Southern Maryland Hospital
E.R. Visit
Wed. 12/26/01
10:45 P.M. - Started experiencing an irregular heartbeat (fast to very slow). It had happened 4 or 5 times over the past 30 days, but usually stopped after a few minutes. This time, it continued on for almost an hour, and I was very concerned (seemed to be associated with stressful periods.)
11:35 P.M. - After consulting with my husband, I decided to go the ER at Southern Maryland Hospital (even though I had never been there, it was only 5 min. Away).
Thurs. 12/27/01
1:10 P.M. - Arrived at ER and signed in. Although the irregularity had almost stopped, and I contemplated going back home, I decided to stay to find out exactly what the problem was. There was a nurse standing near the entrance to Triage who motioned to me to come through the doors. After entering, she took me into the examining room to take my vitals (temp. Blood pressure, heartbeat and oxygen level). All was fine except my heartbeat, which was still a little irregular.
1:25 P.M.- She told me to get ready to sign the admittance form because the doctor would probably want to keep me, then took me into another examining room, gave me a gown and left the room. I did as she asked and sat on the bed.
1:30 - She came back and hooked me up to a machine that monitors vital signs. She then walked over to a table and said she wanted me to put a nitroglycerin tablet under my tongue to regulate my heartbeat. She gave me the tiny pill, and I put it under my tongue. She walked back over to the table, picked up a syringe full of medicine and said that it would also regulate my heartbeat.
She found a good vein, inserted the needle and proceeded to inject the medicine. It felt like hot water. When it was about halfway in, I started to feel dizzy and out of breath.By the time she had finished the injection, it felt like someone had hit me in my head with a sledgehammer. I knew something was wrong.
I grabbed my head with both hands, and although by now I could hardly talk, I asked, What did you give me? I feel awful, my head hurts so bad.By the time I got the sentence out, I fell back on the bed. She said it was Digoxin to regulate my heartbeat. She looked at the monitor and said in a loud voice, your heartbeat is up to 200! She then started screaming HELP, HELP, I NEED HELP IN HERE, CODE BLUE, CODE BLUE. She started pounding me in my chest with her fist. Another nurse came in and said, What are you doing now?! Every time you're on my shift there's drama! That's when I started to pray.
Two or three doctors ran in. One started asking me questions, but I could only speak at a whisper by now because I could hardly breath. Little did I know that my lungs were filling up with fluid. He leaned down so that he could hear me and I told him that my chest and head hurt so badly. I told him that the nurse gave me something that made me feel so bad. He turned to her and asked, What did you give her? I couldn't hear her answer, but I heard him then say, We have to flush her. I was getting weaker and my breath was getting shorter and shorter. I looked up and saw them all walk out the door. I really got scared. I managed to muster up enough strength to pull up on my elbows and said, Please, please don't leave me. One of the doctors said, We're not going to leave you Honey, we'll be right back.
I lay there alone for what seemed like 2 3 minutes. I started slipping in and out of consciousness. When they came back in and saw me hanging off the bed they started running around. Someone started snatching the rest of my clothes off. I asked to see my Husband who was in the waiting area. I wanted to tell him what they did to me. A doctor went out to get him, but when he brought him over to me, he stayed very close as if he wanted to hear what I would say. I was very scared... And thought if I told my husband what happend, those doctors might let me die. So, I only told my husband that I loved him, and to take care of everything. The doctor then asked him to leave.
Another doctor came at me with an injection. I said no, no, what's that? He said Digoxin and I said, I don't want it, that's what she just gave me. Please, please no more.
They worked on me as I slipped in and out of consciousness again. I remember hearing the nurse saying, IT'S BACK UP TO 200... 180... 176... 190... It's back up to 200... WHAT IS SHE DOING???!!! I could feel them snatching and pulling on me. Someone hastily put an oxygen mask on me. I then heard someone say 2 or 3 times in a loud voice, We're loosing her, We're loosing her.
4:00 A.M.- My husband who was told that I had had a massive heart attack.
Sunday 12/30/01
I awoke in critical care on life a support system. My family and friends were coming in and out to see me for what they thought was the last time. I knew what had happened, but could not tell anyone because I could not talk with all the tubes down my nose and throat. They had me on morphine and I drifted in and out for another 12 hours or so. I was finally able to tell everyone what happened. I did not have a heart attack.
Not until later did I learn that my family, friends and co-workers all visited me for what they thought was the last time. I contracted an infection and pneumonia the 2nd. Day, and my husband and children were told that things did not look good for me, and they needed to start thinking about how long to leave me on the resparator. They were devistated. I spent a total of 9 horrible days at S. MD, and the whole time, I had to listen to the nurses and other staff member complain about how they hated the place, and were looking for jobs elseware. Most of them were lazy, argumentative, and uncaring. Many of the rooms were filthy
When my attorney received my E.R. Records, they were faulsified. They stated that a doctor administered 1/2 cc. Of some other medicin (not digoxin, because I was in fribulation. (Remember, I never saw a doctor until they all ran in). The report contained lies, lies, and more lies. Unfortunately, because I was alone when it happened, it is my word against theirs.
It has been almost a year now, and I am still experiencing nightmares and panic attacks. But I thank God Almighty that he brought me out of that horrible place.
Sheilah
Clinton, Maryland
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