From the Patient's Point of View

Now granted I'm a graduate nurse, I've been a patient far longer and thought it important to talk about something that has me quite bothered. 

As some of you know I had to visit the oral surgeon yesterday and all went well, or so I thought.  My first clue that something may not be so right (trust your gut people) was that they had me sign an informed consent in the waiting room without ever having had a conversation with the surgeon.  I brushed it off, yeah I know what's up and can ask a question in the room, no biggie.  That was mistake #1 on my part.

The reason this was a mistake for any non-nurses out there is there has to be a few things that happen before an informed consent is valid.  #1 The surgeon must tell you about the procedure, the risks and benefits, and potential complications.  #2 You must understand what the surgeon told you and accept it and #3 You must be fully competent and able to make that decision (I had no nitrous anyway so all was okay).  It is then witnessed by another staff member such as a nurse who then signs that this took place.  The nurse also has to be sure you did in fact meet all of those criterion.

The tooth that was extracted had a deep root that extended into my sinus cavity which has "grown down", according to my regular dentist.  I have chronic rhinosinusitis which is controlled by flonase and singulair.  Needless to say I have some nasal polyps and get sinus infections around every March or so.  Anyway, before the surgeon began I said "My dentist told me that I should ask you if I need to be concerned about this root that has grown into my sinus cavity".  He says "No, don't worry."  Then proceeds to swab the wrong side of my mouth for tooth #3 when it was #13 that needed to come out.  (Someone wrote down the wrong side).

With my blood pressure rising about 20 points at this juncture (I looked at the machine) I kind of just grinned and bore it.  It went quick and yesterday wasn't that bad, there was drainage, that I expected.  But today there is new drainage.  Drainage that isn't saliva or blood or even serosanguinous fluid.  I'm also starting to get a pain near my cheek bone.  I called the office and was brushed off, "the pain medicine should be helping and you will get better in 2-3 days, most people don't even need all of it."  Hmmm, thanks for the not really much of a reply there my dear. 

I make it a habit not to announce to everyone my status in the medical field, I don't want special treatment, I want to be able to gauge it from the perspective of the regular Joe and Jane.  I just feel like a diagnosis at the moment and I really dislike this aspect of health care.  Patient-centered care cannot get here fast enough!

If not better by Friday, I'm calling my primary doc, after my due diligent research I may need to see an ENT if this drainage doesn't stop.