Gggrr I'm sputtering here !!!
nincompoop drs!!

when you see your PM dr can you ask about who to call if this situation happens again instead of going to ER?
He may just give you his # or the # of a back up dr that will believe you.

Something else to consider- maybe, and depending on if you think they could help at that time-
If you have a good relationship with your bodyworker or PT, or chiropractor- they might do a house call. Doesn't hurt to ask right??
Just thought of this because my chiro was telling me of a house call he made to a fellow that was housebound and needed emergency chiro care while at home. He mentioned it because it was out near my area.

Dabbo- that really sucks. I recommend you call the hospital staff, ownership, satisfaction board or whatever to tell them about your experience. you might also send copies of your medical records to prove you have TOS...
just a thought.

*gentle hugs*

Ditto to what Jo said as well, my daughters pulmonologist encouraged us to drive a little further from home to the children's hospital for late nite ER visits after a bad experience at our local hospital.

I wouldn't have thought of that on my own but when I asked him it made perfect sense!!

O honey,
Maybe we should have show and tell lessons at medical and nursing schools
I so know what u went through.
Turning, using ur hands or body, just the simplest of things the wrong way can trigger.
And it's so sad to hear it happened when picking up ur precious one.
All of u with young whiper snappers amaze me.

I had a bout with an emergency situation in April.
By myself and the pain got so bad I couldn't literally take a breath
I paced and thought ok, if I take a bottle of pain meds thats not going to do any good.
If I call someone and drive me i'm gonna die waiting in the waiting room for hours.
If I drive myself that would be fatal to others on the road.
So, I called 911 and that would get me right in the back door.
I was o so embarrased when all the hottie firemen came.
They couldn't get a pulse or BP even on my legs.
So, I knew I was severly constricted.
The pain was so bad it was hard to keep still for them so I paced.
The poor lil' 12 year old hottie's eye's got as big as Oreo's when he couldn't get a pulse or BP.
The chief hottie knew what a brachial plexus compression was and kinda explained it to them.
And when he called the ambulance they were really careful and fast to get me to the ER.
When chief hottie sat with me in the ambulance the guys asked him what they should tell the ER.
He said, she has a brachial plexus compression with chronic pain and difficulty breathing. He laughed and said "like they are going to know what TOS or a brachial compression is".
He was right...as they called out here's the brachial plexus compression...take her to room..
The nurse came in and couldn't get a pulse or BP on my left.
Told her nicely not to go even think of attempting my right and got a real attitude and how we had to get a BP.
When my daughter explained to her the paramedics couldn't get a BP, TOS and the pain level she still had NO clue what we were talking about.

Lucikly, the ER doc was educated, called my PTP , didn't hesitate and ordered a morphene injection.
I was good to go within 20 minutes.
The good thing is...
Out of desperation my hubby found my new doc of PT

Moral of the story...
Have a cheat sheet on hand for emergency's of what TOS is for the uneducated along with ur medical hx.
xxoo

Thank you all for the advice! I didn't want to call an ambulance (i'd be embarassed) and i'm too stubborn to let anyone else drive me, which, in hindsight, was a dumb idea.

When I went to triage, they ask you all those questions. They were going to take my pulse on my left hand, and I told them they would be better off using the right side of me for everything. I walked them through the TOS/nerve compression explaination, and told them (per my "contract" with my PM doc) who I was seeing, and everything that I'm taking. Oh, and my RESTING pulse rate ws 122 (thats WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY high for me)... Then (3-4hrs later) I guess the doc didn't read a dang thing those nurses put in there. that being said, I'm waiting to hear back from my PM, and that is all good advice. I also plan on talking to the hosptial about the doc- not just the way he did or didn't treat me, but the fact that he looked at my chart so briefly as to think that I was TAKING Lyrica, when in fact I am allergic to it!!! get this- when I had that reaction, that was the SAME ER that I went to!!

Today I just need to hub all of you and be hugged back Thats all. Thanks

Dabbo... it is sad that you had to walk them through all the aspects of TOS, than what is even worse the doctor ignoring everything you so painstakingly covered with them! As far as drug seeking, I wonder just how many people looking to catch a buzz, would sit in a hospital ER on a Saturday for hours on end... when they could go out on the street and probably get something stronger than any doctor would ever dispense. Just think, we here with TOS and RSD are only a fraction of the people doctors see, how many others are walking around misdiagnosed, impropperly treated or are just told there is nothing is wrong with them! I consider myself very fortunate to have the team of doctors I do, some of these coordinated by Dr Togut.

Dabbo,

What bunch of yahoo's!!!!!!! I can't believe what incompetence is rampant in the medical system! I being in Canada see it too, but I can see we are all suffering from a bunch of idiots who didn't bother to take the pain management class because of a hangover! they also missed the tos class or don't know what a brachial plexus is due to WHAT exactly....did they not take anatomy...ok brachial plexus.....ok compression..ok put them together what do you get ....TOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel for you!!! Hope you are feeling better and can enjoy your baby girl again!!!

love and hugs,
Victoria

I want to pass on a big soft HUG to Shelley too!!
Are you having a bad time??

SHELLEY

Shelley - I hope things are alright..... for you.