UCLA Medical Center.....I am soooo impressed!

[DisnyMama]

My DS (15) was admitted to UCLA Medical Center on Sunday for pain management of a really, really, really nasty headache that he has had for about a month but escalated to a "10" on a pain scale of 1-10,( 10 being the worst pain you have ever felt) on Friday evening. I took hime to our local ER and they gave him Reglan (for the vomiting) and Morphine for the pain. They also did a head CAT Scan (Normal) and a Lumbar Puncture (Normal). They got the pain down and sent him home in the wee hours of the morning. By Saturday night the pain had escalated backup to a "10" again with him sick to his stomach so we headed back to the same ER. They gave him Reglan again and Dilauded for the pain which did nothing. The jerk off doctor said that he needed to see his neuroligist at UCLA on Monday and she should admit him to UCLA for pain management because there was really nothing they could do for him. AUGH!!! I couldn't believe he said that!! He is a doctor for criminy sake and that is the oath that he takes or did he forget. Luckily, I had been e-mailing my son's Ped. neurologist at UCLA after each ER visit and let her know everything that happened and she also told me what to say each time we went to the ER but you know how it it. Other doctors to not like to be told how to pratice medicine whether it's from a patient or another physician. Anyway, SAturday nights ER visit lasted into early Sunday morning and we went home with him still in pain. He suffered the rest of Sunday and into Monday where he drastically took a turn for the worse and was in so much pain and vomiting profusely. I mean to the point that he literally could not sit up without getting sick. This went on for hours. I sent the UCLA Ped. Neuo. an e-mail and she said bring him in to UCLA ER and they will admit him and begin pain management. So, that is what we did and they have literally had an entire team of Neurologists hovering around him. I counted "6" of them (some students of course since this is a teaching hospital) standing around DS's bed this morning. And....each one has come back to check on him throughout the day off and on and they really seem to care about his pain. DS is becoming a human guinea pig because this headache is so resistant to treatment. They have literally tried about 5 different medications, none of which take it down past a "4-5" on his pain level and they want it gone completely because they (and I) are afraid that if they don't figure out what will work to get rid of the pain altogether we will be right back in the ER with him sick again. The volunteers are wonderful as they care about the family. They cared if I was comfortable and if there was anything I needed such as a comfy chair, coffee, water, blanket, magazine, etc. I have been getting the same treatment from the nursing staff-just unbelievably wonderful to both of us. Oh, and the food isn't bad either! The cafeteria is set up just like the food courts at the Value resorts. By the way, there is so much hustle and bustle with it being a learning facility it is kind of like walking into a scene from Grey's Anatamy only without the lead actors. It's a really very interesting place. I know one thing, if anyone is contemplating a career as a doctor or nurse, this is the perfect place to just go and wander around, have lunch and eavesdrop. Well, I need to try and get at least a couple hours sleep before heading back to the hospital. Keep your fingers crossed that something will finally kick in and work and DS will get relief from this headache. By the way, they aren't considering it a migraine any more because it doesn't follow traditional migraine patterns. This headache is all in his forehead with no sensitivity to light, sound, etc.

 

[DisnyMama]

I forgot one other very important thing about the doctors and nurses that work at UCLA Medical Center- Almost all of them, men and women wear......
CROCS!!!!!!

Ok, That's it. I'm done. Lack of sleep will lead you to do crazy things.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

I had to keep re-reading your title and your post b/c the two didn't seem to coincide with each other. I guess you're content with the care you are receiving. I hope so. What your sonis going thru sounds downright awful. I do hope he feels better. Please keep us posted.

 

[DisnyMama]

I apologize for all that have read and my rambling made no sense. This will happen when you get about three hours sleep since last Friday and it is the middle of the night. Basically, I am just very impressed with UCLA Medical Center in General as a whole. Their entire medical staff, doctors, nurses, volunteers, housekeeping, security, etc. They are top notch when it comes to showing humanity, professionalism, caring, customer service and just really wonderful people skills. I would love to work in this environment. My 2nd post was a result of exhaustion causing me to become a little "slap-happy". Crocs did run rampant among the medical staff in Blue.

