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Loved One's Car Accident, Hospitalization Memo (Part 2)

After my loved one was transferred to the orthopedic ward, we finally found some temporary peace. Compared to the chaotic emergency room, the orthopedic ward felt like a completely different world. However, as the year-end approached, the orthopedic doctor urged us to make a decision quickly. If we decided to proceed with the surgery, they would contact the hospital's doctors to schedule it. The surgery would be performed by a young doctor, not the chief surgeon, and it would be the same method as before, not minimally invasive surgery, but rather an open surgery with the addition of a nail.

I was hesitant about whether my loved one should have the surgery in this orthopedic ward. My loved one's sister was studying abroad for her post-doctoral degree, specializing in a medical-related field. She advised us that her colleagues had experienced more severe situations but quickly recovered after undergoing surgery. However, she added, "Of course, people abroad tend to emphasize surgery, and she used more advanced medical technology and techniques." In addition to consulting the orthopedic doctors at this hospital (including the chief doctor), I also sought the opinions of doctors from other well-known tertiary hospitals, even paying for online consultations with other orthopedic doctors, which cost around 70-80 yuan for about 20 minutes. I also consulted with friends and family around me. When it came down to the specific situation, we still had to make the decision ourselves. We couldn't make up our minds about whether to have the surgery or whether to have it at this hospital. My hesitation stemmed from the doctor who had rushed to the emergency room and urged my loved one to have the surgery as soon as possible, saying that it would be better for recovery if it was done early. At that time, I understood it as something similar to the golden 72 hours in rescuing a person. Furthermore, the doctor said that this surgery was a minor one and they had performed it many times with very few complications.

However, a small incident changed the course of the whole situation. The doctors at the hospital originally wanted us to have the surgery as soon as possible and then go home for the Lunar New Year. After a couple of days passed without a decision, the doctors seemed a bit unhappy and less enthusiastic. They also mentioned that if we wanted to have the surgery now, we might have to wait until after the New Year. During our stay in the orthopedic ward, we considered that the responsibility for the traffic accident had not yet been determined, and according to the other party, their family was not well-off. Therefore, we instructed the doctors that even though it was a traffic accident and the other party was clearly at fault, we hoped to use practical medications as much as possible. So, during the first few days in the orthopedic ward, my loved one received intravenous drips, including medications for reducing swelling, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. Since my loved one rarely got sick and rarely received injections, although she had already undergone surgery to suture the wound on her thigh after the car accident, she was still not used to injections. We maintained a relatively calm attitude and showed respect to the nurses. In the first few days, the nurses were very careful when giving injections. However, one time, a nurse walked briskly and forcefully while giving an injection, causing the drip line and the tag displaying the medication to shake and make a loud noise when she left. Thinking of my mother-in-law's swollen hand from the drip, I told the nurse, "Can you be more gentle when giving injections? My loved one is afraid of pain, and I already told you, but you still did it so forcefully." The nurse responded, "Aren't all injections like this? If it hurts, then don't get it." I replied, "The previous injections were not like this, and it didn't hurt as much as it does now." However, she continued as before, pushing the cart confidently. In my opinion, it was a reasonable request, but it caused a significant change in the situation.

After a day or two, the orthopedic doctor suggested that my loved one go home for conservative treatment. At that time, I thought that since it was all about rest, it would be the same whether she received treatment at home or in the hospital. And if my loved one, who used to enjoy traveling, had been lying in bed looking at the white walls since the car accident, she also wanted to see our children, parents, and others. So, I agreed, and when we were preparing to be discharged, the nurse gave me a slip and asked us to settle the bill downstairs. At that time, I thought it was just a temporary settlement, and we would come back later when they reopened after the holiday. After considering it, I paid for an ambulance from a local hospital to take my loved one and us back home. After going through twists and turns, my loved one lay on her bed in her hometown, and she showed a joyful expression. It was comforting to see our two children crying when they saw her condition.

