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In unfamiliar surroundings with no place to safely go, I found myself pacing the halls in an Atlanta hospital. Instead of the nurse taking care of other people, I was now helping my husband. Instead of giving comfort to others, I was seeking comfort, but not finding it. Unanswered questions, doubts and fears all fight to be the first thought in my mind. It's three o'clock in the morning and I am exhausted. "Someone plese tell us what's really wrong and help us!" I scream in my mind. As I lean against the wall and close my eyes I wonder when this will end but at the same time I fear how it will end.

Continuous triips to the doctor and emergency rooms for abdominal pain only to be told "stomach pain, take this." Prescriptions sit on the table unfilled and multiple bottles on the counter already tried, but ineffective. Pepcid, Prilosec, Vicodin, Lortab, just to name a few. Even a liquid concoction called GI Cocktail, consisting of a liquid antacid, Donnatal and a numbing agent, xylocaine. Nothing worked to ease his pain and being uninsured meant no proper testing.

Late one night in June, the pain brought him to his knees. This time an ambulance delivery required a doctor to take a serious look and a CT scan was ordered. After the test was completed he was giiven instructions to contact our family physician the following week and given yet another prescription for pain medication. When Jim tried to question the doctor further, he just repeated, "Contact your doctor."

The office refused to talk to him unless he paid for the office visit in advance. No insurance, no money and a week later with still no answers he decided to return to the hospital and request a copy of the CT report. He had to know what it said.

He called me while I was at work and tried to read me the report but as he stammered over the medical language I decided to have him fax it to me. My heart sand as I looked it over.

     DID YOU KNOW? Every patient has the right to receive a copy of theirmedical records.You will need proof of identification and sign for it. Fees will vary depending on what you are receiving and how many pages you get.

TO BE CONTINUED