When You Have A Health Emergency Where Are The Doctors?
By KrauseHome
@KrauseHome (36448)
United States
February 21, 2011 1:50am CST
Too many times it seems too many people have a Health problem or Health Emergency as it may be, and it seems like the Doctors and the nurses anymore are usually the first ones to miss it. They often tend to play it off like it is not anything big, and usually misdiagnose and refuse to Treat until many times it is often almost too late.
I know people when they find out and a Doctor actually comes out and tells a person that they are Diabetic is only when they end up in the Emergency room or hospital for something else, who have probably been Diabetic for yrs. often to do lots of damage for themselves. And even when they get out, they go to Doctors who continue to not think anything of their sugar levels still running in the 200 and 300s most of the time. Is this really that mild of a disease to play around with?
The one that gets me the most is one that happened with a dear friend of mine's mother. She ended up in the Emergency room almost a week ago complaining of shortness of breathe and her chest hurt. They did one or two tests, and almost sent her home thinking it was only gas. Luckily she got another opinion from a second doctor who chose to examine her and found that it was her heart, and so the next day they operated and put a stent in. But then to find out she now has 2 large blood clots in her lungs, and makes me wonder how they could have missed these and not wanted to treat these first? Or could putting the stent in caused this?
Personally this makes me Big time question Health Care here in the US for sure, and makes me wonder where Health as being a Healthy person went, and are Doctors really too busy, or Health Care and Insurances so uncaring and worried about $$ they forget about people as a whole? I am really wishing that Health Care could go back to like when I was growing up before we see people dying of minor things as well.
What would you do? Do you think this is Fair?
~~TINA~~
6 people like this
14 responses
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
21 Feb 11
Most of the time here you don't even see a doctor....you see a PA..and that's it! I really wish they would go back a step or too...and I do think that money has it's issues here too...Doctors love the money...and over book patients sometimes.
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
22 Feb 11
So True, So True... It becomes all about the money and forget about the patient and what is really wrong with them. And what type of Insurance are they on? Can they afford the procedure or will their insurance cover it? What type of deductable do they have as in how much I will make? It truly is a shame that these are the main factors they have to listen too and use now otherwise we could still get some awesome Health care for sure.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
22 Feb 11
I worked in the cardiac ICU for a time back in my working days. The surgery for the stent insertion could have caused the clots in your friend's mother's lungs. Anytime that invasive surgery is performed, the chance of clots forming anywhere in the body is increased. If they are large they create problems and may be an indication for various medication to dissolve them. If the clots are small there is the chance that they will begin to migrate with the blood flow and lodge in the brain (stroke) or heart (heart attack),
The health care is now mostly money motivated and that is quite sad for those of us who actually need multiple treatments and procedures. Insurance companies are deciding what gets done and what doesn't. And of course, if you need something that isn't covered by your insurance and you can't come up with the cash, you're just out of luck.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
22 Feb 11
Thanks for sharing this information with me, and Yes, the clots were big and she has been given medication to help them dissolve. Just is amazing that luckily for her the doctors decided to check her heart in the first place to do the stent at last minute notice as well. Lucky for her it was something simple that her insurance could handle unlike so many others out there these days.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
24 Feb 11
I agree that this woman was lucky that the physicians checked for the proper diagnosis. If it had been caught sooner she might have been spared the clots themselves. That's why the AMA is urging people to seek help as soon as symptoms begin. There is medication that can be administered within the first hour of the event (heart attack or stroke) that will completely block the formation of clots. Of course one would have to seek out the care of a competent ER diagnostician which she obviously did not get.
(Thank you for BR. I've had 2 power outages and a personal medical problem that has kept me offline til now.)
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Feb 11
i think since around the '90s doctors have been getting less and less caring. about 999 out of a thousand dont care any more. its rare to find a good one i think. what really gets me is that cant they see that the really caring ones have an overload of patients? another thing is, id rather be seen by a nurse or PA then a doctor because they seem to really care about their job. My hubby had bi-pass surgery and the doctor saw the cancer in his stomch but done nothing about it, as he said he didnt want to contaminate his surgery?
he said when hubby recovered enough from the bi-pass he could then get started on curing the cancer. by that time the cancer had spread even into the surures from the bi-pass and there was no hope of survival. 
@myflower (24)
• Bulgaria
22 Feb 11
I studied and worked in a hospital before 90's. At that time, doctors really tried to treat the people. Later the laws and the rules of good medical practice has changed in my country. A lot of medical workers left becouse their morality doesn't comply with the new Helth Sistem. Doctors should think about money only, not about a treatment. Some of them are really tired and oppressed by it. At the same time althougt the patient pays, he doesn't receive a quality treatment.
I looked at your comments and wonder what happend around the 90's in all this world?
