My name is Laurie and for the last year I have been going to CMH Hospital in Bolivar MO. for problems and sideaffects relating to the Hep C treatments I was on to try and rid my body of this monster of a disease. CMH got to know me well along with the ER Doctors and nurses there. My treatments ended July 29th and a couple of weeks later, I started having odd pains in my shoulders and chest and back, up by my shoulder blades. I lived with them well into late August but by August 29th I couldn't take it any more so I called the ambulance to pick me up and take me in. The ER was ready for me and did blood work , chest x-rays, heart test, EKG, and drug and urnine, test, but found nothing. They gave me a pain shot and compazine and sent me home. Within the first week in Sept, I couldn't lay flat to sleep or bend over to pick anything up. I was taken to CMH 3 times in a one week period, and each time I was just given another shot for pain and sent home, by the 5th time I went in ,I told the triage nurse that I was having chest pains but instead of taking me right back I waited in the waiting room at least 20 minutes and then another 15 in the bed in the back before the male nurse came to take my blood pressure and the reason I was there down on his pad. I was treated very nasty and hateful by the ER Doctor and it was obvious that I had been red flagged and put on a drug seekers list at this ER. Well I was given a placibo, I believe but can't prove and sent home crying, like the way I showed up that night. I had a test on Oct. 5th that was order by my family physician, with barium and IV dye, when I got to CMH I couldn't lay dpwn flat on the CT Scan table to take the test so I rescheduled for the coming friday thinking it would be better, maybe by then. I was walking out and almost collapsed when a hospital guard got a nurse to take me into the ER. I told them I didn't want to go in there, that they wouldn't help me. They took me anyway. I was on a gurney, the ER Dr. walked in and asked what was up and I told him about the test and he told me flat out, I WILL NOT GIVE YOU ANY NARCOTIC. I told him I didn't need them I had my own in my purse with me and he left and sent a nurse in with a glass of ice water. I took my own oxycodone, which wasn't time to take yet, and then let it go to work. They took me in for the test and had to prop me up so I could breath because by this time I couldn't breath at all, if I tried to lay flat. I had the test and within 30 minutes of it, the ER. Dr walkin in with a smile on his face and an OK symbol with his hand, saying "We found something". I was being smart but asked him , "NOW can I have your narcotics" he just smiled and patted me on the back. Within 10 minutes from then I had a cardiac surgeon and specialist in my ER room. I was put right into ICU and then transported to ST. Johns Hospital that next day for Heart Surgery. On Oct.10th 2008 I had heart surgery at 2:00pm and was in surgery for 2 hours. The wonderful surgeon that saved my life told me that I had maybe one more week to live if they had not have found the pericarditis when they did. I had the fluid of 4 heart in the sack that surrounds the heart and the next thing would have been a rupture, and death. Im so greatful to the surgeon at St. Johns and the staff there for helping me gain my livelyhood and today I feel much better but still heeling. As for the ER DR's and nursing staff at CMH in Bolivar, I like they need a lesson in compassion . I know there are drug seekers out there that come in to ER everywhere but there has to be something that can be done to tell the difference. I will never go back to that ER again because of my treatment there unless Im on deaths bed, and I hope that thru this lesson that the ER Dr's got with me, they all have learned a very very valuable lesson. Thank You for letting me tell my story and I would love to hear if there are others out there with the same things going on with them. Sincerly Laurieann
Almost dead, CMH Hosptial & drug seekers
by Laurieann (Subscribe)
Posted on: Dec 31, 2008 at 12:52 AM CDT
Channel: Local News
Location: CMH Hospital , Bolivar Missouri
ER stands for EMERGENCY ROOM, it is not the best place to use as a primary care facility go to your regular doctor that knows you and your history and can diagnose you better, not ER doctors! I'm glad you're doing better though.
Laurie would you please get in touch with me. I'm glad you finally got the help you needed. Lebanon has had an ER Dr. similar to the one you had. Sorry to hear about your Hep C and having to go through TX. I also have it also.
WHY WOULD YOU KEEP GOING BACK TO THE SAME ER IF YOU WHERE SO UNHAPPY WITH THEM? WHY DID YOU NOT SEEK CARE FROM YOUR PRIMARY CARE DR IF THIS WAS SUCH A LONG ONGOING PROBLEM? ER DEPT.'S ARE THERE TO TREAT AND STABILIZE. NOT TO TREAT CHRONIC SYMPTOMS.
let me guess...medicaid?
I agree, BUT, ER staff could refer possible drug seekers for counseling/treatment, not just red flag and ignore. Some activities can put you at risk for both pericarditis and getting Hep C AGAIN. Healthcare folks hesitate to confront the real problem
What Doctor in their right mind would perform surgery on a patient who has Hep C? Furthermore, why would they do such a risky surgery given the patients medical history of Hep C, for pericarditis, which is usually resolved with antibiotics?!
there are many types of people out there with Hep C not just drug users, and many types of people (Middle class) that have needed medicade. It is also hard to find a Dr that will take medicade pt's. "me says" is arrogant and uneducated!
How many times did you see your Primary care dr.? and why did they not run some test to see what was going on? After you leave the ER one of things they put on your release is FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE DR. was you following orders???
DONT GO TO CMHFOR EMERGENCIES they do not know what they are doing. my uncle had fainted last yr and they said it was haet stroke and sent him home but wehn they wn to st jhohns they said it was his heart and he needed surgery many ppl hav prob w thm
I have private insurance and had the same problem with my husband'sback pain. he had not seen a DR in 20 years but we were still treated like drug seekers at Skaggs. He had a ruptured disc, diagnosed and treated in Springfield. Don't be mean.
i have worked in fire, ems and er for a combined 15 years, so consider me a rookie. yes often people do seek drugs, but consider it is not insurance related, this is an emergency, you did take correct course of action, this is not the hospital....
I was in labor with my son at CMH and afterwards I was in a lot of pain and they treated me like a drug seeker. I now go to Cox and they are wonderfull. Check into them. They at least symphathize
good luck finding a decent primary care doctor at CMH - the only one worth anything left to go to branson.
To PUZZLED : Endocarditis is an "inflammation" of the lining of the heart, not necessarily caused by infection, but sometimes caused by infection. I think you are confusing it with endocarditis, which is common to IV drug abusers.
What I don't understand is why they did not suspect it or find it. They should have seen changes in your EKG and the inability to lie down, but finding relief in sitting up, is a classis sign of endocarditis. Plus it can be caused by meds for Hep C
The reason she did not go to a primary physician is she had Missouri MasterCard!! (medicaid) I have to pay $150 to go to the ER where I work and people like her do not even pay the $3 copay!! To gripe about a 20 minute wait is typical of freeloaders.
Let me guess. Cigarettes? Cell phone? Alcohol? There is money for these essentials (welfare disability) but not to pay the doctor. So you let the public pay for trips to the ER and then complain? If you worked you would not have time to live at ER.
me says ...
On Wednesday, Dec 31 at 8:11 PM
I really hope it wasnt Mo tax dollars that helps you get to know all the people in the ER and buy you the oxy's that carry around.....either way wouldnt a primary care provider been a better choice to go to if was happening for an amount of time??