Nothing gets by MOI,
Monday I was painting the trim on our house and trying to get my roommate out the door on time, he is off to Chicago for a couple months. By the time we were in the car he asked me if I was mad at him, (truth be known I was) but my back hurt, kidneys hurt so I said, I was in pain and just grouchy.
Tuesday I did not do much because of the (pulled muscles in my back, right kidney hurt).
Wednesday morning about 4am I got up to use the bathroom, laid back down and it hit me. PAIN my stomach on the right side. I returned to the loo to upchuck, pain got worse, then got dressed, back to upchuck some more, had the cold chills, grabbed a trash can and headed for the car. Around the corner to my neighbors house where I banged on Jackie's door at 4:30, Pain was getting worse, I asked her to take me to hospital, she took one look at me said I am calling 911.
It takes about 25 to 30 minutes for them to arrive, they made good time we are that far away from civilization in the meantime I upchucked a couple more times. Pain is now about 8 on the 1 to 10 scale.
In the rescue unit where they started an IV to give me some pain medicine, pain level now is about 12 on the 1 to 10 scale.
At the Hospital at 6:10 more pain medicine, pain level down to 8.
In for a cat scan, Result - 4mm Kidney Stone.
Now passing a stone has been linked to child birth for a woman,
I was in the ER all day and finally sent home because the big island does not have any specialists and the VA and regular hospitals in Honolulu said, "the stone was not big enough and I was not sick enough, (white blood cells not high) for me to be transferred, so back home I went, they removed the IV, that was number 1.
I had three scrips for meds and when we got to Pahoa Longs drugstore they said "We are out of the pain medicine" so 20 miles back to town we went. The last thing the ER doctor said was "if the pain gets past 5 get back in here" on the way back it reached 8 so back to the ER. where they put in the second, third, and fourth IV. 2 and 3 were a no go. Drugs are good, and after a health dose of morphine I was able to sleep a bit. At about 3 am they set me up for a flight to Honolulu, so two techs the pilot and co-pilot, and me on a gurney headed for Honolulu, on the way they tried to give me more pain meds when the IV blew.
Thursday morning at Trippler Medical Center, (ARMY Hospital) in the ER they put in the 5th IV and 6th, they missed on the fifth. After much talk talk they decided that I should go home and wait for the stone to pass. I disagreed, strongly. So Thursday afternoon they removed the stone.
This was done by entering through the penis where they used a lazier to blast the stone, then put in a stent to keep the valve open with a string attached, the end of the string they taped to my penis. I pull it out in a week, sigh this should be fun.
Friday morning 1am, the nurse came in to give me some antibiotics in the IV line which she decided to adjust because the tape was coming loose, Yes I was going to be stuck again for another IV, number 7.
I looked at her made Eye contact and said, "you have one shot at this, if you miss I will not give you a second try". About 15 minutes later a doctor from the ER was in the room and put in the last IV line in the only spot left, success.
They set up transportation for me and gave me my flight information and at 1pm I was waiting for my ride to the Air Port. at 1:15 I went back inside to find out where this transportation was, they took me to the wrong exit, I missed my ride. A gal who was coming out over herd this and said, "I am heading to a hotel next to the airport, would you like a ride?" We were on our way.
I get to the airport only to fine that my flight ticked was voided, why I have not found out as of yet but the VA owes me $204.00 for the ticket I had to buy to get back home.
My neighbor and puppy were waiting for me when I got off the plane. Nelly was so happy to see me.
All in all I can say without any doubt, this was a Cluster Fuck as far as how everything was handled. Like verifying my address for the 4th time and they had it wrong. I told that person to go fine it on her own because at this point I had given it three times. I wonder if she found it?
I was asked what my phone number was, I said I don't have a phone, "you must have a phone" they said, "No I don't need a phone, send me an email" "BUT you must have a phone, everybody has a phone, why don't you have a phone." she said almost in tiers. "Because we don't have cell service where I live and I refuse to get a land line or smart phone which will cost me 70 or 80 dollars a month for me to make 4 calls on, so send me an email." But we don't do that" "I understand your still in the 19th century, however I live in the 21st so maybe you need to evolve." she left, I think she was crying. Maybe they decided to void my ticket to get even.
There were other things that happened that will go into the long letter I will send to Sec. McDonald of the VA. as this was a total fail as far as how to treat someone in great pain.
This was not just a failure of the VA medical system but a failure of our medical system. I would like those members from countries outside the USA to chime in on how this would be handled in countries that have universal medical coverage.
Moi, I do hope I answered your question, thanks for asking, thanks for your kind thoughts.
River
He got well wishers?
Ernie