november musings

[Laurel]

Re: november musings

oh ... JaMissie ... it is good to know you are back in the States getting your medical care.

{{hugs to you}} ... Holidays with your family ... a really wonderful thing as well.

all the bestest to you for continued recovery!

Jamaica Soon Come ~

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: november musings

Thanks all for your well wishes. Side note, I lost 17 lbs since Oct 1. Awful way to do it, but is nice that some things fit me now that I dearly love and others don't, but who cares about the don'ts. LOL.

Nooks, I guess I don't understand the crap on the marble. Please explain.

[Peasie]

Re: november musings

Well, I'm glad to see you are back

When I was in Kingston last month, I heard the following - quite serious - discussion

<ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*] If you are in a car accident, the best place for medical treatment is KPH (Kingston Public Hospital). [*]For a heart attack, go to Andrews Memorial Hospital.[/list]

And I am, like, how can you choose when you are in those situations??

[Bandana]

Re: november musings

So glad to see you posting and know that you are home and safe!

Please do tell us the story of Sav when you have the time and energy.

(((JamaicaMiss)))

[Laurel]

Re: november musings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jamaica Miss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Nooks, I guess I don't understand the crap on the marble. Please explain. </div></div>

[Nanook]

Re: november musings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nooks, I guess I don't understand the crap on the marble. Please explain. </div></div>

Let me put it the way it is supposed to be said...

I'm busier than a cat tryin to cover up s_h_i_t on a marble floor.

It was s_h_i_t on a marble, but on a marble floor cause if a cat did do that on one marble floor, it would be pretty busy trying to cover it up!



Glad you are feelin better JMiss!

[R00TS]

Re: november musings

Mawnin Glories

Glad to hear the good news Jamiss

y'all have a great weekend

[schultz]

Re: november musings

Hello everyone! Its a sunny Sunday down south. Getting ready to take my doggies for a walk.

JaMiss, glad to hear you are back home safe and sound! I was worried about you. Maybe we can hook up in the Spring. You still feeling better, I hope?

[R00TS]

Re: november musings

mawnin ((Shultz))) and all

nice and sunny here too, but cool.
gonna make some chili and watch football GO BROWNS!

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: november musings

Saga of Savannah-La-Mar Public Hospital:

On Oct 31 I suffered a heart attack. I had told Ted previously that if anything happened to me, take me to Hope Medical Center in Mobay, but I was so out of it and he may have forgotten. Ted and the neighbor One a Day took me to Sav. Two doctors did see me right away, gave me a nitroglycerin pill under the tongue. Then they were prescribing a pain killer for me and I heard them say morphine. I am allergic to morphine, so I had to tell them in between my labored breaths and extreme pain. They never even asked if I were allergic to anything. Then they disappeared and after a while someone was moving me on a gurney around the hospital, I believe the 3rd floor. I saw a sign on the wall that said Psychiatric Ward and I thought, good they have help for some people that really need it. I was wheeled to an open ward and left in one of the slots. Mind you, I was still experiencing the vise gripping pain, dulled somewhat by the pain med they gave me. I looked up to the ceiling and big silver dollar size peelings of paint were coming off, and I was waiting for it to hit me in the face. I also wonder if it was lead based as it was very old.

A patient came up to me and asked why I was there. I said I was having a heart attack and nobody was helping me. I then asked her what she was in for and she said they thought she was schizophrenic. I knew then they had put me in the pshyc ward. To the right of me was an older woman who had her legs and arms bound to the bed. She was saying, &quot; I am wetting up. The rain is coming down on me. Won't someone please help me.&quot; Other patients went over to her and told her she was not in the rain, and then she asked them to untie her, which they said they couldn't. When Ted and One a Day found where they put me, I told them they had to get me out of here or I was going to die, and to get me to Hope. When the guys had told the nurse I wanted to go to Hope, she told them that God wasn't at Hope and wouldn't save me. One a Day told her to stop that kind of talk and to go see me. She comes to my bed and says that I have to sign myself out, which I said was no problem. Then she said I could not walk out, they could not take me by car, and that I needed an ambulance. I asked her to call for one, and she promptly informed me that I had to get it myself and walked away.

The guys did get the number and called. It was at least 45 minutes before the ambulance attendants came with a gurney. But before they took me they informed me that it would be $450 US. I said no problem, I have a credit card to cover it. So after signing myself out, I was on my way to Hope. The journey took a long time because some political rally slowed down everything on the road to Mobay. The attendants were good and they also told Hope that I was allergic to morphine.

