On Being Hung Up By The Hospital Thursday, August 24, 2006

I am P-I-S-S-E-D.

I tried calling the nurses station over at the hospital to find out how my grandpa was doing, because my mom is over there, and not responding.

(18:39:38) My IP Relay: (F) 2nd floor
(18:39:44) My IP Relay: barbra
(18:39:49) My IP Relay: speaking ga
(18:40:12) My IP Relay: (WHILE U TYPED
(18:40:17) My IP Relay: i don t have time for this right
(18:40:20) My IP Relay: now) (HUNG UP ANOTHER CALL QQ) GA

Instead, Barbara, the nurse, she tells me “I don’t have time for this right now”.

I wonder if it would have been different if I had called on a regular phone, without using the relay, with the CI. I didn’t even get a chance to even say who I was or why I was calling. As soon as she heard “this is relay operator blah blah blah” she said that she didn’t have time for this right now, and hung up on me.

You bet that tomorrow morning I am calling the compliance officer at the hospital to lodge a complaint against her, because I do have her name and the floor she works on.

No deaf family member should be treated this way, whether they are calling through the relay or not. What if I was all on my own and didn’t have a way to find out what was going on? I’m not letting this one slide. I’ve had it.

Cochlear Implant Surgery #2 Diary and Photos Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Here are the pictures and the diary of my experience from Cochlear Implant Surgery #2, that I’ve been promising to post for awhile!

Link to Surgery #1 diary and pictures (July 10-12)

 

In the car on the way to the hospital for cochlear implant surgery number 2!

Tuesday afternoon, the results of the NRI test and CT scan determined that I needed to have surgery again to fix a minor complication with my implant (easily corrected). I am the first patient EVER in all of his years of practice to have this problem. He’s heard of it, but he’s never seen it happen, so it was kinda cool being a doctor’s first case. He definitely won’t forget me!

However, I felt bad because everybody at the office was waiting for us to come back from the CT scan till after closing hours, because they needed to see the results on whether or not surgery was needed, which I wouldn’t find out until the next morning when Myrna, the secretary/coordinator, came in.

Wednesday morning, 10 minutes after they opened at 8:30, everything was in place and all set to go. I was going to have surgery at 5:30 pm on Wednesday afternoon, same hospital as my first surgery.

It’s Been Done – Surgery! Thursday, July 13, 2006

I had my cochlear implant on Monday, July 10th. I’m fine, but I had a really rough time with it, and ended up staying in the hospital for almost 2 and a half days. I’m at home now, and I’m doing okay, but not that great. I’m making this entry very short and will update more later.

My surgery was around 7 am, and I didn’t get moved up to a hospital bed until around 2 pm, I believe. I was very sick and having a lot of trouble with post-anesthesia issues.

Here are some pictures from my experience (on Surgery Day and the two days afterwards)

 

My Dad and I at Good Sam around 4:50 am

 

After Surgery Update Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Just a quick post since I’m not coherent (but the most coherent I have been since coming out of surgery).

I’m alive, I made it.

I’m hoping/probably going to stay here an extra day, because I have been soooooooooooo sick. Between a bad reaction to the anesthesia, and the fact anytime u have surgery done on the inner ear, it affects your balance/makes you dizzy. Between those two, I’m having a lovely time.

Much thanks to Alex for the suprise visit and the beautiful roses you brought me.

I’m getting really tired now, so talk to you later.

P.S. I was mad last night when they brought me “real” hospital food, and I wasn’t able to eat any of it. Man, the chocolate mousse, bread, milk, mashedpotatoes, green beans, and salad I wanted. Heck, everything but the mystery meat.

Not looking forward to breakfast, since I hate breakfast, haha.