The nurses were great, but I had to go to the ER for an asthma exacerbation. I'd already done my two updrafts at home first and the few times I remember seeing the monitor my sats were at 93, HR was 120ish. I only went because I finally couldn't take it anymore and was utterly exhausted, breathing hurt, I wasn't breathing deeply at all if I could avoid it because it hurt so badly to do.
However, she said she heard no wheeze, and when she walked out the door, I heard her say "I don't think she has asthma at all" to another colleague.
I don't know what she thought I had, because I was sent home with no treatment, that essentially they did a screening exam and did not feel it was an emergency. My friend who took me was so worried she took me to another ER, where they certainly acted like it was an emergency and nearly admitted me, though I got to dodge the bullet there.
I'm not going to judge someone for poor medical judgment, but is there any excuse for letting a patient hear a judgment call like that unless it's to, say, confront a delusion a patient has for their own benefit? That's really what I'm upset about. People make mistakes, but that was extremely unprofessional.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
If this is also your second thread about ER visits for asthma, perhaps you should see your primary care doctor for an evaluation instead of getting into situations that require ED visits.
I guess I don't see what the problem was. You are assuming she's thinking all of those things. If you overheard that comment, why not ask if she could come back and clarify her remark?
I didn't have the energy to raise my voice so she could hear me, nor to look for a call button. And unless I was dying I wouldn't have used one anyway in an ER, have no idea what else is going on. Next person to come to me was financial counselor where I offered to pay a deposit, next was nurse with discharge papers.
If this is also your second thread about ER visits for asthma, perhaps you should see your primary care doctor for an evaluation instead of getting into situations that require ED visits.
Depsite lack of insurance, I had seen my PCP, referral for specialist appt is in October where they will take me without insurance, I had been to see him the week before and was on antibiotics.
I trusted my memory instead of reading your posts.
I assumed your admissions to the hospital for resp problems was because of ER visits. I stand corrected.
I am probably still not communicating very well. Yes, admissions were through ER, though the first admission I had was during the daylight hours and when I'd called my doc to see if he could get me in for another updraft (third that week) he said to go to ER instead. That's when I had insurance. Second admission was also through ER, and that was when I didn't have insurance and couldn't get to anyone (though I had the chance since I knew insurance was about to lapse to stock up on my Advair and Singulair as well as three MDIs and a lot of neb solution.
I rectified the not being able to get to anyone before this visit was necessary, but again, had been in for the URI that I think started the exac and was already on antibiotics, with instructions to go to ER if updrafts did not manage symptoms of asthma. He also gave me more samples of my meds, which I was grateful for though I was not out, and started me on Pressair as well with samples. The pulmonologist that will work with people without insurance, though, can't see me until October.
Now that I've shared way too much of my personal information though, I'll sign off. I already feel a lot of guilt for being uninsured right now but it's not by choice and I *do* try to utilize healthcare resources responsibly.
Can't you apply for Medicaid? I'm sorry all this happened, but if I had a chronic medical condition (which I do), I would make health insurance my #1 priority after food and shelter.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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If this is also your second thread about ER visits for asthma, perhaps you should see your primary care doctor for an evaluation instead of getting into situations that require ED visits.