Hi

My Anxiety disorder really got me hosed. I refuse to take medication for this and I got my *** kicked last night at the hospital.

Backing up a minute: I've got Crohn's (12+years) along with a fantastic Anxiety disorder and ADHD. Been having trouble lately keeping my Crohn's pain under control. Stress and Anxiety makes it worse (actually have a couple bleeding ulcerations in the bowel to remind me how great life is).

Anyways, I went in to the ER last night as I've often had to do. This time however, not to control pain. Not for anxiety - at first but simply to re-hydrate my body because I am not retaining water.

I ask for a simple Salene IV. It helps with the pain in the legs (dehydration related) and headache. I explicitly say NO PAIN MEDICATION just the IV.

My Concerta had worn off several hours ago and never took my evening Ritalin booster.

I was back to fidgeting, twitching, shaking, all the normal stuff.

They thought it was an anxiety attack I'm guessing. Who knows now.

Anyways, I'm led inside, thinking I'm going to a bed (like I normally do). However they stick me in a room and lock the door. No windows. One seat.

Doctor enters the room, asks me some questions and asks me about my anxiety disorder. I said, that I haven't taken any medication for that in ages. Won't take anti-depressants and just don't feel I really need to be "medicated" for that. He shrugs and leaves the room.

Nurse comes back in the room, bringing the IV liquids. I ask, does it have potasium? They answer, "dunno". Throw in the IV, in rushes the liquids. Within minutes, the pain subsides. I'm feeling better but due to my adhd, I'm jumping around all over the place. She asks, "Is this how you normally are?" I said "yea when my concerta is finished". Looks at me weird and goes away.

Few minutes later, she sneaks into the room when I'm trying to get comfortable on the one seat in the room and injects something into the IV.
I say, "What's that?", she replies "Your Lorazepam".......WHAT????

I start freaking out. I have a bad reaction to benzos and begin to go crazy and I MEAN CRAZY! Now I'm freaking out....time passes and they come in and inject me again.

I blacked out at this point.

Next thing I remember was cutting up my OHIP card and leaving the hospital. When I got home, I was welcomed by the police. I talk to them, I guess the hospital was concerned for my safety that night. I guess I was uttering suicide threats.

Wife and I say, nope. All is ok and they leave.

Today I feel like a big bag of turd. I woke up with all these EKG stickers all over my body. Don't remember how they got there.

For years, I've had to rely on the good people of the ER to manage my chronic intestinal issues - somehow, now that I've got "Generalized Anxiety Disorder and ADHD" appended to my diagnosis, everything has changed.

I feel violated. I'm now left to pick up the pieces. I have no idea who I can trust anymore - meaning, doctor and hospital wise.

I feel so alone.

Sounds like quite the experience. Are you sure it was your ADHD that made you jumpy when you were on the IV? I've walked around and bathed a newborn baby while on an IV, but I've never felt like jumping around while on one.

Dang, scottm. Tough stuff.
I was talking with my sis about you- hope that's OK, since she has the same thing. She thinks that you are getting the wrong meds, and that you probably need Prednisone, Purinethol, (the doc's call it 6mp) and also Remicade, which she takes every six weeks. She says the Remicade helps more than anything else.
Anyway, sorry you're going through such a hard time.

Oh jeepers, sounds like there's some secondary delirium in there, eh?

I'm so sorry to hear this, Scott.

You know, this limb and muscle twitching stuff could be so many things. Such a complex picture.

And they weren't giving you any electrolytes (the POTASSIUM you asked for), either. ['Lytes outta whack can cause muscles to go wonky.]

However, I know the city hospital you were probably at, so I am not surprised.

Such a bunch of knuckleheads, eh?

NB The amnesia (getting home and not recalling how you got there and how the EKG stickers got onto you) was likely from the Lorazepam.

(Just one more reason that Dr. X hates short acting benzos -- calls them "gin in a pill". Benzos work on GABA, like booze. Benzos can cause an alcoholic type 'blackout'.)

Sounds like you had a "paradoxical reaction" to the Lorazepam. (Probably made worse by the prior dehydration making your system more vulnerable to any MORE chemical changes, etc.)

By paradoxical, I meant that a person gets hyper and agitated on a "sedative" type drug. It is known to happen. (Don't give Granny any Gravol or Benadryl!)

