The Story Of My High Stress Weekend

Just venting, so please indulge me.

Saturday morning, i get a call from my wife (i'm on the golf course, which should come as no surprise), that her brother has been rushed to the hospital. So, i run home, she takes off for the hospital.

Her brother is a severe epileptic who, in September last, had a vaga nerve stimulator installed to phase disrupt oncoming seizures. They botched the surgery and got the wires tangled around his vocal chords, so he lost his speaking voice and they couldn't activate the device.

On Friday, he's supposed to have a surgery to eliminate the vocal chord problem, meaning that within a few months (10 months or so LATE), they can finally activate the device for which the September surgery was set!

He was stressing, and boom, major seizure. Down the steps he goes, and he bashes his head. Finally on Saturday, he tells my father in law that he can't take it, so my FiL calls the ambulance.

They find bleeding and swelling in the brain, and he needs surgery. But, there is no longer a neurosurgeon in the whole of Will Country (over 600,000 people) so they transport him to Peoria, 120 miles away.

My wife goes with her dad, and i follow about 90 minutes later. At 10pm Saturday, the neuro says he thinks they MAY be able to control the bleeding and swelling with 2 IV drugs and a shunt to drain fluid from the cranial cavity. But, whether it works or not, is a matter of waiting.

So, i take my wife and FiL to the hotel, and then turn around and go back home to take care of the beasties. So, all the concern and a 240 mile roundtrip in about 9 hours. I got home around 2am.

Next day, i cut grass, jump back in the car and drive to Peoria again! Spent part of the day there, but having nobody to take care of the beasties, i leave around 8pm and get home around 10. My wife calls at 1am to say the neuro has decided that the medication worked and that surgery is no longer needed. (Relief sets in!)

But, my wife wants to come home NOW!!! So, at 2:30am i drive back down there AGAIN. She packs, we go to breakfast, go back to the hospital for 30 minutes, and now it's 8am Monday. Got in the car and drove back home for the 3rd 240 mile trip in about 40 hours!

He's going to be ok. They are transporting him back to his home town today, and things should be ok, at least until my FiL contacts the lawyers.

Don't know about you guys, and i'm not a lawyer, but this case seems like a slamdunk to me. Botched surgery that results in loss of voice, and extra surgery, a nearly 1 year delay in activating the device that was the point of the original surgery, and then a severe head injury because the device was never activated.

I'm tired, my MS is flaring up, and i'm back at work just for something to do! Sorry for the rant. Just needed to unload.
The Professor

Goodness. I offer my sincere best wishes to your family. They've been through too much.

Unemployed 4 years here - No Heath Care - If I get sick too bad so sad!

It could be a death sentence if we get cancer. I never stop thinking that this is the price of living in a republican-controlled America. For those of us without health insurance, it is a very precarious existence. America is no great bargain to live in anymore and I fail to see why anyone would immigrate here when there are so many better options.

Fortunately, my parents have offered to help out on a monthly payment and I have a client who might let me onto his group policy. So I'm hoping...


Cher

He can't hold a job, can't drive a car, etc. etc. etc, because of the severity of his epilepsy.

So, he's on permanent disability. I know at least that way he gets health care, especially in an emergency.

BTW: I wasn't ranting to get into a pissing contest over who has it worse. I was merely venting.
The Professor

Hang in there, that is all that can be done.

I think he should run those responsible for this mess through the legal wringer. I hope things turn out ok for you guys.

That sucks. And if making 3 240 miles round-trips in 40 hours isn't bad enough......consider that the trips are to Peoria.

Do you know who the device manufacturer is? Is it Cyberonics per chance?

Could be?!?!? The data on the success rate of those devices is VERY high, at very high effectiveness. The numbers show 99% of seizures moderated by 90% or more. That's a ticket back to a normal life for him. Unfortunately, the botched surgery means he's had thing inside his torso, and they can't turn it on. What a waste.
The Professor

Mrs. XNASA worked for Cyberonics when we lived in Houston. As far as I know, they're the only game in town when it comes to Vagas nerve stimulation. At the time the device was approved in Europe, and was just being approved by the AMA for use in the US.

The device is activated by a magnet of some type, I if recall correctly.

You're a good man and a good brother-in-law.

And sorry you had such a bad weekend.

you and your wife and brother-in-law have been through the ringer. Yes, I think lawyers should be contacted.

Vent away, sometimes a person needs to let it out, after your weekend you if anyone is entitled. I'm sorry to hear about this mess, I hope things come around.
If the good balances out with the bad, you've got some joy coming.

I had to go to a funeral. :-(

All is well, though.

I'm sure your wife and her family appreciated you being there.

Just don't jeopardize your health. Don't forget to take care of yourself, too. :hug: