Not VIHA specific but a plea for those who need Emerg services to stand up and firmly but politely DEMAND answers when you find yourself in the system, rather than meekly knuckling under when the doc says in effect "well you're still breathing and you don't have covid so.....see ya later" as he's looking at the charts of the hundred people next in line behind you.
Three years ago I started getting noticeable discoloration on my right shin/ankle area; didn't hurt but never went away so I was concerned thinking there was a circulation issue possibly at play. Years ago it was determined my heart does not efficiently pump oxygenated blood throughout my vascular system so was something that needed to be reviewed and tested periodically, which it has been. My own GP, great guy but also very old school basically said "meh you're old (I was mid-50's) and still walking upright so don't worry about it...."
A year later the the discolored area was larger so I asked again; he says its probably circulatory-related and that it was likely 'venous' blood (originating from small veins as opposed to arteries) leaking into the surface (skin) area. "We'll keep an eye on it".
Over the last eighteen months it got worse and worse and worse and by this fall was also now quite painful not to mention scarlet red. Ok - enough of that so into Emerg I go in September; and again in October and yet again in November. Of course the pandemic was crushing the system by now, case loads were through the roof, staff run off their feet and covid worries and protocols everywhere. Each time it was "well.....you're alive and don't have covid so we'll try drug/anitibiotic x..." (and get you of here - which was never actually said but was certainly the intent). Nothing worked.
Fast forward to two weeks ago; the condition has spread from my ankle to my knee, front, back (calf), both sides. Covering it with a single bed sheet at night is agony. The entire leg is blotchy purple. I start sleeping in the spare room and even a couch downstairs because I am tossing and turning so much my wife isn't sleeping. I go to RJH yet again; by this time time they know me on a first name basis, have my favorite food on the hospital menu are are considering giving me my own parking space since I'm there so much. Well not really but may as well have. A triage/emerg doc - who looks like he hasn't slept since 2020 - decides its not a staph infection thank god, but could be a form of sepsis. But who knows? Prescribes antibiotic "'y" which does eff-all; he does book me an appointment with the venous/vascular unit at RJH - but that could be anytime from next month to next year. No idea.
Finally today I had had enough and politely but very firmly said "hey its me I'm here yet again and I'm not leaving until someone figures out what is happening and proscribes an action plan that makes sense".
Fortunately I had a great admitting tech who - the first medical professional in three years - takes one look and says "wow that looks like cellulitis": holy s***! I finally potentially have a NAME for the condition. That's something! Eventually the on call emerg doc, super nice young guy (maybe 30 but probably younger) also gets one look immediately orders up a blood sample and an IV and takes a swab for analysis. No one had done either of those things in any previous visit. Then he prescribes not one but two very powerful antibiotics which I've started tonight. He leaves me with "if these don't substantially clear up the condition in 48-60 hours get your ass back here". If the drugs fail it could require a surgical procedure to clean out the capillaries and veins of "old" blood that is not being returned to my vascular system, and which is the source of the constant burning pain. Think having a blow torch on your lower leg 7x24 and you get the picture......
The point of this ramble is this: only you know how you are feeling under those circumstances therefore you are your first and best advocate to get whatever help you need when you need it and regardless whether or not there is a pandemic raging all around you. The latter is frankly not your problem and nor is it your concern to schedule enough medical staff appropriately and to ensure they're able to function. What you can and MUST do is speak up for yourself - forcefully if necessary - especially when you know something is not right inside....
Edited by AllseeingEye, 02 January 2022 - 05:56 PM.