Later, after thinking and receiving advice from friends, we realized that we needed to return to the hospital as soon as possible. When we returned that evening, I felt that something was not right. I started to think that if we were discharged and the doctors agreed to perform the surgery, would it cause significant trouble in terms of compensation if the other party and the parties responsible believed that the condition worsened during our time at home or if we refused further treatment? So, I consulted some friends who were unaware that my loved one had been discharged and they said that if we wanted to come back, we could come back, but the hospital bed should remain in the hospital, and we should not complete the discharge process. At that time, I also wanted this outcome, but the nurse gave me a bill, which was equivalent to giving me a discharge form. The next day, I explained my concerns and thoughts to my loved one and my father-in-law. My father-in-law didn't say much and followed my line of thinking, asking for help. I was worried about future disputes, so I called for an ambulance again and accompanied my loved one and my father-in-law back to the hospital. The ambulance took us directly to the emergency room. After explaining the situation, the staff in the emergency department said that the orthopedic ward was full, so we would have to stay in the emergency department for now. Helpless, they agreed to admit us, and I was already grateful for that. So, we had no choice but to stay there. During this time, my father-in-law found a contact in another department of the hospital through his connections. This contact also expressed the desire to provide proper treatment to my loved one to the orthopedic doctor. The conditions in the emergency department were far worse than those in the orthopedic ward. The patients in the same ward had different conditions, and during the day, there were often loud conversations among the visiting relatives, almost treating it as if it were not a hospital. As the Lunar New Year approached, others seemed reluctant to speak up about others. After two or three days, I went to the orthopedic department myself and found that the ward was not full. At the same time, I witnessed the scene I mentioned earlier: a nurse (not the one who had given the forceful injection) criticizing a middle-aged doctor of about 40 years old, saying something like, "Are you admitting more patients again?" At that moment, I suddenly realized that I was too young, too simple. Perhaps the relationship between the nurse and the leader was involved, and doctors without power would also fear nurses. The nurse who was able to discharge us should have a closer relationship. The chief doctor of the orthopedic department, who was mentioned earlier, came. He was around 50 years old, and the sign indicated that he had the same surname as the nurse who had been forceful with the injections and the person responsible for the accident. At first, I sincerely wanted to apologize or thank the doctor who had previously checked on my loved one in the emergency room and urged her to have the surgery as soon as possible. Because at that time, I realized that by not having the surgery, although we avoided the possible complications of the surgery, it could also bring many troubles, such as hospitalization procedures and compensation in the future. So, I went to a supermarket and picked the most expensive milk, buying four cartons, intending to bring them to the orthopedic ward. Once again, my father-in-law and I went to the orthopedic ward doctor's office, but we didn't see that doctor, the one who had been scolded by the nurse. The chief doctor saw me holding the milk and said harshly, "What do you want to do? Take it out quickly." Without saying a word, I followed his instructions and obediently placed the milk outside the office. Perhaps having heard feedback from other doctors, the chief doctor knew that my loved one and I were well-educated. He said, "You are also an educated person. I want to hear your opinions and decisions." So, I told him, "First of all, I don't distrust you, but I haven't decided whether my loved one should have the surgery or not. The surgery involves the possibility of her losing her job, and we need to be cautious. The doctor also mentioned that currently, the hospital can only perform open surgery, and there may be risks in the procedures, as well as the possibility of complications. The recovery may take up to six months. Moreover, my loved one has a lot of work at her job and it is not easy for her to take leave. According to the usual practice, she can't take long leaves each time. I am worried that if she has the surgery, it will take six months to recover, and in the current economic situation, her employer may find a way to dismiss her. I had thought about transferring to another hospital for minimally invasive surgery, but the reality doesn't allow it. So, I hope that she can have the surgery here. After hearing my feedback, the chief doctor showed a little less hostility and even mentioned that his daughter graduated from the same school as me. At some point, he said, "Let's not have the surgery here. There are indeed risks after the surgery, and there is a risk of losing her job, and your loved one is afraid of pain." I realized that the nurse's opinion had reached this chief doctor. So, I sincerely apologized and said, "Maybe it was because of the car accident during the Lunar New Year, and I was anxious and not in a good state of mind. I apologize for what I said or did that was inappropriate. Please forgive me." My father-in-law smiled and said to him, "Everything has risks, and surgery is no exception. We understand the risks of surgery and agree to have the surgery. My opinion is the same as hers (my loved one's). She agrees to have the surgery." The chief doctor said, "Okay, bring the patient here. We need to listen to the patient's decision." So, we pushed my loved one on the mobile bed to the orthopedic doctor's office again.

