Spent a few days at SFGH

Was like aluminum foil and cavities or

why I yelled + screamed a lot at SFGH

---My most recent General Hospital stay, I returned to LHH, yesterday, can be explained in this way: I had a mouthful of cavities and the General Hospital staff that I dealt with each had a ball of aluminum foil. Some gave me none. Some me as much as they could. Some situations were really fabulous and some needed tweaking.
---I went over there in pain. When I maintained a certain position, the pain was less prevalent. Only I could determine how to move, which was very little, to keep the pain away. If I moved quickly I felt attacked by the pain. It was like having cavities, but keeping everything asleep so as to not stimulate the cavities to begin hurting. All was well…until something occurred to stimulate the cavities. That something was usually someone who had as his intention - to help me. There were plenty of them. Remember that this is a hospital that I’m talking about.
---They drew blood many times, took (painful) x-rays a few times - only painful because of the contorted ways I had to position myself to get them. They used the sliding board instead of believing me about how I can transfer if you stop attacking me with the sliding board. And…for good measure restraining movement of my right arm and hands using a tight grip (this is claustrophobic as well as painful. It brings me to a panic situation…almost immediately.)
---I usually do pretty well in circumstances that I am in. I am a pretty smart guy when given half-a-chance. I have adjusted pretty well to the hospital in which I live. I have adjusted pretty well to my compromised physical condition(s) and try not to rain on other’s parades when they are in progress.
---Pain comes, usually at those times something surprises me that I didn’t anticipate. If I’m told what is happening and am kept abreast of the situation and in that way allowed to be part of it, I can usually muster up enough of, whatever is necessary, to get through it.
 
This Makes Me Wonder: I do fine if left to my own devices and can do many things, but they might not be the same way that most people do them. The big difference between a day at LHH and day spent at SFGH recently is this: They communicate with me at LHH and keep me in the loop of what they are doing or going to do to me. At SFGH many treated me as if I knew nothing and I was just fanaticizing when I told them that there were some things that they shouldn’t do because of pain and that there are some things that I can do for myself.
---It takes time to develope relationships. Staff and Resident should be assessed where they stand numerically. That would give some kind of testimony to there ability to communicate. With, myself, it doesn't take very long to assess the possibilty of relationship with the person in question. Over time the situation seems to improve. It is first encounters with closed-minded folks, that are most difficult.
---Many times they got angry with me when their expert came up with a plan to reduce the pain for me…and it didn’t work. Even if I know exactly how I would handle the situation…my suggestion is the one NOT chosen. Being flat on a gurney or bed or anywhere…is a thing I can’t do. And…lastly, they're were the ones who tell you that they are here to help, NOT hurt you…and end up hurting you, anyway.

---Truly, all would be prevented if the ''offenders'' would learn to LISTEN better and believe more the one that they are treating.

SUMMARY: I went to the hospital in pain. I couldn’t breathe properly. I had pain when I would NOT breathe shallowly. The objective was to relieve the pain…and it’s gone. I think that we would have saved added pain time if they had discussed each procedure with me before diving right in without my even knowing who they are. AND THEY SEEM TO ALWAYS GRAB MY RIGHTARM. (I have a movement disorder where my rightarm and fingers have been affected. This is all due to the stroke that I had in 2002.) Most of the people there were nice to me, but there were times when my concerns were NOT considered due to time constraints or worse. The worst would be a negative attitude toward the patients or the situation that they are in. They should work on that in there own time…but, work on that, please. Maybe the answer is to do something else. It may just be a bad fit to be in this field.
---This is a tough one I know. Please learn to listen to the patient/resident. Contrary to some belief system somewhere, they don’t lie about everything all the time. To the defense of staff members…you would be held libel if your charge fell NO MATTER what he may have told you. That is a hard one that needs real discussion.
---There are NO hard and fast rules that cover everything all-the-time. DISCUSSION and DIALOGUE with each client and don’t assume much either way. ALLOW him to participate in the procedure by letting him know what you’re doing. HE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP.
---Every encounter should have a beginning, middle and ending. The patient should be told that you are through for now if you are. Don’t assume that he should know that. Some things that are done are completely foreign to us. With, myself, I can’t see what you’re doing all-the-time so just by getting up tells me nothing other than you’ve stopped doing what you were doing for some reason.
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If some of these things are done I know it will be better for me and some others. I won’t be chewing on as much aluminum foil and there shouldn’t be the extra pain that seems avoidable. All I’m really saying is - let’s work together and listen to each other. I had some great encounters despite the ‘’less than good ones’’ during my stay in SFGH. And, each wonderful time involved dialoging and working together. The days of the doctor working on un-savvy, knocked-out clients isn’t always every case. We have to find a new normal here, also. Maybe we should find a new normal in the attitude towards the underserved population than what is used, too. It is not just me…there are too many who fit in this mold. I believe that we would find it with dialogue. Take Care.

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If it sounds like I'm only griping...I apologize. I had a tough time.