re: True Story: From Mother's Hospital at UAB, The Dark Side of Medicine

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Her head doctor, waddled in a couple hours later, and he reminded you of the guys you are warned about in middle school. Just a strange bird. He starts talking to my mother as if she is a toddler, and asking rudimentary questions. She answers, and they have a basic convo. His manner is weird, and he's one of those people that give you a bad vibe. He stated, "we don't know what the future holds, so just in case, we will prescribe you x and y just in case".

I was like, hold up. Have you read her chart? What were the results? She isn't depressed or unmotivated or anything.

He replied they were doing this for preventative measures, and just in case.

I asked, in an unpolite manner, if there was in case in which they would not have prescribed my mother psychotropic drugs.

They stammered, and they stammered, and I told him to GTFO. I am incredulous that these certified professionals first and only reaction/cure is drugs. It was a disgusting experience.

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It sounds like you were pretty jaded to begin with.

You were the ones asking for a psych consult. So he prescribed some medicine that should help her through the rest of the ICU visit and reduce any depression. Do you even know what was prescribed? Was it something just to help her relax / sleep?

Western medicine, my friend.

What's your symptoms?

Ok, let me write a script and see what happens.

On and on and on. Eventually the patient is on multiple meds that he/she may or may or may not need, and no testing or concern for unforeseen issues caused by mixing each other. Or just the side effects of each drug causing decreased quality of life.

It's such a lazy approach, but many (such as my mom) continue to believe every word they utter.

Really wish this would have been from TulaneLSU.

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and after the latest surgery, ended up in the ICU where she caught "ICU Delirium", which apparently is common.

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Don’t know if it’s relevant, but Mrs. M. had similar progressive psychosis in ICU, related, we believe, to Albuterol.

A new physician took up her case expressing concern about “drug induced psychosis” after listening to me describe her episodes. He put her on a different type of Albuterol (lAlbuterol?) and the issues resolved without additional problems. He also changed her treatment protocols which ultimately helped get her out of ICU.

We’re sorry you’re going through all this. You are her best advocate. If you’re not confident with her physician you can say so and speak through a patient advocate.

We’re praying for you.

Most doctors are a bit odd and many have terrible people skills but it’s pretty standard to give someone an anti depressant if they are showing signs of agitation and deep mood swings. You don’t have to take them or fill the prescription. Contrary to what you might think but a lot of surgeons are on call 24/7 and went through 12-14 years of training so unless you are willing to do that you can’t really complain about the costs. You would be surprised how patients treated at the hospital refuse to pay their bills or pay just enough to keep collections off of their back. The fewer meds you take and fewer doctors visits, the better. Hospitals are notorious for infections and illnesses

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Did you catch the psychiatrist name? Almost certainly it was Carl Houck.

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It was.

I asked for the chart/test results.
They said they were working on getting me the results, but based on what they read, it was a “precautionary prescription”, because nobody knows what the future holds.

I asked if they gave people casts for precautionary measures, just in case.

Rather perturbed at the whole fiasco.

This is some advice from a doctor who has spent a fair amount of time in ICU’s.

1. Your mom’s situation is obviously complicated.

2. Props to you for being involved in her care. That’s important

3. It’s hard to trust a doctor with bad bedside manner. But that doesn’t mean he’s wrong.

4. Don’t confuse being somewhat medically knowledgeable or well read with having the answers. In a lot of these cases the answers aren’t clear to even the best and most experienced docs.

5. I’ve seen some very well intentioned family members trying to do the right thing have detrimental impacts on their loved ones care. “Be an advocate” in general is a great idea. But if you are advocating against helpful things and /or for unhelpful/detrimental things then you will hurt the person you are trying to help.

I hope she heals up soon.