Followup to Previous Post

I got this comment from the author of my previous post. I have some things to say about this one too... Imagine that!

Unknown has left a new comment on your post "Another Patient Is Assaulted With Versed":

"I sit here in tears in relief that someone is understanding what happened. Just yesterday I had a doctor who knew the colonoscopy beast tell me I could not trust my memory of the bad events because the versed makes you remember incorrectly. You don't imagine pain so bad it sends you to bed with percocets for nearly two days. I had another doctor tell me a colonoscopy is a brutal procedure and chastise me for not readly accepting all the versed they would give me no matter how much memory I lost. He said it was worth it to him to lose a couple days memory. Why don't they treat the pain and not just try to keep you from remembering it?"

I want everybody who reads this to type "unsedated colonoscopy" into their search engine. Colonoscopy doesn't need to be "brutal" at all. Many, many people including a lot of medical people have unsedated colonoscopies all the time. I have heard that the skill of the gastro doc has much to do with the ease of the procedure. I have also read where a smaller device is used which is more comfortable. What makes this procedure "brutal" is the use of Versed, in my opinion. The patient will be obedient and no matter how much they scream and beg the doc to stop, the procedure will continue because the patient lacks "mental capacity" to prevent further torture. The idea is that you may not remember telling them to STOP and will be angry and upset that the procedure was incomplete. This is self serving crap. I can absolutely GUARANTEE that if you had not received Versed, they would have had to 1) stop hurting you by going slower or converting to a smaller device, or 2) stop the procedure and forfeit their MONEY!

Would you be mad if they told you they had to stop because you were in unbearable pain? Or would you be mad because they relied on amnesia instead of giving you more pain meds? Apparently by using Versed they can, or maybe have to, skimp on the pain meds because of synergism between the drugs. Wouldn't you really rather have better pain meds and skimp on the sedation? Of course you would, you said so. They need to do as THEY are told, not the other way around.

As for the "other" doctor who opined that it was worth it to HIM to lose a couple of days memory, I can bet that HE isn't going to do it. HIS brain is too important to risk. HE will probably NOT be having Versed for any procedure of his own. This is also crap. It's worth it to HIM to destroy YOUR memory so that HE can get the money. (disclaimer; I know of at least 2 docs who like getting Versed. Two only, out of all the docs I know. One I know personally and the other one is on askanexpert Remember my stepfather is a doctor, I know plenty of them. I have also read where anesthesia providers can become addicted to Versed. I have no PERSONAL knowledge of this.)

The little lie about false memory is one that these people use a lot. They tried this one on me as well, so don't feel that you are the only one who has been told THIS little fabrication. It wasn't true in my case. (the only case I have first hand knowledge of as *I* was there) I had to recite conversations verbatum before they quit LYING TO ME! It's absolutely INFURIATING! I know what happened because I am one of the at least 10% who do not get amnesia from this poison. Obviously you experienced only partial amnesia. I can't tell you how many people I have heard tell the same story... Amnesia until the severe torture began and then awake while they were strapped down, held down or even sat upon, just so medical people can complete the procedure and get the MONEY! Then to be told later that their memories aren't memories, just wild eyed imaginings, is more cruel torture. Versed isn't a hallucinogen. Demerol is. LSD is. Ketamine is. Certain mushrooms are. Look it up.

It is MY OPINION that the reason they don't just treat the pain instead of trying to scramble your brain is because they truly don't want anything to do with you as a person. They want complete control and absolute power over you. They don't want to have to cater to you, (even though you are PAYING THEM A FORTUNE TO DO JUST THAT) treat your pain, explain things, or interact with you in any way. They want a zombie who can't stop them and won't remember the cruel treatment. That's all. You are not a person to them, just a procedure. Just money in the bank.

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely." This is why we get Versed and this is why we can't seem to stop them from using it. There IS no other explanation that I have been able to decipher!

Another Patient Is Assaulted With Versed

WHAT DO WE PATIENTS HAVE TO DO TO AVOID THIS DRUG? Here is the post, also to be seen in situ.

