texting from post-op: what a laugh

In article , Bill Wright wrote:
Mine said

"Just a little prick!"

quick as a flash I replied

"As long as it's not a big prick I don't mind"

I think it was the pre-med talking
I've noticed that they have learnt never to say "You might feel a little
prick!" presumably because of the various 'witty' replies.

I recall a cartoon in one of the papers (or maybe it was Private Eye?)
about the time IVF first became available, where a doctor is saying to the
patient, "You won't even feel a little prick".

Rod.
--
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On Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:30:46 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

I've noticed that they have learnt never to say "You might feel a little
prick!" presumably because of the various 'witty' replies.

A week ago I finished taking part in a clinical trial that involved,
amongst other things, taking a blood sample from me at least twice a
day for a fortnight. Without exception the phrase used was 'just a
little scratch'.

On Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:46:41 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

Albert Ross wrote:

The first story was that they'd sent the request to the pharmacy but
hadn;t had the pills back yet.

Then that they had got the pills but thought the dose was wrong and
would have to wait for the doctor. Which was strange as I had just
been talking to said doctor, who then left.

I found the pills they claimed not to have lying on the desk and the
dose was exactly what she used to be prescribed.

This business of 'patient's own medicines' has to be dealt with. Hil has
learnt to take in just enough for a few days and keep them hidden, and
get me to bring more in as required. She discusses her medication with
the consultants and then consumes the pills as advised, thus bypassing
the nursing staff. She learnt to do this after going in very hurriedly,
taking all her medicines (she's on about 12 different ones) and handing
them over as instructed. The bag was lost for four days and I had no
spare supplies at home of several on the medicines. The lack of one of
these started to have an undesirable effect, and I had to confront and
then chase the ward sister. It got as far as me saying that I would take
Hil home and then to the GP for new prescriptions, and then I would be
writing to the head honcho. The bag was duly found.

Scary isn't it?

One of the worst stories I've read, and quite often, is insulin
controlled diabetics going into hospital and being promised they can
control their own blood glucose.

When they come around from the anaesthetic they find their meter and
insulin has been confiscated and they are put on a "sliding scale"
with their BG kept dangerously high. Which obviously causes problems
including poor healing, but "It's the Rules"

On one occasion when she was in hospital because her heart was doing
about 170 she had a neighbour in the ward who was in because her heart
was doing about 35. The nurse gave the two women each other's pills, as
allegedly prescribed by the cardiologist. Hil didn't swallow them and
advised the other woman to do the same. Five minutes later the nurse
came galloping round the corner shouting 'Spit 'em out! Spit 'em out!'

These days I find it impossible to argue against the Yanks who believe
the NHS has Death Panels - except to point out they are learning these
techniques from the American HMOs and implementing them to eliminate
costly patients so they appear more profitable when the HMOs and
Insurance companies buy up what's left of the NHS.

What convinces me is the geographical distribution of such stories
between different PCTs. A few of them still seem concerned about
patients and health rather than Rules and accounting practices.

On Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:07:56 +0100, Alan
wrote:

On Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:11:04 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

Oh I say, old boy! Best of luck and please do return with some amusing
NHS-related anecdotes.

Thanks :-)

The procedure seems to be fairly routine nowadays so don't panic too
much!

On Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:30:46 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

I've noticed that they have learnt never to say "You might feel a little
prick!" presumably because of the various 'witty' replies.

Yes it's become a "scratch" on most occasions. Then only DJs can have
a witty retort.

On one occasion when she was in hospital because her heart was doing
about 170 she had a neighbour in the ward who was in because her heart
was doing about 35. The nurse gave the two women each other's pills, as
allegedly prescribed by the cardiologist. Hil didn't swallow them and
advised the other woman to do the same. Five minutes later the nurse
came galloping round the corner shouting 'Spit 'em out! Spit 'em out!'

These days I find it impossible to argue against the Yanks who believe
the NHS has Death Panels - except to point out they are learning these
techniques from the American HMOs and implementing them to eliminate
costly patients so they appear more profitable when the HMOs and
Insurance companies buy up what's left of the NHS.

What convinces me is the geographical distribution of such stories
between different PCTs. A few of them still seem concerned about
patients and health rather than Rules and accounting practices.


Reading Bill Wright's account of what happened to his dad my Brother in
laws dad was in hospital around here, and had had a stroke very similar
in effect to that described for Albert.

Now what was concerning is that they refused to feed him or give him
anything to drink. It seemed that just wanted him dead as soon as nature
intended.

One young nurse more of less took pity on him and gave him food and
water.. Water for Christ's sakes!..

