straight talk

A Medical Tale of Horror For the Elderly.



Posted: Saturday, July 19, 2008

by

A Medical tale of horror for the elderly. Did you know that once you get past a certain age you are automatically labeled as mentally slow and having somewhat less of a human value? Why would I be of that opinion? Sadly through first hand experience with multiple so called professional and educated people I have witnessed it, heard it and seen it. Yes they seem to be in my opinion the worse of the lot, although what I am talking about comes from many different levels of society. Stereo typing myself you say, well not when you experience it. A big difference my friends.

Well just what is that across the board stereo type label that brings with it the definitions of senility, dementia, loss of memory and everything else negative. It is the simple fact someone has determined via the Easter Bunny analysis that you really are that way by nature of what they are witnessing, the exterior packaging. Does it matter that a severe infections may be playing havoc with your mental capabilities, no. They see it and a determination is instantly made and they include everyone old. Old to them is how they deem old. Certainly if you are 70 or older you fit the bill. Does it matter that these same types and of the same age volunteer and perform many functions all about them, usually in hospitals and medical environments, no. You see these people are really not seen at all. They really do not exist but only as workers bee's. Necessary to hold costs down. Like it, why would you, but the truth none the less. A badge, a meal, an award and they will kiss your, well you know. It is what they say. She is just old as if to imply all elderly are that way. Ass -u-me as usual. Does it mean you are really that way? Well of course not but to the young, the arrogant, the ones who are "educated" and just plain society that is what many say the elderly are. It is fact and it is so sad that it is right before us and we do not care to recognize it.

Now I will use a real life example. For anyone and I do mean anyone to come and debate it with me, please do. No not a bitch just the facts, take em or leave em. You have good success great but perhaps, just perhaps there are others out there who know what I am writing to?

Now here is my mom sick with an infection since last October 2007. Try as I may to get someone who can heal her I have become the negative to them. "Let us do our job". Ok, when will you? Please go away and don't say anything. Your mom is old and really has had a good life. You need to expect the negatives. Yes for my mom, theirs, well a different story. Yes, the sad part my mom is worse off but not because of age my friends, fact. I have pulled her back from the brink multiple times. The brink that these "health providers" placed her near, fact. Why go, what alternative? In my opinion it is just like these politicians, nothing! However, we are forced to go by law. She needs to see a Doctor and I don't disgree just find me one that I don;t have tor emind so often.

She has been to multiple Doctors with no successful results. Same routine no matter who she see's. A lot of Easter Bunny talk and no results. So last Monday, after months of playing the game we wind up in the hopsital again. Yes, I call it playing the game that our government has established. How does it go? Well it goes like this.

Fist we treat with X, then we wait another 10 days, take a culture and then we treat with Y, take a culture and then after almost a month we send her to the Emergency Room who might admit her or not, since money is scarce they just may send her home and treat her all over again with pills. You know medicare has guidelines. The same pills these doctors, all of them had determined were not effective back in November 2007, give her again and guess what, yup, blame her age. Rhetorically, perhaps they may have made her this way by treating her over and over and over with the same medications?

So we take her to hospital A, because we were under the impression they were going to admit her. No, she has to go through our expedited Emergency Room process. Ok why and do your eally believe that? Tests = money. Yes and our government wonders why Medical costs are so high. They run the tests and 5.5 hours later they come to me, these educated folks and say, your mom has an infection. Wow, bang zoom, golly gee, where did you get that diploma, I need one. Can I write in for one?

Now here is the good part or sin as I call it.. We are going to send her home and treat her with, you got it, pills . Stink, fuss, angry, sorry, book A of Medicare says treat this way. See you, bye, bye, so long. Yes I'll see you in about a day or so. Two days later back to the Emergency Room. Repeat the process. Now she is really worse. She doesn't know who she is and where, etc. All her vitals are fine, we'll take a couple of tests. Ok we are in a "hospital" They need to know, you know. Ok what about the tests you took just the other day. Oh new event we have to take them over. More money. What about her being confused, hallucinating, "oh she old and that's what most old people have", dementia. Well she was just like you and me before the infection. "Oh, really, that's unusual" for her age."

