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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Trip to the Emergency Room and Why You Should Never Give Up

Today I'm blogging about something totally off the subject of crafting or Sihouette.The reason why I'm doing this is to share some things everyone needs to know and take into account when they are dealing with "strange" or unpleasant syptoms.

As many of you know, my daughters dear Dad passed away on February 28th of colon cancer. He had his colonoscopy and wasn't due for another one for at least six months. He had gone to his doctor several times about back pain, lethargy, and an over all lack of energy. He was told to use a testosterone cream to help alleviate these symptoms. He used the cream but continued to have symptoms yet he figure it was a "waste of time" to return to his doctor who would just "waste his time" and not help. At the insistance of my youngest daughter whom noticed his weight loss and knew of his other symptoms he returned to his docotr. By this time other syptoms had shown up. On this day, they doctor decided to do a more thorough exam and discovered a tumor/growth. By the time he received medical care it was in retrospect too late. He battled through so many harsh chemo, radiation, and surgical treatments and lost the battle.

Next, is the most recent story of my eldest daughter. She is the type of person to hardly ever complain. Over the last year and a half she has told me of some horrific headaches she was getting and they now seem to be coming more frequently. I pleaded with her to make a doctor's appointment and get this checked out. She didn't as she thought she may just have to deal with it and all too often has been let down by doctors. She had to go to the docotr over a bad sinus infection. She then approached the subject of the "Pick Like Headaches" and told him how severe they were. He didn't run any kind of tests but gave her a prescription for "Topomax" . She continued to get these sever headaches and then began having some side effects from what she believed to be the Topomax so she went on about her not so merry way. The horrible pain in her head were comng on more frequent. She was having five or more episodes a week. She approached another doctor about this issue. He told her it was probably a pinched nerve since the pain seemed to have originated from her neck.

Last night, I received a phone call from my dear daughter. She was crying almost hysterically and could ony speak a couple of words at a time which made me even more alarmed and concerned. I begged her to please let me take her to the Emergency Room. After the 10 second episode of her one of many episodes had subsided she said: "Mom, there is probably nothing they can do for me. It's probably just a pinched nerve. I just don't know how much more I can take of this but I can't see going to the Emergecy Room to be sent home by another doctor telling me it's a pinched nerve." I told her; pain is a sign fo something wrong and it's not normal and can be an indciator of something horribly wrong. Before I was able to get out of my mouth that "no matter what, she is going to the E.R." she had another wave of pain. Again, she could not focus, or speak. I ran out of the house so fast, drove to her home as though God had placed wings on my car and picked her up to take her for help. She looked worn, frazzled, she was of balance, and her eyes were so swollen from the crying she had done over the pain she was feeling.

We spent 4 hours at the E.R. They hooked up an I.V. with fluids and added two medications to help alleviate some of the pain and nausea. The pain medication didn't help. the Nurse Practioner on service this night was wonderful! She did a thorough exam and ordered a CAT scan of my daughter's head. After a short timeo f waitng the Nurse Practioner was back in with the results. My daughter has Chiari Malformation (More About Chiari). She will be seeing a neuro surgeon within the next few weeks and will have a surgery which will help her. I am so thankful to the Lord. I said a prayer on my drive to my daughter's home. I asked for her to be placed in the hands of a competent, compassionate, and intelligent health care person. The Lord gave us this wonderful lady, highy skillled, compassionate Nurse Practitioner.

This blog is not just about my experience. It's about spreading a message and a message I hope all of you will spread. You all know your bodies and have instincts. If you feel like something is being missed it probably is. Don't rely on ony the wisdom of you family doctor or other health care providers; rely on you, your intincts, and do some of your own research. Never give up. It may save your life, someone elses life, and or prevent terrible things from happening.

I now have my hearing back because I never gave up. I knew something was wrong and was tired of getting one antibiotic after another as each day proved to be another day with a lessened ability to hear. I was finally seen by and ENT I begged my way into seeing. His words: " I'm shocked and amazed you can hear anything at all because my hearing test results showed as a flat line." I had two types of surgery. One was as simple as placing tubes in my ears. The scary part was waiting for the results to see if this was all due to a type of cancer that is rare but found in individual wom are adults of my age with these kind of symptoms. The results came back and I did not have the cancer. I still have some hearing loss but oh, so many other things could have happened if I would have given up.

