Oh, dear, what an experience. Sending you positive vibes. I'm so sorry that you had such an unproductive and painful appointment.

Oh you poor thing. They should have been checking on you and escorting you. If you hadn't have been able to open the door, I wonder how long you would have been on the floor. Probably until they needed the room for someone else! Hopefully this results in some policy change.

I'm so sorry that happened. I hope you recover quickly and can get the proper care you need.

I am so sorry you had to go through that. Hope you recover soon and that in the future they do not leave you in a soundproof room alone. What were they thinking.

Wow, glad you made it home in one piece. Rest and recuperate, you need it.

So sorry you had such a horrible and scary time! Let's hope the next time around it goes much much easier!!

What a horrible experience! I'm so sorry that happened to you and hope that when you return for the CT they are better prepared. Hope you and your knees feel better soon!

I'm so sorry, chisue. What an ordeal with nothing positive accomplished! Feel better!

What an awful thing to happen to you. I hope you are feeling better. It sounds so frightening also. I wouldn't go in for anything without my husband from now on. You needed a bodyguard!

I am so sorry that you had such a dreadful experience.

Oh my goodness. Take care of yourself.

I am so sorry as well. What an awful day of experiences :^( I hope the next appointment goes much better. In the meantime take care of yourself, you could use a little spoiling. (((HUGS)))

so glad you are ok now. that could have been much worse if you hadn't managed to get to the door!

did your dh say that he'd been told to go on in with you? or did they not tell him?

I'd check back in a week or 2 (before going back for the procedure) to see what they've changed so that doesn't happen again.

I had a similar incident last summer at the ER. not as drastic, but neglectful, painful and no response from the nurses. the door to my room was open a bit, so I ended up trying to yell for help. seems they still didn't hear me...or did and ignored me. Then I just passed out from the pain. They tried to make me stay there overnight. no way was I staying in that place over night. didn't think I'd survive that!

Sorry for your horrible day yesterday and that the test has to be rescheduled. I just wanted to pop in and let you know I am thinking of you. Your attitude is encouraging! Moaning and groaning are perfectly acceptable here!

Oh, ouch! I am so sorry. Sending gentle hugs your way.

I feel better already, just from the commiseration. Thank you all!

desertsteph -- No, DH said that the aide never came to find him. There were only half a dozen people in the waiting area, and she'd seen us together at two different points only an hour before my procedure. (We'd wondered about her competence -- or if she had difficulty with English -- when she took my vitals. I suspect this was due to the staff shortage; they may have had her doing more than was her usual routine.)

When my DS worked as a paramedic he worked for an ambulance company that contracted with nursing homes to take patients to medical appointments. He and his partner had to argue with staff at one home that they *couldn't* transport one patient on schedule because he had obviously been dead for many hours -- had been dead when someone had set his breakfast tray in front of him.

I'm SO sorry this happened to you! Inexcusable indifference on the part of the hospital. I hope the next time goes better. I've been to three hospitals in the past 9 months and not one had any staff that performed in what I would consider a "professional" manner. It's all very loosey-goosey these days...

Good grief! I was just trying to allay your apprehension. I was told that the reason for the CT scan was to pinpoint a good spot to take the biopsy so they don’t have to go poking around to find a good spot, seems logical. I would insist on it before your next try. The PA who did mine specialized in doing the bone marrow biopsy. You might inquire as to his/her qualifications and experience in that procedure. All of that was volunteered to me prior to. Actually, they talked me out of sedation, which they rarely do any longer because of the success they have. I sure hope your next one goes smoothly.

So sorry. What an awful experience. Hope you are feeling better.

Wow Chisue.....what a terrible experience for you.....

Yikes! So glad you're ok! Hope they learned from this big mistake and don't make it again.

That's horrible. Glad you are home and safe now.

Best wishes, I hope the next encounter goes better.

That sounds like a horrifying experience! Not to sway you either way, but if that happened to me I'd not return to that facility. Inexcusable!

Insist on a CT-guided bone marrow biopsy. I've had 2 biopsies and the difference between the guided and unguided were night and day. I had much, much less discomfort after the guided one.

Bad bad bad! A person short.....I don't care. So sorry. Terrible experience.

What a bad morning you had!!

!!!!!!

Dang! Ouch! That sounds like a horrible experience! I'm glad your alright and got that door open, so someone could help you. I hope things go better next time your there. Poor you!