Ok, out come the results of the test, which by the way those 20 minutes tests have taken over 4 hours. Now not once had my mom been asked if she needed water, fluids, anything and she is a diabetic.Yet the nurse makes her regular entry into the computer and says we will have the results soon, I say "infection" and leave it at that. About an hour later as the nurse is flying bye I get an "Oh by the way I'll have her release forms in a minute, we're sending her home".

Ok, here is where Christianity takes a back seat and my Italian, call it what you want. shows. Very"unprofessional like I yell at her"Hey there doesn't seem to be any professionals around so why expect me to be one? So I yell out to her as she flies bye, "don't you think it would be nice if someone professional spoke to me about her before you made that decision"? "Secondly, here is some news for you, I take her home and anything happens, guess what?" Oh, silence on the floor. Who as that yelling out and just what was that he said?

Well low and behold the ER doctor shows up and says, "hi I'm doctor so and so". I said "yes", a little bit curtly, I might add. I admit I was wrong here. He asks "who are you" and I advised him and he says, "I was here to see you but you weren't here". To which I said, "well where was I, I was sitting in the chair right there [In the cube they have] and you never showed up here". Maybe somewhere else but not here". "Ok, ok perhaps but here is the bottom line". "Your mom has an infection". [Oh really] and yes "we are going to send her home to treat her." [Oh really.]

So I ask "does it matter at all that in your and her medical records, this hospital, her doctor, the infection specialists she has very distinct comments stating she is "resistant to oral medication, treat with IV"." " Does it matter that she has been in and out of this and other hospitals and rehabilitation facilities for seven months or more and she has been sent home SICK only to be treated over and over and over with the same treatment that you educated doctors wrote, not I, pills do not work?"

Hey a little terse now and you want to do exactly the same thing. " Oh I didn't realize that" , your doctor never sent that to us, mis communication" Then I got even more upset. " Ok, I have stated over and over and over and multiple times her conditions, her medications, her resistance to those medications and how they impact her. I have stated that at admissions, my doctor has faxed over her records and I will most likely have to reiterate them again. Just what is it that you medical people do not understand or don't care to. Is she just another little old lady?"

"Ok, wait here I'll call your doctor". Ten minutes later he shows up again. " Yes I checked with your doctor, who isn't there but has someone covering and we agreed she needs to be admitted and placed on an IV." Wow, bang, zoom.

Now after two more hours of waiting. You see,check this out if perchance you go to a hospital and need admission, check in is at 4 PM just like the hotels, ceck out at 11 AM. f your in the waiting room at 9 AM guess what? You got it now. Yes you will wait until 4 PM because well " we need to get a room for you".

So now we get up to the floor and the nurse says, "you will have to go over her history" and guess what. Yes I repeats it all over again to her. Every single thing. Now to boot, I went back in this morning early and they have her on an IV medication. Sounds great right, no, it is the same one that didn't do the job the first time. Ask for the doctor. "Hey it is Saturday, none available". I'll have them call you.

So I offer this tale to vent, yes to bring home the point that as we get older you better have someone right there standing up for you. Other wise you are no more then, well that little old lady or man laying there with not a care in the world as the world passes along. You know they're all that way anyway. Yes and as for government cutting costs, in my opinion pathetic, worst then pathetic, it is beyond words or comprehension. There are no words that can be said.

Yes, you want these same types then you can have them, period and yes you do deserve the big MOO and I pray that one day, even though now you may feel safe, secure, smug that this won't ever happen to you, it doesn't. yes I pray but if perchance it does and you find yourself alone, laying on a stretcher with no one interested, caring, concerned, just realize, old people are all like this, yes and you have had a good life.

Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright 2008 Robert Melaccio



Robert Melaccio Sr. has worked in the computer industry for 40 plus years in a diversified business and managerial environments. He enjoys freelance writing, giving seminars for young adults and teen groups as well as being an accomplished award winning poet of published poetry. He has worked teaching and as a youth minister. He is married and has three children and three grandchildren.

This Article has been viewed 159 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.