Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Doctor

Southlake Regional Hospital Emergency Room, A Comment Hard To Absorb

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:51:15 +0000

I couldn’t wait until Friday to see our family doctor. There was definitely something wrong and Matthew wasn’t getting any better. Swollen glands, soar throat and mild temperature were few of the symptoms. To back track, while sleeping Matthew started to make snoring sounds.

It all started on Tuesday night, coincidentally a day after we brought him to the local splash pad at the Town Park. His breathing got worsen by Wednesday night. He was breathing through the mouth with swollen glands and soar throat.

Splash Pad, Town Park, Aurora

We arrived at the emergency around four o’clock afternoon on Thursday.

As usual warmly welcomed and immediately walked into a triage for interview as there was nobody in line before us. It is amazing how quickly the emergency areas are cleared these days just enough to fool you that your wait time will be short.

A wishful thinking. Perhaps, this type of action up front is beneficial as you are not sitting in the waiting room full of unknown bugs hovering around you.

At the triage we were questioned. I listed all the symptoms and I told them that what concerned me most was the snoring sound he makes when he sleeps. I can hear him when I am in another room. It concerns me because he is definitely not getting a good night sleep to heal.

Now this comment got me thinking and someone tell me if the hospital professional should actually throw comment such that ‘Or may be YOU are not getting enough sleep?‘. I elaborated further, ‘No not me, it just hurts me seeing him sleeping like that‘.

So throughout most of the night on Tuesday and Wednesday I spent by Matthew’s bed listening to his breathing. Second night wasn’t any better because he was also running mild fever.

May be it was a joke from the lady who checked Matthew’s weight, measured his temperature and heartbeat. May be it is a way triage nurses make their time more optimistic because it is kind of sad place to visit with all the worries around.

But when you see your child sick and are exhaused from all the worry and lack of sleep, having someone joking that I am selfish and that I brought my child to the emerge to ensure I can go back faster to my beauty sleep.

This didn’t sit well with me. I wonder what respond I would get if I joked like that about them? I probably be admitted to the Exit Zone.

We left emergency around eight o’clock that evening. Matthew was diagnosed with strep throat (bacterial infection of the throat).

This time we waited in the Yellow Zone and not in the Fast Track zone. It would be nice if someone explained to us what’s the difference, but it seems like everyone sitting at the hall waiting patiently for their turn eventually had their own definition figured out.

You will be send to the Yellow Zone when nurses at the triage don’t know what is wrong with you. Nurses will fast track you if you have obvious symptoms, like broken bone.

Next day, that is Friday, we visited our family doctor. He confirmed strep throat but said that Matthew’s case is severe one and we were advised to keep close eye on him for the next forty eight hours. If the antibiotic does not work the infection can enter his bloodstream.

And there goes my beauty sleep again for the next forty eight hours (a sarcastic remark).

What Rough Collie Dog, Never Say Never & Basement Have In Common? A Trip To Library

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:34:57 +0000

I don’t know if I should call this the-exciting, the-entertaining or the-adventurous day. Early morning today we arrived at the library parking lot. We came today because we had serious business to do – we had to pay fine for overdue Aurora library books and DVDs.

We parked and I am about to get out the car. Well what do I see, a Rough Collie dog off the leash cruising around the parking lot. Even better he stood in front of our parked car and kept looking at us. After few seconds of staring, which felt like minutes to us, the dog decided to leave us.

I thought that the owner must be in the near proximity. But he wasn’t, because when I got out and got on the back of the car to take Matthew out of the car seat – oh what now? The dog was back again standing in front of our car and looking at us. Lucky us he got a nature call, wandered to the next available bush, took off right after, and we were able to safely arrive at the library.

Aurora Public Library, Children Section Books

So they say never say never. Couple of weeks ago I was standing in line at the library checkout behind a lady who was paying for overdue books. The amount was substantial. I thought, I will never pay any fees. Never mind, I will never pay anything. I always keep on top of everything. Well not this time, I slipped.

My fine for DVDs on the adult card was 75 cents (25 per DVD per day) and Matthew had to pay 80 cents for books that were overdue 8 days (5 cents per book per day). Good thing that I was informed in the past that it is cheaper to put children books on the child’s card, I will pay less fine in the future. Who ever told me this, predicted that one way or the other I will pay a library fine.

Aurora Public Library Inside

So we are paying our fine at the drop off desk. We were chatting a bit and as usual Matthew showed off his Iron Man shoes. Then suddenly he asked ‘Hey Lady what’s in library basement?‘. Oh my ‘hey Lady‘ didn’t sound too polite, but the lady was nice enough to explain that it was just area filled with books, just like a storage. She said that they don’t go there very often.

We told her that one day we were going down the elevator from second to first floor, but the elevator did not stop just went to the basement. We both got scared and laughed when we realized that someone was waiting for the elevator in the basement to go up. Since then we been curious to find out what was there.

Mystery solved – just old books, archives, space for Pottery club and probably all the electrical and heating services.

Computer Work Stations, Aurora Public Library

Today the purpose was to drop off overdue items but Matthew headed for the second floor anyway. We got to the elevator and what happens to us? We started to go down to the basement again – what are the chances especially after we talked about it and how rare it is. I looked at Matthew, he looked at me and I said ‘What did you press?‘. ‘I pressed nothing just number two‘ – he replied surprised. We laughed again when a service man entered the elevator. He explained to us that it was secured area and no visitors are allowed in the basement.

