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What's Up Doc-Part V- This is Not Holland Hospital
Entry 29 of 61 | show all | print this entry |
(Originally Written December 9, 2007)
After our less than positive experience at the lung doctor yesterday, Steve and I went to the hospital in Cologne this morning so that I could have another bronchoscopy. Though I wasn't thrilled about having another one, I feel so much better now that it's done. Of course, the day was not without it's challenges. With me involved...it never is.
First of all, it took us forever to find the hospital even with GPS. By the time we got there, we were running a few minutes late so Steve dropped me off and parked the car while I went inside to check in. Of course, none of the receptionists there spoke English and so I handed them my referral slip from the lung doctor and just hoped for the best.
The receptionist I gave my slip to gave me a really dirty look (I've concluded that knowing how to make people uncomfortable must be a prerequisite for all receptionists in Germany). Anyway, she snatched the slip out of my hand and pointed to the waiting area. I went and took a seat while I waited for Steve to return from the parking garage.
Steve joined me in the waiting room a few minutes later and we waited, and waited, and waited. After twenty minutes of waiting, we started to wonder if maybe we were in the wrong place. I suggested to Steve that he should check on the Bronchoscopy floor to see if maybe we needed to check-in up there. While he did that, I decided to see if I could make more progress with the receptionist I gave my original slip to.
As soon as I got in line, she saw me and started scowling at me from behind the desk again. I don't know what is wrong with people here but no matter where you go, people always seem angry. As I patiently stood in line waiting for my turn, she continued to glare at me. Finally, I got sick of it and I started glaring back. I thought, "Two can play this game." I got off one really good mean look that must have taken her off guard, because a look of surprise came across her face. I was about to do it again when Steve came and yanked me out of line. "Upstairs" he said, "We need to be upstairs to check-in."
When we got up to the Bronchoscopy floor, we found a doctor who spoke English, and we were finally able to check in. Their idea of "checking in" is vastly different than it is back home. They took my referral slip, entered our address information into the computer, and asked for our telephone number. That was it. I had to sign a consent form (written entirely in German) and then off to the waiting room we went.
At this point I was feeling like a "Deer in Headlights". I had no idea what I just signed, no idea if they knew why I was here, and no idea what was about to happen next. But apparently something in their chaotic system must work because after a few minutes, the doctor came and got us and brought us to a hospital room. She explained what was going to happen during the procedure and then she had me use the same type of vaporizer to numb my lungs that I used at the lung doctor before.
Once I had finished using the vaporizer, the doctor brought me into an exam room next. The first thing I thought she was going to do was have me put on a hospital gown. As I soon discovered, they don't have hospital gowns here in Cologne (at least none in the places I have been). So when I walked into the room, she told me to lie down on the bed and it was very strange wearing my shoes, clothes, jewelry, and all. So different than what you would expect at a hospital back home.
Once the doctor had me settled, she says to me, "The doctor will be in to discuss the procedure with you in a minute." I was confused. All along I thought SHE was the doctor, when in fact, she was just one of the nurses. Anyway, the doctor came in and introduced herself. She spoke very good English (thank goodness!). She asked me how I was doing and what the problem was. Hmmm. I thought to myself, "If she's about to do a bronchoscopy on me, shouldn't she know just a little bit about my patient history... for example...why I'm here?
I directed her to the file that I gave the nurse when we first came in (which had x-ray pictures, lab results, and EKG information) and she took a quick look at everything and said, "Oh, you just had a bronchoscopy yesterday. Why are you having another one today?" Are you kidding me? I wanted to jump off the table and run out the door but I HAD to have the stupid test done and so I had no choice but to stay.
I explained to her as best I could why I was there for the second procedure...that the lung doctor didn't feel they had the proper medical equipment to safely remove the clot. After speaking with her for a few minutes, we finally got everything figured out. At least enough to where I was comfortable having her look inside my lungs...I've reached the point where I don't just let anybody do that anymore!
Before we started the exam, she asked me if I had any questions. I said, "Yes, will you make sure that I don't wake up during the middle of the procedure?' She held my hand, smiled, and said, "Don't worry, you will be asleep the whole time. You will wake up an hour from now in a hospital room, OK?" Still skeptical from my horrific experience yesterday, I said, "Are you sure? Because that is what they told me yesterday and woke up during the middle of the it and saw the scope inside my lung." She looked completely shocked..."How did this happen...that should never be!" I know, tell me about it! She held my hand again and said, "Don't worry...that WILL NOT happen this time. I promise." With her reassurance, I let her proceed.
As she began hooking up my IV etc, I realized that she was the only one in the exam room with me. With the exception of a couple of students watching, there was no one assisting...she was doing everything by herself. I'm discovering more and more that German doctors here are either very independent or German nurses have very little responsibility!
As the doctor promised, I woke up in the hospital room an hour later. Steve was sitting next to me smiling and by the look on his face, I knew the procedure went well. The doctor removed the clot which was lodged in one of the bronchial tubes in my lung. She showed us "before" and "after" pictures, which were really gross. Steve wanted me to attach them to the blog but I said "NO WAY!"
Anyway, it's been 12 hours since the bronchoscopy I already feel better. Obviously my chest hurts but my cough is almost gone. I still can't believe how crazy the hospitals are here and how they are just as bad as the private clinics in not providing information. We knew just as little going in to this procedure today as we did before the one I had yesterday.
I suppose I'm going to have to accept the fact that this is just how things are done over here. Lack of communication is standard even more so if you don't speak the language. Hospitals and doctor's offices are not like the ones back home and I guess it was my own naivete to assume that they would be.
If there is one thing that I've learned from this whole experience it is the fact that we are so fortunate for the great medical care we have in Holland. We often complain about busy doctor's offices and appointment's running late etc., but compared to what I've seen here in Germany, we really have it pretty good. And the best part of all...there are no crabby German receptionists to contend with!
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| 29. | What's Up Doc-Part V- This is Not Holland Hospital - Cologne, Germany Dec 22, 2007 |
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