Wednesday 9 November 2011

Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated...

I think I may still be alive - I'm not quite sure because in my six week drug induced stupor, I may in fact have carked it, and am perceiving myself now from another dimension. Allow me please if you will...

Arm is falling off, pain is unbearable, left side in complete and total spasm with fingers trying to gouge out my palm (and my fingernails on those fingers are huge because they are too sensitive to cut) - I did the right thing of course - I went to my Doctor.
"That looks painful..." He said, looking at the curled up immovable fingers.
"That's why I'm here - I can't take this anymore. You must kill the pain. I need my surgery...Help."
Then in his best Indian/Malaysian/Indonesian/Australian/English/Thai accent (This is not to slight any nation in particular - just to draw attention to the fact there could be 'status' issues going on here that I don't quite understand) - he said, "I refuse to treat you anymore or give you medical certificates. The hospital can do it. I can't give you pills for arm - you could have brain tumour."
I looked at the large brace and splint on my left arm and wondered if there was something about the human anatomy I really didn't quite grasp.
"Brain Tumour? But..." Words failed me as I pointed with a good arm to a bad arm and wondered if he had been watching too many episodes of 'House' where nothing is ever what it seems...
"You see what I am telling you is this," He continued, "It has been five months now and the hospital have sent me nothing! Nothing! For all I know you could go home each day and place these things on your arm just so you can get pills and time off work. Of course I know you don't. I know you suffer, but it is the point I am making. The hospital will send me no records of yours detailing what is wrong unless I specifically ask for them. I refuse to do so. If I were to do that for every patient I would only have time to see two thirds of my patients every day"
"If you don't do something Doc, next time you see me I'll only be two thirds of a patient. This arm isn't gonna last much longer."
Then he came up with a great line "My hands are tied"
"One of mine is falling off." I protested.
"There is nothing I can do - without records It would be wrong of me to give you things which could be making you worse."
Realising I was getting nowhere I muttered something like "Ok - so I use my good one to call the hospital and get records?"
"That would help"

"Hello...hospital person...please help" I gave the lady on the other end of the line the whole story.
"Oh what a shame, you poor man, caught up in a dreadful situation between this hospital and your doctor and suffering as a consequence! It's horrid."
"So you can help me?"
"No. Unfortunately not. Without a written request from your Doctor or the approval of the Chief Consultant here no records can be passed to just anyone"
"But he's not just anyone - he's my Doctor. The one who sent me to hospital in the first place five months ago...You do have my records there right?"
"Yes, Yes. I have them here right in front of me - Let's see," She said reading them aloud - as if seeking confirmation. "Rory D Grant, Cubital tunel syndrome displaying unique characteristics, combination Ulnar nerve, Radial nerve, Surgery necessary, little hope of success-" She stopped abruptly "Sorry, didn't mean to say that last part unless of course you were already aware of that..." She giggled nervously.
"Can I just get those records to my Doctor...Please?"
"I'd need a signed consent form from you and signed by your Doctor too - You can fax it through from his surgery and the records will be with him in 24 hours"
"24 hours??? I've been waiting five months for treatment from a doc who refuses to treat me because of something which only takes 24 hours to complete?"
"In fact Mr Grant I only said 24 hours just in case - it normally takes about 5 minutes as it's all transferred electronically..."

I rushed to the surgery and told him what they had said.
"But you see this is what I have been telling you..." He objected, 'They want us, me, to do the paperwork necessary for these things when I should get it as a matter of right - it is the proper way. I am your Doctor. Do you know how much paperwork is involved in doing this 'request'?"
"No." I said, almost crying in pain but waiting for him to tell me it was as thick as War and Peace.
"No, neither do I. My secretary will know. I suspect it will be huge."
The secretary leaned over the reception desk and handed me a single sheet of paper "You sign there Mr Grant and Doctor you sign there, I fax it off and that's it."
I restrained myself from strangling the Doc right there and then knowing I could only do it with one arm and he probably had a concealed scalpel somewhere upon him.
"You see!" He exclaimed as he waved his left arm in the air, possibly because he knew it was something I couldn't do "Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork!" - Docs and their superiority syndromes. Next time I see him he'll probably be sitting there juggling.

It was too late - My wife could tell it was too late, something had to be done that no despatching of records would help with - At 6am she carted me off to ER where they took one look and admitted me immediately - I spent the day with my entire arm packed in ice, morphine shots to the belly, diazepam poked down my throat - after a few hours the spasm began to release and my fingers started to straighten up and what's pain when all you can see is pretty coloured butterflies spinning around you and hear Deep Purple in your head?

And in a sense that's where I've been now for some considerable weeks. In a drug induced stupor and trying to ride out the pain. I've been fitted with a new splint for my hand now that my fingers are straight again and it makes typing a little easier - there's more room for my good fingers to type.

