Your own fight

If you diagnose it, you must treat it therefore avoid, stall, procrastinate diagnosing anything that will cost money to treat. That is a constant attitude with incarceration medical facilities. My cellmate just came to prison. At his first physical, four weeks after arriving, they found he had high blood pressure. While taking his history he disclosed that he hadn't seen a doctor in years. He is 56 years old. They scheduled him for a one week follow up. A week later his blood pressure was still high, They told him to quit smoking and coffee. He said, "I don't smoke!" and he had already quit coffee. A week later, checked again and still high and now in stroke danger levels. Started blood pressure medicine and checked him daily. After  2 weeks of the medicine not working they told him he must not be taking his meds. They scheduled him for 2 more weeks of blood pressure meds, this time crushed and "watch swallow." He, at this point, was in DOC for 2 1/2 months with high blood pressure in stroke danger. After the 2 weeks of blood pressure crushed watch swallow meds weren't working and his pressure was even higher, they panicked and shot him up with [word missing]. So now they rush him to an outside hospital Er. After a day of tests the hospital doctor says, in simple terms, "his lower back pain is so severe it is causing the high blood pressure." The doctor prescribes back pain medicine, codine, and refers him to a specialist. Back in his cell hi is denied codine (inmates are not given narcotics) and given Execdrin PM. His is now checked daily for blood pressure and awaits specialist, which getting Excedrin PM, Now 3 months in prison, with dangerously high blood pressure.
I tell this story to illustrate my next points: getting to a hospital, getting copies of files and treatments ordered, getting names and titles and family support.

1. Getting to a hospital or specialist is vital: Be persistant with your HNRs [Health Needs Requests]. Document everything, Prison medical staff can see on your HNRs that you are documenting, quoting and holding them accountable. This will get you through their stalling techniques quicker and into the hands of a a street doctor or specialist.
2. Get copies of files and treatment orders: When at a hospital or specialist's office, ask for copies of your file for that visit. Ask for a copy of treatment orders for your own records. If you are denied ask the name of the person and the reason for denial. Always be extremely kind and pleasant, more often than not you'll get what you want.
3. Getting names and titles: Keep records of doctors and nurses names. Correction officers that are present and witness different treatments and conversations. You have the right to take notes of what is being done to you and for you.
4. Family support: Get word to your family. Update them frequently. Save your hospital admissions bracelet and mail it to family. They can request medical record and talk to doctors. Family pressure on wardons and deputy wardons helps a lot.

My cellmate has no family fighting for him He is alone and at their mercy. No street doctor would wait three months at severely high pressure levels without serious preventative tests and care. You come in alone and may die alone if you don't, or can't, fight.