Unknown has left a new comment on your post "Health Care Worker On-Line Reviews":

"I feel like I have found a place I feel safe, here. On July 19 I had an upper scope and was not informed about any of the medications I was going to be given. Simply told something to put me out. Right before the needle going into the IV I asked what it was and was told versed. I had been told I would have a conversation with the doctor but would not remember it. This alone concerned and scared me. Why talk to me if you already know I won't remember?! Woke aggitated and combative to a nurse telling me "don't be that way". Two weeks later scheduled for colonoscopy. Told doctor office no versed, told admitting nurse, no versed, told pre op nurse, no versed so she listed it as an allergy. Told endo nurse no versed. She says they are limited as to what they have access to "over there". This is odd since this is a huge hospital. When doctor came in both nurse and I tell him no versed. He is angry and asks why. I explain it messes with my memory for a few days afterwards and I don't like having conversations and not remembering. He pressures me with threat of cancel of test and having to do prep all over. I feel coerced into accepting versed but I agreed only if they would administer slowly so I could remain somewhat alert. I remember about two minutes of procedure and then I black out. I wake half way through procedure in extreme pain crying out and begging for help. Doctor does not acknowledge my concerns. I think he was depending on versed to wipe out my memory, it hurt too much for that to happen. Next day pain is so severe I go to ER to check for perforated bowel which luckily I did not have. Doc says pain is from rough treatment and I am put on percocet for 36 hours. Doctors office calls four days later wanting to see me for follow up and I tell them no way I am afraid of the doctor. He then calls back and tells me he did good by me and I received a fair amount of medication. I feel raped. This man had all the power and used it to hurt me beyond belief and accepts no responsibility. All my records now list versed as an allergy. I urge everyone to make sure they do the same. Life for me is a daily battle to regain trust and get back to the person I once was."

Just so that you medical types know; There is NO EXCUSE for this behavior. None. Not for drugging this poor person against their will, using coercion to get them to accept a drug which they already knew was a bad one, and not for treating them to unecessary roughness because they had partial amnesia. All of what this patient recounts is very bad behavior on the part of medical personnel, no matter the letters behind the name. MD shouldn't mean cruel and unusual punishment. MD shouldn't mean carte blanche to torture and threaten "Let me do what I want or else." To claim, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, that what this person received constitutes "good treatment" is obscene and disgusting.

My Quest For Sedation and G/A Free Surgery!

I found this enlightening article here;Nerve-block Anesthesia Can Improve Surgical Recovery, Even Outcomes Please note that "sedation" is OPTIONAL! These procedures turn out better BECAUSE there is no G/A etc. Medical care is ever so slowly coming into the 21st century. Dragged kicking and screaming into it by PATIENTS apparently! This is also a proven FACT in my ORIF Distal Radius Fracture. Less is more...

ABV Syndrome From a Reader

Here's an e-mail from an angry patient about the ABV Syndrome...

"Jackie, Good Monday....
While I was snarling at the anesthesiologist for the injection he never bothered to review with me (no "anesthesia plan" was EVER reviewed and then he tried to blame my surgeon) he just couldn't understand why I was so "unhappy". [as furious as I've ever been in my life was more like it]
Yeah, so I told him I felt he jeopardized my professional integrity by giving me an amnesia drug. He just couldn't decide if the amnesia was a desired effect or a side effect at the point when I expressed the fact I was professionally insulted by his complete lack of discussion regarding method of delivery and drugs and LIKELY reactions, length of recovery, nothing. Not a damn word about any of it. I saw the "informed consent" for about 3 seconds before the nurse insisted I sign it because they were behind schedule. I never signed a consent to treatment at the hospital: there wasn't time, so they didn't bother. No rights and responsibilities either, I now know I wasn't important enough to any of them.
They had lost control of their schedule, so it seems my scheduled surgery became a problem to them that had to be rushed.
THEY were more anxious than I was but I was the one that got the shot of brain scramble drug and paid the price in every way possible.
Also informed him I had declined colonoscopy screenings because of this very drug. I resent the very concept of drug induced amnesia for the sake of my professional integrity. I promise people I'll never repeat what they tell me: they need to feel safe. There was nothing voluntary or informed on my part about this horrible experience.
As a counselor trained to respect others and their privacy, the very idea of drug induced brain wiping (without any warning or consent) is a humanitarian offense to me. For God's sake, I'm an experienced mental health professional and a health care administrator. How could anyone imagine I would approve of such an insult?
I feel as safe around these people now as I would feel blindfolded being pushed off a roof top. Not joking, this is one of my recurring nightmares since this incident, never had it before...
I was just another billable procedure on a gurney to the substandard health care providers I encountered.
Told him I was sure I'd never have a colonoscopy now like they give in his "system". His response, "But you HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH!" This from the guy whose crna didn't titrate the injection and allowed me to sit up while I got it--- dangerous disregard of procedure and sloppy protocol, anyone? ---, the guy who had to give me "additonal reversal agents" while I was in PACU and had to order a breathing treatment for respiratory depression and never said a word to me about any of this. Not a single word of explanation and knowing I remembered nothing (oh: that's what your mean spirited questions and snide remarks were REALLY about while I complained), but this guy tells me I have to take care of my health. And he didn't even sign the PACU orders: his partner did, ten days AFTER I was discarded from the hospital. What a guy. My thought: I will take care of my health, by staying as far away from you and you health care system, crna's, syringes, and IV's as I can so I might actually avoid life threatening situations the professionals (you and your rude crna) caused me. You are the kind of people who don't want to mention to us dumb patients that we are really just another revenue source for your "smell me I'm so special" self interests.
That is who you are, Doc.
Trust YOUR advice or judgement? Not in this lifetime, Pal. Got my PTSD to keep me motivated, probably forever. And your dishonesty cinched it.

