Patients on their own at Dr. visits and procedures

amother

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 10:36 pm

When will this madness end? Why are patient's needs of all other illnesses being ignored?
I needed to have staples from my csection removed and dh wasn't allowed into the dr.s office to be with me.
I'm having a small surgery soon and the hospital won't allow dh to come. He needs to drive me and pick me up, but they won't alow him inside.
I had numerous specialist appointments that I had to go to on my own without dh there for support and to be another ear and voice in the room (I had him on speaker but it's not the same).
I know people going through chemo now and they aren't allowed to have anyone with them for the duration of the session.
Why can't they allow 1 support person (wearing a mask) to be with the patient? They managed to figure it out for labor and delivery.
I think it's high time to figure out a semi normal way to continue living despite Covid (which by the way isn't as deadly as it was initially).
Why is everyone else's medical needs being ignored?!

/Rant over.

amother

Natural

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 10:43 pm

I'm sorry. It's really helpful to have emotional support. It's not medically necessary, though, and the fewer people in the hospital, the better. I imagine that you can bring a phone with you and talk to dh throughout. It's not perfect, but it's something. Feel good.

amother

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 10:47 pm

amother [ Natural ] wrote:

Emotional health is just as important to the healing process.
The hospitals are practically empty these days (the ones I've been to).
Labor and delivery doesn't either "medically" require your spouse there yet it's allowed.

amother

Babyblue

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 10:52 pm

Agreed. I recently needed to have a blood transfusion because my body was collapsing and I needed it fast. It was so so so exhausting to be my own advocate. I've had numerous doctor visits on my own, but this one I just didn't have the energy to stick up for myself. I almost went home without getting it done, but thinking of my family at home that needs me made me pull thru. I don't know what the solution is but I'm very frustrated as well.

amother

Natural

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 10:55 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

In a perfect world, you'd be allowed to bring someone for support. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world.

And know that in some places, medical professionals really would have preferred not to allow anyone in labor and delivery either.

Most of us have reserves of strength we never access. I hope you are able to draw on yours and get through this.

amother

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 10:56 pm

amother [ Babyblue ] wrote:

Exactly. When I'm out and under the knife (and before and after as well) I need to know that dh is right there in the waiting room and advocating for me if the need arises.

amother

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 10:59 pm

amother [ Natural ] wrote:

That's not the point.
At this time, when the curve has been flattened, mask use is being heavily advertised, the disease has become somewhat more manageable and less deadly, it's time to take all patients' basic needs into account and allow 1 person to be with them.

amother

Ivory

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:01 pm

My father had to have a small procedure he doesn’t hear well and becomes confused at times, they didn’t let my sister in the waiting room she had to leave the hospital he had the procedure done and was scheduled for another one which he canceled he said it was extremely hard.

I agree people need advocates for themselves. Most city emergency rooms need that and being alone makes it worse.

FranticFrummie

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:08 pm

What country are you in?

In Israel, you are allowed to have one support person with you, and it doesn't even have to be a relative. My health aid comes with me to every appointment, and is there in case she needs to translate for me. Most doctors speak pretty fluent English, but some specialists don't.

amother

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:18 pm

FranticFrummie wrote:

I use medical care in NY and NJ of the great USA...
Even Israel that is much more strict with everything else understands that patients should not be alone.

amother

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:26 pm

happyone wrote:

FYI it's mostly NY. I needed so.e procedures and went out of state as there was NO WAY I could be without support. NYC medical care is a hot mess.

I can believe that. I don't know what it's like in other states.

FranticFrummie

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:26 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I'm in NJ of the great USA...
Even Israel that is much more strict with everything else understands that patients should not be alone.

I am so sorry. No one should ever be without a support person in a medical situation. That's just straight up inhumane.

What about people with memory issues? I get lost very easily, and then I get flustered, and then I just want to cry. When I had to go to the hospital for a breast exam, I had to go to 3 different buildings, on 3 different floors, up and down several unmarked hallways. I was stressed enough as it was, because there was a very good chance that I was going to need a biopsy. (B'H, I didn't need one.)

If I hadn't had my helper with me, I would have just sat down in the middle of the lobby and sobbed. There is NO WAY I would have been able to manage on my own. Even with her right next to me, I sometimes felt like I was going to faint. I must have thanked her 100 times during that trip.

amother

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:35 pm

FranticFrummie wrote:

Thank you for understanding.

amother

Tan

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:44 pm

I had oral surgery done, no one was allowed to come with me. I was a nervous wreck. Being put to sleep and no one there to make sure everything is ok or even to hold my wallet or to pay a copay. A nurse walked me out to my husband.

amother

Yellow

Sun, Sep 20 2020, 11:45 pm

Agree 💯 op. I know an older person who was in the hospital alone recently, and due to her dementia and complete isolation from everyone she knows, she thought she was being kidnapped and begged to be let out. She regressed terribly during this time and will likely never recover...

amother

Lavender

Mon, Sep 21 2020, 9:05 am

It's the same situation in Massachusetts. I had to undergo a laparoscopy in June to remove endometrial scar tissue and an egg retrieval a week ago, and in neither instance was my husband allowed to wait for me. He gave me a hug and a kiss goodbye, dropped me off, and then waited at home until he got called to retrieve me once I was done with recovery.

It sucked. But I understand the need to limit people in the building. I'm just hoping that by the time we get to our embryo transfer (G-d willing, in late October/early November) he'll be able to accompany me, but I'm not holding my breath. Sad

I do think exceptions need to be made depending on the status of the patient and the type of procedure happening (a friend in Ft. Lauderdale had an ectopic pregnancy rupture a few days ago and had to go in alone for emergency surgery and be in the hospital room all day by herself, too - that is major, traumatic surgery and she should have been allowed someone in there with her), but I unfortunately do not make the rules.

FranticFrummie

Mon, Sep 21 2020, 9:09 am

amother [ Yellow ] wrote:

That is not only horrifying, it should be illegal! I am getting teary just thinking about the poor woman. Crying

Being in that situation is one of my greatest fears.