Hi all,
It seems from first-hand experience that there is a nasty gastro bug going around at the moment. After a night out on Friday and then a lovely breakfast with Flash, Nic (and her new meter) on Saturday morning I went off home to do a massive gardening effort with the flatties.
Gardening went incredibly successful save that about half way through it I went hypo and it was all on. I managed to get the hypo fixed but that didn’t stop the vomiting from taking hold and so it was for the next 9 hours until I landed in A&E hypo from the shock and unable to get my BGs back up for 1 hour 40 minutes. I simply couldn’t keep anything down. I’d turned off the basal but that takes its time too and while I debated it seriously I thought nope, if my mum were here…
To be honest, the front desk staff weren’t the most onto it I’ve seen and had me wait for about 30 minutes (hypo) until Andy came and started “asking questions” (I was praying to the porcelain god). From the moment that I got through though they were lovely and really, very good. I got 4L of IV and some anti-vomiting stuff and that was that. BGs came back up so that I actually went high and then I just lay there for 7 hours while various Drs came and asked me the same questions, checked my BGs and I rode it out. The nurses were a gem too.
Predictably, none of them had seen an insulin pump but they didn’t try anything extreme like trying to get me unplugged and I didn’t have to deal with IV glucose which was a bonus cos that’s a can of worms! The Drs decided that being as I was able to aptly tell them how I managed the pump with basals and boluses that I was well onto it so they didn’t bother me on that save to try and find out what this infection was and if it was serious.
That is, until the last Dr who came to see me. Here goes the story.
It had been three hours since anyone had done a BG, the IV was done and I wasn’t sleeping cos it was A&E so I decided that I would call a nurse and ask for an update. I might have taken myself in but I didn’t want to be there and since no one was telling me I thought I’d ask ‘em. Nurse arrived (lovely lady) and goes to get a Dr. Sweet, so far, so good. Then comes the unbelievably, incredibly annoying part of this story.
Said Dr arrives and greets me as Nolan, “Hello Nolan”, I’m a Dr here. Good start Dr. He then proceeds to read off my notes quite literally asking me all the same questions that are obviously noted down on there, “what time did you come in, why did you bring yourself in, I see you’re a diabetic, how many times have you been sick, what do you think has caused this vomiting (um!?!?!?)” etc etc. I’m a little sleep deprived by now cos it’s 3am and I’ve been there for 7 hours so granted, I wasn’t the most patient of patients but this guy was starting to get on my wick. Then came the most profoundly stupid set of questions that I’ve EVER had from a Dr. This question tops, “how much insulin do you have in a day (which he had already asked IMMEDIATELY after I had just told him the principles of pumping), “How long have you been a diabetic” and all the others because, and I quote, this Dr asked me:
“…and what are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?”
I just about screamed out loud.
After 7 hours of waiting in that tiny little cubicle having been vomiting for hours and having been hypo for near two hours earlier that evening this guy was seriously testing my knowledge of hypoglycaemia?!?! To put it beyond doubt I asked him what he meant and he then proceeded to start to prompt me. “Did you feel tired, was there shaking…” and so it went.
Dumbfounded as I was by this I politely but firmly replied with something along the lines of:
“…having been a diabetic for 20 years now, I am well aware of the symptoms of highs and lows having had more than a couple in my life. What I don’t know however, is what any of the questions you have just asked me have to do with my current situation”.
That didn’t go down too well needless to say and probably fair enough. I wasn’t trying to be a jerk but it was stupendously ignorant and like I said, I was tired and worn out.
Long story short, I ended up getting seen by the registrar (previous Drs boss) who walked in, introduced himself and shook my hand to tell me that his junior Dr had approached him (by this time I’d asked to be discharged) and that he saw no reason to keep me here. “You obviously know a lot more than us about your diabetes” and “they would probably do a worse job of it than me” so I could go home. What a legend!
