Need Help - Some changes in my health

[diamond123]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MO

I live in Missouri, but this happened in Chigago IL

Some of you may remember me. About one year ago I went to a hospital for Migraine Control. They had me so drugged up that I thougth I was going to die. One doctor finially came in and seen what kind of shape I was in and got me somewhat out of the drugged up frame of mind - When I finially started coming out of it I realized what was going on and I got really scared so I called my husband and he made the 10 hour trip to pick me up.

Ok - one year later last July -

1) I still have a knot on my butt that has never went down. It is small but, and the doctors think it is ok - but, I worry someday if it will turn into something. I don't know how I would prove this because I have had shots sence them - but, I know my own body. When I came home it was huge, red, and swollen. I know that is the same spot like I said.

2) I now have Facet Joint Syndrom in my back - I have went to many specialist and they think I have taken a fall - I keep telling them I can not remember falling.

3) I have also developed Bursitis in my left hip - All the doctors ask me if I have taken a fall. I keep saying no.

4) My pelvis is out of alignment

For the last 6 to 7 months - I have had to have all kinds of test, phsical therapy, still in pain all the time, my husband has had to take off work to get me to the doctor, etc. It has been horrible.

The other day it hit me - I was seeing a new specialist - an Orthepic doctor and he asked me if I had fallen again. On the way home, I thought how did this all happen and why do they keep acting like I have fell. I was trying hard to think and it hit me.

When I was so drugged up in the hospital - I can only remember going to the bathroom twice. I know I had to go more times than that because I did not have a catherder (sp) in.

Some of you may remember it took four tries and each time I received my medical records - they were more added or some pages were missing.

I do not know if this Physical Therpist would go to court for me or not. I have only met her twice. I told her a little about the story. She said it would not surprise. I said - but, it does not state a fall in the hospital. She said they probably would not put that in the medical records. She said if they did they could get sued. She said not all hospitals would do that - but, some nurses ( if no one seen) or hospitals would try to keep that out of my medical records.

Ok - so how would I prove this? I can't remember falling - but, I can hardly remember my stay either for 3 of the days.

I would only have my recent test that shows, my pelvis, bursitis, and my back. I have had MRI's, Cat Scans, and Bone Scans, along with tons of blood work. My blood work is all Normal.

I only have my word that I do not remember a fall. The doctors has said a fall like this I should remember. I don't - so, that is what made me think maybe it happened at the hospital.

Do I have any grounds for any type of Medical Suit? With only my test, my word, and the loss of memory in the hospital?

Any advice I would appreciate it.

 

[vestagrayanna]

I'm not familiar with your posts from some time ago. But, based upon what I read in this current post, I don't want to be unkind, but I do think that you should perhaps re-evaluate your problems. I have a difficult time understanding precisely what your ultimate objective is. But the physical ailments you describe are not likely all related. Some could be, such as the facet joint syndrome and migraines, but it appears to me that the symptoms are kind of "cart before the horse". Someone with FJS could have migraines, but the converse is not necessarily true. I'm also not clear at all about the types of physician care you are seeking. At this point I can only recommend that you find solid, scientific evidence-based caregivers. I only say that because it is a "gut" feeling from your post that perhaps you are seeking care from "alternative care" practitioners. If I'm wrong, I apologize, yet my opinion remains the same that if you have these multiple ailments, you should seek expert care. As far as MO goes? Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis. Rated consistently as one of top 10 in the country for comprehensive, tertiary care. If they don't do it, likely no one does.

 

[diamond123]

I think this will be easier to understand..

First I want to thank vestagraanna for your honest answer. I also have a question - what is teriary care?

Ok - I will kind of start over and I will try to make it easier to understand and as short as I can. If anyone has any questions I would be happy to answer them.

