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Aw you need to go back in and make the change. We need you!!
xoxo
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MzTracy, I am so sorry to hear about what happen to you. But I am so glad you are home now and I know you must be so happy to be home after reading what you have been thru.
((((Hugz))))
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TY Frannie. I am soooooo very glad to be home too!!
xoxo
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Tracy, Tracy, I’m shaking and crying at what you’ve gone through. You’re right, if they’ll do that to a strong person like you what about those without a voice. Some people ARE in medicine because of the power it gives them and they abuse it. You’re right to share this with us and I hope it helps release some of the anger for you. Much love and hugs, my dear……… xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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This has shaken me to the core. I am still trying to wrap my head around it. This is actually not the worst part, that is coming soon.
much love and tons of hugsss
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Tracy, did you get any rest? or just abuse? Did I mention to you – I hate hospitals? I’m glad you are back at home, where there won’t be any evil nurses coming at you with needles. Love ya much!
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Rest, lol u know about that. Nope!! Yesterday was my first day being awake. I got home and slept. We’ll talk soon and compare our fun big house stays. skype me soon!!
love ya!
xoxo
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This is outrageous. I’m so sorry you had to go through this.
I’m glad you are home now.
Big hugs
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ty yana, I am so glad to be home as well.
xxxx
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aww honey, you nor any human being deserves the treatment you got at that hell hole.. I am so sorry you had to endure this horrible trama. I wish I could take all the pain away from you.
You are one tough momma! I loves ya!! {{{hugs}}}
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They just need to clean house there. Bastards….
xoxo
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You put together a very good point with what you claimed. Folks ought to read your post so they can obtain a far better point of view about this issue. It was awesome of you to provide excellent details and encouraging reasons. After reading this, I know my thoughts are extremely certain about the subject matter. Carry on the truly amazing job!
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TY for the support! 🙂
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OMG Mz.T I’m so sorry this has happened to you honey …
Why didn’t they just fit a stent and have done with it so much easier and cleaner.
Take care my lovely friend xxxx
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yup a picc line was needed… incompetence maybe?! oi!
xoxo
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OMGOSH Tracy! i am so sorry to hear how badly they treated you! that is so terrible! i am glad you are home, and getting the TLC you deserve!
i love you!
Linni
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TY Linni!!
The sad part, the story gets worse…:-(
love ya
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This makes me sick to hear what you went through…and these people are trained?…so glad you are home and comfortable in your surroundings, bet your family and fur kids are too!!..luv ya lots!
Mary XO
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