My loved one expressed her desire to have the surgery at this hospital's orthopedic ward and acknowledged the risks and was willing to bear them. However, the chief doctor of the orthopedic department ultimately said that considering the significance of this matter, we should reconsider. Even if we wanted to have the surgery, we would have to wait until after the New Year to discuss it. As for transferring to another hospital, we would have to wait until later when preparations for the surgery were made.

So, although we returned to the hospital, we ended up staying in the emergency department. And from then on, until we were discharged, we stayed in the emergency department. The conditions in the emergency department were better than the emergency room but far worse than the orthopedic ward. Since each patient had a different condition and progress, and it was close to the Lunar New Year, there were often loud noises during the day and patients moaning at night. That's how my loved one and I stayed in the emergency department, with me sleeping on a chair that could be unfolded into a single bed provided by the hospital.

Since I realized that the hospital doctors seemed unwilling to manage my loved one's case, and I couldn't just leave it as it was, I made an effort to understand the situation and how to protect and rehabilitate her in similar cases. I consulted doctors through online consultations, and their responses included the need to install a fixed brace on the leg. So, I bought a leg brace from the orthopedic department and stayed in the emergency department. The doctor was late, and when I was about to install it myself, the doctor rushed over sweating and helped me put on the brace. After a while, they stopped giving medications in the emergency department. When I asked, I was told that the pain medication was no longer needed, so there was no need for injections. Therefore, the medications in the emergency department were stopped. When I asked the doctor if I could massage the leg, the reply was that I could try it gently. So, when my loved one had free time, I occasionally massaged her leg within the range of pressure she could tolerate. Gradually, my loved one told me that she felt her leg was recovering very well. Her leg, which couldn't move before, gradually became slightly movable, and she could even lift it a few centimeters off the bed.

My loved one started considering conservative treatment. Perhaps it was because she felt a slight improvement herself, and the doctors often said that surgery was not necessary for her condition. Shortly after being admitted to the emergency department, the doctor who checked the beds advised us not to have the surgery. At that time, I friendly accepted the advice and asked how confident they were in this opinion, but they didn't answer. Later, I calmed down and told my loved one that it might be my fault that we didn't have the surgery in time, but upon careful analysis, the consequences of the surgery were still unknown. Perhaps the current result was the best. However, when my loved one wanted conservative treatment and temporarily didn't want to have the surgery, I remained cautious. I said, "Let's see how your condition progresses and listen to the doctor's opinion. If the MRI results improve, we can choose conservative treatment and temporarily not have the surgery. If not, we will stay in the hospital for now." Later, the MRI results showed that the ligament and meniscus damage in her leg had improved compared to the previous scan. Other doctors in the department also saw the results and said that conservative treatment was an option, and the decision was up to us.

However, at the beginning of the year, I had to return quickly due to some matters. So, I left my loved one, my family, and the place where I had spent the Lunar New Year with my loved one. I told my loved one that since we had already hired a lawyer, we needed to confirm everything with the lawyer, doctors, and the car insurance company before considering discharge. Later, my loved one insisted on conservative treatment, made sure all the procedures were correct, and was finally discharged. When I received the news, I was already in another place, and all I could do was silently pray for her quick recovery. I felt a bit regretful because if I had been a little more patient with that nurse, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way (although I still believed that the nurse was not suitable for the job, being so forceful). Especially if surgery was indeed the best choice for my loved one. It wasn't until later that I could breathe a sigh of relief. (To be continued)

Original text synchronized from: Gengdu Blog.

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