Markham Stouffville Hospital

mamglam

I am going to be having my treatment begin at MSH and was wondering if anybody has any comments on being here. 

bethen

Hi

I have not had treatment there, my treatment is at York Central Hospital Richmond Hill, would love to hear how you make out there and your experiences.  Good luck to you and try to stay strong, I know it sucks, this is my third time around and just had a port put in yesterday and the chemo for me will begin next Wed.  I do love York Central, the oncologist there fights like mad for all her patients.

 Good Luck

Betsy

mamglam

Thanks Betsy -  I appreciated your support.  I have been feeling terribly sad and weepy the last few days as my surgery date is this week.  My emotions are even worse than when diagnosed and the "rock" in my stomach is harder.  How did you ladies deal with these types of emotions?  Please suggest what I can do to keep me sane.

bethen

Hi

I sure know what it feels like to be weepy, I have been that way for a few weeks now.  I think that we just need time to grasp everything.  I had my new chemo with my new port for the first time today, I had myself so worked up that I was sure I would be sick to my stomach.  However, with the help of those nurses everything went pretty good.  All I can say is one breath at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time.  Things will get better, and I know this because this is my third time since I started this nightmare in 2005.  Once treatments start for me and everything gets underway, and you have a plan you will feel so much better.  Good luck and let me know how you are doing.

Betsy

bethen

Sorry, I forgot to mention that my mastectomy was less painful than my port a cath implant, go figure.

Betsy

mamglam

I am sorry that you are feeling this way and have to go through this difficult journey again.  Thanks for the good wishes and I will post again when the surgery is done on Friday.  Wishing you all the best and a great outcome. 

bethen

Good luck tomorrow,you WILL be fine.

mamglam

Hi Betsy,

Thanks for the good wishes.  All went well.  I was told to arrive at the hospital at 9:30 a.m. had the wire inserted at approx. 10:15 and then had the dye injected at 10:45.  The surgery was scheduled for 1:15 p.m.  - so the wait in the small waiting room was unconfortable.  The surgery was on time and the anesthesiologist was really nice and very compromising as my veins are thin and small.  After the surgery, the Recovery nurse was awful as I was in excruciating pain.  She told me that if they give me any more pain killers  that I was going to ICU!!  She was so mean and unprofessional.  I was groggy, moaning and groaning softly and she told me to stop doing that.  She told me to open my eyes and then brought me a warm blanket!!  Then they took me to the Day Surgery Waiting area and the Doctor never came to talk to either me nor my family.  The nurses kept paging him and he never responded.  Anyhow I was discharged and improving so I guess all went well!!

bethen

Yea!!!!! at least it is over with.  One less thing to have to do.  Funny, how one rotten egg like that nurse can make the experience somewhat worse for a person.  She had no business telling you to be quiet, she should experience what you just did and see if she would be quiet, after all everyone's pain threshold is different.  Well, I am glad for you that this part is over and done with, relax, take the painkillers that they give you, don't be too stubborn to take the meds.  I was so afraid of the pain killers during my first diagnoses that I never took them, but after my recurrance I had too because my pain was so horrible, and low and behold it made a huge difference and I regret not doing it the first time.  Also, take any help that you can get, it will make a difference on your recovery time.  What is your next step.  I will be thinking of you, take care.

mamglam

Hi Betsy,

Thanks for all you kind thoughts- much appreciated at this difficult time.  We now await the news from the doctor as to the surgery.  After that we will find out the results of the Pathology Report and then the actual treatment plan.  I plan to write to the hospital about the treatment I received in the Recovery room and could be the reason why the doctor left without speaking to us as we had planned with him earlier to speak to us.

hrf

Mamglam, sorry you are having this experience. I have not had first hand experience with Markham Stouffville as I've been at Sunnybrook. However, my friend was at Markham Stouffville and switched to Sunnybrook after a while because she was so unhappy with treatment at Markham Stouffville. 

mamglam

hrf thanks for sharing about your friend's experience at MSH.  So far my experience at this hospital has been okay except for the this particular nurse in Recovery.  The doctors I have dealt with (radiologist, surgeon and the anesthesiologist) have been great.  I have considered moving to Toronto and possibly Sunnybrook but am afraid that I may have to wait longer to be seen and treated.  Would you be able to share more about your friend's experience at MSH?  Thanks.

208sandy

Mamglam - sorry you had such a rough experience - I wouldn't wait to write to the hospital - either email them or have a member of your family go over and find the person who is the patient advocate - that nurse needs to be reprimanded NOW (I'd fire her if I ran the hospital) - also your surgeon should have come to speak to you no reason for his unprofessional behaviour either - my bff was treated at Sunnybrook and still goes there for followup every year - she loves everyone there.  BTW I have a prescription for Lorazepam (Ativan) - I only take it once in a while now but when I was undergoing treatment it was a wonderful thing - it is an anti-anxiety drug, ask your doc for a prescription.  Sending you hugs, Sandy

mamglam

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for the hugs and your great support.  After I read your note I decided to use the hospital's comment and feedback online.  We plan on following up on this particular behaviour of this nurse.  Messages have been left for the doctor and hopefully, he will respond by tomorrow.   I will keep you posted.