New Year’s Eve, 2023. I was sitting in our TV room while my wife was watching another program in the living room. I had just finished sipping a glass of very good Bourbon and had turned off the TV with the intent of going to bed. I picked up a glass of water on the side table to finish it off and felt it go down the wrong tube. I remember choking. I can hear my wife yelling in my ear “What’s wrong!” This is where things got weird. I was totally clear minded and could hear and understand what was going on around me but I was unable to move, respond or totally open my eyes. My breathing had turned into loud, rapid rasping. My body had shut down but I was totally aware. It was like I was locked away. A prisoner in my own body.
I fully remember the 911 call my wife made, her dragging me off the couch, laying me flat on the floor and propping my neck to clear my airway. I heard her put the dogs away and unlock the front door for the paramedics as instructed. I heard the paramedics enter and start to access me. They were shouting questions to me but my body was not able to respond. Inside I was shouting the answers back to them but nothing got through. The questions continued during the ambulance ride. I was able to respond to a few questions but not clearly. My tongue felt swollen and I couldn’t get it to work properly and I couldn’t get enough breath to get any words out, all the while I am screaming the answers to them in my head. One question I was finally able to get out was when they asked if I had been drinking tonight. I was able to get out “Two, whiskey” What I was unable to get out was that they were small GlenCairn style glasses, sipped over a five hour period.
Upon arrival at the hospital I listened to the transfer from the paramedics to the emergency room staff. I heard the paramedic mention that my wife told them I have had panic attack issues, just been to the doctor two days earlier for an asthma issue, and that I had some whiskey that evening. This was the first time I heard someone utter the words “Drunk” and “Psych”. (Psych was probably referring to my panic attack issues) I noted a drastic change to the care I was getting the moment drinking came up. Someone shouted at me “Derek, have you been drinking?” I was able to get out “Two”……………..”Whiskey”. “I think you have had a lot more than that” was the reply. I was put to the side and left alone. After a while I was finally able to open my eyes and see but was unable to totally focus on anything. Some one noticed and said “Derek, what you looking at?” I was unable to reply but saw that they waved their hand in front of my face and did some rapid motion towards my eyes to see if I would flinch. I did not.
After a long while, I felt myself being moved and I was aware of them hooking me up to wires for some tests. Then I was moved to a cubicle when suddenly another nurse ran in and shouted “Get him out of here! He’s not sick! I have a patient with breathing problems! Take him to 30!” Remember, I can understand everything clearly yet I was unable to respond or move. My breathing was rapid and sounded like a chainsaw rasping! Inside I’m screaming “What is going on? They don’t think I’m sick? I CAN’T BREATH!”. I arrived at room 30 and was left alone in there. Nothing, still not able to move (It felt like lead sheets were laid across my body, holding me down), I was unable to communicate and I was totally alert but all alone. Terrifying.
Eventually a male nurse walked in and started hooking up the blood pressure cuff along with more wiring placed on my body. There was no greeting, no hand on your arm, no comfort provided. Another person came in the room and I heard the nurse say “Drunk” to her. Inside, I’m furious! I was screaming “I’m not drunk!” Outside I was not responding with the exception of the chainsaw rasping for breath. I was finally able to get out “I’m…………….not…………..drunk!” The response was him laughing and looking at the other person and saying “Sure you aren’t” . My response was “Draw………………..blood……………test!” I am not a violent man, never have been. If I could have moved I would have punched him in the face! They continued to do things in the room and carry on conversations about work schedules and mundane things while not even acknowledging that I am in the room. Finally I was able to get out “I…………can……………..hear……………you……………..show…………….some…………….respect!………….” The conversations in the room ceased.
A doctor popped his head in and was very attentive and kind. He said “How you doing Derek?” My answer was “Munph!” In spite of my inability to communicate clearly he told me they were waiting for the CT scan and blood tests to return and hopefully they will have more ideas as to what to do. My wife and family finally arrived and over the next five hours my breathing slowed down, I was regaining some movement, I was able to slowly start to communicate. The doctor came back later with the test results. By then I could speak very slowly. I related my experience from arrival to the nurse experience. He was shocked and immediately apologized for the experience. The male nurse came in several times after that but did not communicate much. He finally asked If we knew what the test results were and if the doctor talked to us yet. I was not in the mood to communicate with him. The nurse that replaced him at 2am was very kind and attentive.
After being discharged around 5:30am New Years Day, I realized that room 30 was isolated away in a corner and the hallways were full of gurneys with what appeared to be drug addicts, drunks and the homeless seeking help. Room 30 was a dumping ground.
I have been with this medical provider for over 30 years and had never had a negative experience with them. Was this a “one off”? A result of understaffing? Or is it an indication of where the health care system is heading? I don’t know. All I can tell you was that it was horrifying and should never happen to anyone seeking help and comfort from our medical system.
I filed a complaint with the hospital and received a form letter stating they regret I was not happy and and suggested I call the director of nursing for that department. I decided they were not interested in improving their customer care and hoping I would go away and not pursue it.
I have not yet decided.