My Favorite Library Art

I know I know the post is getting too long … but may be I tell you what happened at the Matthew’s hearing test.

When we arrived at the doctor office later today, the specialist asked what was the issue. My mistake was telling him this ‘I could yell and scream and he does not respond. Family doctor suggested we do hearing test‘. This doctor had a very good sense of humor and made Matthew very comfortable that we had no issues taking the test.

Matthew’s test result was perfect, and this is a semi-exact message left by the specialist at my family doctor’s voice mail, ‘This message is for patient Matthew so and so. The results of his hearing test are perfect. Matthew not responding to his mother shows his character, and I think his mother is scary‘. Looks like I was diagnosed with ‘too much yelling‘ syndrome.

After the appointment we asked if Matthew can hear us now, he responded that ‘I am better now and I can hear you‘. As a reward for being a good patient we took Matthew for a treat to Tim Horton’s on Wellington Street for chocolate covered donut. Never enough – he asked for more Tim-bits. After little training he arrived at the counter and asked ‘Excuse me can I have one chocolate Tim-bit please?

I know I should not let my son indulge but I needed an opportunity for him to learn how to ask properly for something instead of ‘hey Lady‘. Speaking of indulging, Matthew paid twenty five cents, got back five cents and two chocolate Tim-bits.

Southlake Regional Hospital Visit, Emergency Room Observations, Part I

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:55:37 +0000

Unfortunately, we have managed to visit the Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket. Matthew wasn’t getting any better so we packed ourselves on Tuesday evening and headed for the Emergency room. With all the flu and cold bugs going on during this mild weather conditions we hated the idea of going to the emergency. Last thing we wanted is to have another bug to follow us from the hospital back to our home.

Since our last visit about 2 years ago a lot has changed.

More hand sanitizers, face masks for children, and tissue boxes everywhere. Waiting area enlarged with air purification system installed above. No smoking on the hospital premises and close by. That was refreshing as I am very and I mean very sensitive to the second hand smoke. During my travels to Japan I think I lost first layer of skin on my face just from the second hand smoke.

I saw improvements, but, but I continue to see lot of waste.

We arrived and waited about 2 minutes when our number got called by the triage nurse – ‘35‘. Two nurses attended us, one to ask questions and write everything down and another to take all the measurements such temperature or weight. On the side note, there is always that one person that makes you feel, why are you here for?

Fast Track, Southlake, Not So Fast

After triage we waited few minutes for the registration and then we were moved to the Fast Track area. Kind of ironic because it wasn’t that fast at all. Probably it all depends how severe the condition is then you get fast tracked. We spent waiting about one hour if I recall. This must have been good day in the emergency as I happened to notice that everyone was a bit more relaxed. It is always easier to deal with someone under less stress.

When waiting I recall looking at this purple bluish poster on the wall. The message was clear – wash your hands. Most of the germs travel from hand to hand (and who ever said that touch cannot be powerful, it can kill you). Oh I get it, the increased number of hand sanitizer bottles throughout the emergency room.

Wash Your Hands

Well that does not stop the hospital from having a mess. The sanitizer bottles, face masks, boxes of tissue and reading material such magazines spread out in the every waiting area. It is just messy. Dirt and dust floating and not to mention some microbes attach themselves to dust (okay, this may be an extreme). I never touched any of the magazines that day, never did in the past and will not in the future. I just read posters on the wall or now with TVs being installed watching takes the boredom away or even worries.

Microbes and Dust, They Go Together

Now how about all the inventory of stuff. We are a society that we have to have different tool for different task. Our lives are completely exaggerated with all the things around to use. I think it is the same with hospitals. The accessories to accommodate every need may not be necessary. Those rooms filled with supplies should be reduced – I think. And I don’t mean to shift it on the patient, because lately everyone seems to be doing so.

Around 10:30 pm we finally cleared the Fast Track and doctor S dropped by our compartment. Matthew was diagnosed with bacterial infection. Doctor S was a very nice and knowledgeable doctor. He explained to us in great detail what kind of infection it was, wrote down medical terms, explained the treatment and prescribed antibiotic. We were very pleased. Aha, good day today.

Before doctor S left to attend another patient he told nurse to give Matthew a double dose of antibiotic. After few minutes she arrived with two syringes carrying them up high in the air. She carried them out from the pharmacy all the way to Matthew’s mouth. I just hope that she did not stop to chat and kept those syringes very clean during the short travel time. They were used to administer the medication through the mouth.

Another side note. Google is starting to be a very interesting tool for doctors to tell patients to use it. Doctors will explain the diagnosis and give us the medical terms and then they say here you can Google it yourself if you would like to find out more. I still remember when Matthew was born and was crying a lot first couple of weeks. My family doctor told me to Google colic but he did mention that Matthew was too young to be colic. Well I did Googled and it did not solve the problem, it actually scared me. After I did my colic research my child was sick with everything. When I finally got to talk to someone with common sense, Matthew was just a very hungry baby.

That day at the emergency we were happy that doctor knew exactly what it was. It is the unknown that scares us. Matthew is now much better. On the way out I observed much more but that will be in the Part II post.