Arrived in ED on a Saturday night for post-surgica...

Arrived in ED on a Saturday night for post-surgical complications. Got admitted for an IR drain that was supposed to happen Sunday. Put on fasting protocol (12hrs). I am a diabetic (thankfully in excellent control).

On Sunday, fasting protocol was cancelled because I wasn't "emergency enough" for IR to come in and put in the drain. I was scheduled for "first thing" Monday. Spent the rest of the day being treated like a pin cushion because of the diabetes (that I had signed a waiver to allow for self-care).

Sunday night at 9pm I got moved to another floor in the hospital to receive more care and more observation. NEITHER of which occurred. Reinstated fasting protocol for "first thing" IR drain. Little did I know, first thing was 1pm!! (Again, I am a diabetic on fasting protocol that started at midnight)

Monday morning I had what would normally be considered a good BG reading. However, considering what was going to happen that day and how far away it was going to be, I asked for some apple juice to elevate my BG. I was refused, not just denied, REFUSED.

Finally get downstairs to have the drain put in around 1:30. The doctor came in to explain the procedure. He treated me like I was on an assembly line. Removal was scheduled for 2 weeks later. (There are plastic joints and connectors that make sitting and sleeping incredibly difficult. Feels like a lack of consideration in regards to placement.)

During discharge, the only thing that was explained to my husband and I was how to change the dressing. I had no questions because I didn't know what I should be asking. We ended up getting a home health nurse referral to get some assistance. "They should reach out tomorrow," the social worker said. NO ONE reached out till I called on Wednesday.

Have since seen the surgeon who performed the original procedure. She believed that 2 weeks was too long for the IR drain. However, when her office reached out, the IR dept was not helpful. So now, I sit with what will be an inactive and unnecessary IR drain for 8-10 more days.

While individual doctors and nurses were absolutely awesome in their care, as a hospital they do not listen to their patients nor do they communicate very well internally.