I Hate Emergency Rooms

Lisa and I spent most of the night last night in an emergency room.

She was fine yesterday morning, until about half-way through dialysis. Then her temperature went way up. The nurses at the dialysis did nothing for her. Then she came back home. And complained for the next couple of hours.

This high temperature has been plaguing her for the past few days. She had seen a doctor a few days ago, when it started. He prescribed antibiotics. But she stopped taking them after she started feeling better. And then, of course, it flared back up.

So I asked her if she had taken antibiotics. She said, "just now". So I said, "then drink some water", and "get some sleep". But all she was complain about feeling hot. So, I reminded her again what to do, and went back to my office. Then she starts yelling, and beckons me to come downstairs to her. So I go downstairs, and asked, "what?". She says, "come on, we're going to the hospital".

Then I started arguing with her. I told her there's no reason to do the ER just for a temperature. How many hundreds of times have I ran a temperature, and went to the ER? None! Moms, Dads, Grandmas, doctors, always tell you to just drink some fluids, take some Tylenol, and get some rest. In this case, she even had antibiotics! But no. She has to go the ER for her temperature! So, I got angry.

So she starts walking out the front door, and I started following her. We drove to the ER, and sat there for 3 1/2 hours until they finally called her in. Then she laid on a bed for another 2 hours until I got pissed off, that I left her there and went home.

When I got home, I started feeling sorry for her and angry at myself. So, I picked up her favorite blanket, and drove back to the hospital. She said a doctor finally saw her and gave her a boost of the same antibiotic she was on. Now, she was just laying there waiting to hear further word.

So, I stayed there another 2 hours until the doctor came back and said she could go home. The doctor said that she had a urinary tract infection, and to keep on taking the same antibiotics.

So basically, the doctor did little more than just give her some more of the same antibiotic she was on, and then tell us to do what I had told her to do originally. She spent nearly 9 hours there just to hear that.

We didn't get home until 4:30am. We went straight to bed, and I woke up around 10:30am. Then I get a call from my accountant that my appointment with her was at 10:00am this morning. So I basically blew that too.

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Posted:   Tuesday, September 25, 2007

2 Comments:

  • Hello Steve,

    I am about to start following your blogs. You sound like an extremely interesting fellow and have SO much to say. I shall be discussing some topics with you very soon, I am sure.

    I just wanted to say that the illness of a loved one can be very wearing, but Lisa will be feeling far worse and most of the time will be able to hide this from you.

    Medical care in America seems to be very different form that in England, where our pharmacists can help (to an extent) if a doctor cannot be sought quickly, which is not often the case. We also do not wait to be seen as long as you do in this country.

    Poor Lisa should have had a urine test the first time she complained of feeling worse and had the high temperature. But, she is VERY naughty for not taking the whole course of antibiotics!

    Please try to be more patient with Lisa though. I know what I am talking about as I have been ill many times, and on occasions with no diagnosis. The last thing we want to do is make life harder for the ones we love and who love us.

    Sometimes, we really need the moral support, not sympathy. There is a great difference.

    Good luck to both of you and I hope you can always see how important your love for each other is. To lose a partner is the worst way to realise you should have been more loving or compassionate.

    By Blogger Donni-Jay, at 12:29 PM, February 18, 2008  

  • Steve,
    Lucky for you that you do not have children. This is a common happening in any family, illness and late nights with no sleep. Ask any father who sat all night waiting for his wife to give birth, or any parent who's child was in a serious accident and had to wait for days for the results.

    Adults must not get angry and go home when a member of the family is ill when it gets rough. It is difficult for sure but that is a must, you need to remain the strong one. It might help if you stop and pray for strength.

    The spouse or parent will have to miss their sleep sometimes or sleep in the chair beside them at the hospital, or keep in touch if they must stay home with the children, or if they can afford to hire a sitter, then they can stay with the person who is in the hospital.

    Illness is as difficult for the mate or parent as it is for the person who is ill and laying blame only compounds the problem even if the ill person did wrong. I hope you handle it better if there is a next time.

    If there is a next time try phoning a friend, or call your pastor. They will help you through when you need it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:17 PM, February 21, 2008  

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