Dr. Heather Kathryn Sherwin, MD

She found out I had a stroke, brain bleed and bad gallbladder

I went to SJRMC ER because I was unable to urinate more than a few drops at a time. I had just finished a 10-day cycle of antibiotics. After I explained this to her, she said, "Just what is it you expect me to do for you"? I said, "Well that is why I am here. The infection is not one bit better and I am at the point where I can only sit on the toilet and urinate 2 drops an hour. Should I just go back home. She turned and left the room. She did not order blood work, tell them to monitor my blood pressure or order an IV for dehydration. So lay there for half an hour until someone came to take me for a cat scan. He asked why I didn't have an IV or blood pressure cup. I couldn't even speak because I was choked up and crying from being treated like I was a waste of Dr. Sherwin's time. He said just a moment let me get you a warm blanket and covered me. That was the first time anyone tried to comfort me. When we got down to cat scan room I asked the technician why they were taking another… when I had one 10 days earlier. She said well a lot can happen in 10 days. When she finished she wheeled me back down my room and helped me into bed, tucked the blanket under my feet and said I hope they find out what's wrong and you feel better. This lady was also very compassionate and kind. The nurse came back in said we're going to take some blood then I'll give you something for the pain. She poked around on the top of my right forearm and tried to find a vein. That didn't help and left a huge knot and bruise. I asked her to deaden the area if she was going to have to dig around for a vein. She did not, but finally found a vein. Both resulted in large dark bruises. She gave me morphine and something for the nausea. I never have been given morphine for these symptoms and had to have another dose of nausea medication. After 3 hours Dr. Sherwin came back and said that I had a twisted bowel that might be causing the pain, but that the only other thing she could do was give me Penicillin G for help with the infection. She said she could order it there but if I got it other than the ER Medicare would not pay for it and it might cost as much as $10,000. Honestly at this point I didn't understand much of what she was saying due to the morphine. I just wanted to leave. I hope I never have to see this doctor again. She treated me like I was a waste of time and consequently, so did her medical staff because she set the tone. The two young men who administered the Penicillin G came in toward the end of my visit and they were also very kind and informed me of everything they were doing.