10 minutes later and Dr annoying comes back to tell me that I can’t leave because I had a temperature and they want to keep me overnight. Another argument ensues because they haven’t actually taken my temp for 6 hours, of COURSE I have a temp – I have gastro and was hypo for near on 2 hours. I think that he was just making a point of it so that I had to discharge myself ‘against his advice’ because he was offended. So I did and 20 minutes later I went home.
Apart from that one Dr who left a rather bad taste in my mouth, the hospital and it’s staff were awesome and I am very, very pleased that I took myself in. They did a great job of looking after me and after a day at home yesterday I’m feeling well enough to be back at work.
Thankfully, neither Nic nor Flash got crook which I was worried about and it didn’t last long so all said and done everything is fine.
Have a good week guys!
- Aaron
Posted in General, Hypos & Hypers, Medical Services
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6 comments have been made on this post
chris wrote
I noted your Facebook update saying ‘Hospitals are gay’ but I thought that was just a comment on how compassionate and caring they were…and their great decorating sense!!
There really needs to be a place in Medical Centres where people with diabetes can bypass all the dumb unnecessary questions, usually asked by someone who has never encountered Type 1 before, and go straight to IV. A 2 hour process – in, drip, gone! How cost effective would that be?
I always become slightly unhinged when my daughter is asked if she has Type 1 or Type 2…usually immediately after she has told them she was 15 months old when diagnosed!! I know they have to ask these questions but when does common sense and bedside manner kick in? Can’t they can simply say’ oh you were quite young – you must have Type 1 then.’ I would certainly respect any advice given by them from that point on!!
I’ve encountered some really awesome people in hospitals recently but it only takes one to ruin it, esp if you’re tired and run down.
I hope Dr Sweet ( seriously..was that his name??) now knows more about Type 1 diabetes and will be more thoughtful to his next patient
Amanda wrote
You poor thing. I really for you! Imagine the stupidity of those
questions and the patronisation of it all. Crickey, I’m surprised you could be so polite.
Now, I know this is a TERRIBLE thing to ask but what about loosing weight? I almost think it would be worthwhile to have this bug in order to drop a whole bunch of kilos….
Anyway hope you’re on the up now, and, I know full well diabetes and your bug are not a good partnership.
Actually a lesson for all us diabetics if we do end up in hosptial do we have somebody to come with us and support us? It’s got me thinking now.
Aaron wrote
Thanks guys!
I think we’ve all been in the situation at some point or another. It wasn’t so much the lack of knowledge because as I’ve said openly before, it’s up to us to educate ppl. Rather, it was the condescending nature of the remarks and the point of view.
Not so sure about the weight loss thing but I’ll check tonight Amanda and let you know!
Nic wrote
I hear you Aaron. I’m a reasonable person and realise that there are SO many conditions out there and we can’t expect general medical staff to know the intricacies of every one – it’s just not possible.
What I think IS reasonable to ask though is for someone to be able to temper their communications with each patient based on an assessment of their intelligence and dedication. Sixty seconds of conversation with you would tell any stranger that you’ve got a brain or two in your head, and 60 seconds more of talk about your condition would also educate anyone that you are well-versed in T1 and know what you’re talking about. All we want is for people to stop condescending and to give us the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the condition we have to live with every minute of every day.
Alison wrote
Wow, what a pain. I’ve been through similar experiences and think the painful docs are lacking in confidence so ask heaps more silly questions. The confident ones work out how capable you are and tell you to go home – its great when they trust you.
When I get a tummy bug my blood sugar goes so high – I’ve been in hospital twice with horrendously high BG’s and now have strong anti nausea medication which is fantastic. I still know I have a bug but I can manage my blood sugar, normally just drink powerade till I feel better. I think my problem is that I hate throwing up so much I get incredibly stressed and resistant to insulin – I’ve had 10 units / hour and still watch my BG continue climbing.
I’m so much more confident with anti nausea medication and less annying questions – the last thing you need when you sick.