Or, no good deed goes unpunished. Pick your proverb.
A couple of weeks ago, I asked the head transplant nurse if everyone in my immediate family should get flu shots. Usually, only Marty gets one. She said yes, so I called the pediatrician and scheduled appointments for Mariel, and Mark and Harry. Then I called back and expressed my concern that they get the shot (dead virus), not the inhaled version (live virus), the exposure of which is potentially very dangerous for an immunosuppressed person such as myself. I was assured they'd get the shots. Mariel went last week and came home sporting a colorful kiddie band-aid. Bet you already know where this is going. Mark and Harry's appointment was yesterday. When they came home, I asked Mark how the shot was, and he said "what shot"? Thinking he was pulling my leg, I said, "you went to the doctor, right?" And he said, "yeah, but we inhaled the vaccine. The lady said it was easier." Can you imagine my reaction?
Enraged, I called the pediatrician's office and spewed forth my venomous tirade. I asked to speak with the doctor, and he actually came right to the phone, apologetic but full of assurances that although the virus was live, it was weakened and shouldn't pose problems. Unless of course the boys come down with flu-like symptoms (a possibility with the live vaccine), in which case I should steer clear of them. Just what my phobometer needs. Not a word, you say? It is now.
I tried to be philosophical, I truly did. It was an honest mistake. No one intended any harm. And it is wildly hoped no harm was/is done. The inoculator thought she was doing the boys a favor, saving them a few seconds of pain. But when I emailed my transplant doctor to explain what had happened, he said I have to avoid contact with them for at least a week. I can't eat dinner with them, and I have to wear a mask when we're in the same room. Poor Mark is walking around turtle-like with his lower face retracted into his sweatshirt. There are Purell dispensers everywhere.
Phobometer's in the danger zone. Thanks for listening.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
pj . . .
i'm sorry to hear this happened. however, i've learned through 3 cases of chronic leukemia within 2 generations that you need to double-check and triple-check a lot of what doctors order, do, etc. if the communication lines are not "open without static" it is easy for orders delegated from a doctor to a nurse to even a lab to get messed up once in awhile.
i learned this lesson personally when i went to get a bcr:abl PCR (for CML) at one of the top cancer treatment centers in the USA. when they drew the blood, i asked to look at the lab order and i noticed there was not a PCR but only the FISH. i asked the tech drawing the blood, and he said everything is probably fine . . . but he could call upstairs to the nurse. i would feel like a nitwit if he did so i said no; BUT i should have trusted my gut and had him call. that night, still feeling something was off, i emailed the doctor to find out that the nurse had not included the PCR on the lab order sheet--which in and of itself is idiotic because it was the primary reason i was there, to see if i had early PH+ chronic myeloid leukemia. so the next day i went to have the PCR, what resulted in another $400 copay with my health insurance due to the error.
it seems in today's world of medical care if one is proactive double-checking a lot of what doctors do that it aggravates some doctors but not all. but doctors and nurses are not perfect, and mistakes can be made. therefore, i take the time to double-check and if they think i'm a pain that's their problem.
your rage is justified.
hopefully, your temp will stay at 98.6 and the week will pass without any concerns.
sue
Post a Comment