At Hope I had all kinds of doctors and nurses around me, taking vital signs, taking blood, and administering to me. The cardiologist said that I should have been given a medication to break up the clot in my heart, but that it was too long a time since the onset. It has to be done in the first 6 hours. So I suffered through the pain until the next day when the clot must have gone through, because all of a sudden I didn't have any pain in the heart.

I received excellent care at Hope. It was like the hospitals in the US except they didn't have the total care for a heart attack and didn't have the tests necessary to see what if any damage to the heart. So they are limited in their care somewhat. But I still was very thankful for them. Because they are a private hospital you must pay for the services, medications, doctors and tests such as xrays on my lungs. I was having trouble breathing and they had to check them to see if I had pneumonia, etc. The bill for 4 days including the cardiologist was $79,000 JA ($941 US).

Ted and I discussed my options and decided I should return to the US because I still had a bad cough and pain in the chest, as well as bad pain in the stomach after breakfast and after evening meal, sometimes with vomiting and/or dry heaves. We both knew it was the medications, some from the US and some from Jamaica, so I changed my ticket and went home on November 13. On Monday they put me in the hospital here and ran the tests to look at my heart. Thankfully I do not have any buildup of cholesterol even though my cholesterol readings are higher than they like. I do have calcification in the heart, caused by old age. I don't understand that since I am only 39 years old. Doctor said they would not do anything about that yet because it is not life threateneing, maybe a few years down the road. Also my heart is not contracting as strong as my cardiologist here would like. He said to give it 6 weeks after a heart attack for the heart to repair itself and maybe it will go back to normal contractions. He took me off the meds in question and gave me different ones. The cough and the pains in the lungs are almost gone. The pains in the stomach are gone.

I am very thankful to the Lord and to Hope. I hope this helps anyone needing assistance in the Negril/Sav area in determining where they need to go for assistance. I was also told there is a private hospital in Sav, but I don't have anymore information about it.

[Nanook]

Re: november musings

Oh my JMiss, that is really something that you had to go through. I have spent time visiting in Sav Hospital so I saw the conditions. We used to bring supplies to the children's ward and rock the babies. The place is like something out of a horror movie.


I am so thankful that you survived the ordeal there and made your way to moBay Hope and then home. It is good to know you are where you can get the best care until you return to your beloved.

I bet the guys never take you back to Sav again! That is a good thing.




Good morning alla uno &amp; happy Thanksgiving week! off and running....gotta melt the glass.

[schultz]

Re: november musings

OMG, JA Miss what a horror story.....so sorry to hear. I went to Sav one time and they took my digital camera from me before entering (they don't want pictures taken in that horrible place). There is another good hosp. in Sav. called Royal Medical Centre. My friend used them when she had cancer. It's like a community hospital....not great but much better than the public hospital. Some of the private doctors in Sav are good but that's not much help in an emergency.

I'm so glad you are feeling better!

[R00TS]

Re: november musings

Thats some story Jamiss, I'm also glad your back and getting some more attention. Thats quite a bit of weight youve lost!
always a bright side aye

Did I ever tell you guys about a chest tube being put into me at
Cornwall in mobay?
I was in a curtained off area on a gurny with no lights but a bare bulb hanging above my bed.
The good doc told me it had to be done or i couldnt fly back to the states for surgery.
He also told me it would be the most painful thing i'd ever go thru. It was explained he would put the scalpal
between the ribs into the lung and I shouldnt be alarmed at a loud hissing sound.
It would just be the air escapeing or expanding or something like that. Anyway he and a young nurse were setting up a small tray of sanitized tools..
He went to work as she slipped out of the curtain. It was ruff to say the least but as I did my old Lamazz<span style="font-style: italic">sp </span> breathing technique for pain..did i mention no pain meds?
I heard the hiss and a crash as all his tools hit the floor!
He had evidently hit the tray and the sterilized gear was all over the place!
He had his finger in my side and was screaming &quot;Help! NURSE!WHERE had the nurse gone!&quot;
It had to be done twice and I have some beautiful scars from it.
This was one of many experiencess while there for just 48 hrs.
btw..emidiate relief from that breathing discomfort
Was still flown out in a small plane below sea level $)x14k Travelguard insurance 50bucks

[Seveen]

Re: november musings

i thank God you're still here - that experience sounds horrible

i can't even imagine being left in the psych ward when i'm having a heart attack

i will be getting travel insurance 'cause we never know do we and on my upcoming solo trip - fingers crossed - who would even go the hospital with me or care

best wishes for getting &quot;home&quot; again soon

[schultz]

Re: november musings

Roots, lady that sounds horrible too! Why did they have to insert a scaphel? Was it your heart?

I'm trying my best to stay healthy-----I might do a long stay in the Spring.

Yes, I guess the travel insurance is worth it!