He survived and went home then into an old folks home as he was 90 but
survived almost for another year quite lucid too. Just couldn't get to
grips as to why his left arm wasn't that controllable.

Now this was the same hospital that saved me from death and disablement
after a serious fall a couple of years ago when I wasn't expected to
last the journey to hospital and that was in an air Ambulance!..

I cannot quite believe that they do this sort of thing, starve people
and refuse then water even

Anyone else heard of this happening?...


nb: If anything be thankful for good medical care but as good as the
hospital were to me one of the best assets I had was my lady wife
standing up for me on my behalf at the time:-)).......
--
Tony Sayer

On Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:25:54 +0100, tony sayer
wrote:

On one occasion when she was in hospital because her heart was doing
about 170 she had a neighbour in the ward who was in because her heart
was doing about 35. The nurse gave the two women each other's pills, as
allegedly prescribed by the cardiologist. Hil didn't swallow them and
advised the other woman to do the same. Five minutes later the nurse
came galloping round the corner shouting 'Spit 'em out! Spit 'em out!'

These days I find it impossible to argue against the Yanks who believe
the NHS has Death Panels - except to point out they are learning these
techniques from the American HMOs and implementing them to eliminate
costly patients so they appear more profitable when the HMOs and
Insurance companies buy up what's left of the NHS.

What convinces me is the geographical distribution of such stories
between different PCTs. A few of them still seem concerned about
patients and health rather than Rules and accounting practices.


Reading Bill Wright's account of what happened to his dad my Brother in
laws dad was in hospital around here, and had had a stroke very similar
in effect to that described for Albert.

Now what was concerning is that they refused to feed him or give him
anything to drink. It seemed that just wanted him dead as soon as nature
intended.

One young nurse more of less took pity on him and gave him food and
water.. Water for Christ's sakes!..

He survived and went home then into an old folks home as he was 90 but
survived almost for another year quite lucid too. Just couldn't get to
grips as to why his left arm wasn't that controllable.

Now this was the same hospital that saved me from death and disablement
after a serious fall a couple of years ago when I wasn't expected to
last the journey to hospital and that was in an air Ambulance!..

I cannot quite believe that they do this sort of thing, starve people
and refuse then water even

Anyone else heard of this happening?...

Sadly not uncommon.

I had to fight like buggery to get my mother taken to the hospital of
our choice, the ambulancemen and paramedic were adamant they would
only take her to the Abbatoir (as many locals call the James Padgett -
which has also been on the BBC News for its appalling treatment of the
elderly). They'd never before objected to taking her to the Ipswich -
or other people who prefer it to the Norfolk and Norwich - so I assume
this is another new Rule. Patient Choice? No Decision About Me Without
Me? Don't make me laugh.

On account of her age and extreme frailty they weren't considering
operating on her broken pelvis, but were initially optimistic that it
would heal itself if immobilised. Then her guts kind of exploded with
infection - but they maintained *support* until she died of her own
accord. This was all discussed with me as to her own preferences. I
shouldn't praise them too highly or the Accountants will see to it
that they stop this immediately.

nb: If anything be thankful for good medical care but as good as the
hospital were to me one of the best assets I had was my lady wife
standing up for me on my behalf at the time:-)).......

Yes I've now seen my own end, I expect to have any further diseases
and symptoms denied until I am shipped off the the Abbatoir. No-one to
stand up for me. Diagnostic criteria for diabetes have now been
changed so I am not and never have been diabetic, despite the
symptoms. This means I am no longer permitted the tests I rely on to
monitor and improve my health. If I object again they will hit me with
their Zero Tolerance Policy again.

Like you I saw the downfall of another hospital - when I went in (the
day Chernobyl exploded) I couldn't praise them more highly. Even the
food.

A decade later when my old man died he was basically left in a corner
and only my mother bothered to actually feed him.

Later still and fortunately my mother was sent to a different hospital
where she was treated like crap but survived - if she'd gone to the
East Surrey she'd probably have died on a trolley in the corridor,
that's if she'd got off the ambulance at all - at the time they were
suffering from regular ambulance jams. Probably all held up by the
BMWs from the Managers' car park.

There are very few stories of IMPROVING medical treatment. Even the
superbitch in charge of another hospital that hit the news headlines
for a similar reason got a promotion out of it.

Yet my neighbour's husband had Alzheimers, followed by a stroke, and
they had no problem keeping him alive (for very small values of alive)
for years in a home. Keeping vegetables is profitable. Returning ill
people to health is not. Can you see anything wrong with this picture?