UPDATE>>> - My poor husband!

punkeemunkee'smom wrote: Thank you all so much for your words of support and your prayers! We just got back from the hospital(we left soon after I posted earlier) I had continued calling until the PA on duty today finally went to the DR in the ER. I was getting increaseingly scared because I had noticed yesterday he looked like he was slightly yellow-he is tan but I mean under the tan he did not look right-the PA lastnight blew me off BUT THANKFULLY the doctor today did NOT! They said to bring him in and they would order all the blood work so off we went! When we got there they wanted to keep him in the ER instead of just sending him to the lab-AND once again THANK GOD they did-they put him on an IV and took blood and other samples and then did an X-ray because his liver emzymes were elevated along with his white blood cell count-the other sample they took also showed white cells present...all in all he does have a bacterial infection-the doctor is betting on the E.coli and it appears to be culturing that way-it takes 24-48 hours for positive results AND his liver is enlarged from what they called a systemic infection-from my understanding the toxin from the E.coli got in his blood stream and is causing problems with his liver(he is a little jaundiced)-they gave him some pretty strong meds and sent us home with a heavy duty antibiotic. I feel horrid for him! But I am hopeful that maybe now he is on the mend! Thank you guys again so much! Your prayers and friendship once again has meant so much to us!

MM'sMama replied: Oh my gosh poor guy and oh my goodness bless your heart Abbie hang in there sweetie. Hugs to both of you . I hope he feels 100% again soon but at lest you know more of what is going on. Keep us updated. Lots of P&PTs

kayla's mama replied: Hoping he gets better soon, Poor guy Glad you finally got some answer through the blood tests.

redchief replied: Way to be insistent. I'm glad they're getting to the bottom of his troubles.

One word of caution to everyone: PA's or Physician's Assistants, have less medical training than nurses and should NEVER be allowed to determine the proper course of definitive medical care. Their place is to provide the doctor with an additional set of hands AFTER the doctor examines the patient (like giving medicine or innoculations, cleaning and bandaging wounds, and if qualified, starting IV therapy ordered by the doc). They are not qualified to make diagnosis of any kind and their INITIAL involvement in patient care should be limited to collection of medical history and demographics and triage. Basically what I'm saying is that it doesn't matter what a PA thinks or doesn't think. That's not their job.

CAMSMOM1 replied:

Thank you so much for the update. I was really worried about him today. I'm glad you followed your gut, and did the right thing. And I'm glad the doctors took the right steps nessassary by running the tests and getting him on antibotics. So are they going to call you in 24-48 hours when they find out if it is positive? Sometimes they don't call you back right away, so again I would be calling them in a day or two, to follow up.

It's good they found this out now, and you didn't wait. So a big pat on your back for being persistant.

Let us know what they find out. And I will be praying for your husband, and you. Lots of get well vibes.

btw...thanks Ed for that info!



Ann

amymom replied:
Sorry Ed, But you are describing a Medical Assistant. A Physician's Assistant is trained to diagnos and treat, with a physician overseeing them. Some PA's are RN's first. Usually a PA has 4 years of training after college, but now there are some who just have a bachelor's. PA's were first developed to use all the Med TEch's that came out of WW2 that did not have MD's but had all the training for it. Then in the 60's or so, Lab Tech's EMT;s, RN's and other professionals would go on for PA training. Now you can get a degree and license to be a PA without being an RN or whatever. They also developed RNNP. It gets confusing with all the initials.

EDITED to add: Abbie I am glad that you are getting to the bottom owf what is going on with Bill. Continued prayers for him. Keep us updated!

