Andiamo ... A S P E T T I A M O

- A summary of another experience with the hospital system in Italy

Two weeks ago we had a fascinating day experiencing Formula 1 first hand at the home Italian motor racing in Monza, Milano. It was a truly Italian experience, even though the majority of the group we were with were American. But that’s another story!

After a stunning day and just as it came time to leave the track the heavens opened! Being a long way from where we had parked – so far in fact that we had had to take taxis to reach the gate – the decision was made to walk back to the carpark cutting the long way through the inside of the track. Hmm... does this sound like a good plan? As no-one actually knew where we were going we were (patiently and politely) at the mercy of the Man in charge. We got lost. After an hour of this and now completely devoid of patience I told my husband I had a map and I’d had enough. Blow being polite any longer I was getting us out of there. Too late – good manners returned and so we continued the trail realising that we were at least finally heading in the correct direction. Sodden, stressed, and tired we wound our way through the crowds making for the exit. Suddenly I realised Caitlin wasn’t keeping up... Her body had had enough.

A quick assessment of the situation showed Caitlin to be having difficulty breathing, having some pain in her chest. She was dizzy, disoriented, nauseous, headachy and just before I could get her body to a seat she fainted! Two of the other mums in the group quickly picked up on the situation and came back to help. We needed to get Caitlin out of the eweather and back to car pronto. My dear friend Missy, a real take-charge gal, tried to get help from the local police to no avail... an ambulance was all they could offer. Not to be beaten she flagged down a passing support crew van and asked them to take Caitlin and I to the exit gate. Happy to help they allowed us to climb in. After a short and memorable altercation with a typically arrogant carabinniere officer whose car we were blocking in order to get Caitlin on board, we u-turned and headed for the gate.

Although Caitlin seemed much better after a warm shower and a change of clothes at a nearby friend’s house she remained very tired, dizzy and headachy. Spending most of Sunday resting provided no improvement. We headed off to the doctor’s surgery on Monday morning... and so it began... ultrasound of her thyroid and blood tests on Tuesday morning... back to the doctor Thursday who insisted we go to the Pronto Socorso (Italian equivalent of A&E or Emergency Room) for a CAT scan. Unfortunately we went to the wrong Pronto Socorso – we should have gone to the one at the Children’s hospital – not the one at the main hospital – Who knew????

After several arguments with staff (thanks Silvia our translator – what would I do without you!) they agreed to do the requested CAT scan at the main hospital. But. We would then have to be seen by the paediatrician – at the Childrens’ hospital. And. We had to go by their ambulance. Eight hours, another fainting spell, many proddings and a CAT scan later they let us go home with instructions to be back at 9am the next morning.

Friday morning we were back at the children’s hospital (where there is almost no public parking) ready to wait to go by ambulance to the main hospital (where we could easily have parked the car). A visit to an ‘otoneuroligica’ specialist resulted in long waiting periods and many, many more examinations related to her ears. This man put Caitlin through an amazing battery of tests. The worst according to Caitlin required two electrodes to be attached to her lobes and a needle electrode to be inserted in her scalp. All tests proved negative except to confirm some high frequency hearing loss (which we already knew about). His final diagnosis was to take kava kava tablets and see a psychiatrist.

Back at the Pronoto Socorso in the Children’s hospital the paediatrician laughingly disagreed, pointing out that the gentleman was assuming that because he could find nothing where he was looking that nothing was actually wrong. The paediatrician felt there was still a long way to go before making any firm conclusion. More prodding and poking from the five medical staff in the room followed with Caitlin very considerately coming close to passing out again – giving a clear demonstration to the medicos of her low blood pressure and complimentary low heart rate – a bad combination!

Unfortunately the Ped’s next decision was to admit Caitlin so that her blood pressure and heart rate could be monitored more closely for 24 hours and an MRI booked for the following week. A few phone calls and we found ourselves in a hospital room. Hospitals are scary places to stay at the best of times but in a different culture and with a different language it can be quite frightening; Caitlin needed me to stay with her. This is obviously common as all the hospital beds have an accompanying a pullout bed for a parent to sleep on. Also with Caitlin’s often unexpected fainting spells we were told that she must not walk around without one or other of us beside her. That confirmed my booking! Barry packed a couple of small back packs with essential supplies and brought them to us.

Nothing of course is ever simple in Italy. No monitor applied all weekend and little sleep after Caitlin gained a roommate at 5am on Sunday morning; another adolescent girl who suffered from sleep apnoea. A children’s ward is filled with many small children and babies, none of whom are well and few of whom are happy, the sound of crying babies was a constant. Daily visits from the medical team top scored with 12 doctors of various levels plus the two bigwigs in one conference – creepy to be the centre of that much attention. More ultrasounds, a chest xray, tb Mantoux test, allergy prick tests, respiratory tests, urine collection, 24 hour blood pressure monitor... all conducted in full on Italian – right up until I spat the dummy! Caitlin was becoming more and more overwhelmed and suddenly the Mother Lioness sprang to the defence of her cub. NO MORE tests unless we clearly understand IN ENGLISH what is going on and why. Things improved rapidly with the medical staff doing their best in English and us confirming in broken Italian that we had got the correct message. The rest of the week settled into a routine of tests and waiting. Each evening after work and a quick dinner Barry would come up to the hospital for a couple of hours and I would go home for a shower (no towels in the hospital and no evening meals for parents) and a meal then back to swap over again. The enforced rest certain did Caitlin no physical harm but her frustration grew rapidly.

The MRI was finally booked for Friday and after more waiting... and another ambulance ride... and a 40 minute attempt in a broken machine... Caitlin finally got her MRI, an experience she vows NEVER to repeat, the noise being so loud she thought her eardrums would burst. More waiting for a return ambulance ride to the children’s hospital and another wait to get discharged. We eventually got to go home about 7pm Friday night with a discharge diagnosis of ‘headache with dizziness’ and instructions to see our own doctor again once we receive the final test results – by mail (by mail? In this country? With it’s awesome and predictably accurate postal system?).

A restful but getting more active weekend has seen Caitlin back at school this week. She has survived the first day with only one spell of feeling faint. Guess we’ll wait and see what the post brings us!