OMG.. What do I do? Need immediate advice!(and a tranquilizer too)

[mysty]

http://www1.wsvn.com/news/main/local/

To the right
video labled as "Family blames water at clinic!"

When Keith comes down tuesday.. THIS IS the clinic he will be going to for three weeks.

Should he change clinics (If there is an open seat in another location)
Should I be glad it's in the news (since they will be on top of it?)
The Doctor at this clinic is NOT on staff at the Hospital right next door!

Canceling his trip is probably not an option.

If you can get your computer to play the video.. you will see that this man, father, husband
is the most critical one.  There are others that were admitted to the hospital and already released.

Something about the chloro something or other in the water they use.

Ok.. yes.. I am panicking here!!!

And of fricken course!  It would be the center he is going to.  I could shoot myself!
It isnt just that clinic.. the horror stories I hear suck a big one.. dont matter where you go
in the states..

Maybe it is time to leave the states like I have read others have done.
Medical in the states suck, the housing market bites a big one, jobs (luckily i have a decent one)
are not keeping up with simple survival monetary income.
Medicare.. dont get me started..

I am heart broken.. How can I let Keith come down and go to THAT clinic now.
I will be mortified, scared to death, panicking!!!!!

Someone .. please please.. what do I do.  How can this happen.  How can they be so
careless, who's watching them, who the hell is this Doctor at the facility...

Ok... I'm just going on and on.. I dont know what to do..
I forwarded Keith the news clip....I won't blame him if he doesnt come down.. how can I?
I can't call and wake him up in this total fear panic i'm experienceing right now.

[mysty]

They finally posted the article in print .. here it is.

Family blames water at clinic for father's critical condition

Related Links
Video: Poisoned water
HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A family is angry at a South Florida clinic, blaming the water for their father's critical condition.

According to family members of Tony Estevez, Fresenious Medical Care of Hialeah withheld vital information from the family that is slowly killing their father.

According to his daughter, Noemy Estevez, she can hardly comprehend how they got to this point, after only three weeks ago, her father was exercising with her. Estevez is now recovering from a pentuple bypass. The facility provides dialysis for patients.

Noemy said she continued asked Tony's medical care in Hialeah, if something was wrong. "We continually contacted the center, and I feel that we were continually told nothing out of the ordinary is going on at the center," said the daughter.

Only after Tony had a heart attack did the center admitted there was a problem. Fresenious Medical care of Hialeah told Seven News on Wednesday: "Abnormal conditions in the facility's water system resulting in the presence of chloramine were identified... The abnormal conditions were corrected within 24 hours..."

Noemy Estevez claimed this was all new information, because she always asked the center if there was something wrong. "I just feel that statement in particular does not address us, because at no point were we notified. Contrary to that we notified them," she said

Last month, Tony's family saw a week long of spiral weakness and not eating. "While chloramine or chlorine is added to city water to protect the rest of us from bacteria, it kills red blood cells in patients that are on dialysis," said Robert Boyers the Family's Attorney. "The cover-up is criminal, because in this case the cover-up caused the harm," he added.

Fresenious most recent government inspection last year, came up clean. But in the inspection prior, State Health Regulator cited the clinic twice because water was not adequately purified, the medical director did not have staff privileges at Palmetto General, and patients were dissatisfied with doctor's visits and the amount of contact with their doctor.

The inspector even stated, "This is an accident waiting to happen," said Renee Fletcher.

Estevez remains in critical condition at the clinic.

[aharris2]

Ask Keefer if he wants to change. With the spotlight on them, that unit will probably be pretty safe to go to.
If he wants to change, contact Fresenius in Miami and see if they can find you another unit.

The stuff about "no privileges" at the hospital next door may strictly be inflammatory by the news media. Our neph doesn't have privileges at certain area hospitals requiring board certification (he is not and does not want to pursue board certification).
A. He's the best!
B. We have been to and will never return to two of the three hospitals where he has no privileges.

[celtic warrior]

Ask Keefer if he wants to change. With the spotlight on them, that unit will probably be pretty safe to go to.
If he wants to change, contact Fresenius in Miami and see if they can find you another unit.

The stuff about "no privileges" at the hospital next door may strictly be inflammatory by the news media. Our neph doesn't have privileges at certain area hospitals requiring board certification (he is not and does not want to pursue board certification).
A. He's the best!
B. We have been to and will never return to two of the three hospitals where he has no privileges.

First and foremost, DON'T PANIC ! (passes you a tranquilizer anyway)   As aharris2 says, with the spotlight on them, they will probably be "squeaky clean" by now. But ask Kieth if he wants to change anyway (if it is possible)

[mysty]

The stuff about "no privileges" at the hospital next door may strictly be inflammatory by the news media. Our neph doesn't have privileges at certain area hospitals requiring board certification (he is not and does not want to pursue board certification).
A. He's the best!
B. We have been to and will never return to two of the three hospitals where he has no privileges.

Don't know what to tell you.. that center is associated with that hospital and it seems the center is to have one there associated. What is scarey is that the patients have been complaining all along about that Doctor not giving them the time of day.  One thing about Miami... something isnt right and they (the patients) will not hesitate to report and complain and follow thru.  The majority of the people here are like me.. if it aint right..I'm not stopping till it is

THe hospital associated .. Palmetto ... I would not go to if my life depended on it.  I went there for exploratory surgery once and it was horrendous.  THey took lousy care of my grandfater as he was slipping from us.  Refused to change things so my dad and I got my grandfather on a good day.. had him sign himself out and took him to another one..