Twenty percent of Americans are misdiagnosed or simply not diagnosed. All of us, from all over the world need to take an active role in our health care. Most important believe in yourselves, the knowledge of knowing your bodies, your instincts to guide you. Don't be passive when it comes to asserting your desires to be helped and please; pass this along to others. 

18 comments:

  1. You have had a very scary time Debbie. My thoughts and prayers are with your daughter.
    I totally agree with you about not giving up. Blessings to you and your family.
    Hugs
    Helen

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  2. Debbie, I thank you for sharing the experiences that you shared. I am sorry for your loss. I am thankful for the diagnosis of your daughter and pray that she recovers fully. I haven't checked out what her diagnosis is yet, but will shortly. Thanks for bringing even more awareness to the fact that we must be our own advocate and speak up when we know something is not right. We used to always be encouraged to sit back and let the Dr. tell us what was wrong, but we now must be ready to stand up for our loved ones and our selves. I pray for everything to be taken care of completely and quickly for you daughter. God bless her and you. hugs, Patty

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  3. Thinking of you and your daughter. Praying for your family; you've been through a lot!

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  4. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughter ♥

    Hugs from Switzerland, Claudia

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  5. Sadly, misdiagnosis is an all too common occurrence wherever in the world you are. I pray that your daughter can be cured and free from pain.
    Tine :)

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  6. Thank God there is something that can be done to help her! You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

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  7. Debbie, so sorry to hear of your daughters illness. I'm so happy that they can do something for her. I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs!!

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  8. Prayers for your family and treatment healing for your daughter.
    God gave us a brain to go along with our Faith.
    We need to be wise.
    **U**
    Nance

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  9. Debbie so scary when it comes to your dear daughter. So glad that you took her to the emergency room and that there is hope for her feeling better. You have had a rough year!

    Marda

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  10. OMG Debbie! How scary that must have been! I know too well how our 'adult' kids don't take care of themselves because of misdiagnosed or just don't want to pay for the visit. So glad you made the decision to just go and take her.

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  11. TFS...this is an important message! We know our bodies best and when things are not right!
    Hugs and prayers for you and your daughter!
    Jan

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  12. Very sad to hear about your daughter, so very happy she has been diagnosed and on the way to healing.
    God will take us in the right direction. We just have to ask in prayer.
    Special prayers for you and your family.
    Hugs,
    Julie

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  13. A good lesson to always listen to the small voice.
    Blessings Jocelan

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  14. So grateful you were able to get her to go. I have some things I need to do to take better care of myself right now. I know something isn't right but due to major illnesses in the family I have been afraid of bad news. Already disabled since 34, I know all too well about jumping hoops to get help and be heard and taken seriously by Drs. Thanks for posting and pray I and others will be more diligent if problems exist.
    Shannon

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  15. Debbie
    Sending prayers to you and your family. Please keep us posted on your daughter.
    Hugz
    Kim

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  16. Debbie,
    I have been trying for 3 yrs to see a orthopedist and when I finally did he told me I was 1. Well your overweight.. my though no! really? I had and have a pain that started in my hip when I was loosing weight had gone from a 22 to 12 and was well on my way to a 10. Then this pain from walking, now back to a 18 pants and can't walk far without pain can't stand long can't sit with leg down. I am frustrated and exhausted from fighting. If I won't take the addicting drugs they can't help me. My GP said as it in front of his nurse. This orthopedist wants to send me back to a doc who will only give me muscle relaxants and pain meds. I am so done! I do know my body and I know something is wrong but how do you fight a HMO? 3 yrs only got me a fat uncaring doctor who told me I was fat. Praying for you daughter to be well soon.

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    1. Sharalyn, there is no bigger battle than one with medical insurance; especially HMO. You have rights and your body is not a toy. Demand respect and help. Please don't give up. In the long run it's about your health, life, and happiness. Don't we all have the right to pursue these? I'm so sorry about what you are going through. It makes me almost cry. I hear about this kind of thing all of the time. This is one of the many reasons I left the nursing program with only 13 weeks left until graduation. It's not about being a patient advocate anymore. It's about the bottom dollar. Too many are getting into medicine because of the pay and not the patient. I know there are still some really good nurses and doctors but sadly they too are controlled by insurance companies. Why should we continue to take this? It's so very frustrating. I wish you the best and will say a prayer for you. Big hugs, Debbie

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