>>c) Your vulgar behavior to the nurses in the recovery room. The kind of language that was used can not be explained by an 'anesthetic' reaction prior patient has ever demonstrated this kind of postoperative reaction. Such language and behavior is not acceptable from any patient.<<>>The comments that 'people were trying to kill you' in the recovery room is very unusual.<<

People react in different ways, I am sure, to the horror of not being able to move or breathe upon awakening from anesthesia.  I find it strange that you should bring this up, since there is not a single word about this  event in Meridian's notes. There is no mention of the difficulty I experienced in recovery, in spite of my setting off the monitor alarm.    This incident  is indelibly imprinted on my mind  and evokes physical symptoms of distress each time I recall this hellish experience. 

Here are the FACTS surrounding that nightmare, which  never would have happened in a hospital setting where patients are not left completely alone in a room with a door tightly closed upon waking from anesthesia.. NEVER!!

I awoke from anesthesia alone in a darkened room, door closed and unable to breathe.  The head of the bed was elevated and a pillow was behind me, but I was tilted back at  an angle.    I could not initiate a breath  as my tongue was blocking my airway.  I was completely paralyzed..  I could not move to a sitting position by myself.     I was finally able to make a gurgling sound and your nurse (Sandy) opened the door, looked at the monitor and said:   "you're fine.. I am alone here with 3  patients " , and then closed the door.  She did not come over to the bed to help me, but walked out, closing the door behind her, leaving me ALONE.

I COULD NOT BREATHE.    I heard the monitor beeping faster and still could not move.  I gathered every force in my power and made the noise again.. again she opened the door and hissed: "there's nothing wrong with you...I have other patients here and I am alone.. "  I still could not move to sit up and clear my tongue from pulling down and obstructing my airway..

I realized I could move my hand so I shook off the pulse oxymeter, setting off the monitor alarm, which made the nurse come back into the room. 

This time  she came over to the bed and I  somehow (sheer force of will) managed to convey that I needed to sit up.  She FINALLY helped me into an upright position. When I was finally able to sit up and take a good long breath,  I unleashed  every swear word and vulgarity that ever passed through my consciousness.  You bet I did!   I remember it VIVIDLY.. The first and exact words that crossed my lips when I caught my breath were: "WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE TRYING TO DO? F####NG KILL ME??!!"  That is a bit different from YOUR description:  [The comments that 'people were trying to kill you' in the recovery room is very unusual.] I remember every moment of that episode and everything that transpired until I left Meridian.

Under the circumstances, my vulgar outburst was a perfectly normal, if not healthy reaction to being totally paralyzed and helpless, left in a tiny, dark room, all alone behind a closed door..helpless to sit up by myself , while a nurse entered and left  twice before assisting me. Abusing the nurse?    How dare you.  I WAS THE ONE IN  DISTRESS.  Who ever heard of leaving a patient all alone in a closed off room, to wake from anesthesia UNSUPERVISED? As I said, that would NEVER happen in a hospital setting and it is unconscionable that it would be allowed to happen in any surgical facility.

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