1) July of 2007 I went to a hospital because they specialize in Migraines in Chicago, IL - I am from Missouri

2) I was there 4 days - My husband took me - but, he had just started a new job and I had no one else to stay with me because I was 10 hours from home. We had both been told by a specialist how good this hospital was so we trusted the hospital.

3) We later found out the specialist for Migraines in Springfield, MO was in the same office as one of the members of this hospital in Chicago, IL.

4) My husband stayed with me until I got checked in to the hospital and unpacked. He was also there with me for the 2 hour evaluation to make sure the hospital would except me and talked to the doctor that admitted me. She said she would check on me and be my doctor for 3 days - then another doctor would come in for 3 days - then she would be back the remainder of my stay. My estimated time of staying in the hospital was 10 to 14 days. She said on her other days off ( I don't know why she was going to be gone three days at one time ) anyway - she assured me any doctor that took her place during her days off was very good.

5) After I got settled in my room - I was the only one in the room. I did not share a room with anyone. I don't know why, but I sure wish I would have. I told my husband he needed to go I would be fine and he had a 10 hour drive home. So, after meeting a few nurses and asking a few more questions he left.

6) After the first shot went in for the next four days I only remember bits and pieces. I remember going to the bathroom twice. I did not have a catheter(sp) in so I know I went more. I know I did not have a shower because when I started coming out of the medicine on the fourth day I was still in the clothes I checked into on.

7) I kind of remember them telling me I was going to get a MRI done. I remember a nurse taking me in a wheelchair on the elevator. Just bits and pieces of that.

8) I remember getting yelled at once because I did not take my tray of food to the hallway. I think I fell back asleep while she was yelling at me.

9) I remember waking up and I was swollen all over my body. Really bad - I remember my left leg was the worse. I remember trying to tell the nurses how swollen I was.

10) One day I remember hearing a mans voice and I thought he was a doctor - I can't remember what he was saying - I can remember trying to tell him I needed help - but, I could not get it out. I couldn't talk - I don't think.

11) The next day I was more alert - but I was still really drowsy. The doctor came in and I asked him if he was there the day before. He said yes and I will never forget his next words - He said I was almost " Comatose" the day before. So, he had pulled me off almost all the medications that the other doctor put me on. I told him I was terrified and wanted to go home. He told me I was in no shape to go home - so I told him I was too scared to stay there. So, I checked out against medical orders.

12) My husband made the ten hour drive and picked me up.

13) I came home and I had a place on my butt that was feverish and swollen, etc. from a shot. I still have a knot in that same place over a year later.

14) I got my Migraines under control with a different doctor in Springfield. I still have them, but not as often as I did before.

15) A few months later I was in so much pain in my back, and legs, but mostly my left leg I couldn't take the pain anymore so I went to my family doctor.

16) Over the next several months up until today - I have been to my family doctor, a bone specialist, a pain center, an Orthopedic Dr., ER doctors.

17) They have found out through all the testing I have Facet Joint Syndrome, Trochanteric Bursitis in my left hip, and my Pelvis in not in alignment.

18) I have made several trips to the ER because the pain it so great.

19) I have had MRI's, Cat Scans, Bone Scans, and every blood test I think that is out there. Including Lupus, etc.

20) All my blood test are normal.

21) As far as treatment I am going through Physical Therapy AGAIN. Steroid shots/with something else in them I can't remember the name. In my back and in my left hip.

22) I only turned 44 last month and my quality of life has changed DRAMATICALLY in the last year. I am in constant pain.

23) I am now considered a Chronic Pain patient.

24) I never had these problems before the stay in Chicago, IL - My only health problem at the time was Migraines.

25) Every doctor I have seen and there have been many - from all the ER trips and the specialist, etc. always ask me if I have fell. I always tell them no. Some of them have even asked me if I have been in a car accident I always tell them no.

26) I was in tears one day with so much pain and I was trying to figure out why this happened to me. I was really trying to think if I had taken a fall. It was while I was having a Physical Therapy treatment.

