frustration,frustration
hello i live in ontario canada had crt-d implated nov 2 /09,today i went to the icd clinic wich is 30 minutes down the hiway from were i live nothing in my area for heart patients,anyways when i got there this would be my second interogation since implanted,i said to the receptionist,i would like to get my crt-d interogated,she gave me this strange look and said ,what the hell is a crt-d?(comforting that was ) anyways she called a nurse who does the interogation she says to me on the phone im in surgery whats wrong i said well i have symptoms coming back and you told me if any returned to get back here right away,so that is excatly what i did i tod her my blood pressure was 155/100 i feel stomach sick daily now my left arm was throbbing and just didnt feel right,she told me well doesnt sound like its an icd problem and told me to go home and i could come back tomorrow if i wanted no one could see me,really makes me wonder about the state of the medical system in canada (pretty discouraging)tomorrow i see my family doctor and i will voice my frustration again on just how lousy or medical systme is here,sorry i need to vent .thanx
4 Comments
I hear yah
by Pookie - 2010-01-28 09:01:32
Hi Mike
Are you sure you're not in Halifax? LOL. I totally understand what you are going thru...trust me.
Remember when I said we have two things in common, one being a Canadian & second our implant date is the same (nov. 2) well, now we have a third thing in common....total frustration with our health care system.
I feel for yah, truly I do.
Mike, believe me on this one....if you don't feel right, call 9-1-1 and be taken into your nearest emergency. They will be forced to treat you because you are a heart patient. (Just make sure your medical benefits cover the ambulance ride, cuz mine cost $134 for an 8 min drive).
It's your heart for crying out loud, not your big toe. Or, just drive yourself or get a friend to take you to the ER, and while there, give them just the basic information. Insist that you be interrogated. Don't tell them that you were told you can come back to the pacer clinic at any time, because they too will think that is true (which it is obviously NOT) and they will just tell you to go back to the clinic at your convenience.
Tell them you do not feel safe being at home. A hospital cannot kick you out.
Or show back up at the clinic again tomorrow. Venting your frustration at your family doctor isn't going to fix your problem...unless of course he/she calls the clinic directly on your behalf and they tell he/she for you to come directly to the clinic.
Stay strong; Be Strong and don't let them push you away. It doesn't matter what they think. What matters is how you feel.
Keep me posted.
(Gawd, I'm so angry right now at what you went through, I could spit nickels.)
Hugs bud,
Pookie.
reply
by mikej - 2010-01-31 06:01:58
srrry took me a few days to respond,thanks pookie,blood pressure is a little better, 149/90 still keeping a close eye on it, o and taryn i use the general in hamilton,i live in st catharines,close to niagra falls and there is no heart support out here at all,sorry about my typos when i posted i was still quite upset over what i went through in hamilton
reply
by daisy41763@yahoo.com - 2010-02-05 04:02:14
We the patients have to look after ourselves for the most part and make sure that we are getting the care that we believe that we need.
ProActive is our own care and ask lots of questions and dont let people intimidate you into thinking otherwise.
If your sick and you dont feel right go to another doctor or emergency room.
I live here in the states and as many doctors and the healthcare system we have here. I had to be active in my own care and health care needs.
I do a lot of reading and surfing on the internet.
Good Luck and keep looking out for yourself.
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by tsimbrow - 2010-01-28 09:01:01
A fellow Canadian. I'm live in Toronto, Ontario as well, where do you live. I completely understand your frustration and agree with Pookie about going to the ER. This is your heart and you can't take chances. Your BP is too high and your not well with it. You need to have it taken care of now, not tomorrow in clinic. Where do you go by the way, TGH? I got blown off by my clinic as well yesterday, no time and no doctors, very frustrating, but did offer me the option of ER, but not sick enough to go. You are. Please go and keep me posted on what happens. I should add that I'm a nurse and I know when something doesn't sound right and what you are describing doesn't sound right or good. You need to have this checked right away. Tonight.
Taryn