RANT: At this rate, I choose pain

[rie]

I was rushed to the ED with intense pain last week. I could barely stand, let alone walk and my poor flatmate had to listen to me howl in the car all the way to the ED. I arrive at the ED and fill some forms in shakily and wait - I am totally aware that there are several steps you have to take, even in ED, before you can actually see a doctor. That's okay.

What's not okay is that I told the nurse that it hurts to walk, which he doesn't seem to understand. He tells me to follow him. By foot. Then the nurse leaves me in the middle of the hallway to have a banter with the other nurses. They are giggling about something, while I cry from the pain 2m away as people walk past me. This public humiliation feels punitive. I feel like my ovaries have exploded and I picture the doctors vacuuming out my childbearing properties from my guts and yet I am being treated like I've done something wrong. Some nurses stare at me before they walk away. I am still standing in the middle of the hallway. Finally, the nurse points directly behind him (OMG my room was 2m away from me ALL ALONG?) and tells me to wait inside.

Nurse #3 walks in later and grills me. My poor flatmate is assumed to be my boyfriend, and the nurse asks some unexpectedly embarrassing questions. Flatmate scuttles out urgently, as I am desperate he hears no more. The assumption that just because a boy has driven me to the hospital means that he is entitled to hear intimate details of my medical history is so flawed I can't even begin. Yet, almost gleefully she asks "did you two have a spat then?" But not before she snaps at me and demands to know if I speak any english. (I don't think you'd be very articulate either, if your ovaries were exploding)

It got a bit better from there. People were a bit nicer to me - maybe after they realised I spoke english? who knows. I have resolved since that incident that I will never, ever go back to the ED.

Later, I attended the GP every day for four days to be prescribed stronger medication each time. What is baffling is that the stronger the medication, the less the chance of subsidy. My first three days' worth of meds cost around $3 each. On the fourth day, the meds were $30 each. So, those who are in greater pain are taken to be less needy of assistance? Bizarre. When the usual panadol + Ibuprofen + others no longer make a difference, you don't really have a choice. You WILL fork out half your pay to get the stronger meds.
WTFhealthsystem.

/endrant

[gijoe1313]

Crikey girl! That is shocking! Hope you get yourself sorted and you can find something to smile about soon eh?

Otherwise you can has moar time to post on KB?

[PirateJafa]

Jeepers Rie, that's no good at all!

I've still got a good 50-60 Tramadol tablets here from when I shattered the elbow, throw me a text/PM if you want to save whatever price they'd probably charge ya.

edit: I found a good way to get quick attention was to bend your arm at a 90 degree angle to how it should. They start shouting at you and paying attention then.

[R6_kid:Me]

don't sex dirty boys and your ovaries won't hurt.

btw, sucks how you were treated. I was once bottled by 40oz bottle of vodka... and was left to wait with glass shards in my scalp. I'd obviously been on the piss for most of the night, yet they still asked me if I felt dizzy at all...

[GSXR Trace]

rie that sucks and is completely disgraceful on the part of the nurses... but... are you okay now? Hope your feeling much better, and hopefully will see you at uni all better soon!

[Nagash]

I've been in and out of hospital on a regular basis due to a variety of reasons.

I can't say the way you were treated is particularly rare which is unfortunate.

I can only put it down to the fact that they're so busy caring about everybodies well being and health that they get distracted time to time (Like, ALL the time). Always wondered what was up with that.. nurses in particular, doctor's are *usually* pretty good, but i've seen some shocking doctors aswell.

I'd like to put it down to sick mentality, you're feeling unwell so you feel that you should deserve unrealistic treatment, in an unrealistic time and way. Though I really find that hard to believe a lot of the time.


Hope you get better Rie, an interesting bit of advice, though may not be for everyone.. i've been in hospital a few times for pain related instances, teach yourself to enjoy it.

I believe you have a few tattoo's yourself, so you should atleast understand the basics of how you go about doing that.

I found it worked when I was unwell. Other people do perceive you as a bit of a weirdo though..

[NDORFN]

For someone who doesn't speak English you're really fluent in the written form!

[rie]

For someone who doesn't speak English you're really fluent in the written form!

I also speak with the same accent as the medical staff on Shortland St. I observe this from years of faithful viewing. (That may be the most debilitating of my medical conditions, my friends.)

[ynot slow]

Tell you what Wellington ED sounds like that,I had to have an xray on a Sunday,prior to my surgery next day,so from Ward 6 they said go to emergency xray.They said we'll organise a nurse,we said nah we'll find it,is that ok you guys are busy.Ended at ED correct,but nurses knew nothing about me,so waited,quite amusing around 4pm Sunday.After 30 mins wife asked a nurse,she asked is it emergency xray,not ED,maybe we replied,we were told you should be in emergency xray,here follow me.The desk ladies were no help,but the nurses were,turned out I wasn't able to access the xray dept,as needed key pass to open,the nurses thought they must be in ED.So rather than page the desk they came to me.

[Danae]

That's terrible, Rie!

I guess you get some nurses/doctors like that...the ones that study hard to become a doctor not for the sake of helping people but the paycheck/status. Unfortunately I know a couple of people like that.

But still...leaving someone howling with pain just standing there? Ugh, stuff like that makes my blood boil!!

[Ixion]

Actually I believe that there is a sort of nursing "rule of thumb", that if you can make noises you aren't number one priority.

The ones they move on are the ones just sitting or lying silent and unresponsive.

Not saying I agree just that is how it works.

[bucket boy]

edit: I found a good way to get quick attention was to bend your arm at a 90 degree angle to how it should. They start shouting at you and paying attention then.[/QUOTE]
I found arriving in a helicopter gets there attention

[ital916]

For some reason, I just keep imaging the mental picture of you hulking out and tearing the hospital apart whilst roaring "RIE SMASH...RIE BASH!".

I hope you feel better, have a hug .










So....did your ovaries explode? Or did they manage to mcguyver you back to health....possibly with just a paper clip and some gum.

[madbikeboy]

Don't feel they're being anything other than useless, they approach us white folk with the same contempt and lack of care.

We keep thinking we're a first world country, but anyone who sees our healthcare system in action would realise it's not true.

Hope you are okay, just yell if we can be of any help.

MBB.

[alanzs]

I, unfortunately, suffer from kidney stones. My GP prescribes me morphine for the pain. It is FREE! When I asked the chemist why it was free (not a complaint, more a question) he said if you need morphine, they figure you are dying so the meds are free. NZ healthcare may not be perfect, but it is still an excellent system. I have lived under the stress of no health covearge overseas and it isn't fun!
Feel better!