I came here due to a non-healing wound on my tongue. I had a minor, unexpected surgery on April 2nd…read moreto remove 4 mm of my tongue for a biopsy. My doctor was kind and empathetic throughout the whole process. I felt no pain during the fast, less than 51-minute visit, even after receiving two stitches. The numbing spray helped ease the pain of the shot. It wasn't until after the procedure that I felt immense pain.
I did not receive a pamphlet like I usually do after hospital visits, nor did I receive instructions on how to care for myself.
An hour later, the pain hit me like a tidal wave. It was excruciating.
I'm glad Kaiser has an app where we can speak to our PCP right away. If we can't reach them, we can call urgent care and get a callback with advice. The doctor called the pharmacy to ensure I had pain medicine and mouthwash. My surgeon called the next morning to check on me, which I appreciated.
However, my stitches came undone the next day.
I went to the ER in Wahiawa. It took an hour to be admitted, and once seen, they quickly decided not to do anything since it was clotted. I explained I have a hard time healing, but they said tongues heal quickly and didn't want to mess with that. They told me to follow up with my surgeon if needed.
Two days passed, and I seemed fine. I barely talked or ate to allow healing.
Monday passed with light talking. Tuesday I talked more, and it hurt less.
Then Wednesday at 7 a.m., I woke up choking on blood. My tongue was dripping like a faucet.
Because of my experience in Wahiawa, I stayed home and tried to manage it. It took 5 hours for the bleeding to stop.
I slept again and woke up choking on blood around 4 p.m.
That's when I knew home care wasn't enough.
I didn't want to return to Wahiawa, so I went to the location where my surgery was done.
I'm happy to say the care there made me feel at ease. They didn't make me feel like a burden. I was spitting blood from the parking lot to the ER and into my room.
After receiving five stitches, I was sent home.
A few hours later, I coughed and started bleeding again, like a sprinkler so I was brought back to the ER.
The night team was kind and patient. The doctor prepared to stitch again but saw clotting and decided not to. Another team considered cauterizing, which I would have preferred, but also chose not to due to clotting.
I slept through most of the night with nurses checking in.
One nurse told me my oxygen levels dropped while sleeping due to an obstruction.
The most stressful part was using my call light multiple times with no response. Around 1 p.m., my doctor asked if I had eaten. I said no because no one had come by. The nurse later offered crackers but never brought them and told me to drink water.
It was discouraging to see staff walk by or enter for supplies while my call light was on. When I spoke up, I was told to wait or that my nurse would come.
I eventually insisted I needed the restroom but wasn't allowed, likely due to fall risk, until I was moved to my room.
I asked a nurse about the call light, and she kindly said, thank you for your patience, the ER is a zoo right now. I understand healthcare is not easy. I used to be a CNA and come from a family in healthcare, so I try to be understanding.
My issue is that I bite my tongue at night, wake up choking, and don't heal easily. We suspect sleep apnea, but it is not confirmed.
I asked to stay overnight due to the trauma, and I am grateful I was moved for observation.
Special thanks to my nurse Liezel. She was amazing, attentive, proactive, and kind. She made sure I was comfortable, brought me a fan, gave me extra pillows, checked on me often, and made sure I finally ate after over 24 hours without food. She even ordered dinner.
I am on a clear liquid diet, and it is not bad. I appreciate the room service options.
At times, it felt like a mini hotel with iced water, sanitizer, tissues, and validated parking for visitors.
Also, my nurse speaks Visaya like me, which was such a comforting surprise.
Overall, this experience has been a roller coaster, but the great care I received outweighs the negative moments.
Praying for a better night with no more bleeding. Thank you, Kaiser team.