Now I have some catching up to do - not least with all your blogs and your e-mails. First however, I have an appointment with my Doc in one hour to go get more Diazepam - If he so much as looks at me the wrong way they'll be creating some new entries in his own medical records...

Love you all - Missed you all.

Rory

Updated - and Edited to add -


Thank you everyone - WE FINALLY UNDERSTAND IT! My Sister in Law works for the Health Service and explained what has been happening.

It's all to do with money and budgets! The National Health Service here is essentially one big pot of money - but now individual budgets are being scrutinised. In the past the Hospital would have released the records even though there's an administrative cost involved because the payment comes from a central fund whether it was Ortho, Neurology, The Doctor, The Hospital or whomever's budget - nobody really bothered because ultimately the cost was borne by the 'Health Service'.

Now it seems they have to account for every penny in their own individual budgets - so by getting the Doc to make the paperwork request he gets billed for it - he's obviously been reluctant to make the request because then the cost comes out of his NHS budget. Previously no one would have cared who footed the bill because it all comes from the NHS ultimately - and still does. But each sector of the NHS is now trying to make their budget allocation look efficient, well organised, and so everyone within the system is billing everyone else for everything - which of course is a big change from the way things were done before. And some are loathe to have it come from their own budgets hence my Doc's reluctance to make the formal request for my records.

It seems that even now if I were in hospital with my arm and complained about the other arm - Rather than make me an appointment to see a specialist within the hospital or even get someone else to have a look - they'd send me back to my Doc for an official 'referral' and start the process all over again because then he gets billed for it instead of the hospital just saying 'Oh well you're here now - let's have a look'.

Money it seems is not just the root of all evil - it's the root of a great deal of discomfort and pain.

It all makes sense now - Gosh my Sister in Law is clever.

Rory

22 comments:

  1. Oh My God Rory.....what a misery you have been through. If I lived closer I would go with you to that miserable useless excuse for a doctor and help you "convince" him. (Hubby tells me I'm a good convincer) It is so good to see you back here. Fingers crossed for a permanent solution.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well I was happy and relieved to see a post from you, but saddened by what you have been experiencing. I'm hoping that you can find some relief and (like Delores said) a permanent solution.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Delores (Typed lol) Thank you - My own wife is at that stage of removing all and any power I have over my own decision making processes and going to war with my Doc and the Health Service. Aoart from anything else she's getting no sleep with me lying there groaning all night lol...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Laura - Thank you - I'm as dippy as hell at present as it's the only way kill the pain - when I was sent to the limb clinic to have new splints fitted the staff there who I am quite friendly with all said 'Hey Rory - How did the surgery go?'
    They were horrified when I told them I still haven't had it. One of them was going to formally complain that if it is not done soon it would amount to malpractice as my arm deteriorates weekly.

    I just don't know what's happening? Am I being shunted further down the waiting list because the odds of success are low? 5 months of not being able to work is crippling us - I'm thinking of selling the kids - more so if they don't get last night's washing up done...

    So Brenna and Maddy - if you're reading this - be warned!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so sorry to hear of your misery, both mentally and physically. It is frightening to hear (and know) what is happening in the medical profession.

    I know words cannot help you, but we who follow you have been very concerned about your well-being and are distressed at what has happened to you. Hopefully, signing and getting paperwork signed will help you through this difficult mess.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Starting over - big thanks - I know it all sounds horrid but there was a wee heartwarming thing did happen just last week which I will blog about later - it really raised my spirits.

    Oh I forgot to say - I get on really well with the Docs at the hospital - they seem to like me coz I don't complain lol. One of them sat down and typed a letter to my Doctor which was a kind of sideswipe at him and then capitalised now that we have stabilised his condition THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT OF RORY AFTER DISCHARGE.

    She gave me the letter and said 'Hand this to your doctor - then find a new one.' LOL. She didnt say 'Lol' that was me - Just thought I'd clarify that...lol.

    Rory

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rory!!
    So happy to hear from you:).. I wondered what was going on!!.. what a bunch of jobsworths!! the insensitivity is unbelievable ( but believable!!)

    it angers me the unnecessary awkwardness
    but pleases me you're here to tell the tale

    Hoping they treat you right from this day on Rory..

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dawna - It's terrific to hear from you too! It's terrific hearing from everyone! I've been on such a downer this month with all that's been happening - it's relentless.

    And I got no probs from him this morning - did as he was TOLD! lol..

    I really hope all's well in your world - but I'll find out when I catch up with your blog I hope!

    Rory

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maybe it's the pills? Maybe I've just been gone too long? But how do I find in the dashboard the latest posts from the other bloggers I follow? I just don't seem able to find my way round in there anymore...

    If anyone can help it would be much appreciated!

    Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rory! My gods they're a torture system over there, too. I'm so sorry. But hey, Deep Purple's not bad. Could've been Buck's Fizz. ;) You've been gone so long it'll probably be easier to just pick up the last posts of everyone and go thru their page list of the posts you missed. You poor guy, I hope this level of better really is better, and lasts. I'm just happy you're back.

