Am so angry at Inova Fairfax Hospital and Dr. Al-Khouatley

[Anonymous]

I had an emergency C the day before my scheduled induction. My veins are very tiny and they had great difficulty getting that 18 gauge needle into me. I begged for a numbing injection beforehand because it hurt like hell. They tried two or three times before they were successful in ramming it into my vein. I was screaming and crying. My husband wasn't there yet otherwise he probably would have killed them. He was on his way to the hospital. I asked them to stop because the pain was horrible but they didnt' stop. They acted they couldn't even hear me.

Then Dr. Al-Khouatley came in and was visibly annoyed that they were taking so long to put that 18 gauge needle in. In the OR she was annoyed again that my body wasn't taking to the spinal well and I was still able to feel in some parts of my lower body. The anesthesiologist said, "She's still able to feel in the left side of her body" to which Dr. Al-Khouatley replied, "Too late, I already made the incision." I didn't feel the incision thank God. But I was very upset with her for not waiting to make sure I was numb with the anethesiologist.

Then after the delivery, my lower half of body swelled up like a watermelon. I could barely walk because my feel were so huge. So I went to go see her. No one told me I would swell up like that. Wasn't in the post partum information. At that appointment my blood pressure was 92/145. I usually run a low BP. Dr. Al-Khouatley says to me, "I don't even agree to see patients with your complaint. Swelling is so common." Gee, thanks for letting me know that ahead of time and thanks for being so understanding.

I know people love her. I see her hugging all her patients and their spouses too. She hugged me the first time she met me. But I could do without the hugs and instead could have used more information and more understanding and patience.

Now I have to go back for my six week followup and I'm wondering if I should say something to the office manager or to Dr. Khoury, who heads the practice, or keep my mouth shut. Will it make a difference? I doubt she'll change.

My experience at that hospital was so horrific that I vow I will never ever return for anything.

[Anonymous]

Ugh this is not comforting to hear, I am using that practice for my childbirth...

[Anonymous]

I am so sorry you had such ahorrific experience. She delivered my daughter, after a 3 month stay at Inova on bedrest. She was a bit abrupt maybe, but I always trusted that I was in good hands with her.

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like you need to file a complant with the Virginia Medical Board.

[Anonymous]

The aftercare was horrible---I've seen, however, worry manifest itself as abruptness. Was the doc concerned about the baby and trying for speed? Dammit I need to get hat kid out already may come off wrong when they can't wait for an iv---though they shouldve tried a 20, you can run blood through a 20 if you have to---but that may well have been what you saw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds to me like you need to file a complant with the Virginia Medical Board.

NO, don't.

OP, the same pretty much happened to me. I was all alone when the contractions kicked in, no nurse, the call thinnggy fell on the floor, helpless, the first anesthesiologist was a bitch and threatened to quit on me if I didn't stop wincing in pain from the needle, and nobody told me they were already cutting me open and well into the surgery (I think it took a total of 10 minutes between my saying "yes" and being cut open - it was all so fast). Plus, I could feel everything, but at least the other anesthesiologist warned me I would but not the pain.

BUT, I think they get right down to the business with the surgery because it's an emergency - for the baby, so I was ok with that.

ALSO, I was worried I was not numb either, and the anesthesiologist explained that they touch certain places and stuff to test a whole lot before giving the green light - I think maybe you didn't even realize they were doing it (so you were numb enough).

AND, nobody told me I was going to blow up like the Michelin man for 2-3 weeks post-surgery. My knee was but a mere wrinkle on my leg. It was horrible - my mother, a nurse, was worried my skin was going to start tear and fluid ooze. But it did go down - one morning I woke up and it was mostly gone. At my 2-week follow up appointment, the Dr said it's totally normal. I do wish he told me beforehand though, but certainly that was not malpractice. I love my OB.

SO hang in there, and congratulations - it all gets better from here.

[Anonymous]

You had an emergency C! All the Drs care about is getting the baby out alive and keeping you alive!

It sounds like her bedside manner isn't the best, but I think that it's very unfair to call out a Dr. like this in a public forum.

There are complications from any surgery. She can't possibly tell you everything that could go wrong. What exactly are you going to log a complaint about?

[Anonymous]

You just had a baby....this is really your main concern right now? I think you need help to prioritize. Everyone knows that practice is NOT touchy feely but they will work like crazy to protect your life and the baby. Let. It. Go.

[Anonymous]

Original poster, I am sorry for what you went through. It sounds tough. At the same time, I'm glad baby made it here safely. If it was me, I would wait and see what or if I wanted to do anything. Right now you have a lot on your mind. You're probably in pain, tired, emotional (all v. normal!). It might be best to make a decision on whether to say anything until you have a chance to put some distance on the situation.
Also, we are all strangers here. What does your huband or famiy think? Sometimes it's good to bounce these ideas off of someone in the real world.
I hope you and baby continue to do well. Please remember what a miracle your baby's arrival is.

[Anonymous]

She did not do anything medically wrong to warrant a medical complaint. Baby and you are healthy. Not all deliveries are smooth sailing and the only gripe would be here bedside manner was horrific in your situation but too late to do anything about it now.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a typical EMERGENCY surgery.
My veins are tiny and roll too, getting a needle in them is usually a painful ordeal.
This all sounds very typical, there are a lot of side effects from surgeries, plus you were probably pumped full of fluids, hence the swelling.
Be glad you and baby and doing well-sounds like they did their jobs.
You will forget about this over the next year

[Anonymous]

I disagree with a lot of people here, hearing that you are not fully numb and hearing too late I already started cutting are enough to warrant fear and is disconcerting. I would want to know why she had already made the cut before the anesthesiologist had given the go ahead...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with a lot of people here, hearing that you are not fully numb and hearing too late I already started cutting are enough to warrant fear and is disconcerting. I would want to know why she had already made the cut before the anesthesiologist had given the go ahead...

Gee, I wonder if it was because it was an emergency and she was trying to save the baby's life.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry you had to go through such a scary time, OP. And that you had to do it without any support.

I also had an emergency c. (A true emergency -- it was touch and go as to whether they had time to do the spinal or if they just needed to put me under.) In a situation like that, everyone's moving fast and some of the checks and counterchecks don't get done. My surgeon started the incision and I yelled "I feel that!"

Definitely talk out your feelings with your husband, and certainly with your doctor. (Or write a letter if you're not comfortable doing it in person.) We can handle a lot when we feel like people are behind us, helping us. But encountering trauma without support or understanding adds another layer of distress to the situation and makes it harder to process what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with a lot of people here, hearing that you are not fully numb and hearing too late I already started cutting are enough to warrant fear and is disconcerting. I would want to know why she had already made the cut before the anesthesiologist had given the go ahead...

Gee, I wonder if it was because it was an emergency and she was trying to save the baby's life.

You must know that all unscheduled c-sections are called emergency c-sections right? It does not necessarily mean that the baby has to come out right this second and every moment counts. I think those of you who are being so hard on OP need to lay off. OP I think you need to bring this up with the doctor, maybe her response will clear the air between you two.