Medically fragile people, Little old people and kids all tend to have poor 'body balance' [homeostasis] control of their systems. Status in them can change rapidly (with infection; dehydration; organ disease; burns). They are the most vulnerable to having this sort of thing happen.

I can't believe they tried to "sneak" drugs (lorazepam) into you. That is probably frikkin' illegal if you were not an imminent 'harm to self or others' at the time. (They need to learn some more, um, about this little thing people in Ontario call "informed consent"?)

I can't believe they tried to "sneak" drugs (lorazepam) into you. That is probably frikkin' illegal if you were not an imminent 'harm to self or others' at the time. (They need to learn some more, um, about this little thing people in Ontario call "informed consent"?)

that's indeed quite rough. And probably illegal. And very condescending.

I'm sorry that this happened to you.

hugs Scott..xxxx
I hope you are feeling a bit better today

Man, that sounds miserable. I'd be really hacked if someone tried to sneak a psych drug in without my knowledge or consent. I hope you're doing better soon!

The part that blows my mind really is the fact that last year, my pdoc and I agreed that benzo's just are not for me. They don't calm me, they instead make me hyper, agitated and freak me right the heck out. Anyways, he wrote a specific instruction in my medical chart that "under no circumstances" is anyone to prescribe and/or dispense benzodiazepines to me. Yet they did.

After the first injection I was pacing around the room, carting this dam iv-buddy-pole around. I tried to sit but just couldn't manage it, I just had to move I felt very "jumpy".
I guess when they saw that, they must have come in with another injection.

I have to say in my heart of hearts, the "pam" family of drugs really scare the crap out of me.

Thanks people for the support. :)

thanks for the update...thinking of you Scott..hugs x

That made me mad reading it. I"m so sorry they treated you like that, it is criminal. The US is no better and probably worse. After watching how my grandmother was patronized all the way to her grave, and now becoming involved in my parents health care I see what they do. Try and always get someone to go with you. I have been advocating for my mother to make sure she gets good care and its better for her. Its seems like their goal is to get someone out as fast as they can. Take Care

get a lawyer. they ignored your medical history and drugged you without consent. otherwise known as, malpractice.

Still feeling a little "nuked" from last week so I've been laying low for a while. Kinda hiding I suppose.

It may be a while before life returns to normal.

thanks for the support :)

-s

Few minutes later, she sneaks into the room when I'm trying to get comfortable on the one seat in the room and injects something into the IV.
I say, "What's that?", she replies "Your Lorazepam".......WHAT????

I start freaking out. I have a bad reaction to benzos and begin to go crazy and I MEAN CRAZY! Now I'm freaking out....time passes and they come in and inject me again.

Can you get a complete copy of your chart to find out why, exactly, they gave you Ativan? Taking medically knowledgeable friend along could help. I know that Ativan is very well liked in hospitals, especially since it has few drug interactions, so MDs might be too quick in dispensing it.

- Doctor (that saw you): "The patient looks really anxious; I'm worried he might be having a panic attack. Nurse, please give him xx Ativan before I see him again.... Now let's have a look at that chart."

The part that blows my mind really is the fact that last year, my pdoc and I agreed that benzo's just are not for me. They don't calm me, they instead make me hyper, agitated and freak me right the heck out. Anyways, he wrote a specific instruction in my medical chart that "under no circumstances" is anyone to prescribe and/or dispense benzodiazepines to me. Yet they did.

After the first injection I was pacing around the room, carting this dam iv-buddy-pole around. I tried to sit but just couldn't manage it, I just had to move I felt very "jumpy".
I guess when they saw that, they must have come in with another injection.

I have to say in my heart of hearts, the "pam" family of drugs really scare the crap out of me.

Thanks people for the support. :)

I'm jumping into this conversation really late but it sounds like you had akathisia. Unfortunately, it's not a totaly uncommon reaction but the doctors don't like to admit it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akathisia

That sucks dude :(


Respect for not using medication for your anxiety disorder. Lots of people get on the benzos these days without a moments thought.

As a nurse, I feel the treatment you received is absolutely unacceptable! You have EVERY right to participate in your plan of care, to understand your treatment and BE HEARD. I am sorry you had that awful experience! Hope you feel better soon!