    ReplyDelete
  11. oh dear! That Doctor was lucky I wasn't there, i think they would be sending him to autopsy!! (just kidding of course) but I would have been shouting and going to a new doctor!

    I do hope you are better very soon! It sounds very painful!
    xx
    callie

    ReplyDelete
  12. You poor thing. I was hoping your absence meant you were in the hospital because you'd finally gotten your surgery. That doctor sounds totally incompetent and uncaring. Please get another. (Or sic your wife on this one until he straightens up and flies right!)

    Welcome back. I'm so sorry for your pain.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You HAVE been away for a while if you can't remember how to navigate dashboard...okay...dashboard...reading list...scroll down, choose your blog that you want to catch up with..click on it..your reading list will then reflect that blogger only and will give you strictly their posts...scroll down to the bottom and work your way up. When you are finished with that blogger go back to the reading list and choose another...repeat.
    ta ta

    ReplyDelete
  14. I read the first paragraph and was just about to scream down the phone at ( if I had your number)
    GO TO the ER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
    THAT gp NEEDS A KICK UP THE JAXIE

    nice to have you back

    ReplyDelete
  15. John said what I was going to say. Plus, I was going to add an, 'Are you effing kidding me???'

    Jesus, Rory. I hope your wife rips a few people a new one.

    I'm sorry you're going through so much shit.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rory!!! I have missed you so much... and aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhh on the bloody bastid overgrown baby ass doctor! We're too polite for our own good, brought up back 'ome. Loads of luck and some swift boots to the 'ead in getting anywhere with your poor dishevelled arm. X

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you everyone - WE FINALLY UNDERSTAND IT! My Sister in Law works for the Health Service and explained what has been happening.

    It's all to do with money and budgets! The National Health Service here is essentially one big pot of money - but now individual budgets are being scrutinised. In the past the Hospital would have released the records even though there's an administrative cost involved because the payment comes from a central fund whether it was Ortho, Neurology, The Doctor, The Hospital or whomever - nobody really bothered because ultimately the cost was borne by the 'Health Service'.

    Now it seems they have to account for every penny in their own individual budgets - so by getting the Doc to make the paperwork request he gets billed for it - he's obviously been reluctant to make the request because then the cost comes out of his NHS budget. Previously no one would have cared who footed the bill because it all comes from the NHS ultimately - and still does. But each sector of the NHS is now trying to make their budget allocation look efficient, well organised, and so everyone within the system is billing everyone else for everything - which of course is a big change from the way things were done before. And some are loathe to have it come from their own budgets hence my Docs reluctance to make the formal request for my records.

    It seems that even now if I were in hospital with my arm and complained about the other arm - Rather than make me an appointment to see a specialist within the hospital or even get someone else to have a look - they'd send me back to the Doc for an official 'referral' and start the process all over again because then he gets billed for it instead of the hospital just saying 'Oh well you're here now - let's have a look'.

    Money it seems is not just the root of all evil - it's the root of a great deal of discomfort and pain.

    It all makes sense now - Gosh my Sister in Law is clever.

    Rory

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well Rory I'm glad to hear you can type my name now but really, I was getting used to Lawless and Austan calls me that now....I'm thinking of having it legally changed.

    ReplyDelete
  19. LOL Delores - at some point I will have to switch back to speech to text even if only after surgery - Your lawless days are not yet over :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh my good Lord.... So sorry to hear about your travails, and glad to hear you're back, even if it's only partially for the moment. Hang on to that hospital doctor and ditch your GP!

    Our own NHS, even in the current climate hasn't gone quite that far in billing/accounting madness. You'd think that someone would twig that investigating something actually includes reporting it back, and therefore the price includes both. Last thing I had done, the hospital gave me a printout of what it was going to email to the GP (complete with pretty pictures).

    ReplyDelete
  21. It's such a relief to have you back Rory, I missed you a lot, but Jeez ...! It sounds as tho' you've really been/are going through hell! I'm having a whip round to raise money for an Uzi or some such for you to off several people in your health service. They've seem to have embraced bureaucracy and raised it to a Satanic art form! Unbelievable!
    And I forbid you to read any of my posts that you might have missed. Just give yourself this little break! I'm embarrassed by the pathetic whingeing in them. My troubles don't stack up in the pantheon of troubles compared with yours. Hang in there, Rory, even if they are trying to deprive you of the means of hanging on to anything. Sorry! Inappropriate flippancy. Love, Alec xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. You puir wee soul. I can't imagine the agony you've gone through/going through. I pinched the nerve in my right shoulder during a sound sleep about 10 years ago, but I didn't suffer any major pain, just a severely reduced mobility, which slowly came right through gentle exercise. I hope the sawbones can get yours fixed eventually.

    Keep taking the pills; those pink, flashing, flying, hippopotami are so cute, or I thought so when I was on DF118.

    ReplyDelete