The whole thing reeks!!

[mysty]

Celtic .. too late .. im beyond panic.. (but give me the drugs anyway!)

You would think they would be squeaky clean..I contacted the reporter that did the article and told him.. It's about time that dialysis centers were shown.  I referred him here to read all the night mare and horror stories and that if he and his news investigative team would pick them off one at a time and stay on them (like they do with other things) maybe things would straighten out

[willieandwinnie]

mysty, can you contact other clinics near you. Here is medicare compare dialysis facilities. Check your area out. Hope you can calm down just a little. Poor thing, I can only imagine how freaked out you must feel about now. Get Keefer involved and make the decision jointly. Will be thinking of you. 

http://www.medicare.gov/Dialysis/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteria.asp?version=default&browser=IE%7C7%7CWinXP&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home

[mysty]

We are on the phone now discussing it now.  He is locating other centers there are several around me.
And although.. that one might be squeaky clean now..but it is NOT the first time they have been cited for this.

He's gonna call the travel fresenius lady and see who else could take him.  Thing is..if the one place runs like crap wont the other ones be as badly and horribley run?  This is insane..

[willieandwinnie]

mysty, do your area hospitals do dialysis? That might be something to check into to? I wish I could be more help. Maybe move up or down to another county? Take some deep breaths mysty, these things seem to work out, just drives you nuts in the process. Take care and let us know what we two have decided. 

[Sluff]

Hang in there Mysty, I don't know what I can do to help.    

[keefer51]

Heck i have Irish blood running through me my friends. That will kill any impurities they have! I am sure today i will find another center. I will keep y'all posted.

[paris]

Good luck with your search.  There has to be a good center somewhere nearby.  Keep us updated.

[celtic warrior]

WAS goona say keep topped up on Guinness Keefer (THAT would kill the bugs) but then I remembered about the fluid restrictions   sorry !!

[aharris2]

WAS goona say keep topped up on Guinness Keefer (THAT would kill the bugs) but then I remembered about the fluid restrictions

Nah, CW, it makes it easier. Once you drink it, it just keeps circulating and circulating until it is dialyzed out. Then it's time for a refill.

Keefer,

[mysty]

Okay.. what a completely frustrating day from hell its been!..
Here's the final so far as I remember it (wish i had a few beers the tequila will have to do!)

He called all these places on the dialysis locator list..
Some he couldnt understand cause their english was sooo bad.
Now I speak spanish.. Im cuban.. but I rather he didnt deal with them or me either cause
I cannot be there with him while I work..

So if he says.. cramp, crash, ice pain.. etc.. and they dont understand.. that wont work
and if they try to talk to him and he dont understand.. thats just as bad.

Finally found two places....one very near me.. one just a bit further.. he picked the one nearest
as he will have to drive to it on week 2 and 3 of his visit since i will be at work.

Here's the thing.. with that whole Fresenious (sp?) thing going on.. every one high tailed it out of that
center.. i mean they hauled to anything else.  Duh - vita is loving life right now!!!!

So.. Duh-vita had only these two (more but no english) available.

Mind you.. this is for the three weeks of his visit here.. so  I am calm.. (thanks for the drugs Cletic ).. beer helped and panic has settle down

While Keith is here those three weeks.. we are apartment hunting, mobile home hunting.. heck we will pitch a two bedroom tent at a KOA.

I need to move right after he leaves for two reasons..
Keith will be going home and packing to move down  (my apartment is too small) annnnd
my son who turns 18 tomorrow .. wants to move in with us.. . so my apartment is DEFINITELY TOO SMALL.

Once we know where we are moving and put a hold/deposit/security on the place.. then. .the hunt for yet another dialysis center and neph will begin anew.
Right now I live directly north of MIA in Miami Springs.. but I think we will end up right on the county border to the next county..

So that would be quite a distance from the place he will go to now to where we will be at the end of June.

So the saga continues.. tune in during the next three weeks of the new reversed version of I love Lucy.

Can you imagine.. a short cuban catholic raised girl (with a temper) living with an Irish boy (with that Irish blood ).. ooooh
boy... this will be fun!...
Talk about a combination!...I can see my son casually walking thru the living room ducking at appropriate times wearing his
iPod shaking his head.
And then at nite wearing earplugs wishing his room was padded!

[monrein]

Best of luck Mysty.  What a lot to sort out and organize.  It would have been enough even without the whole dialysis centre situation.  Well in the end it'll be worth it so keep the tequila handy.

[celtic warrior]

Glad to hear you got it all sorted Mysty    and I just KNOW that everythig else will work out just fine for you all
  Tony

[mysty]

Thank you Monrein and Tony

Two things I have learned since joining this site

1).. Everything usually works out from all I have read with others going thru their own hell

2).. Even when there is nothing anyone else can do.. you at the very least get a   

Poor Keith right now is    packing and getting ready cause it isn't a short weekend its for three weeks he will be here
So .. remember meds, refills, pay bills, clothes, toiletries, etc,, etc,, etc,,...

Then he gets to go back home and finish packing, move here, then.. it begins again.. find a decent neph, I'll be moving so find a center closer to home (wherever that might be).... learn his way around (I bought a garmin) car tags, drivers license. meds, etc etc,.. now... that will be nerve wracking,... and a whole lot of fun    but we are    and will get it all done. 

I'm so excited I'm about ready to come out of my skin!!!