Sounds like you could use a (((( KT Hug)))

Oh Wow! Reading all that I thought, when is the part where she melts and cries uncontrollably? You are one strong person. I know you didn't think so at the time, but my gosh. you are. So glad that day is over for you. I hope lots of hospital people call you and you offer some more from experience advice.

OMG! sorry, but that's the first thing that comes to mind.

So sorry this happened to you.

It's unbelievable what we can tolerate when given no choice.

My heart goes out to you. ((hugs))

You're not kidding, that was an awful experience!

So sorry you had to endure that! Glad you are safe and okay now.

Oh, gosh, thank you all for your words of sympathy. I've set aside my cane this afternoon. Now that the knees don't hurt as much, the back pain has 'taken up the slack'. Still no word on re-scheduling. I'm going to miss Grandparents' Day at our grandchildren's school tomorrow. It's an old school with a ton of stairs. DH will go and tell me all about it!

Hope you feel all better soon and the next appointment goes well.

Holy crap Chisue, what an awful day. Please feel better soon.

Chisue, I'm sorry you had to go through that. Honestly, every hospital/doctor story I've heard recently recounted an unpleasant experience. It's alarming. Glad you're on the mend.

"they had been a person short that day"? Sorry, that excuse does not fly and should not be accepted by you or tolerated by the Director of Nursing or the Hospital Administrator. They have the name and phone number of all their employees. It's real simple how to solve the problem. The Charge Nurse for that area or the DON calls nursing employees (don't know what level they were short on) until they found someone to work. So what if that person was going to draw overtime. If they had not just done a 6P-6A shift and was not due back on at 6P, get off the pocketbook and pay to have a fully staffed shift! If they absolutely cannot find someone available to work, then the DON needs to hustle on down and work however long is needed to help that shift out. Been there, done that. Chisue, I would encourage you to ask for a meeting with the Hosp. Admin. and the DON and express your dismay at the distress you suffered and the possible life-threatening situation you could have been in. Thank goodness you are okay! Be your own advocate, cause as we've all heard, "If you don't look out for yourself, no one else will".

So sorry you had to go through all this, with no procedure accomplished to show for it. I have a feeling you will get the red carpet treatment next time. You should demand it. No one should be left without a call button.

Very distressing to hear about this. They need a sign on both sides of doors where this could happen - but it might still occur, sad to say. Very sorry to hear of this happening to you, dear lady. I always enjoy your posts!

Very scary! I know you'll insist on more appropriate treatment when you have to go back. Take care!

The hospital scheduler didn't call until I called to ask about this. I'm to have the CT-assisted bone marrow extraction Friday.

wantoretire -- Question, please. The scheduler has me down for mild anesthesia via an IV, and I am to come in fasting. Do I remember that you didn't have anesthesia -- just had the same locals I had on Monday? I didn't move then, if that's what they are worried about. I don't want anything if I can avoid it. I *certainly* don't want the VERSED they were planning on giving me.

Chisue!!! What an ordeal, I’m so glad your ok! I hope things go better Friday, wow....

Chisue - You have my complete sympathy and I'm thankful that you didn't suffer any more damage. There's no excuse for leaving you alone. And if they told you to apply pressure to the puncture site and then left, then they are doubly at fault. Under those circumstances someone should have been there applying the pressure for you. DH had a biopsy and had excessive bleeding (blood thinners will do that to you) and his physician stood next to him for 30 minutes applying pressure. Obviously his situation was more severe than yours but the point is they should not have left you.

I'll add my opinion to all the others here - ask questions ahead of time and make sure they understand your wishes. I don't know why they want to give sedation. You don't need it for this procedure, the locals should suffice and you've already shown them that you are capable of lying still. Most of the bone marrow harvests I'm aware of have been performed under local. The few patients that had sedation were individuals who had a morbid fear of needles and the physician felt that they wouldn't be able to keep still. Can you call your oncologist and discuss this?

chisue - I wanted the versed, harking back to when this was an excruciating procedure, but the nurse and PA who was to do it talked me out of it, saying that the procedure had come a long way and with little, if any, pain. Also, that what with prep and by the time the versed kicked in, it could have been over with. I took them at their word and it was fine. I did have 3 locals of lidocaine which I barely felt. Frankly, if I had gone through what you have, I think I would go with the anesthesia, just for self-preservation. I've had versed several times with no problems. JMHO at this juncture. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

ETA, I pretty much agree with what Maire_cate said above. My oncologist offered that sedation can be used because of my reaction when he told me I needed the biopsy, but is not really necessary nowadays.

I sent you a private message.