Approximately December 13th, 2019, my dog Summer and I were playing and she pounced on my abdomen like always, but this time she scratched my skin about an inch. I ignored it as no big deal. I noticed the area below it looked kinda bruised and assumed it was from Summer’s pouncing. On December 15th, I called the pastor and told him I couldn’t make the intercessory prayer that day – response no problem. I kept feeling like I had the flu, sleeping allot. The 20-23rd I had a temperature that was high. Kassidey came in every 4 hours and gave me fever reducer. I hallucinated and had delusions when my temperature reached 104* F. Finally, my fever broke and I told Kassidey my tummy hurt. SHe thought I meant food. I corrected her. She took a look and got Robert to come look. THey took me to Harris Methodist Hospital emergency room on Dec 24th, where I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
The Wound-Vac had been removed and the wound was packed with a dressing. I arrived at West lake and asked the nurses Musfasausfa and Kaye to change my dressing as it was wet and my gown was soaked to. They refused and said it would be changed in the morning. They gave me towels to absorb some of the bodily fluids while I slept. At 12:30 a.m. I tried using the call button, then again at 3:33 a.m. no one came until 5:30 a.m. I texted Robert of my situation throughout the night. It was almost 9:00 a.m. before the wound nurses arrived to change the dressing out and install the wound vac. I had laid in my body waste for 12 + hours.
I had developed a wound that was Septic- blood poisoning- infection. Then a cat scan of my abdomen revealed a tumor on my left kidney and infection . Surgery on the lower left medial abdomen was performed the next day. They created an incision 21.5cm long, by 5cm wide and 11.5cm deep and removed all tissue from that area creating an open wound. A few days later on January 2nd, 2020, an machine called a Wound Vac was installed in the wound, to remove drainage of body fluids.
I had a negative reaction to the anesthesia, they thought I had a mini stroke. My left side drifted downwards. An MRI of my brain was performed and I was okay. I was moved out of ICU the 4th day. I was treated very well by all of the staff, doctors and nurses, dieticians and therapist. On the 20th day of treatment I was transferred to West Lake Center of Care (Rehabilitation) in White Settlement, TX. at 8:40 p.m.
I discovered the next day that the call light did not work at all. I told them if that was their method for contact then they needed to get it fixed immediately. It took five days for the maintenance to look at the problem and replace the call light and install light bulbs in the two room sconces- there was limited lighting in the dismal room until then. I was a fall risk due to my seizure disorder and weaken state. In the meanwhile, I had to go to the door and hope to catch someone passing by, we did try holding the button on the call light for 10 seconds, release, and repeat. That was not successful.
The weather stripping had come loose from the window and cold air was coming though, I complained my room was too cold and the staff agreed with me. I had two small thin twin size blankets that I brought with me. I asked for another clinic blanket and was told there were not any available. So I shivered until finally I went to sleep.
I am a diabetic patient. The dietician brought me another persons meal that had her name scratched out and my put in its place. It was a puree food plate…. it was awful, I tried to eat it but couldn’t tolerate it/ I was given another meal. The food manager Greg, came to see me, he took down my allergies and sensitivities to green veggies and some preferences. I thought great- wonderful service finally. Well, that was not to be. I was given a regular salt laden diet. I couldn’t eat the entree it was so salty. I send word to Greg about the salt. So they make an effort to not salt my food. However, even though they had it written on my meal ticket , no salt, peanut, or green vegetables (twice) I was brought meals with salads, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, etc. until the day before I left their service, then I was given to servings of mashed potatoes with gravy. For two days, I vomited my food after consumption, I lost 6 1/2 pounds that 1st week. I didn’t recheck to see if I had lost more when I left.
Friday. I am supposed to be discharged on Saturday, the Nurses were attentive now that the call light system worked, it still took over an hour for the nurses to respond to my request to see a nurse. The technician always came within 15 minutes of using the call light. The rental wound vac was put on incorrectly and the alarm would sound every two minutes all day and night long. I was sent home Saturday with it malfunctioning. I called the wound vac technical support and they walked me through testing the unit and determining how to fix leaks, change the canister out, then realize the issue is with the connection of it self to me was faulty. All Saturday night I stayed awake pushing the alarm off button, until sleep finally claimed me for three hours- alarm still in force. Sunday, an emergency call nurse came and changed out the wound vac and the unit worked great afterwards, no alarms going off.
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