27) It finally hit me - Could I have taken a fall in the hospital in Chicago?

28) My medical records show - I was having a reaction to some type of medication - I was given so many they don't know which one. One nurse had wrote - Not in exact words - I was in bad shape she was calling the doctor. The man doctor started pulling me off medications. It does not show that he came to see me. It does not show that he sent me to the ER, etc. He also states in my medical records I was not in good shape.

29) My medical records do not show a fall.

30) So, basically all I have are my injuries confirmed from SEVERAL TEST as described above.

31) My loss of memory of my hospital stay 90% of it anyway.

32) My word that I have not taken a fall that I can remember.

33) Oh, I have also had several doctors ask me if I have been in a car accident - that is the second question after the fall.

34) I have not been in a car accident - This I think would be easy to prove.

Do you think an attorney would take this case?

If so, what type of an attorney would I need to contact - A malpractice attorney or an Injury attorney - Or what type of an attorney?

I am SO SORRY this is so long - It is hard to tell everything that has happened in a little over a years time and make it short.

Please feel free to ask questions if you need more information to give me your opinion.

I appreciate any help or advice I can get.

 

[ecmst12]

This is why you should post in your original thread instead of starting a new one.

I think you have no evidence for a case at this time. Checking out AMA will further hurt your case. You can try to contact the nurses that treated you and see if they remember you, and if they know about a fall. But so much time has passed, this is a long shot. Did you have any symptoms at the time that would indicate an injury? You don't mention any scrapes or bruises, just swelling all over which is consistent with an allergic reaction. 4 days is not enough time for bruises to heal with no trace. A fall bad enough to cause the symptoms you are now having would have left visible injuries.

The problems you are having now are not ALWAYS caused by trauma. Sometimes they occur as a 'normal' part of the aging process. Years of poor posture is listed as a possible cause of facet joint syndrome. If you sleep in a certain position every night, and that position puts pressure on your hips and pelvis, which in turn puts pressure on your spine, over many years that could easily lead to alignment and joint inflamation problems. Have you seen a competent chiropractor at all? A good chiro can observe your posture and advise you on how to position yourself when sitting, sleeping, etc, so that you don't undo all the good that your adjustments or therapy do as soon as you get home. If you are well aligned when you leave the office, but go to sleep in the same damaging position, you're still going to feel like crap in the morning.

 

[diamond123]

Thank you and I have more questions....

ecmst12 - Thank you for trying to help me.

I have not posted since July of 2007 - so, I don't know how to find my original message. Is that what you mean? If there is a way, please let me know.

Also, I received my medical records - There is nothing in my medical records that reports a fall. So, to be honest with you - If it was not in my medical records - I do not think a nurse, dr, etc. would be honest and say yes there was a fall. Maybe I am wrong - please correct me if I am wrong.

Here is another thing extremely hard to believe. My daughter and my sister can bump something and bruise.

I can PROVE THIS - I was at one of my sons Baseball games when he played varsity baseball in high school. This was four years ago. I was sitting under a tree in a chair I seen a foul ball coming everyone sitting under the tree took off running. It hit me in the back just below my shoulder blade. It was horrible pain. I did NOT bruise. I know that is extremely hard to believe, but I just don't bruise. I don't know why.

My left leg was so swollen and in my medical records it said something about Phlebitis ( I know that is not the correct spelling). My doctor did order an ultrasound on my left leg for a blood clot. It came back I did not have one.

None of my doctors ( sorry to say this) have sent me to a chiropractor. They have always ordered Physical Therapy. I was told last week if this time didn't help more I might have to start wearing a belt to keep my pelvis in alignment.

I am only 44 - I turned 44 in August of this year. Even the doctors believe this is a very young age to have this problem.

I am also not overweight - I have read that can cause some of these problems.

I am 5' 4" and weight 128lbs.

I am SO TIRED of the PAIN and I feel like I am missing out on life because of this.

