# Where's davidm? In the hospital recovering from a medical screwup. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 29, 2017, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049 "2017-11-29T12:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/401 "2018-04-25T22:14:11Z")
> [@brachyrhynchos](#): > > Ugh, compression stockings. I’d get exhausted just from putting them on. Sending you good luck vibes and karma. I found this video to be of great help. How to Put on Compression Socks [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wdgT6-bc9Zk/maxresdefault.jpg "HOW TO PUT ON COMPRESSION SOCKS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdgT6-bc9Zk) ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/402 "2018-05-21T20:09:11Z")
I’ve been away for a bit, but I watched that video and a few others and it is amazing how much a good technique can help. Thanks and I hope you continue to improve! I seem to have hit a plateau on my recovery, but I’m still kicking so that’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/403 "2018-05-23T22:05:41Z")
Just an update. I’m down to 3 days a week of TPN and eating pretty much what I want (just finished a 12 inch cheese steak). I had my brother drive me to my apartment. I got up the stairs fine. I’m not ready to move back in yet but I picked up a few things. I have my laptop now and I may try to get some remote development contracts, that could help with my boredom as well as bringing some money in. I’m really starting to believe that I may get back to a normal life, albeit one burdened with some large medical bills. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/404 "2018-05-23T22:08:21Z")
> [@brachyrhynchos](#): > > I’ve been away for a bit, but I watched that video and a few others and it is amazing how much a good technique can help. Thanks and I hope you continue to improve! I seem to have hit a plateau on my recovery, but I’m still kicking so that’s okay. Sorry to hear that you’ve been having problems. I hope you can get past that plateau! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/405 "2018-05-23T22:50:27Z")
It sounds like you’re making steady progress. I hope you’ll be home soon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/406 "2018-05-24T00:41:56Z")
Good news for a change, **davidm**! It’s wonderful how much you’ve improved after getting out of the hospital and other places that were trying to kill you. Keep up the good work. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/407 "2018-05-24T00:47:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m really starting to believe that I may get back to a normal life, albeit one burdened with some large medical bills. I’m glad things are better, David. and I’m sorry about the medical bills - can I ask, were you insured? because I feel like a lot of people in this country don’t get how a person can have “insurance” and yet once something goes wrong… somehow, they aren’t covered. ETA: I don’t think they should be allowed to call it “insurance” is you can have it, and yet you are still left with bills, maybe huge life-changing bills. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/408 "2018-05-24T03:12:12Z")
I had, and have, insurance. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/409 "2018-05-24T03:36:29Z")
Thanks for the update! Glad you’re still improving. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/410 "2018-06-15T04:53:08Z")
Today I went in to the short procedure unit to have my PEG tube (stomach tube) changed. The old one was long, heavy, thick, unwieldy, and painful; and it literally had fungus growing in it. I now have a short, skinny, light, clean tube which will be flushed regularly and kept clean. Hopefully it will eventually be removed completely. When the doctor who did the replacement explained the procedure to me he said that he wanted to be honest and emphasized that the removal of the old one would be extremely painful for 10 or 15 seconds. The way he described it made me feel like saying the hell with this and getting up and leaving. It was over in a fraction of a second and wasn’t nearly as bad as he made it sound. The anxiety he caused was worse than the procedure! I will soon be starting a new “miracle” medication which should help my remaining bowel absorb nutrition better and hopefully get me off of the TPN. It’s very expensive but they are putting me on a “copay assistance program” which should eliminate any out of pocket costs. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/411 "2018-06-15T13:20:30Z")
Sounds like you’re developing a super-human resistance to pain… Unbreakable 2 in theaters 2019! I hope the new meds do an even better job than you hope. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/412 "2018-06-15T13:26:26Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Just an update. I’m down to 3 days a week of TPN and eating pretty much what I want (just finished a 12 inch cheese steak). > > I had my brother drive me to my apartment. I got up the stairs fine. I’m not ready to move back in yet but I picked up a few things. I have my laptop now and I may try to get some remote development contracts, that could help with my boredom as well as bringing some money in. > > I’m really starting to believe that I may get back to a normal life, albeit one burdened with some large medical bills. Didn’t see this earlier, but that is great news! Sorry about the bills, but great news about your health. Enjoy the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/413 "2018-06-15T13:40:13Z")
Have you gotten a lawyer? You shouldn’t have to pay for anything. In fact, they need to compensate you! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/414 "2018-06-15T17:36:47Z")
I’m glad you got a new tube. Sorry the dr. used scare tactics but on the other hand it’s better to expect major pain and get none than the reverse. I hope the news continues to be good. Thanks for coming by to update us; we do worry about you, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/415 "2018-06-15T18:18:23Z")
It sounds like things are continuing to improve. I’m glad to hear it. Any word on when you can lose the TPN entirely? Is it if the new medication works? Will you have to take the medication indefinitely? ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/416 "2018-06-15T18:25:44Z")
Good to hear things seem to be improving! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/417 "2018-06-15T20:24:05Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Have you gotten a lawyer?  You shouldn’t have to pay for anything.  In fact, they need to compensate you!  :mad: That’s something I probably shouldn’t discuss. > [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > It sounds like things are continuing to improve. I’m glad to hear it. Any word on when you can lose the TPN entirely? Is it if the new medication works? Will you have to take the medication indefinitely? They’re slowly cutting back on the TPN but I don’t know when it will be stopped. I don’t think anybody knows. I think it depends on what the weekly blood tests show. As they slowly reduce the weekly amount of TPN they check my blood to see if my food intake is making up for it. So far it seems to be. The new medicine should help with that. One of the things the medicine supposedly does is increase the amount of bowel surface area. To me that sounds like you would only take it till the necessary changes have occurred, but who knows? That’s one question I’m planning to ask. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/418 "2018-07-19T22:38:52Z")
I’m going to go broke if I pay all of the medical bills I’m receiving. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/419 "2018-07-19T22:49:29Z")
Don’t you have a lawyer working to get this paid by the idiots that damaged you? If not, maybe it’s time! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/420 "2018-07-19T23:06:32Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Don’t you have a lawyer working to get this paid by the idiots that damaged you? If not, maybe it’s time! Of course but that can take years and there’s no guarantee I’ll win and I’m not even working right now. This sucks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049.md?page=22)