Unpredictable medical conditions, such as blood clots and pressure sores, can lead to a lot of days spent waiting on doctors in the emergency room.
i spent a large portion of the day Thursday laying on a very uncomfortable bed in the emergency room of my local hospital. I didn't want to, but with all the problems I've had over the years, my motto is "Better safe than sorry."
It started in the morning when my PCA Nicole noticed that the toes on my right foot were a very unusual color. I've always had poor circulation in my lower extremities and they always have a light purplish tinge, so I paid no attention. But Nicole was concerned enough to call my fiance in from the other room. When he became concerned over the unusual color, we decided to go to the ER.
I checked in, waited 20 minutes for a room, then waited another hour for the doctor. When he showed up, he ordered the standard tests for a blood clot and came back an hour after he got the results. During the initial exam and when he gave me the results of my tests, the doctor seemed more concerned with preventing contractures in my hand (I wear a splint for that reason) than with my leg.
And that brings me to my first piece of advice. Always follow up with your regular physician. Make this a priority when you leave the emergency room. Your regular doctor knows your history better and will be better equipped to diagnose any problems.
And bring a good book or your iPod. You can never predict how long you'll be there (my record is 9 1/2 hous) and you don't want to be bored out of your mind.
