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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by twinb57 on January 11, 2004, at 20:40:51
I was out-of-town last night and my 21 year old daughter had a severe psychotic episode. She forgot her meds (Geodon, Trileptal, Lexapro, Synthroid) and didn't take them for 36 hours. That and other factors (coffee, no sleep, no food, etc) contributed to the psychotic episode. She had the presence of mind (thankfully) to call 911 and the sherrif and ambulance came.
She's fine now but was treated really poorly by the ER doctor. Is this normal treatment when admitted to an ER for psychosis?
1. She didn't take illicit drugs but they didn't draw blood from her until 3 hours after she was admitted.
2. They didn't give her anything to calm her down. She was given oxygen in the ambulance. That's the extent of what she was given for "treatment".
3. She asked for something to eat and the doctor said "This isn't a restaurant". She gave him a dirty look as he was being an !@#$!@# and then she asked for some water. He left the room and came back with a cup. Then he threw the cup in the trash and said "That's for the dirty look you gave me. No water for you".
4. The psychologist on duty didn't come for over three hours after she was admitted.
5. None of the ER staff asked her if she had someone to call to be with her. She was alone at the time of the psychotic episode. The sherrif asked her but she was so out of it at the time, she couldn't think straight.This has been awful. Thankfully, it's the first time she's been admitted. She's usually very faithful about taking her meds. In fact, this is the first time in 3+ years she's skipped a day.
Thanks for listening. Is this normal procedure? I remember one guy saying he got better treatment from Midas Muffler than he did from some health care providers. All too true!
Posted by fallsfall on January 11, 2004, at 21:18:04
In reply to ER Experience - Not so good!, posted by twinb57 on January 11, 2004, at 20:40:51
I'm sorry that she was treated that way. It isn't always that bad, it can depend on the hospital and who happens to be on at the time.
I have had occasion (7 or more?) to accompany friends (4 different friends...) to the ER. I do think it is really helpful to have a friend with you - because otherwise they tend to assign you a "guard" to be sure that you don't hurt yourself. It is more fun to sit in the room with a friend.
It can take a long time for the Psychologist to arrive (even if you get to the hospital around dinner time). The same staff member in our area services more than one hospital, so they can be tied up at the other hospital while you wait and wait and wait.
I haven't experienced a time when the patient needed sedation or other medical care and they didn't give it. But, I don't know how my friends would have reacted if they had been alone.
My friends have been offered food, and so have I, at the hospitals. Nothing fancy. A sandwich, some crackers or cookies, a soft drink. Often they don't offer anything unless you've been there a while. But I'm amazed that she was refused. And the doctor's attitude about the water was completely unacceptable.
Sometimes they take blood in the ER, sometimes not until the patient gets to the Psych hospital. So I'm not sure about that. Thyroid function shows up in a blood test, I'm not sure about the others that she takes.
It is possible that they didn't ask if there was anyone she wanted to call because the Sheriff told them that she didn't name anyone. You would think that it would be common courtesy for them to ask her again, particularly if it looks like there will be a long wait for the Psychologist. Make sure that she knows that she could request this if she were ever in that situation again.
One reason that I am happy to accompany my friends is to keep them company, but I also go in order to advocate for them. Sometimes they aren't really in a space where they can advocate for themselves.
I hope things are smoother now for your daughter, and I wish her luck!
Posted by twinb57 on January 11, 2004, at 21:38:55
In reply to Re: ER Experience - Not so good! » twinb57, posted by fallsfall on January 11, 2004, at 21:18:04
Fallsfall - Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it. It's wonderful that you are there for your friends. You are a special person.
The psychologist was very good with her. My guess is that the horrible ER doctor didn't authorize the call until after some time passed. I was very upset to learn that my daughter was left alone for most of the 3 hours.
Hopefully, this will never happen again. Unfortunately, I was out of town when it happened.
But she now understands that she needs to call someone to be with her immediately.Thanks again - Carol
Posted by EmmyS on January 12, 2004, at 8:06:42
In reply to Re: ER Experience - Not so good!, posted by twinb57 on January 11, 2004, at 21:38:55
I would report your experience to the medical director of the hospital and to your insurance company. Write down exactly what happened, the times, and who was involved. No one should be treated like that. When people who have a mental illness are treated like pond scum....it makes my blood boil.
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