So, Jackie, there you have my rant about the wonders of versed today: wondering why the "anesthesia practitioners" have to cling to it like the only lifeboat in the Great Flood. I don't get it either.
And I can hardly wait to read what other folks send you."

The ABV Syndrome

As I read through the responses from lots of nurses, CRNA's and Insane Nurse, there is a theme going through them... "It just CAN'T be the Versed!" Previously I have accused these medical workers of being in denial. This term has gotten so trite in light of the "climate change" "global warming" and "global warming causing global cooling" controversies, I have coined a new term. It's called (ta da!) "The ABV Syndrome."

This is the "Anything But Versed" (ABV) thought process. I see it every day, all over the web. This is an adjunct to medical workers' denial of the truth of our experiences with Versed. This is also used along with demeaning and degrading patients who have a bad reaction to Versed, as in "you must have been insane to start with" type statements from our esteemed health care geniuses. Anybody who has come across any pompous pronouncements to the effect of "It must have been the (anything but Versed) that caused the problems," please send them to me so I can do a compilation of all the goofy excuses medical workers use to pretend that the PATIENTS (those people who have been violated with Versed) are wrong about their assessment of the nasty drug Versed.

Midazolam vs Dexmetomidine in ICU

Here is yet another study which points directly at Midazolam as the culprit in ICU delirium. I DID NOT WRITE THIS! Here's the link;Dexmedetomidine Reduces Delirium Compared With Midazolam in ICU Patients I have another article up on this blog about the danger of developing delirium in the ICU due to sedation. Delirium isn't something that is an innocuous part of being in a hospital. It is a serious and life threatening problem!

Also in this article is information on how Versed can cause tachycardia and high blood pressure. I add this to show how the medical community will go to any lengths to defend Versed use, to the point that they will lie about these particular side effects of Versed. My personal experience is that my blood pressure and heart rate shot up immediately upon injection of Versed. In the study cited in this post their findings are like mine. Unfortunately Versed pushers can't claim that Versed is so very relaxing in the face of findings like this study shows, so they simply deny that this is true. This is a dangerous precedent to set in regards to a particular drug!

The whole premis of Versed being "relaxing" is flawed. How can it be relaxing when the patient is aware and awake, suffering through a procedure while being treated to indifference and laughter from their caregivers? The HOPE that the patient will remember nothing of the torture, and the thought that their suffering doesn't matter because of this hope is beyond cruel.

PS It wasn't an NP that wrote the article... Go figure!

Another Song!

This song also describes my feelings about Versed... ?"Carnival" Natalie Merchant?? - YouTube

Here are the creepy lyrics... NATALIE MERCHANT LYRICS - Carnival

One stanza; "... In the mad house asylum (treatment center)
They can be
Where a wild eyed misfit prophet (read anesthesia provider)
On a traffic island stopped (hospital room)
and he raved of saving me (Oh yes, it's for you own good, we are going to "save" you!)

Have I been blind
Have I been lost
Inside myself and
My own mind
Hypnotized
Mesmerized
By what my eyes have seen? (It was the Versed that caused this in my life, not what my eyes have seen, but you get the idea!)