Do You Have a Medical Horror Story?

United States
April 15, 2007 11:46am CST
From my experience and the experiences of the people I know modern medicine seems to be almost totally dysfunctional. I've had an infection in my throat for 15 years and I have trouble even getting doctors to recognize that I have a problem much less do getting them to do anything about it. I once decided that I was going to keep going to a nose,eye, throat specialist until they finally saw what I was talking about. The first visit they did what they usually do and decided it was just red and irritated because of the dry air, the second visit they just gave me some new things to do, the third visit the doctor just kept staring at me telling himself over and over, "you're too young to have anything serious." I never went back (I didn't see the point) and my problems just keep getting worse over time. But as maddening as my many problems are my friends have had worse experiences. A woman I know came down with severe abdominal pain one day so she went to her doctor who diagnosed her with 'female problems'. It turns out she actually had appendicitis and a few days later her appendix ruptured. Fortunately she had the strength to call 911 and they were able to save her life. In another case, the husband in an elderly couple who we helped through bankruptcy developed colon polyps shortly after the bankruptcy. Doctors decided they should operate but they didn't close up his incisions properly and he developed an infection so bad it killed him. In yet another case that was closer to home, my bosses' husband was having some serious health problems. His doctors decided that he had the flu and when he later started swelling up they decided he must be allergic to the antibiotics. It wasn't until he went in to have himself checked for ulcers several months later that he discovered that he had gone through two or three major heart attacks and he was in major heart failure. He went into the hospital two days later for a heart bypass surgery. While he was in there he was given a medication that he was seriously allergic to (even though there were warning labels all over the place) and it almost killed him. I know it's only human to error and I know I've made my share of mistakes but this is ridiculous. Do you have your 'medical horror stories' or are your doctors doing a good job?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
16 Apr 07
I think a large part of it, is the lines are so long.. I've heard of doctor's themselves complaining because it gets like a tread mill forever running, or just so many ptients to see, and it's getting like they are passed through as quickly as possible.. and so the care has gone down in quality.. Some of these stories were so bad! It's terrible! Maybe we should start having education all through the school years on health and what most promotes health.. Instead of being stuck in a system that merely treats the problem, rather than promoting the preventing of the problems, whenever possible.. I'm sure there would then be less care needed, and better care available for when unavoidable things do come up.. Not that we'd all be perfect at promoting our best health.. but better education from the get go, would have to help.. Then all of us could get better health care wehn we need it.
• United States
16 Apr 07
I agree flowerchilde. I know they are having problems getting enough general practitioners so that contributes to the problem. I know that they train doctors to see as many patients as they can in business classes too. Doctor's have huge expenses...the price of running their business, insurance, student loans and etc. Most of them got into it because they were looking forward to a good income as well so that also contributes to the 'see as many patients as possible' syndrome. You are also right about the early health training as the answer and it would also be great if we had an FDA that had the best interest of the public at heart. It's getting so hard to avoid unhealthy foods and chemicals. Especially since genetically engineered foods hit the market.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 May 08
Not really a horror story but one that scared me none the less a bit. Many years ago I got to where I couldn't hold an empty mug in my left hand. It hurt and I could not grasp anything tightly in it. After seeing a lump I saw a Dr. He wanted to do exploratory surgery and it was performed sonn there after. He removed a lump from my left wrist.Now the next day I called to see what it was. He was gone and the nurse said she can;t discuss this with me. I said it's my health and my chart I want to know. No such luck. So I had to wait for a week wondering if this was cancerous or anything else serious. Turned out to be bone spurs from when I brok my arm t=years prior. I had another surgery to scrape away the remaining scar tissue etc. Scared the daylights out of me waiting and worrying. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
• United States
23 May 08
I know the nurse is probably not allowed to discuss that kind of thing because she's not a doctor but wow, that would really upset me (I really think some of these laws are causing a lot of our medical community's dysfunction). The medical profession seems to be getting more and more at odds with the people they are suppose to be helping.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 May 08
I went to the office requesting to see my own files and was refused that as well. That's what really upset me the most. I can't see my own medical records? HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
• United States
23 May 08
Wow, that is way out of line. As long as you can prove that you are who you say you are I can't think of a single legal reason why they wouldn't let you see your records. (not that I'm an expert in medical law)