Hi All....Opinions Sought on Overdose of

IAmStrong

Cispatin apparently. My last treatment. I ended up in acute renal failure, creatine 21, wbc <1 rbc? Low, I was too sick to remember. Only I was told by the nurse "I don't want to scare you but you need to go to the hospital NOW because you can die from this".

Fast foraward, I am Almost at my 2 yr post treatment mark! However, I am left with permanent renal failure. I was 31% on my last check. Also hearing loss. The curious thing, is my friend who drove me told me recently that she had been beating herself up for not going straight back with me on the last treatment. She walked into them saying they had given me the wrong order and such.

I am going to get copies of my records to see what I can find (If anything). IF I do, I am considering going to the Med Center where I had my treatment and pursuing their future care of me in regards to the injuries from the cisplatin.

I am under close scrutiny of my nephrologist. So far, ok. A bit anemic, am told we lose 1-2% of kidney function a year as part of normal aging process. Well, I've let my kids know they need to take good care of their kidneys as I may have to get one back one day! lol Well..... At 20% function, you are put on a transplant list. 10% you go on dialysis. One must be cancer free for 5 years for a transplant.

Is it absurd to want them to take responsibility for this if it is due to a wrong order?

I would value your opinion on this. Thank You. (PS Not looking for a monetary award etc, only assuming financial responsibility for the damage if applicable and knowing this woman who was my advocate...she is right on.

Stay Encouraged!

Pam M

Sorry to Hear
Kidney damage is/was a fear for almost all of us. I'm one of the lucky ones - kidneys are fine.

I would surely think that if the damage is the result of malpractice, the group should surely cover your treatment expenses for your kidneys.
And I think you SHOULD pursue it, if that's the case. They can't make it right, but they can foot the bill for treatment. And by making sure they do pay for the treatment, perhaps they'll institute a stronger system of checks and review.

Hoping for good things

longtermsurvivor

what makes you think the complication
was due to an overdose? As a rule, kidney failure is a known complication to a normal dose of cisplatin. I am not saying t wasnt an overdose, just that there is this other more common explanation.

Pat

ratface

longtermsurvivor said:

what makes you think the complication
was due to an overdose? As a rule, kidney failure is a known complication to a normal dose of cisplatin. I am not saying t wasnt an overdose, just that there is this other more common explanation.

Pat

Your Quest could set you back more?

In his book, "The Cancer Survivors Guide" author Michael Feuerstein, PHD, MPH, (Brain cancer survivor) writes about a similar quest of his own, in chapter five, "Find the courage to change."

"Over a year and a half, I spent countless hours trying to document the link between the chemical exposures at work and cancer. I got nowhere...I couldn't prove anything. I realized my search was only doing one thing: wasting time and energy that I could have put toward recovery from treatment and improving the quality of my life."



The record is there and it won't lie. They document every dose of cisplatin that goes into your system. I even kept the empty IV plastic containers for just such an argument. Request a copy of your treatment protocol and take a peek. You must however abide by what the numbers are, if they are within the normal range of prescription, then it's time to move on. The author is a professional trauma counselor and he could not recognize that he was caught up in the past, which he eventually recounts in the rest of this chapter. Medical mishaps are daily occurrences but cancer patients also fall into this trap of trying to fix blame. Make sure you aren't doing that, then go forward with whatever you uncover. May you find your truth and peace.

Skiffin16

Cisplatin..
I have to agree with the above, a lot of those complications are more than likely related to Cisplatin, but they are all known possible side effects. I'd find it hard to believe a mistake was made as the controls are pretty rigid. But nothing is perfect and mistakes do happen.

What I'm curious of is why a nurse told you to go to the hospital NOW. Again, it would seem hard to believe that if you were given the wrong cocktail or mixture, that everyone would conspire to take no corrective action...flushing your system, ot taking whatever necessary action as would be needed... I'm sure there is some protcol in place.

If indeed there was some conspiracy to the point of not admitting a mistake was made. I seriously doubt any paper work would reflect that...or at least nothing that you'll ever see.

What action or communication has taken place during this two year post period? I'd presume that would all come in to play for any legal action.