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
22 Feb 11
Personally I think $$ overtook caring, and so now the patient is the one who suffers while the Doctors continue to have to want lots of $$ or refuse to treat everyone, and if the Insurance is not there than most of the time they cannot treat. They forgot about feelings and leave them somewhere else, and it is Sad. Wondering sometimes how they can live with themselves.
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
22 Feb 11
Hello my friend KrauseHome (Tina) Ji,
So nice of you for bringing up such serious issues. I was personally badly hit by such experience, while in US (Miami-FT. LDR. Dale), after taking appointment, Dr called us 90 minutes behind the schedule. He advised for some blood/Urine investigation, which have not yet been recieved , even after 8 yrs . Dr was very casual. In our next visit for minor fever and cough/cold. he advised for CT-Scan, mu hubby reminded him if there wa sany other step before CT SCAN (Xeray). I think it is better not to get siick. Medical ha sbecome bussiness all over the world. I always prey Almighty not to make me so much sick. Thanks.
May God bless You and have a great time.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
24 Feb 11
Well, I have recently been learning it is more about the $$ and the Tests they think they need to run more than about how the person themselves really feel, and do not want to listen to what seems to work Best for the patient, and instead try advising something else, or say they cannot help. Personally if more doctors could quit wearing their practice on their sleeve and care a little more less Health problems would quit arising for everyone for sure.
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
24 Feb 11
Hello my friend KrauseHome Ji,
Well, I think US medication policy needs to be reviewed to suit patient's need. In case any patient is diagnosed with setrious problem and one wants yto have second or third opinion, one is stuck with one's own Doctor as per Insurence policy. In our country we can have any amount of such chages as per our will and requirement. There is nothing tied up that one needs to visit and consult particular Doctor only. In this way Doctors too are concerned for correct advise. Thanks.
May God bless You and have a great time.
1 person likes this
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
25 Mar 11
Tina I thought things in USA are much better compared to us in india, here most doctors are greedy, they take salary from govenment but most of the time you see them in private hospitals, human life has no value for them, money is every thing, you call to emergency number, no body responds
and in the clinics you have to buy a token paying full fee in advance, you meet him when your number comes, but he writes the prescription , even before he hears your full case history.
Thanks for sharing
I really felt sad
Cheers.
God bless you, have a nice day ahead.
Professor ‘Bhuwan’. .
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
28 Mar 11
Wow!! I have heard though that in places like India they have medical techniques that even though they might not sound the best. Like using maggots to help clean out and heal wounds, etc. Interesting to hear that you have a wait and $$ they want up front before they can do something as well.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
21 Feb 11
I worked in the medical field for a very long time and can tell you by the many of doctors I worked with that before they enter a room they actually look at your chart to determine what insurance you have.
The "many" doctors I worked with actually would not give a full examine when they knew that their efforts were not going to be deserving paid. I will never forget a female patient who was having difficulty with her foot surgery for a long time, who was going to require further surgery. As the PA informed the doctor what the problems with her were, I happened to be standing there, and mind you the doctor/surgeon never walked in the room. He immediately told the PA, schedule for such and such foot surgery, it was then the PA informed the doctor that the patient's maximum had already ran out for the year. The doctor immediately said, okay then discharge her and he walked away back into his office.
I am sure there are some caring doctors as I did see a few, however, the majority and I mean lots in my arena were not so caring. So I too wish that the ethics of doctors was not the way it is as I have many, many far worse situations as the one I stated above and I definitely do not think it is fair.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
21 Feb 11
It is so Sad that Doctors are this way anymore instead of being caring and not worrying about $$ so much. Sometimes that is the reason people end up in the Emergency rooms and hospitals is due to poor care. It just still amazes me that there are Doctors out there like this, and it makes me wonder how they can really live with themselves. And if it is a Specialized clinic don't you think they would do the Best job out there to help save the patient some $$ in the long run instead of beating around the bush?
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
22 Feb 11
Personally it is a real scary thought, and I beg to differ if organized Health care really gets a go... while at the same time now I see the hard working people who are retiring have no real Health Care so it makes me wonder for sure.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
21 Feb 11
Son unfortunate but the greed really over takes their morality and ethics. Specialist's get paid well, and at times too well so many find ways to cut corners and increase the fees.
I don't know what health care is going to be like in 10 years as it is such a scary thought.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
21 Feb 11
Personally this is Sad, and wish they could have more Clinics available for people when they get sick that will take you in at a lesser copay as well. Having to wait when you are sick, especially if you are feeling the worst is not a Fun thing to do for sure.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
22 Feb 11
I hate going to the ER. Most of the time, they just give you pain pills and send you on your way. I went in one day for feeling that my heart was beating so hard, that I felt like it could explode, and my whole body was shaking. They listened to my heart, checked blood pressure, and sent me home with antibiotics for broncitis, because he heard a wheezing sound.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
24 Feb 11
Personally I think sometimes all they want to do is get you in and out of there as fast as they can, sometimes running a couple of Tests and hoping they loose sight of you in the future as well. I know sometimes we are told one thing and then another from another doctor never knowing what really is going on until it is too late. And without the proper insurance anymore finding out what really is wrong is like pulling teeth for sure.
