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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Junebug on September 23, 2003, at 21:31:22
I have never really had a problem with depression before, but for the past couple of months I have been pretty down. Then about 5 days ago I started crying and just couldn't stop. Couldn't even really talk or move around. My husband tried getting me appointments with doctors but had no luck, so he called the hospital to see if there was a psychiatrist on duty who could talk to me. They told him to take me in; that someone could talk to me right away.
SO...I get there, crying of course, and ask to speak to a psychiatrist or a counselor. The nurse said follow me. She took me to a curtained off room and told me to undress and put on a gown, and that the psychiatrist would be right down. I asked why and she said they had to take "some preliminary tests" to find out what was wrong with me. Mind you, she never asked me what was wrong, just told me to follow her and undress. Anyway, I put on the gown, and then a security guard came in and opened the curtain. I asked him why, and he said, "People like you gotta be watched." Then he took away my clothes and my purse and told me I was no longer allowed to leave the room without a doctor or a nurse with me. So then I started crying even harder! There were so many people at the hospital and I was sitting there in one of those skimpy gowns, totally exposed to everyone. I felt totally humiliated.
A few minutes later the nurse came in, took my blood without telling me why, and told me I had to produce a urine sample before I could see the doctor. The security guard followed me to the bathroom.
When I returned to the curtained room I was still sobbing. Despite all the doctors, nurses, and security running around in full view of me, NO ONE came in to talk to me.
After two and a half hours, a "counselor" came in and told me there was no psychiatrist there that day. She was so cold - she acted like I was a total inconvenience for her. She asked me if I had a plan for suicide and when I said no, she said "OK. Well I'll get your clothes then. You can go."
It was such a humiliating experience! Not only did I not see a doctor, the counselor didn't even talk to me. All I wanted was some help. They just made it worse.
Posted by fallsfall on September 23, 2003, at 21:58:25
In reply to Horrible Hospital Experience!!!, posted by Junebug on September 23, 2003, at 21:31:22
Junebug,I am so sorry that you had to go through that experience. When we are fragile and in need of help we certainly don't need to be treated like that.
I have gone with a number of friends to different hospitals. Some are better than others, but I certainly haven't seen anything like that. I have always been accompanying the patient - to keep them company (when I've gone into a psychiatric hospital I went straight there, and didn't go to the regular hospital first). No one has ever had to put on a gown. Because I was staying with the person they didn't have to have a guard. I would recommend having someone stay with you if you can. Sometimes I have even stayed when the psychiatrist (or whoever) is doing the assessment.
It can take a while for someone to get there to talk to you. I've always been there at night or on a weekend and they have to call someone, or the person is already at a different hospital and will come later. That can be really frustrating.
There is no excuse for the counselor to have that kind of attitude or to treat you that way.
Sounds like you need to find a therapist. Maybe after you get settled with someone they can help you write a letter of complaint.
I wrote a post for someone recently about finding a therapist. You may not have the time to look around as much as I did, you might want to go with the first one who seems likely to be helpful. But if they don't seem to be working out in the first couple of months, you should find someone else.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030905/msgs/260173.htmlI hope you feel better soon!
Posted by David Smith on September 23, 2003, at 21:59:23
In reply to Horrible Hospital Experience!!!, posted by Junebug on September 23, 2003, at 21:31:22
Thank you for sharing that story. It is a telling portrait of health care today. Would it help YOU any to write a letter to the administrator of the hospital or the state licensing board?
I am glad you were'nt kept against your will there.
I hope you are feeling much better.
dav
Posted by loolot on September 24, 2003, at 0:52:23
In reply to Re: Horrible Hospital Experience!!! » Junebug, posted by fallsfall on September 23, 2003, at 21:58:25
Sheesh. This kind of thing really peeves me. Sounds typical of a large hospital emergency room. Pity. I wish hospitals would stop making us think that they will actually be available for every emergency relatively promptly. I was kept waiting for 45 minutes with a severe asthma attack at one hospital.
I guess next time something ike this happens you may want to call a hotline of some kind or post here until you can see a doctor during regular hours.
Im so sorry. It reminds me of how a rape patient is treated after the assault.
Posted by cubbybear on September 24, 2003, at 4:01:45
In reply to Re: Horrible Hospital Experience!!!, posted by loolot on September 24, 2003, at 0:52:23
I "second" what loolot said--the victim is often made to feel like a criminal in this perverted society we live in today. When we're in dire need of help, we're treated like animals. I recall how I phoned an Anaheim, Calif. suicide hotline back in '97, although I wasn't anywhere near contemplating suicide, and the next thing I knew, an armed officer and his female cohort of the Anaheim Police Dept. were in my motel room manhandling me and treating me as if I were an immediate armed threat to them. No compassion, no questions asked, just your typical macho harrassing and bullying of someone who needed help and understanding. This is only one of the many reasons I moved overseas. The U.S. health care system is a sham and disgrace in any manner, shape, or form. If I were you, I'd lodge complaints about your treatment with the hospital, state review board, local elected officials, anyone who might be willing and able to take action against these people. Tell them all exactly what you've told us. Good luck and keep on fighting.
Posted by Been-There on September 25, 2003, at 9:30:09
In reply to Re: Horrible Hospital Experience!!!, posted by cubbybear on September 24, 2003, at 4:01:45
I had a very bad experience happen to me in a hospital once and it was so bad that my now deceased husband had to threaten to report them to the authorities to get them to stop the cruelity and let me go. I hate to say it but the poster above said it best, Our society can be very cruel. I have seen some very cruel and cold places in this life and I am only 38 and from people you would never believe could be such....
Posted by Ilene on September 27, 2003, at 14:55:44
In reply to Re: Horrible Hospital Experience!!!, posted by cubbybear on September 24, 2003, at 4:01:45
> I "second" what loolot said--the victim is often made to feel like a criminal in this perverted society we live in today. When we're in dire need of help, we're treated like animals. I recall how I phoned an Anaheim, Calif. suicide hotline back in '97, although I wasn't anywhere near contemplating suicide, and the next thing I knew, an armed officer and his female cohort of the Anaheim Police Dept. were in my motel room manhandling me and treating me as if I were an immediate armed threat to them. No compassion, no questions asked, just your typical macho harrassing and bullying of someone who needed help and understanding. This is only one of the many reasons I moved overseas. The U.S. health care system is a sham and disgrace in any manner, shape, or form. If I were you, I'd lodge complaints about your treatment with the hospital, state review board, local elected officials, anyone who might be willing and able to take action against these people. Tell them all exactly what you've told us. Good luck and keep on fighting.
I started talking about my suicidal ideation a couple of years ago, and all that happened was my husband started reading my diary and tried to monitor what I was doing on the computer, and my pdoc made a "contract" with me. I try my best to keep quiet about it now, and I always say I don't have a plan. In fact, I try to keep my venting to a minimum. It doesn't do any good.I have considered calling a Suicide Hotline a few times, but worried about anonymity. Thanks for the tip.
Ilene
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