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Seizures and Restraints

Sat, 11/27/2004 - 11:25
Can someone help me out here? This past weekend, I wound up at the hands of the EMTs of my area. My ride to the ER was a literal nightmare.My question is: Is it just this area of NJ or is it nationwide that EMTs believe that it's acceptable to use restraints on the patient of a seizure call? ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME they respond they seem to think that it's not only okay, but required, even when told not to by family or friends. At least in this instance, they didn't use the police officers' handcuffs! Usually were it not for the restraints, the aches and pains would be ending by now. My back feels like it was used for a trampoline, my shoulders feel as if they were dislocated and replaced and I have bruises that cannot be explained by any stretch of the imagination as resulting from a seizure.Any suggestions on enlightening them?

Comments

RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by USMALE on Thu, 2004-02-12 - 13:54
I appreciate your input and look forward to the info on diastat. However, I may not have been clear on something.My mom has been told to keep clear. She is much smaller than me and in the process of trying to help, she could be hurt. I couldn't forgive myself if that were to happen. She is to let the seizure run it's course. (I jokingly tell her to ignore me and I'll stop.) We've been dealing with this for over 30 years. She saw blood and couldn't tell where the blood was coming from. She called 9-1-1. Would she do it again? I hope so. I was bleeding from the mouth from what she could see (I split my lip in the fall). Another point that I need to mention is that my mom told these people that they were not supposed to restrain me when they started to do it. So if I'm trying to prevent it from happening and she's telling them that it's a no-no, they should have figured it out.You see, due to the history of being restrained, if I hear a siren or see a uniform, I become "agitated" in my postictal state. Until this incident, when she saw it firsthand, my mom thought I was exagerating. I'm fine until that sound. Then, it's time for me to get going. I've got to hide, go for a walk, run. I don't want to push her out of my way because I hear a squad car, fire truck or maybe an ambulance on another call. Another point raised is the length. This was a relatively short seizure. I was already talking when the ambulance arrived. I believe that they restrained me because I didn't want to go to the hospital! I'm 44 years old! I think I've been through this enough times in the past 30 plus years to make that call. In this state, they can't force me if I refuse. I don't want anyone to think that I'm saying that there's never a reason for a seizure patient to go to the ER. I'm sure that most of us have been injured. But, this is a fact of life for us. when our heads clear, we know if it's necessary. Too frequently, our judgement is ignored. In this area of the country at least.

RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by USMALE on Sun, 2004-02-22 - 14:38
I want to thank those of you who gave me your input.I think I got my explanation the other day. What was so important that those folks take me to the hospital that they had to put me in restraints?I received a bill in the mail. Under description was the word "ambulance"Amount.....$1,696.00. Bubba

RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by sp4zzm on Sun, 2004-02-22 - 21:29
i was taken to the ER in an ambulance the first (and hopefully only) time about a year ago. i came to right as the paramedics walked in and was told i had to go with them. i felt fine but my b/f at that time and paramedics insisted i go. granted, it was one of my first seizures, but i'd had myoclonus for 4 years already - so i was very familiar w/ my senses. i was stuck with a $1200 bill..but my insurance covered half. thank goodness. i was restrained too...only i was finished seizing. sorry to hear about your experiences. i'm sure that is very uncomfortable and unnerving.i understand *i* was taken b/c my bf had no idea what to do...and was scared out of his mind. but i certainly know to tell everyone now..*when* to call for an ambulance.:)

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