What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

And did you have to treat them?

I am just curious. Your stories always seem to either crack me up or shake my head in amazement.

Thanks for sharing ?

1. I had a patient who called 911 because she was having numbness on her lady parts for 7 years. She was sent to minor care STAT

2. had another rescue patient that was brought to the ED complaining of a sore throat after swallowing a pill.

Specializes in Pediatric ED;previous- adult Ortho/Neuro.
I always seem to get the ones who come to ED for routine illnessess, chest colds, strep, etc that have just come from their doctor's office. You see the doc examined them and gave them an rx but they want a second opinion, or they don't feel any better yet. Never mind they haven't gotten the script filled or even taken a pill yet. I'd love to say "Lemme see what Dr Jones gave you. Yep, looks like the proper course of treatment for bronchitis to me." Rings little bell. "Thank you. Next!" :rotfl:

In a Peds ER, this kind of thing is our bread-&-butter.

Also love any complaint that has since stopped before bringing them in: baby wouldn't stop crying (as the baby looks up and smiles at me), nose bleed, headache, anxiety attacks in pre-teen girls.

Most ridiculous ever in my years, had a 2-yr old come by squad on an for "possible seizure activity". After arrival, mom pulls out a bottle of Vicodin, pops one and starts going on and on about her horrible toothache, then climbs into the bed herself. Meanwhile, the kid is playing and tearing the room apart. At one point before she passed out, the kid threw himself on the floor with a typical 2-yr-old-tantrum, mom points and says "There! He's doing it again,see?! A seizure". ?

We transferred mom across the street to the neighboring adult ER, after she insisted on checking herself in for her toothache.

A few hrs later get another squad call that sounded a lot like the morning one......yup, they were back! Had another "seizure". Mom crawled into bed and passed out, must have just wanted a babysitter so she could take pills and sleep. Social Work helped us with that one. =) nothing like wise use of resources!

Specializes in Emergency Department.

I work nites in a rural Level 3 trauma center.

One night, we had the rotor crew fly in a 22 yo F for BACK PAIN! No trauma, she just woke up that morning with a back ache, but called 911 sometime during the night and somehow a helicopter was dispatched to fly her in. Of course she was texting as she was being brought in.

The next night, she was brought in by ambo (by land) AGAIN for the SAME ****. Her story this time, she didn't have ID for our in-patient pharmacy to dispense her narcs, so she didn't get the meds our docs wrote a script for the previous night.

To top it off, she asked for a ride BACK to her house.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

That's called Fatal Familial Insomnia. It's real. It's inherited and it's a prion disease. Very rare though.

Hahaha do you ever get to the point where you're trying to fall asleep and you're so exhausted you start coming up with terrifying things that would never cross your mind if you were well rested? I have insomnia and after being up 48-72 hours and laying in bed and not being able to fall asleep, my mind starts to wander and I convince myself I have that condition where you can never sleep again and it kills you. Then I usually fall asleep.

Have I mentioned in slightly hypochondriacal?

Specializes in Current: ER Past: Cardiac Tele.

I'm visiting a family member in the ER and my back hurts so I'd like a bed to sleep.

Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Well ... I must say I'm inspired by the BACK PAIN that arrived texting via rotor (HEMS). Yay! A 20K trip for pain meds. Love it!

I won't get started. But, gee whiz. When are we gonna issue spines with flight suits?

Oh wait, it's you call --- we haul. Mother, Jugs & Speed @ 1500 AGL.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

In defense of the flight crew, they NEVER talk crap about anyone (maybe because 99% of the patients are really sick), but this time they were TICKED!

I wish I knew how they got the call and if they even have a choice to refuse to transport once they are on scene.

And had I known the in-house pharmacy refused her meds without her ID, I would have gotten them for her from the pharmacy (which I can do).

Well ... I must say I'm inspired by the BACK PAIN that arrived texting via rotor (HEMS). Yay! A 20K trip for pain meds. Love it!

I won't get started. But, gee whiz. When are we gonna issue spines with flight suits?

Oh wait, it's you call --- we haul. Mother, Jugs & Speed @ 1500 AGL.

Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Im so sorry if my tone was "off." I'm not blaming the flight crew at all. Glad this was an anomaly for your flight crew - please understand I'm not trying to be offensive. Of disrespectful to any provider - ground, air, hospital.

It's a endemic problem in some areas. Some states. The patient is often not the flight customer. It's the EMS folks, hospitals, fire departments. They just get the bill. All 20k + of it. Necessary - worth every penny. Not necessary - well, you know ....

There is a lot of over utilization - used to be HEMS arrived and crews were there best of the best and could decline. Now, there is so much competition if I "declined" a flight patient from a hospital for not requiring HEMS transport - the hospital would call a competitor, be on the phone with my boss ---- and my last flight would be back to the base when I would be crucified & promptly fired.

Yep, it's true - in some locales HEMS has turned into you call no matter what's the patient issue (infected toe, back pain, cut hand, dog bite, isolated ortho injury, plenty of MOI auto accidents with minimal to uninjured patients) all that's said to requesting agency is --- "Strong Work, Thanks, Call Anytime" --- and off the helo goes.

Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Well ... Oh wait, it's you call --- we haul. Mother, Jugs & Speed @ 1500 AGL.
Call any time day or night especially a little after midnight even if you have a hangnail. Oh, and don't forget to bring your suitcase.
Specializes in ER.

Gotta love ER patients.

Last night's star was a stunner, with the history I got from him in triage.

My question was the usual one about are you taking any prescribed meds.

And the answer -

"Oh yes, I'm taking an antibiotic for my blood pressure, its called Humulin."

Stunned silence from triage nurse . . . . . . . :woot:

Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Gotta love ER patients.

Last night's star was a stunner, with the history I got from him in triage.

My question was the usual one about are you taking any prescribed meds.

And the answer -

"Oh yes, I'm taking an antibiotic for my blood pressure, its called Humulin."

Stunned silence from triage nurse . . . . . . . :woot:

:woot::roflmao: I love it!!
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Gotta love ER patients.

Last night's star was a stunner, with the history I got from him in triage.

My question was the usual one about are you taking any prescribed meds.

And the answer -

"Oh yes, I'm taking an antibiotic for my blood pressure, its called Humulin."

Stunned silence from triage nurse . . . . . . . :woot:

Wow, evidently I didn't learn anything in Pharm class..... LOL

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