So, after adding more information - do you still believe I do not have a case?

I do appreciate the honesty and the help.

Ok - I don't know if this against the rules.

Can anyone tell me if they work in the medical field or the law office field.

Does anyone believe like my Physical Therapist - that a fall would probably be left out of the medical records if possible?

Thanks again!

 

[Roo]

I can't address any of your medical or legal claims but you can find all your posts and threads by clicking on your user name.

 

[ecmst12]

I think it is possible that a nurse could remember something that didn't make it into the record. Not all would be willing to help you if this had happened, but generally speaking, there is no big conspiracy to keep things out of the records. They don't work, anyway. A doctor might intentionally leave things out, but if an investigation occurs, they talk to EVERYONE, from the chief of staff on down to the orderlies. There are too many people involved with hospital care to effectively keep secrets. If you did have a significant fall, people would have seen and some might remember.

However if you didn't see any injuries at the time consistent with a fall, it's pretty unlikely that you fell.

44 isn't that old, but it's not that young either. And small people with small bones are more susceptible to minor traumas (sleeping funny, lifting something incorrectly, sudden stops in the car, etc) then larger people. I should know, I'm even smaller then you! My mom (smaller still) herniated a disc in her neck in her sleep when she was around your age, maybe a little older. I know you are desperate for something to blame this hospital for, but I just don't see a case. I would suggest you consult a chiropractor specializing in biomechanical theory for advice and treatment, in addition to the doctors you are seeing now. Get references if you can, a good chiro is a hero, a bad one can screw you up worse. But when it comes to alignment problems, either a chiro or a doctor of osteopathy is IMO your best bet.

 

[diamond123]

Thanks for the help

Roo - I did not realize I could go back a full year and look up post on this forum. I will have to try that. Maybe someone else has had the same problem with this hospital even.

esmst12 - I live in a very small town. I have to travel - I can't drive - an hour just to get to my doctor. I am scared of Chiripraters ( I don't mean to offend anyone) and I have never heard of a good one in our towns around us.

I have never heard of a osteopathy dr - I will look that up on the internet.

One more question I hope no one minds answering.

Should I contact an attorney first?

Or should I ask the hospital for a full investigation?

I really don't trust this hospital at all - but, what would you do in my case?

I appreciate all the honest answers and replys. They have all been very helpful.

 

[lya]

diamond,
Regardless of having a valid claim or not, you need to protect the statute of limitations that will apply. I advise you to consult with a medmal attorney at your earliest convenience. You can learn the merits of your claim, whether or not the attorney believes your claim is 'worth' investigating, and the statute of limitations. Consultations for medmal claims are usually free; you have nothing to lose but about an hour's time.

 

[vestagrayanna]

diamond,

I will specifically answer one question and then refer mostly to my previous post. Tertiary care is a level of care and expertise not available at most community based hospital facilities. Tertiary care is based in university, teaching, research facilities. The best example I can provide for a tertiary service is organ transplant. But, tertiary services certainly are not that limited.

I may be missing something, but again I have to chime in that even with the expansion of the happenings you have posted, I cannot as a medical professional, draw any conclusion as to one cause of your ailments. In fact, they are of a generalized nature that would lead me away from a single traumatic event such as a fall (or any other for that matter). Again, you mention FJS, migraines, and some other symptoms that lead me to suspect that a neurology consultation is in order. I am definitely stepping out on a limb here, but if there is a physical explanation for at least the majority of your symptoms, I would suspect an Chiari I malformation, a defect in the formation near the brainstem. However, I don't think that even that would explain all your symptoms. Simply, in my medical explanation they cannont be all neatly tied into a package. Does that mean that they are not real? Absolutely not. Does that mean I or other caregivers will not / should not belive your symptoms? Absolutely not. But, again, given a complex set of symptoms, I suggest that you find an expert center of treatment. You said you live in Missouri. If that is the case, I again suggest Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis. I know Springfield quite well. Some experts there, but, not the calibur of Barnes.

