Tag Archives: Washington

Patient Safety, Rosemaling, Spinal Disk – Yes, Related Here

Tsaristic stuff happens, “we don’t live in a perfect world” a young nurse recently told me when I questioned the hospital discharge papers. Used to transparency and kind consideration – I had expected better – much better.

The following was copied verbatim with permission of Thor Dahl. The place is Florida – not here – but we need to be aware that Mr. Dahl and his wife are credible established people and business folks running the largest international online rosemaling “club’ offered….and where I read the following shocking post. It was a reminder – patient, friends and family – be aware – stuff happens.

28 March 2013 – The Global Rosemaling Club:

“Yesterday we went to my surgeon for the third visit since my surgery last December 20th. I also had my first “commercial” haircut in over a year. But Joan has been nice trimming it several times. She used to do a great job! I also drove the car for the first time. Joan drove home. But I was happy to feel that I could handle the car after more than a year as a passenger.

The doctor didn’t give us the kind of news that I had hoped for. Each time I go there, they take a few x-rays to see how I’m healing. He said that due to the first hospital I went to let me out without knowing that I had 2 breaks in my back, the 6 extra months it took to find this out before the final surgery in a much better hospital, was too long to straighten out my old spine. So I’ll be living with an ugly hump and pain for the rest of my life. As well as not being able to lift more than 25 pounds while being very carefully without bending too much. If I was too ruff with my back, it just could brake again. He was very liberal on giving me prescriptions for pain medicine and indicated that I should not be afraid of taking them. From next Monday, I’ll start going to their “in house” physical treatment department. It will be from 2 to 3 times a week depending on what they think will be best for me. The doctor assured me that I could get anything I asked him for. I guess he felt sorry for the way this turned out for me.

He clearly admitted it was due to the poor treatment from my first hospital and added that this was not the first time they had failed with their surgery or diagnoses at that hospital. So he will hopefully be a good witness, because being ruined for the few years I have left, somebody should pay for not giving me the proper treatment. This will include the arthritis dr. that gave me the wrong medicine, which gave me internal bleeding and fainting.

Even with all the above negative “news”, I feel a lot better despite it’s going to be hard to get used to having an ugly hump on my back!

However, I feel so badly for Joan who will be stuck with my part of many of my home duties which are way too heavy for her as well, because of all the arthritis problems she has of her own. At times she can hardly move. She often doesn’t sleep many hours in her bed and have to move between the sofa and her bed. Her hands are also swollen when she gets up in the morning.

Well, it’s “nice” to get old!”

(Thor Dahl)

http://www.rosemal.com/

the-global-rosemaling-club@yahoogroups.com

Joan & Thor

Dahl House Art & Rosemaling Center

16623 West River Rd., Caribee Shores

Inglis, Florida 34449 Ph:352-447-4178

Based in Seattle, Consumer’s Union, “Washington Advocates for Patient Safety” (WAPS) is a Washington group advocating for patient safety. http://www.washingtonadvocatesforpatientsafety.org/patient-safety/

The fact is almost sixty years ago the epidermal needle intended to help me give birth was jammed into a spine disk. No physician treated me – they could not find anything wrong.

Eventually, desperately, my parents took me to a recommended chiropractor and I was given a pamphlet showing exercises. He circled the ones he wanted me to do.

He gave me hope and followed his instructions exactly. He did not examine me, nor accept payment from my parents.

He gave me a life back – I worked through the pain.

Through the years – every decade or so – I have followed the disintegration of the disk accidentally through x-rays given for other reasons. A recent – on purpose x-ray showed the disk is gone.

I lived through it without treatment and lived the physically active lifestyle I knew and loved. COPD threw a different kind of curve in 1997.

Mistakes happen.

Mistakes are sometimes turned around with the proper care and attention.

Exercise gave me a life, and taught me to work through the pain.

See your doctor. Take a friend to be sure you both heard the same thing and be proactive in your own care.

God Bless. Happy Easter!

Thanks for listening… Sharon O’Hara

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Lymphedema Patients toss the dice – Podiatrist or Pedicurist

Sharon O'Hara

What does it take to keep vulnerable senior patients/any patient reasonably cared for in a rehab setting? How many oversee patients when a podiatrist comes to call and cut toenails?

Is it true that Pedicurists aren’t trained well enough for Lymphedema patients to take a chance on them. Really?

….I believed it might be true even though I had never seen bloody toenails from a pedicurist cutting nails during my career as a cosmetologist in Washington and California and a small business owner here. What do I know about medical things? I’m learning that one thing can and does frequently lead into another.

The comments from a trusted Lymphedema medical professional was enough and I stopped going to a licensed pedicurist I liked who cheerfully gave me well trimmed and bright, jazzy colored painted toenails.