Ok, for what's important. DS came home today. YEAH!! They managed to get his headache and keep it down to a "1" on his pain scale meaning it wants to just linger there in his head and not completely go away but very manageable. The doctors feel that this lingering headache is being caused (probably) due to the lumbar puncture from last Friday night. My only concern and same with DS is that it does not come back like before.

 

[LoraJ]

Half of the staff at the hospital that my boyfriend's dad is at also wear crocs.

When we took him to the ER, we had a similar experience wher ethey were going to send him home. I put my foot down and said that while they hydrated him, they hadn't figured out why he was throwing up non-stop. So sending him home he'd just dehydrate again and then we'd have to send him back. The doctor was whining about how it would take a week to days it out. They did finally admit him.

I hope they figure out what is causing his pain and that he's back to normal soon.

 

[ktulu]

We had a friend who had cancer and was admitted to MD Anderson in Houston, TX. That hospital rocks! The food was "room service" and guys were dressed up nicely to deliver the food, no scrubs for those guys! They could pretty much order what they wanted to eat. The staff ruled, made sure we were comfortable when we visited too. We now have a friend who works there as a PA, and she said she is amazed almost daily on how great it is.

 

[DisnyMama]

LoraJ, That is just awful for a doctor to say that he would just have to tuff it out. That is why you go in. I was so afraid that's what we would be told but luckily they said just the opposite. I think the lesson to be learned by all is that if you are not satisfied with the medical advice you recieve by one doctor then go to someone else. You will get a whole other perspective. Did they ever find out if or what was cause your dad's pain and did it finally subside?

Take care,
Shannon


Ktulu, that's interesting what you said about the food severs. The gentleman that brought the trays into the patient rooms at UCLA were very similar in that they wore black pants, white button down shirts, a black vest and a bow tie. It was very classy as if they were waiters at a fine restaurant. I didn't even think anything about it until know. I was so out of it (exhaustion). I am really glad to hear that there are other hospitals that are giving the same gind of TLC.

 

[LoraJ]

LoraJ, That is just awful for a doctor to say that he would just have to tuff it out. That is why you go in. I was so afraid that's what we would be told but luckily they said just the opposite. I think the lesson to be learned by all is that if you are not satisfied with the medical advice you recieve by one doctor then go to someone else. You will get a whole other perspective. Did they ever find out if or what was cause your dad's pain and did it finally subside?

Take care,
Shannon

My boyfriend's dad has colon cancer. He's been in the hospital a month now. They did some exploratory on him and discovered that the cancer had spread to his stomach and his stomach no longer works. There is nothing they can do for him and right now we are waiting to move him in to a hospice facility.

 

[cryssi]

I'm glad that your DS is feeling better and that it wasn't something that needed surgery!

I had a constant dull headache xmas the other year that resulted in me having a craniotomy...I can sympathize with you over the crappy doctor, because when they first discovered the mass in my head, the doctor told me to consider "getting my affairs in order"...??? what??? Anyway, I am fine and obviously not dead, so whatever, but at the time, it was like WHAT?!?! LOL

Oh, and I have to give two BIG for the USC University Hospital b/c that place was like a resort...LOL They also have the room service meals. My parents actually enjoyed the cafeteria food there!

 

[DisnyMama]

LoraJ, I am so sorry to hear about your boyfriends dad. I hope you are able to find a really good hospice for him. I will be praying for him and your family.
God bless you all,
Shannon




Cryssi, Thanks!! That is unbelievable what that doctor said to you but more importantly everything is ok.

Take care.
Shannon

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Although I live in NY, I have the utmost respect and admiration for the UCLA Medical Center. When my DD was one year old she had routine blood work. It showed anemia, but they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her blood. Her blood was sent to UCLA Med Cntr and they diagnosed it!!! (It was a very rare enzyme deficiency.)