Bad Medicine

I wanted to tell everyone I made a perfect score on my final paper for my first class toward my Bachelor's Degree. That news, however, was overshadowed by my recent joy ride. I've never been in an ambulance, as a patient anyway....until recently.

One day I was sitting at my desk, just returned from a meal break and beginning to work on what I do, making Auto Trader magazines. My heart felt like it was beating kind of fast. That feeling continued, and it also progressed. As it worsened, I realized I couldn't hear, my vision went black and I couldn't respond to people asking me questions. I recovered enough to tell my boss yes, he should call an ambulance.

The paramedics came into the building and naturally I was somewhat better...my heart rate was still 146, very high. They asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I said yes. That doesn't happen for no reason and I wanted to know what was going on. They took me to what they said was the nearest hospital, Medical Center of Arlington.

I arrived in the ER and one of the first people there was the admissions clerk, asking for my insurance card. The important stuff first, right. Nurses, nurse practitioners and physician's assistants all came in to see about me, took blood samples, etc. After the first 30 minutes or so, they were done with me and no one came to check on me. More than once I pushed the "Call Nurse" button and nobody came to see about me.

I became a pro at unhooking the wires and tubes so I could walk down the hall and around the corner to the restroom. I also figured out how to hook myself back up to the medical equipment because nobody was there to do it for me.

Nobody answered my questions, it was the worst experience I've had in a hospital...and I've had a few hospital experiences. Nobody there was very warm and fuzzy, nobody there was verycaring, nobody there was very helpful in numerous ways...nobody knew what was going on, or when my tests were, what my tests were, nobody knew when I was going home...just a few more minutes turned into hours. My mother said when I was in MCA, nobody took care of me the best.

It turned out to be my potassium level was low. That can affect your heart. The symptoms leading up to heart palpitations were lost on me because they are the same symptoms I suffer from everyday, leg cramps, etc. The doctor said to eat baked potatoes, avacodos, citrus fruits, raisins and bananas...all foods rich in potassium.

I'll never go back to that hospital....hopefully I won't need another hospital but if I do, it will not be Medical Center of Arlington.

Until next time. Stay well.