I'm no medical professional what so ever, but I've what I've read the reference of losing 1-2% of kidney function each year as we age (more like .5%) doesn't start until somewhere in the age range of 40 years old. Also, I've read that humans have around 4 times more reserve kidney tissue and functional ability than necessary. Making it so that we can endure the loss much better at a much older age in life.

I am in know way disputing that you are having complications, and more than likely Cisplatin related. But proving there was any damage caused by accidental dosage, an after two years is going to be hard to prove. I'm not trying to discourage you for fighting for what you believe happene. Just realize it's going to be a tough battle to win I believe.

Hope you find resolve and the answers you are seeking. Even more, I hope your body starts to respond well...

Best,
John

Hondo

Cispatin

I never took the stuff but did a lot of other things that caused a lot of damage to me and was never told by the doctors that it would affect me the rest of my life. This I do know, no matter what comes to me in life God is always there watching over me and I am going nowhere till He is ready for me. I am still in the hospital today because of side effects of all my treatment, but I use it as a way to spread the Gospel to others while God has me in His workshop.

Pray about it before you do anything and I too will keep you in my prayers

Hondo

IAmStrong

Hondo said:

Cispatin

I never took the stuff but did a lot of other things that caused a lot of damage to me and was never told by the doctors that it would affect me the rest of my life. This I do know, no matter what comes to me in life God is always there watching over me and I am going nowhere till He is ready for me. I am still in the hospital today because of side effects of all my treatment, but I use it as a way to spread the Gospel to others while God has me in His workshop.

Pray about it before you do anything and I too will keep you in my prayers

Hondo

Thanks for your views
I appreciate your time and consideration. To some questions that were asked, the answers are in my post so I won't repeat them.

I do not have an "issue" with this. I only learned of my friend hearing the nurses talking about me getting too much. I realize she waited until I was stronger before saying anything to me, and frankly, she was beating herself up for not being in the room with me at the time they started my infussion. Yes, protocols were taken.

Yes, my kidney damage is from my chemo, how do I know? From ALL my doctors. They told us. So I pray over my little glomeriuli daily that they stay strong and possibly mend even more! I am a positive thinker.

I also use humor a lot (we like laughter in our home)...thus telling my boys to protect their kidneys as I may need one back one day:) They got it, that is what is important.

Being a nurse, I am fully aware of the many implications. I have witnessed cover ups from doctors to nurses. I also have seen honesty. Correct, the charts will show. Ironically, I teach medication administration and documentation.

My question truly pertained to IF I found something arry in the documentation to substantiate what my friend said happened...would you pursue it if it was you...tables turned. I am approaching my 60's.

Hondo, ITA with you. So sorry you are hospitalized my friend. Many good wishes and prayers coming your way!

To ALL of our Good Health, and remembering always that "This is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life". Make a memory!

longtermsurvivor

IAmStrong said:

Thanks for your views
I appreciate your time and consideration. To some questions that were asked, the answers are in my post so I won't repeat them.

I do not have an "issue" with this. I only learned of my friend hearing the nurses talking about me getting too much. I realize she waited until I was stronger before saying anything to me, and frankly, she was beating herself up for not being in the room with me at the time they started my infussion. Yes, protocols were taken.

Yes, my kidney damage is from my chemo, how do I know? From ALL my doctors. They told us. So I pray over my little glomeriuli daily that they stay strong and possibly mend even more! I am a positive thinker.

I also use humor a lot (we like laughter in our home)...thus telling my boys to protect their kidneys as I may need one back one day:) They got it, that is what is important.

Being a nurse, I am fully aware of the many implications. I have witnessed cover ups from doctors to nurses. I also have seen honesty. Correct, the charts will show. Ironically, I teach medication administration and documentation.

My question truly pertained to IF I found something arry in the documentation to substantiate what my friend said happened...would you pursue it if it was you...tables turned. I am approaching my 60's.

Hondo, ITA with you. So sorry you are hospitalized my friend. Many good wishes and prayers coming your way!

To ALL of our Good Health, and remembering always that "This is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life". Make a memory!

my response, then,
is that I would pursue this, if a medication error is what caused the problem. The two primary tenetts of malpractice are negligence, and injury. If both are present then by all means. Your original presentation of thevsituation lead several of us down a different path. No worries.

Yes, mistakes are made. If one was made in your case it wont likely be something awry with documentation. It will more likely be documented quite well.