C&K*s Mommie replied: Abbie, so happy that your persistence has gotten you somewhere & the doc has given you some good footing to go forward on. Continued prayers for everyone!


~~~~~~
ITA with Anne Marie. MA's and PA's are different. It is sad that an MA was trying to give you the blowoff and thus was causing much more harm than good. But you stood up for your DH, and he is going to get better because of you being driven to get down to the bottom.

amynicole21 replied: Good for you for advocating for him!! I hope he's feeling better soon!

MamaJAM replied:

My3LilMonkeys replied: Glad to hear he got the medicine he needs.

holley79 replied: Abbie that is wonderful. I'm glad they finally did something for him. Get him some yogurt if he will eat it. Every time I'm on heavy duty antibiotics I end up with thrush. I hope that he gets to feeling better now.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I'm so glad you took him back and insisted he got proper care. The what ifs haunt me...it wouldn't have been good.

I hope he is on his way to recovery soon.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Oh gosh Abbie I'm glad you went back right away! I hope he gets better fast now.

jcc64 replied: I'm glad that you finally got someone's attention. Those sorts of systemic infections are nothing to mess around with. I hope he recovers quickly, but if at any time you feel uneasy, do not hesitate to bring him back in asap.

And Ed, although you are very seldom wrong, I think PA's are more educated than RN's. My cousin was the head nurse of an ER in a large metropolitan hospital, and then went back to school to become a PA. In any event, I always insist on a dr over a PA.

coasterqueen replied: I hope he recovers quickly.

My2Beauties replied: I am so glad you got the answers you needed hon You and your DH are in my thoughts and prayers, here's to a quick recovery for your DH. Sorry you had to deal with so much crap before he got what he needed.

mom21kid2dogs replied: So glad you finally got a Doc to listen. Here's hoping he has a speedy recovery!!

BAC'sMom replied: Hope he feels better soon.

kimberley replied: poor man! i hope he is better soon.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: Thank you all again! I have learned alot from this whole experience, you really do HAVE to take charge of your own medical care. If/when you feel something isn't right, you have the right,and responsiblity, to stand up for your and your families health....The PA that we saw told us he would "Look sicker" if he was having liver complications This coming from a man who had seen him once-I have looked at him almost everyday for 10 years and I KNEW that he looks sicker than I have ever seen him! I am so thankful now that he will be on the mend soon-and Aimee ITA! the what ifs kept me up lastnight-I am so blessed that he got the assistance he needed-I am so sad for those who don't! Thank you again for all your support!

fashionmumofboys replied: Glad you got the much needed answers.

Sending lots of prayers and thoughts your way.

redchief replied:
Anne Marie, I don't know what the rules are where you are. My description of a physician's assistant as far as the state of NJ goes, was accurate. I suppose different states may have different rules, but here, a PA is basically an office-bound paramedic. In NJ there is no prerequisite college training to get into the PA program and you can be licensed in two years. Since that was an aside, and not really all that related to the topic, that's the last I'll say on the matter in this thread.

~~*Missi*~~ replied:
I am so sorry abotu your husband. Sometimes being persistent is all you can do. I hope he starts to feels better soon and hugs to you too.
You and both in my prayers and thoughts .






Pa's are educated differently then nurses and more often longer. Nursing is a two or four year program in NY that is.Physicain Assistant Info Its something i have always wanted to do.......

this is your states guidelines on a PA..
NEW JERSEY
Qualifications: Graduation from accredited PA program and NCCPA exam.
Application: By PA for license; file notice of employment within 10 days of commencing employment.
Scope of practice: Delegated tasks such as histories and physicals, assisting at surgery, patient education, determining and implementing therapeutic plans.
Supervision: Constant availability through electronic communication; intermittent physical presence; regular review of records. 24-hour countersignature of inpatient medical orders. Outpatient chart countersignature in seven days; 48 hours if chart has medication order or prescription.
Prescribing/dispensing: PAs may prescribe non-controlled drugs as delegated by supervising physician. PAs may order or prescribe controlled medications in Schedules II-V if authorized by supervising physician and controlled drug is to continue or reissue order or prescription of controlled drug issued by supervising physician; adjust dose of controlled drug prescribed by physician with prior consultation; initiate order or prescription for controlled drug with prior consultation with supervising physician; or initiate order or prescription for controlled drug as part of treatment plan for patient with terminal illness. PAs authorized to prescribe controlled medications must register with the DEA.
Participation in regulation: Three PAs named to five-member PA advisory committee; one PA on medical board.
New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners, PO Box 183, Trenton, NJ 08625-0183; (609) 826-7100. For license: PA Advisory Committee, PO Box 45035, Newark, New Jersey 07101; (973)504-6580.
www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medical/bme.htm
(they have more trainin then a nurse)

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Hoping he gets healthy and home in no time!