Undiagnosed Abused by a doctor and medical staff

[liz1]

Hi Eve, Thank you! Best Liisa

 

[Deleted member 37474]

My x-therapist made it clear that each person's perception of events is valid, even in court. To you, this was sexual abuse. People don't like to believe that abuse could happen in a hospital setting, but the truth is, it does. And the group of doctors... maybe it is the same concept of a gang rape where people that would normally not do these bad things on their own but somehow being in a group setting makes it okay to participate. For flashbacks... I try to just ride them out and not fight them. On a few occasions, I can firmly say "stop" and it goes away. Sometimes, if I am triggered and I don't realize it, I will write stuff on here or in my journal and not realize or remember what I wrote. I hope that you can find the right people to help you!

 

[liz1]

Thank you so much for your support! Yes, the truth is that my experience is, that it was sexual abuse, and I do suffer greatly still. And, true it is difficult to understand the behavior of the medical staff, in groups people tend to do things they would normally not do, also maybe they thought that it does not matter, that I would not remember...but whatever the reason I think it is sickening. I think that nobody would need to go through anything like this.
Thank you for the tips to get rid of the flashbacks., sometimes it is hard to fight them off. I have though noticed just like you that talking or writing about the incident and the flashbacks does help. In the beginning I did not want to tell anyone what had happened, but as a few months has passed I have noticed that talking about the incident actually helps.
Hopefully, also your flashbacks and memories will improve as time goes by. I you ever want to chat, please get in thouch. Best Liisa

 

[Deleted member 37474]

Thank you so much for your support! Yes, the truth is that my experience is, that it was sexual abuse, and...

Same to you, on the chat. I am here if you need me.

 

[joeylittle]

Fentanyl is notorious for causing confusion. And medical professionals are sometimes quite casual with each other when the patient is very out-of-it. The laughter you remember may have nothing to do with you. And being asked if it's possible you are pregnant, if you have ever had intercourse, the start date of your last period...these are all very
common questions for women to be asked when being treated after accident or injury.

Fentanyl also depresses respiration for a number of people. It's common to be coached to breathe while on fentanyl.

 

[Fadeaway]

I was brought up in a very traditional Christian home, thus this kind of sexual abuse when nearly unconscious leaves a lot greater scars compared with people having liberal upbringing.

I have been having a lot of conversations about this lately, so I am addressing this as everything else I want to say has already been covered.

Coming from a fundamentalist christian background, I highly disagree. Sexual abuse is is not anymore or anyless traumatic for sheltered people than it is for people where sex was more openly discussed. What maybe different is the self perception and shame afterwards in a case of physical sexual assault when purity is considered everything.

It may be more shocking but not more traumatic.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

And being asked if it's possible you are pregnant, if you have ever had intercourse, the start date of your last period...these are all very
common questions for women to be asked when being treated after accident or injury.

Common anyway. And fentyal is a very strong opioid. You cannot be on this if preg or if its at all remotely possible that you could he without knowing it. Like, the last time you had intercourse and last date of period. I can never answer the last one as I have PCOS and so they always give me a preg test even though I told them I haven't had intercourse. They have to.

Fentyal is, I believe, 100 times stronger then morphine. I was on 75mcg fentyal patches, change every 48 hrs. They never caused confusion but if you are not opioid tolerate it certianly could. On the package the patch it is it says "must be opioid tolerant".

 

[Justmehere]

I was given fentyal for 24 hours after an orthopedic surgery. I was not drugged to the point of nearly being unconscious. I was able to order food and engage in conversation and complete some fairly complex cognitive tasks.

I was still strongly affected. A friend texted me a few times during those 24 hours and I was absolutely sure she was sending incoherent texts about politics that were not even full sentences. I remember looking at my phone and I remember what it looked like (to me) SO WELL.

The fentyal wore off, and I looked at the texts again. They were actually very well written texts to wish me a good recovery from surgery, and nothing about politics. To top it off, I was told that a doc asked me if I liked cheeseburgers because he knew of a great cheeseburger place to stop by at on the way home, and I replied back, "I'm not a cheeseburger silly, that's not my name, but I like eating them."

0.o

So yeah. I can vouch that apparently it totally screwed up my brain and cognitive abilities and perception. It was SO weird. I told my doc about seeing the texts so differently than they actually were, and how nothing like this has ever happened before to me in my life. He said it happens often on that drug. It was originally used only for end of life terminal cancer pain because it can screw people up so much. Opioids tolerance does reduce this effect like @lostforgottensoul mentions.

I'm not stating this means the remembered events are untrue. And regardless, damn, just being in the hospital and experiencing any confusing events can be upsetting. But this common effect of the drug explains why the docs may not be taking what you say as seriously as hoped. They might figure it was the drug more than reality. Again, you may very well be remembering it exactly as happened, I'm simply explaining why the docs might suspect otherwise.

They are also likely much more concerned about the previous traumatic events and the very serious fall off the horse as major factors in your symptoms now. Focus on those and you will likely get the care and support you need for the symptoms from all the horrible events that have happened to you, and be able to find relief and healing, and live more of the kind of life you want to live.

 

[talon]

I wonder if anyone knows of any groups for people abused by medical professionals. I am from Finland origi...

You may like to contact your local member of parliament and make this an issue which will protect others. I was once technically abused whilst sedated by two porters taking me to theater. They were saying i was scared when in reality i couldn't care less but became more and more angry and trying to move which made them do it more. Your experience however is more serious and needs reporting . You can do this politically or directly to health board directors directly good luck

 

[liz1]

Fentanyl is notorious for causing confusion. And medical professionals are sometimes quite casual...

Thanks you for your reply. The questions you mentioned would be common practice to ask. I think everybody knows that. My case is going to the police.

I have been having a lot of conversations about this lately, so I am addressing this as everything els...

I was given fentyal for 24 hours after an orthopedic surgery. I was not drugged to the point of near...

Thanks for your comment. Just eanted to and that at the
Oulu University Hodpital the did not find the fractured ribs they said there was nothing wrong with me. The injury was found later at a different Hospital, thus at ous they certainly did not find the fall traumatic. As many other riders I have fallen off a horse many times before and do not find this traumatic at all. I know exactly how fentanyl works and have had this discussion with several professionals in the field and i have been adviced to take the matter to the police. And now that my therapist knows more about my case the I am receiving proper help also with that regards. My case was abuse. Anyway thanks for your opinion.

You may like to contact your local member of parliament and make this an issue which will protect...

Thank you so much Robert for your support. You are right this was abuse. I am definately taking this further and everybody encourages me to do so. If nothing else just to make sure that nothing like this happens to anyone else again. I am also thinking about giving an interview about this to make sure that this behavior will stop and if someone goes through a similar thing they will have the courage to tell forward as nobody needs to go through anything like this.And I am also sorry to hear about your experience, nobody should leave the hospital traumatized! Thank you again for your post and all the best to you!!! :)

 

[Justmehere]

@liz1 - I've merged together your posts for the sake of readability. Please review: MyPTSD - How To Use The Quote Function Correctly. If you have any questions on how to use the reply or quote functions, please raise it in a Help Ticket.

I'm super glad your therapist has more information and you are able to get better help now!