Hospital’s progress has been a lifesaver

I’m taking this time to discuss the two times I was admitted to Phoebe Putney Hospital and will go into detail of my first visit due to the crazy circumstance of the actual problem that was revealed. First of February, I didn’t feel worth a flip and was starting to bloat. This went on for several weeks and I got an appointment with my main health doctor, Dr. Joe Stubbs at Albany Internal Medical, Feb. 27. He checked me over — x-rays and all. He felt I had an intestinal blockage, but couldn’t be sure until the results of the tests came back.

Dr. Stubbs did tell me if my fever jumped over 101 or I started throwing up, to go right to the ER at Phoebe. About 4:30 the next morning, I did throw up, big time. My wife got me to the ER. I was able to alert Dr. Stubbs, who emailed the results of his tests to them. I was admitted to the ER and … was assigned to a nice room and hooked up with IVs, etc. A tube was run into my stomach to start draining the green bile. At that time the stuff was draining out, I did not feel it was draining as fast as my body was producing it. Dr. Craig Murray was assigned as my doctor and he, too, couldn’t understand why my body was still getting bloated.

After several x-rays, Dr. Murray had the staff to run an CT scan on my stomach and results of the scan found my appendix had ruptured, causing all of my problems. Immediately the hospital staff prepared me for an emergency appendectomy and Dr. Murray with his fine surgical staff removed the sick appendix.

The main reason I’m going into detail is never ever have I ever had any pain whatsoever around my appendix, and that area had been examined and pressed mucho times over the years. Dr. Murray said he just couldn’t figure out why I never had any pain during this time. Dr. Murray did tell me that had I not gotten to the hospital when I did, things could have been much worse.

The second time I had to go to the ER at Phoebe was March 19. This time my diverticulitis acted up — the third time I had this problem in less than two years. I was admitted to Phoebe, placed on IV, etc. and released after three days. This problem I will address shortly and, God willing, get corrected.

Now, let me go into detail of my treatment these two times by the Phoebe staff and both times I was treated outstandingly and, as I mentioned to the staff, this is the way a patient should be treated, and all agreed. I want all the staff on the sixth floor that was involved in my treatment and the great efforts they took when I had to have my emergency appendectomy in getting me moved into a larger room and getting a bed for my wife to sleep on.

Many years ago my wife had to stay in Phoebe and I asked the nurse if they could provide me a lounge chair, cot or something, “No sir, Mr. Turner,” and I had to bring a lawn chair from home to sleep on. This happened many years ago and I will say, I bet that nurse didn’t make an effort or cared less. On my second visit to Phoebe, I again will thank all the staff on the eighth floor that was involved in my treatment, there’s too many individuals for me to remember in both visits. To each and everyone of you I say thank y’all and keep up that great treatment.

There is one gray area I would like mention on both of my above visits — to the staff that pulls blood from us patients, some of you need to get more OJT and realize the patient(s) aren’t pin cushions! By the way, this was my fifth and sixth trips to P.P.M.H.

I know I have read many comments about Phoebe Putney Hospital that are bad and negative, the cost is so high and I will agree fully, but then on the other hand, all the tests that were performed on me these two times were truly a factor in my being able to write this. On my first visit, many x-rays, blood tests, etc. were given me, and the cost of all that equipment would blow my mind.

I will say, in closing, that when my family and I first came to Albany with the Air Force in 1962, Phoebe Putney Hospital was just two buildings. Without the great growth of Phoebe, I’m mighty sure Albany would not be blessed with some many medical staff and all the treatments provided there. I want to thank Joel Wernick and the Phoebe board of directors on outstanding growth to Phoebe and to local hospitals that have been taken under Phoebe’s control.

Richard F. “Rick” Turner is a resident of Lee County.