Good ED experience

Back in May 2003, my aspirin abuse (5-6 a day) for headache control caught up with me, and I experienced a bad GI bleed (about 4 units). The volunteer squad promptly responded with 3 Paramedics and 1 EMT. They started an NS IV and transported me to the hospital.

1 second after the squad dropped me off, 3 nurses (I think) and the ED doctor filed into the room. They uncovered me (I was naked under the blanket since I had been unable to clean myself up), and then introduced themselves. My initial BP had dropped to 78 /45, and my oral temp was about 93 F, but I was completely awake, alert and oriented.

They started a second IV with an antinausea drug, dropped an NG tube, and did an ECG, a chest x-ray, and a DRE. The internist and general surgeon both stopped by. When I was diagnosed with an ulcer, I immediately told them about my aspirin abuse habit.

As soon as the procedures were finished, one of the nurses (?) present did the registration. I had brought my wallet, so I had my insurance card. They called my parents and my boss to inform them.

As soon as the registration process was done, I was covered back up and transported to the ICU, where I immediately got a private room. After being given time to warm up (I started to shiver when I was uncovered in order to slide onto the ICU bed), I was given a sponge bath. It took the nurse awhile to scrub the dried blood and fecal matter off of my body, especially my buttocks (When I had regained consciousness at home, I was still in a knee-chest position leaning against the bathroom wall, but now surrounded by a large puddle of blood and fecal matter).

I had an EGD that morning, and IV Protonix and a 2 unit blood transfusion that night. Since the hospital was full, I ended up spending the entire 2.5 day stay in the ICU, although only the first day was at ICU rates.

I gave the hospital the highest ratings on the survey, sent a $50 check and a thank you note to the squad (no charge for squad runs here), and wrote a thank you note to the hospital. In 2004, I sent follow-up notes to the ED, ICU, and the doctor who provided the after-hospital care. I had made a more than full recovery; no loss of cognitive function, and the knee pain I had experienced for years (which I had assumed was from age and wear) had gone away.

I took an Intro to Addiction course at college during Fall 2004. We had to give up something to help us understand addiction. Since I was taking 2 Tylenols more days than not for headaches, I gave that up. It is still rough at times, but I have remained painkiller free since then.

I decided I needed to post this story since most of the ED experiences here have been complaints. The hospital I was at is not a trauma center; they ship out the traumas, MIs, and CVAs. They certainly are good at GI bleeds, however.