And, like Jacks Beanstalk, my toenails grew … until months later I overheard that a Podiatrist would be available to cut toenails – just’ line up. I waited until mid-afternoon, then ‘got in line.’

The crowd finally thinned in the hallway. Finally, there was room inside where he and an assistant were working with patients in a semi-circle. I was escorted to an empty seat at the far end of the semi-circle facing the doorway. Many of the patients were in wheelchairs and I noticed as he made his way around to the left of the circle, some of the people wore band-aids on their toes. I watched him tap, tap push something against a toe then put the band aid on. As he got closer to me, one or two chairs away I TOLD him I had lymphedema and COULDN’T GET CUT because I too easily was infected. I had been fighting the last session almost a year. Almost nothing, I have experienced compares to the pain of lymphedema. Nothing. He did not reply.

That said, many of the bare toes left behind the Podiatrist sprouted Band-Aids as he moved along past the chairs/wheelchairs.

My visions of getting up graciously, majestically and quietly walking away before he reached me did not happen. I sat there like a stump off a log while he worked his way around to my chair and began cutting my toenails. I didn’t say a word as he finished one foot and worked on the other. I watched him get something and go tap, tap, push on the end of my big toe then placed a band aide over the end. He said something as he moved away and I was escorted out of the room to the wheelchair I pushed away down the hall. To the other end of the hall elevator and down to the next floor.. I rolled into the physical therapy room where I had an appointment and told the therapist what happened. I was shaking and she said she would find the nurse on duty when I couldn’t tell her how bad it was – only that he cut my toe.

The nurse pulled the Band-Aid away to see it and said ‘that’s not bad.’ The trouble with Lymphedema – for me, if not most of us – a simple scratch or bruise can develop into a big deal infection.

In addition, I mentioned to her the room upstairs was full of Band-Aid covered toes on patients – some in wheel chairs. What if they got infected and had to UNNECESSARILY deal with infection caused by cuts on their feet from a podiatrist? I suggested they check the patients.

I asked her to take photos for me because I couldn’t see it. The photos were taken, the Band-Aid replaced and I had my physical therapy session.

To be absolutely clear. I was loaded with antibiotics at the time. My toe healed nicely. No lawsuits then or now. I don’t know how the other patients faired.

My point here is to ask how you know your loved one is not being cut leading to an infection when a trained podiatrist cuts their toenails. You don’t know. Go watch a time or two – check these things out.

Patients be aware – patient centers too. Make sure that podiatrist is competent.

Who is watching?

Thanks for reading… Sharon O’Hara

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Sarcoidites, Ribs, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs All Provided = A PICNIC

Sharon O'Hara

Sarcoidosis Networking is getting ready for their annual picnic Saturday, 10 July 2010 from 1 pm to 5 pm.

Sarcoidites. – get ready for the provided scrumptious ribs – hot dogs – hamburgers.

All we have to do is bring our choice of dessert, chips or a side dish. That’s easy. Getting ready to have a great time is even easier.

. If anyone wants a ride or to car pool, let me know…

More later… Sharon O’Hara

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[Once again Sarcoid Networking Assoc is holding it’s annual picnic at Lynn & Mel Short’s home July 10th from 1 pm until 5 pm. All are invited to spend the day with new and old friends. We will provide the ribs, hot dog’s and hamburgers. All you need to bring is either a side dish or chips or dessert. Please RSVP me, so I know how much to cook.

Thanks –

Lynn Short,
Executive Director

Sarcoidosis Networking Association
5302 South Sheridan Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98408 USA

http://www.sarcoidosisnetwork.org/
253-471-0423 home
253-826-7737 office
lynn@sarcoidosisnetwork.org e-mail ]

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New Pulmonary Club Forms in Trichur, India

Sharon O'Hara

Dr. Col V P Gopinathan, for the Pulmonology Club, Trichur, India, announced they formed a new club on 16 January 2010.
Forty-four patients joined the doctor supported, patient support and educational group.
Included in the program were a demonstration of pulmonary devices and a discussion of the airway diseases shown in the available brochures handed out to the members.

The newly formed Pulmonary Club proposes to hold meetings bimonthly on the first Sunday and to increase membership. India’s medical students are actively involved and office bearers include patients.
India’s Pulmonary Physicians have a good start in their quest to control the growing airway menace, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) menace.

As a lung patient (COPD and Sarcoidosis) living in the Pulmonary Desert of No Physician Patient COPD Club in Kitsap County, Washington, sincere congratulations to Dr. Col C P Gopinathan and Associates for their newly formed Pulmonology Club, Trichur, India.

More later… Sharon O’Hara

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