Monday Madness

***Disclaimer*** 

 For those that enjoy reading my sweet upbeat blog, this is not one of those posts.  I have had it and have decided to share the frustration.  You have been warned!

As you know, James was admitted on Friday after a follow up visit with his surgeon's PA.  He was admitted for:

1. Lack of appetite
2. Lack of bowel movement
3. Shortness of breath
4. Slight fever
5. Anemia

And so far this is what has been done to treat him:

1. Lack of appetite - NOTHING
2. Lack of bowel movement - over the counter laxatives and stool softeners
3. Shortness of breath - chest x ray, the same antibiotics he was getting at home
4. Slight fever - NOTHING
5. Anemia - Blood transfusion on Friday

So why are we in the hospital???
To add to it, the shortness of breath and lung problems have become very painful.  What do we do for pain?  Oh yes, narcotics!  Narcotics that put you so far out of your mind sleep is impossible.  If he is still hurting, do we further search for the source of pain?  NO!  What do we do?  More narcotics!  I am not a doctor and I don't play one on TV but it is my opinion that we should find and treat the problem.  Not the symptoms. 
I am frustrated.  I am sick of doctors saying one thing and doing another. 
Doc - "Well I think you should have a CT scan." 
Amy - "Hi nurse.  Do we know when James might have his CT scan?"
Nurse- "Oh the doctor didn't order one."
Amy - "So he's not having one?"
Nurse- "Well, I don't know but don't eat anything, just in case."
Seriously.  And how long is James not supposed to eat anything "just in case" they come get him for a scan the doctor didn't order?  See why I am frustrated?

Another instance...
Phlebotomist - "Mr. Abell, I am going to stick you for a blood draw. Ok?"
Mrs. Abell - "Will you please use his port?  His veins have just about had it."
Phlebotomist - "No, I can't use his port.  The nurse said to stick him, Mrs. Abell."
Mrs. Abell - "Do not stick him.  I will be right back."    To the nurse: "Why does she have to stick him?"
Lazy Nurse - "Oh he doesn't want to be stuck?"
Mrs. Abell - "No.  We had a surgical procedure to put in a port so he would not have to be stuck so often."
Lazy Nurse- "Oh well a nurse has to do all blood draws from the port."
Mrs. Abell - "He's in room P320 and I suggest you hook up to his port if you would like lab work."

Did she seriously question that he didn't want to be stuck?  Really?  Does anyone want to be stuck in the veins with a needle?  He has had so many IVs and blood draws in the past ten days that his arms are black and blue with bruises.  The crease in his arm at his elbow looks like a target and they are continually sticking a needle there.  And you are going to send someone in to poke him one more time, when it can be avoided if you weren't so busy sitting at the nurse's station watching YouTube.  Ugh.  Everyone says. Go home and get some rest.  Take some time for yourself.  Take a deep breath and calm down.  To that I say: No.  If I am not here, I don't know what's going on and how to properly care for James.  And more so than that, they don't know how to properly care for him.  If I am not here, do you think some one is going to get him ice water every hour?  No.  Do you think someone is going to walk and talk with him?  No.  Is someone going to make him coffee at 3 AM?  No.  I am here as long as he is here but I am at a breaking point this morning.  I have not slept in a bed for eleven nights.  I have watched my husband suffer.  I have seen people show up for a paycheck and nothing more.  I am just so over it.  The light we saw at the end of this tunnel  seems to be so far away now.
Amy