ER EXPERIENCE

When I go to the ER or Urban care places then I feel I need to be there.
I am not going for the fun of it.
I also am very vulnerable.
When I see people in white coats, equipment dangling from their pockets and
pens leaking in the top one. Then I feel like they know something I don t and I better listen if I want to be feeling better.
They are still demi gods to me even so I know better..........

After 2 weeks and my last fall I was beginning to feel a lot more pain on Sunday/.
I had done much better 2 days before and suddenly I can't lift my arm without
terrible pain. Talked to the girls and Rhonda is coming tout de suite to take me to Asheville Urban Care unit still open this Sunday afternoon.

When I tell you that I hurt you can believe me.
I do pain very well. But this time I just had enough of it.
I started to worry...what if????

The person who questioned me (nurse ???) was very lovely and understanding, I am used to tattoos now but why do I still feel a bit uncomfortable when I see one on her forearm. (OK Jeannot no judging here). After awhile the PA comes, seems they do not have an MD on staff or she is hiding, we did not spot one.
This tall skinny grey haired lady tells me that she has concerns of pneumonia, a cracked rib or lung puncture. They will do Xrays BUT she said the one we take will not show the whole rib cage, we will focus on lungs.

The young lady comes back and brings us to Xray room.
First Xray OK.
Then she is puzzled which side should she Xray?
The side in pain or will the xray show up better if she takes it from the other side and get a cross view ...she asks us, Rhonda and I.
I make a comment that I am sure she has to take the side affected against the board. She goes to check her book or something....comes back and yes puts me
with the pain against the panel......(who would have thought?)
I am still vulnerable but I see Rhonda frowning. Frowning a lot.
After all she was married to a doctor for 17 years some of it rubs off.

Back to waiting room. PA comes back said the second Xray was not good so xray number 3 is ordered.....I am getting "unpleased" it is slow but I am thinking this white apron lady and her tattoo friend are probably sit ins while the good ones are on vacation.

After 3rd Xray and she knew which side to do now without asking us.
The PA comes in and said: No pneumonia, no ribs cracked must be still the bruising.
So I will give you a prescription for a pain pill because the Advil was not working today but do follow up with your doctor. (Turns out I have an appointment in 11 days)
Added instruction YOU can only take one a day because you have but one kidney. We may not overtax the kidney.

Try then on a Sunday at 8 PM to find an open pharmacy.
Rhonda makes some phone calls and find out that some 12 miles or so there is a
CVS with 24 hours.

We find it without a problem, en route to home again now 35 miles I take the
pill only to wake up at 3 am, I wake up because I am in pain ....again....

Oh the ER trip to that location is not going to happen again. We should go straight to the Hospital ER even if we have to wait forever.

Now I just bite off the pain and wait till the time comes this evening when I can take another one.

Rhonda in her new job is faced daily with people who are not doing their job correctly and headquarters are coming to check out everyone.
She tells me of some darn right stupid things people do in the office.
She and a couple of other girls are in customer service and she may have calls waiting while others chit chat or ignore the calls.

Even in hospital Sabrina found a few nurses not checking the charts before they come in the room, so she and Zack write everything down. All meds and shots he gets.
When she gets a nurse with other chores not prescribed Sabrina goes to the main nurse and reports before anything bad will happen.
It should not be this way. If people do not like their job they should find something they do like.