 

[diamond123]

Ok...NOW I am really SCARED....

First I want to thank everyone for their help.

Vestagrayanna - thank you and I will check into that hospital. I just feel at my age there has to be something more they can do for my pain.

Well, today - I decided I needed my medical records for this year from my home hospital to see if I could find a Specialist like the one you mentioned in St. Louis. I just turned 44 last month as I said and my health as went down hill fast the last year.

Well, I was hospitalized one night because my pain was just too much to handle. I didn't want to stay ( this was in Springfield, MO) but, my sister and the doctor talked me into it. I guess from the pain I was in I was having extreme chest pains. So, the ER doctor wanted to admit me over night and run some test.

He released me the next day and told me to follow up with my doctor. I don't remember him mentioning anything.

Ok - before I went to Chicago for DHE Treatments I had to have my heart checked out. I asked ALL Specialist in Springfield and Chicago if this type of treatment was dangerous to the heart. They ALL said no - it would NOT cause damage - but, if your heart was damaged they could not do the DHE TREATMENT. Well, that really didn't make a lot of since to me - but, at the time I was desperate for help so I put my trust into the doctors.

I didn't get home until after 5:00 p.m. to go over my medical records. I was looking for things to do with my hip and leg. I had forgotten about staying over night and the doctor monitored my heart.

In my medical records it says I have - Mild atherosclerotic disease of the aorita.

Could DHE have done this to me?

Why didn't my Springfield doctor tell me this?

Is this SERIOUS?

I am really scared and I realize this is not a medical forum - I was just hoping someone knew about DHE treatments, etc.

I don't know how I am going to make it until Monday to call the doctor about this.

I am sorry to jump around so much in this post - I am just very nervous about this.

Oh - and thank you SO MUCH for going out on a limb for me vestagrayanna. I will look that up - that sounds scary also. I have to get something done though and figure out how to get out of all this pain.

 

[lya]

Mild atherosclerosis of the artery is caused by two things: genetic/inherited tendency for fat to collect in the arteries and "normal" build up of fat on arteries.

Inflammatory conditons predispose arteries to develop rough areas on which fat sticks. It is reasonable that with your health history, you have had ample opportunity for inflammatory conditions to contribute to the build up of fat in the aorta.

Try adding Fish oil capsules to your daily regimen. It may reduce and prevent the build up of fat in the arteries.

 

[ecmst12]

It's generally not serious and is so common among your age group that it's practically normal. Get your cholesterol checked; if it is high you may benefit from one of the many cholesterol-lowering drugs out there. Do you have a family history of heart disease? But usually it is just something that needs to be monitored regularly. Improving your diet and exercise regimen can also help.

 

[diamond123]

Thanks..more

Thanks for all the help and the advice.

I feel better about my heart now. I am still a little scared, but you both helped me calm down, so thank you again.

My cholesterol has been checked and it is fine.

I don't have a history of heart disease on my side of the family.

I do not get the exercise I once did because of the pain I have been going through. I am going to Physical Therapy again, so I hope that will help.

I will be calling my doctor on Monday.

 

[diamond123]

I have a couple of more questions

I would like to talk to an attorney just to make sure if I have a case or not. I realize most of you do not think I do. I feel that I do have a case, but I won't rest until I know for sure.

Are they a web address to see if anyone has ever successfully sued this hospital or any of the doctors before?

I live in another state - How can I find an attorney to talk to me?

I think if I knew if this hospital or doctor of the hospital has been sued in the past - then if I could find that attorneys name it would help me know for sure.

I posted my case ( not about the heart) last Thursday I think - On this site and I have not been contacted.

So, please tell me what steps I could take next to find an attorney in IL - when I live in MO.

I would appreciate any help even if you do not think I have a case. I just have to know in my own mind. I hope everyone understands that.

Thank you!