Hi from the Emergency Room!
Don’t panic I’ve already done enough of that for the both of us. Basically, about 3 or 4 weeks ago I had this pain in my back where one of my ribs connects to my spine and I described it as a “slipped rib” feeling because I felt like it was popping. A week later it was worse and my friends and family freaked me out enough for me to go to urgent care and get it checked out. I got an X-ray and it was fine so they sent me home with a diagnoses of costochondritis, a prescription of Advil and an order to lessen the weight of backpack (which nursing school would never allow). I went home relieved but a week and a half later the pain continued to get worse. I made an appointment with my primary care doctor and went in. She disagreed with the costochondritis diagnosis and sent me to get blood work in fear of there being a pancreatic issue or something weird. Labs came back normal so my doctor said that I should go to my chiropractor because it must be a muscle issue and if that doesn’t work to call her. I went to my chiropractor and he didn’t think it was muscle related at all and that I should get a second X-ray. I called my primary doc and told one of their nurses what had happened. 2 hours later I get a call from my primary referring me to the Emergency Department.
My time here has been interesting, we are pushing 3.5 hours in the ED around half an hour to get admitted and then like 3 hours chilling in the triage room. The Resident came in to my room pushed all over my ribs and basically said it’s muscular here’s some Advil and a lidocaine patch bye...thankfully the attending didn’t dismiss me. He took his time looking and listened when I asked for second X-Ray.
A fun fact about this experience is that that “mixed personality disorder rule-out Borderline” is still on my chart along with an outdated diagnosis of “fiber myalgia” both of those diagnoses will get me dismissed quickly. When I went to my primary she was talking about the muscle relaxant and how it can be highly addictive. I said “I’ve never had an issue with addiction” and she said “we both know you’ve had your struggles” referring to my depression. She gave me the pills but, she also gave me a lot of self-doubt and insecurity. Like damn, this woman has been so supportive for so long, she literally called me gifted and sent me to a psychic if we recall, but not now she turned so quick. I think it’s time for a new doctor.
I’m afraid that’s how this resident feels and maybe that’s why my primary sent me here...to appease me. If she did send me here to make a fool of myself I’ll never know but the stigma I felt from her and the dismissiveness from the Resident and the way that made me feel is something I’ll never forget.
A women is yelling at her husband a few curtains over for driving himself in with a broken arm, he fell from a ladder. The woman next to me to my right is breathing heavy, she fell today but didn’t take her Tylenol, the nurse rolled her eyes...of course you’re in pain you didn’t take your pain medicine. The girl on the other side of me is relaxed, she’s done this before. She has pseudo seizures and I don’t think she would have brought herself in normally but since the incident happened at work, It was a mandatory emergency room visit. I hear a guy 3 curtains down complaining of dizziness, nausea, and “seeing spots” after he gave blood today...this “episode” lasted like 5-10 minutes and there was some confusion on his part on if he fainted or not...how do you confuse that? I’m not sure. He has a headache now but, that’s it. You’re lightheaded, go eat something and lay down you will be fine. I’ve been here so long this is the second crew in the flex holding area with me. One step up from the waiting room but, many steps away from any sort of hospital admission with a room.
I find a weird calmness in the beeping of the hospital machines and the hustling and bustling of the hallways. It’s not the dramatic scenes you see on TV but intricate and interesting still. I love it but, I love it more when I’m wearing scrubs and have a job to do. I don’t do this whole patient thing well.
I just got pain medications and I think they are already kicking in. As my nursing friends said in our group chat “much better than a patch” and I sure hope so because I’ve gotten no relief. As much as I want there to be nothing wrong with me or my ribs, there’s a part of me that wants to be right. Prove this resident wrong and maybe make him think twice about dismissing a patient. I don’t know if it’s worth being ill or something but, I guess we will find out.
Update: X-Ray was normal and oxycodone makes me loopy. They sent me home with a prescription of naproxen and an Incentive Spirometer which is this contraption that helps make sure your lungs expand all the way and prevents pneumonia and atelectasis. I made mom stop on our way out to get a frozen hot chocolate at the incredible coffee shop at this hospital. I dream about the frozen hot chocolate from this place because it’s the best and could not miss the opportunity to get one despite the temperature outside being 47 degrees and rainy. I’m a bit stressed about not getting any notes done and low-key disappointed I didn’t get to see that guys arm get put back into place...would’ve been dope...but now I’m ready to go home eat some Boston market and goto sleep. It was an adventurous day full of pain and confusion. Total time in the hospital was around 6 hours I believe and I haven’t really digested all of it but, I’m happy I’m okay although I feel kinda stigmatized and hopefully this oxycodone they gave me earlier will help me rest up.
Sincerely,
Your Strong Female Lead
