So I just got out of the hospital after an 8 day stay 3 of which were in the ICU and someone suggested I post this so why not. Car turned right across traffic close enough I remember thinking fuck and waking up in blinding pain. Multiple fractures/compound fractures of ribs scapula and wrists.
While overall a positive experience I had 2 bad experiences. 2nd night in the ICU the night nurse gave me about half the pain meds I normally got. So I woke up in agony and had to deal with “I can’t give you more you already had your meds for the night” then “the doctor says you can’t have more” and after I told him I wanted to speak to the doctor it suddenly changed to “the doctor says you can have more”. I suspect he didn’t want to go to the pharmacy and get me more pills since my other doc had already apologized that their dose limits were restricted based on what’s toxic to a 45kg woman not a 120kg man and they were working to try to help with multiple drugs for pain management.
The other bad experience I had was after surgery to repair one of my arms the head of the anesthesia department stopped by to check on me. Because I am essentially broken at the moment the nurses had been helping try to hold me in positions that were less painful and take pressure off some of the more severe fractures. His comment was “why do you need all those pillows?” “Because they help me stay in a comfortable position.” “You don’t need those I’m going to take them away.” “No you’re not.” “Yes, you don’t need them.” “You’re not taking the pillows.”
The look of indignation was hilarious in hind sight because honestly the smallest nurse there could have taken the pillows and there was nothing I could have done about it. And even if he’d taken them I firmly believe the next nurse in would have brought them back for me. Great helpful nursing staff who helped add as much dignity as possible to my indignant situation.
I was also on IV tramadol and lidocaine later tramadol pills, high levels of acetaminophen and ibuprofen (they were worried about liver/kidney toxicity so I also got daily blood work).
Can’t speak highly enough about the experience although the circumstances could have been better. So AMA like listening to people dying around me in the open theater ICU or the guy who kept shitting himself (and projectile diarrhea in our rooms toilet then not calling for help) or trying to sleep with the night nurse call buttons going off pretty much non stop.
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Dude… were you driving or riding?
Get well soon.
Glad that you are ok!
Would be interested in how much this all cost you.
I had hernia surgery in Japan worst part of it was the catheter. I’m happy to hear your on the road to recovery.
I found the nursing staff to be the best part of my stay.
ICU, did you have that super convenient pee bottle? Ten plus years later, I still want one for home use.
How do you rate your gear?
Would you get a vest airbag in future?
I did about 5 weeks in hospital a few years back. Had to do so much begging for pain meds in the beginning.
お大事に
That’s awful, hope it’s not too long of a recovery. Cars turning right are always the worst. Years ago, one ran me out of the crossing and into a bollard. Almost broke my leg, and damaged my bike. Driver ran away, unfortunately.
Have you contacted a lawyer? I had another bike accident a few years ago, with the other party at fault, and the other guys insurance dragged it out forever, refusing to admit fault or pay anything even though I had a drive recorder. Even getting workman’s comp took a long time to settle. In my experience, everybody besides my lawyer was incomptent and didn’t care at all.
Holy shit. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.
Do you know who was driving the car that turned into you? Have they stayed on scene?
I suppose unless someone told you what happened after the crash you might not.
I always wanted to start riding, and it’s the stories like this that make me go “ehhhh, maybe not?”.
> dose limits were restricted based on what’s toxic to a 45kg woman not a 120kg man
This really annoys me. If it wasn’t taboo to question a doctor and if my Japanese was good enough to do it subtly, I would question this every time.
Glad you’re alive. Get well soon.
Nurses get paid pretty low here but they have been so kind in my personal experience. Much nicer than doctors
Glad you’re still with us and the rest of the world. And that you’re on the way to recovery.
Japanese hospital experiences can vary wildly depending on the hospital. I’ve had to deal with three in the same prefecture and it’s been night and day between all of them.
Hospital 1 was very nice overall but didn’t have a lot of equipment I needed, so once I got out of the hospital, all of my meetings went through Hospital 2.
Hospital 2 is attached to a university, which means that all doctors are very much thorough on wanting to use your situation to study, but bedside manner has not been learned yet.
Hospital 3 is specific to the type of problem I’m dealing with, and they’re freaking awesome. They’ve gotten too accustomed to seeing me, though. You know how they have that “double-check by giving your name”? More often than not the nurse says “Just to check, 4649 san, could we get your name?”
Hope you have a speedy recovery. I’ve been hit once here in Tochigi while riding and a couple of close calls too.
Been here almost 8 years and fortunately never had to stay in the hospital. My biggest fear is the food. How was it? I’m a vegan so I can’t imagine that there would be anything edible for me.
I don’t have any questions but holy fuck, I’m glad you made it through and I hope everything heals well
ouch, hope you have a speedy recovery
Hire your own lawyer! If you PM where you are I can ask my lawyer for the rec of a good one in your area. I am 3 years out of a head on car crash when the other driver drove on the wrong side of the road as I was heading home from work. They were 100% at fault. The degree of your “disability” makes a HUGE difference in what they pay (as PP said, based on your age until retirement and salary). We are willing to go to court over mine because I will feel this more and more as I age and my injuries already affect me at work a bit. I was in hospital for 4 months with daily rehab and then outpatient rehab for over a year after (I pushed for as much as possible and they covered everything) and I took it very seriously but bodies do not go back to what they were. You might appreciate that money for things like massages, a more comfy bed, etc as time goes on. Post-accident, hospital pillows were EVERYTHING and they still are to be honest! I loved my hospital experience (aside from the laying down showers with 3 attendants there to help- but thank goodness for them). That said, I had to advocate for myself on a few occasions and for my rehab goals, I stated them clearly and repeatedly. PTs love a motivated patient and will go the extra miles for you.
May I ask how fast you were going?
Motorcycle?
Yeah, those are not safe anywhere there are other people around, but the crowded roads here would make me extra concerned…..just too hard to be seen sometimes.
I have nothing to say except that I’m glad you survived.
I’ve had mostly good experiences as well, myself… though pain management here seems a bit overly cautious. Partly, as you mentioned, due to size/weight differences, and partly, so I’m told, because there are some theories that some pain is necessary for proper healing.
Details of the hospital food please