Sunday, September 18, 2005

Bastards

It's becoming tiresome for me so I can only imagine my husband, B's, frustration to be back in the hospital again for the fifth time since his February heart attack. Four of the admissions have been made through the emergency room and two involved rides there by ambulance.

Dozens of tests, IV's, drugs, needles. Good nursing staff, bad nursing staff, CCU, private rooms, room mates from hell. Waiting .... LOTS of waiting.... for your turn, to get a bed, to be seen in ER, for the doctor to come, for food, for help to the bathroom.... lots of waiting. The theory about being in the hospital over the weekend is also true. The care usually sucks.

Add then the catch 22... the nitroglycerine that eases the chest pain brings on an instant migraine headache, naturally he wasn't happy when they put him on a nitro drip.... then chase the headache around with Tylenol and morphine. The pain is stubborn this time... it's not going away completely so they won't let him eat today and has to fast for the procedure tomorrow which will be another heart catheterization to see if a stent has moved. Hopefully that will happen in the morning... we've played that waiting game before and it's aggravating as hell.

When he had the heart attack in February, the company he worked for drove him nuts during his recuperation with phone calls. They couldn't make one decision without calling... even the vice president couldn't address the problems that came up. For weeks on end he put out fires from home though doctor's orders were "no stress." Ok, the operations manager for a utility contractor who deals with installing and restoring electricity is always under great stress - you can get dead working with that stuff - so I threw a fit and screamed enough already. ONE person can call twice a day for 10 minutes.... that's it. So, the company he'd worked for 16 years put him on medical leave in mid- June and sent him a letter he'd have his job or equal, same pay and benefits, if he returned in 12 weeks. Oh, and BTW you pay the company for your insurance while on leave. Thank you very little.

End of August he was feeling pretty good and the doctors said OK to going back to work. B called the company to let them know he was ready to return. Great they reply but we've made some changes you now report to Mr. D in Orlando, give him a call. Mr. D isn't in the office this week, says his clerk, but we're glad you're coming back... very busy, lots of storm damage.

::Ya think?::

I am concerned about the renewed stress but he needs the insurance so back to work with him. Mr. D doesn't call back so "B" makes another call to his office a week after the first. "On another line, he'll call you back in ten minutes." Ten minutes later the phone rings... it's a clerk at corporate... the payroll/human resources clerk to be exact... "sorry B, lots of changes and we don't have anything for you to do anymore so have a nice life, you're terminated. OH, and you can have Cobra insurance for a while, give them a call." Mr. D never did have the balls to call himself. Apparently, the company he'd worked for 16 years just stuck his file in the cabinet and moved on. The bastards... quoting RQM & STB.

Yes, we've filed a complaint with the Labor Board and have references for a good labor attorney.

7 Comments:

At 10:31 PM, Blogger sttropezbutler said...

And damnit to hell you better beat the bastards....in court or where ever....

STB

 
At 10:37 PM, Blogger RED QUILT MAKER said...

Sue The Bastards!
RQM

 
At 11:11 AM, Blogger Blogzie said...

Dear Connie Jane,

I am so sorry that you and your husband are having to go through this.

This is truly an American tragedy.

Best of luck with the lawsuit. I do hope it all works out in your favor. Don't back down!

Please don't hestitate to let me know if there is anything I can do.

Even if it's just to lend an ear.

Thinking of you.

x0x0x

 
At 10:09 PM, Blogger dondon009 said...

Get that Labor Attorney NOW! I think the labor board just might give you the run around from HELL!
Hope all will be well, and remember that your readers care!
Don~

 
At 10:37 PM, Blogger I n g e r said...

Oh my God, Connie Jane! Just the stress you guys need after an incredibly stressful year. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Thinking about you.

 
At 12:02 AM, Blogger Connie in FL said...

You guys are the best!

Thanks ever so much for the moral support !!

B is home tonight, sleeping soundly in his own bed. NO heart crisis this time - but heart disease related which is treatable.

XO to all

 
At 6:12 PM, Blogger author said...

this is more than terrible it is wrong !
I hope the attorney takes this seriously and nails their asses.

Glad to read your update that
no serious "heart event" happened.

 

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