My Hospital Experience: Observations and Lessons in Patient Advocacy
Why I Was Admitted
I was admitted on a Sunday morning with double vision (diplopia). In the emergency department, staff ran initial tests and a CT scan, and I consulted with a Mayo Clinic physician via telemedicine robot. The care team was uncertain whether the cause was stroke-related or something different, so they wanted to observe me for a period. That was reasonable, and the ED staff were professional and courteous throughout.
I did question the use of advanced imaging (CT and MRI) for diplopia without prior evidence of a specific problem.
Communication and Transparency
Questions were not welcomed. From nursing to physicians, I sensed discomfort with being asked anything, even simple requests for information: What is wrong with me? How long will I be here? Will I be seen by a medical doctor? Often no one had clear answers.
Lab results and findings were not shared proactively. I had to ask for my lab markers. This echoes what patients have told me for years: their doctors don’t explain labs, don’t show them their imaging, and don’t review results with them. Now I have experienced it myself.
Medication was given without discussion. A nurse brought me a statin. No physician had ever discussed my cholesterol or the need to lower it with me. I had previously requested fractionated cholesterol testing (Apo A and Apo B) and was refused. I don’t know whether that was a medical or an insurance decision, but requests outside the standard algorithm were clearly unwelcome. In my view, every medication carries a risk of side effects, so there should be a clear medical necessity before one is prescribed.
Disagreement over Plavix. A few years ago, a neurologist ordered PT and PTT tests. When the results were normal, he discontinued my Plavix. The ED physician disagreed and said I need to be on it for life. I plan to raise this with my primary care physician.
Testing Philosophy
I was surprised that basic panels were run rather than comprehensive ones. I suspect economics and insurance, not medical necessity, drive this. The approach seems to be to do the minimum testing necessary and extrapolate the rest.
More broadly, I am concerned about reliance on algorithms over individual presentation. Type 2 diabetes is a good example. I believe management should focus on improving insulin sensitivity so the body’s own insulin can move nutrients into cells, rather than adding exogenous insulin. Insulin is a fat-storing hormone, and more insulin means more fat storage. Fat tissue then acts as an endocrine organ, increasing inflammation and worsening the condition. One physician explained their approach as “evidence-based.” I believe a functional approach would serve patients better.
Logistics and Comfort
- Delays: I waited nearly 24 hours for an ophthalmology consult and an MRI, and neither occurred. I then learned that the ophthalmologist preferred to see me in the office. Telling me sooner would have saved time.
- Bed: The bed was very uncomfortable for a side sleeper using a CPAP machine. Getting comfortable took real contortion.
- Noise: Staff conversations at the nurses’ station were loud enough to be heard throughout the ward, which made rest difficult.
Takeaways
My questions were never meant to be confrontational. I was trying to understand my diagnosis, my expected length of stay, and the purpose of each test. If I am hospitalized again, I need a way to ask questions effectively and get answers that make sense to everyone involved. I want to advocate for myself and have physicians understand and respect that.