I suffered a fungal lung infection. I was intubated for two weeks, and had a heart attack while intubated, as well as sepsis. Amazingly I survived, but was left incredibly weak and in need of constant oxygen. I was expected to stay at the care center for up to two months. I stayed for one week, and that was longer than I wanted. My copay was $100 per day. I only received two PT sessions, and was left to lay in bed the rest of the time. Here are some of the examples of what occurred in this nightmare:
In the middle of the night my oxygen machine stopped working. My oxygen was dropping into the mid 80's. It took the nurse a half hour to come. When she got there she couldn't get it going. She then left me with no oxygen for four hours until her shift ended.
I was placed in a room with a 380 lb man clad only in an adult diaper. This man was clearly delirious as he continuously shouted vulgarities at nurses that weren't there, as well as physically threatening me. I couldn't sleep. I asked to be moved, and every time I was ignored. On the fourth night I managed to wheel myself out of the room and slept in the hallway. A nurse asked why I was sleeping there and then moved me to another room, telling me that I wasn't supposed to be there. The center seemed filled with insane people. Every night I heard people screaming for help and to be let out. Several times people drifted into my room. One woman wheeled herself in then sat there staring at me. It was extremely uncomfortable and nightmarish. For a time I questioned my own sanity.
I asked the nurses to help me get to the bathroom the day after I arrived. I was only offered a diaper or a bedpan. After three weeks in the hospital I was looking forward to the dignity of using a restroom. Eventually I forced myself out of the bed and into a wheelchair. The first time didn't go so well. Things improved after that.
I didn't receive any bathing at the hospital. When I arrived at the care center I was filthy and my hair was badly knotted. They only allow one shower per week. I got mine on the fifth night. The male nurse that gave me the shower was angry that someone else was supposed to do it. He was very rough. When we got to the shower I sprayed the water over myself. It felt amazing. However, the nurse had no time for that. He ripped the nozzle out of my hand and sprayed me in the face with it. I didn't have the strength to fight back. I told him to just take me back to my room, and I'll shower when I got home. He ignored me and continued to wash me like a used car.
They lost my clothes and my DENTURES. Even though the dentures were clearly listed with my belongings when I arrived, they refused to reimburse me for them. When they demanded the $600 that I owed them for my stay, I told them that I will pay them when they take care of my dentures. They never called again.
My stay at the care center will always remain as a nightmare in my memory. Once I got home my recuperation accelerated. My stay was filled with insane people, inattentive, and sometimes abusive, staff, crappy food, filth, and boredom. If you are insane and don't know where you are, you will feel at home there. Otherwise, I would recommend staying away from this dump. read more