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
21 Feb 11
Okay, the friend with the stent/blood clots.
Yes, the stent procedure could've cause the blood clots. ANYTIME you do any kind of procedure, especially if it deals with the heart, it can throw off blood clots, honestly, she's lucky she was still in the hospital and had a doctor who cared enough to find them.
I have seen people let out of some hospitals that should've never been released, and of course they die soon after
I believe in part it depends on the hospital. The large, urban, trauma ERs like Parkland in Dallas, and Ben Taub in Houston are two that I know of. Brackenridge in Austin, while not as large an urban area, is becoming like this as well. I have seen people out of "Brack" that never should've been, because I live in Austin, and I've heard about people in Houston and Dallas, because I live in Texas.
Not that they mean to neglect patients I'm sure, but because they are the main hospitals in large cities, they receive the majority of trauma patients and also the "charity" cases.
I have seen doctors who seem to be in it for the money, and don't seem to care, and I have seen doctors who care very much and will send you to a specialist if you stray outside GP territory.
So, I do feel that if you are not satisfied with the way your doctor is treating you, unless you live in a one doc town, you can ALWAYS find another doctor!
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
22 Feb 11
That is true depending on the Insurance you have, and the hrs. you have available etc. to find one that will treat you. I know it can be rough especially for me with being Diabetic, etc. that will work with me and my Insurance instead of assuming everything to where I continue to have to be the proactive one as well.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
21 Feb 11
Medicine has become a business and when profit it not obvious they tend to brush off symptoms. The key is finding a real doctor that is truly interested in his or her patients. The new insurance laws will guarantee that things like this will happen more and more as doctors quit the field government tells the remainder how to do their jobs.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
21 Feb 11
Personally I think that the Insurances telling the Doctors what they can and cannot do is actually hurting people as a whole. It limits them to what one Doctor can and will do, and then there is nothing to back them up when they are wrong, and so they continue to treat everyone half way. Eventually this is going to lead to a lot more deaths for sure.
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
21 Feb 11
Hello Tina.
Do go visit my topic about Doctors that i started recently - reading your first half of the topic really got me thinking of the one i started.
It seams in some countries if you want special care you have to PAY for it, even if your health plan is supposed to assure that you have FREE services - i am talking about public care system here.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
22 Feb 11
Well, there is a definate lack of service here in the US if a person is unable to pay, and places are too quick to want to send Medical/Doctor bills to collections in turn wanting the $$, and then most collection places are far from understanding as well. It really is a Sad picture and makes you wonder for sure.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
24 Feb 11
Your statements ring true here in Australia too! Some doctors seem to be in such a hurry to see as many patients as possible and they don’t take the time required to complete examinations properly that is why if one finds a good thorough doctor one should not let him or her go! My mother in law complained of chest pains and was told she needed antibiotics. She passed away five months later of lung cancer which had spread to her liver.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
24 Feb 11
Wow!! Wonder if they would have been able to do more if they would have found this earlier. Since it is so hard for them to draw blood, etc. they always continue to assume something mild for me anytime I go in, and wish sometimes I knew for sure it was really just that. But even as it makes us wonder to ever get a Good doctor without insurance being an issue, time moves on and being proactive sometimes is the Best advice there is.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Feb 11
I think that this is a severe problem these days with medical professionals. Last year my husband was released by his urologist on Thursday as being free of having kidney stones. Well, on Sunday night we were in the emergency room and he had a 6 mm obstructive kidney stone. He ended up having to have emergency surgery the next day because of this. In my opinion, it should have never happened that the kidney stone was missed by the specialist.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
24 Feb 11
Many times there are a lot of things missed by specialists, and other doctors and it makes you wonder. The problem is when you become too proactive some of them get even more upset and say you never want to listen or take their advice as well. I have had Staph infections I knew were there for doctors to say it was nothing... And when I tried questioning it with a lawyer since it was a wound clinic, they said unless I loose a limb or die there is nothing I can do. Makes you wonder for sure.
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
21 Feb 11
I know! I got monster sick one night, and felt faint (because--I found--I hadn't been drinking enough water), so I called 911.
For the little care they did give me (and I SAW no doctors), they charged me over $1,000!
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
22 Feb 11
Wow!! $1000 just for going in there, and not seeing a Doctor. That is unreal. Sometimes I think they need more caring understanding people out there who are not so worried about $$, and should be able to charge more on a scale even when insurance is involved after they get bills.
