Beside being sick or hurt whats the next worst part of visiting the ER?

[meetkitty123]

Took a family member to ER for their blood pressure and some slight bleeding from a surgical site. The family is stable but we have been here for 9 hours! Waiting for doctors, waiting for results just always waiting and waiting!
But...
First no parking. Had to walk far. Then figuring out where they placed the patient. Then someone 2 rooms down vomiting. Oh and then my phone dying and guess what? Back to the car parked far away to get a charger. Next hunting down a meal. And now? You'll probably guess it... Still waiting.

What's your tale?

PARKING! No parking, no free parking, Far parking etc

GARMS EVERYWHERE, go in with one issue and come out with 2

PHONE ISSUES, No siganl or forgetting a charger etc

WAITING! 6 hours later and still waiting

MY EYES the things you can never unsee

OTHER! where do I begin?

Updates

+1 y

After 11 hrs Im heading home. Family member being admitted needs another surgery tomorrow. Tired and I will returning in the morning. 😩
Oh and on a side note
BABIES crying because they're sick is definitely one of the worst parts of the ER. So heart wrenching! 💔

[Bluemax]

I was the caregiver for my wife, my mother, and at times my dad.

I became far more acquainted with the ER than I ever wanted to be. Some staff knew me by name.

The suffering. Seeing and hearing all the suffering. The cries of pain. The cries of sorrow and anguish. Seeing those you know are in pain but who are suffering silently.

And those who are laughing and joking because they are not seriously hurt and know they will recover, coupled with those arriving to see a newborn, the joy and excitement radiating from their faces. Then knowing your circumstances are profoundly different. Your loved one is suffering very bad, or when they return home, the fatigue and anguish are just beginning. Or worse of all, your loved one is probably not coming out alive. You begin to feel a spiteful anguish, in spite of your best efforts not to.

[Bluemax]

Not to detract from your situation, Meetkitty, but maybe some humor will make things less difficult. You reminded me of this skit from SNL (and I used to LOVE the show ER).

https://youtu.be/oFxpC6xZKwk

[meetkitty123]

Omg LMAO 🤣 I was watching it and cracking up then the doc suddenly walked in and I couldn't get the damn thing to stop 🤣🤣🤣 I turned so red because I was caught watching it. The doc just laughed too.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I was at the ER on March 25, 2022, I was sick with a virus they found was called the Rotavirus I had diarrhea coming out of me and could not stay off the toilet, and lost so much sleep they found the virus in a stool specimen least I had a decent ER doctor but I hate the waiting also my CT-Scan of my stomach did not show any inflammation and you see all kinds of sites I agree that being at the ER is horrible I hope that your family member feels better it's frustrating when you need to go through that the next thing that is worst visiting the ER is the other sick people there, hearing this elderly man and he was yelling out, seeing ambulances bringing in a sick elderly man oh just too much.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@meetkitty123 Sorry about your Family member hope they get well again Prayers 👼🙏

[meetkitty123]

Thank you

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@meetkitty123 You are welcome

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Thanks for Most Helpful Guy

[Aerissa_Jade]

Miss-diagnosis hasn't happened to me yet... but I know a guy who had major abdominal pains, after 3 days went to the ER they put him in a room for 6 hours, ticketed his car for being over the 2 hour limit.

Then sent him home with a prescription for the pain, said nothing was wrong...2 days later got into a family doctor who within 10 seconds diagnosed him with appendicitis. Estimated to have ruptured 5 days before.

[meetkitty123]

Gees not great

[whirled_up_girl]

For me I voted F for other because being a hospital RN on the med/surg floor at the same hospital I know many of the ER staff.

[meetkitty123]

Thank you for your services! 💖

[whirled_up_girl]

@ You’re welcome!

[meetkitty123]

My post was not intended to be against the staff. The staff put up with quite a bit but honestly they been very helpful with me and my fam. Member whos been in and out of ICU since Feb. he's had about 2 weeks out of the hospital and that's not counting them as consecutively. Last nights wait was long but I believe there are many factors involved that create long waits. Regardless you have an inside view there must be something from your perspective that us outsiders dont quite see as annoying or ever even considered... Like running out of pillows or no urgent meds in stock as they should be (heard that complain from the OR RN today they send people up with pillows but dont get them back oh and they had to hunt down Labatoal when my fam bp was 232/96) or dealing with tipsy people or double shift so whatcha got?

[whirled_up_girl]

@meetkitty123 Oh sure, I didn't take it as disrespectful to staff and I have noticed the ER enviroment certainly has it's challenges. I think when I've taken a family member there recently for instance I've often been frusted by the long waits. Even though I know it's not the staffs fault it does get frustrating. I live in a rural area in the upper midwest and what we struggle with is really a lack of services elsewhere in the healthcare system. The ER gets overloaded with cases of sick visits by people who couldn't get in to see their doctor or didn't know their ailment could be treated at the urgent care/walk-in clinic. Also there is significant mental health issues such as suicide ideation, failed suicide attempts, drug overdose, drug withdrawal, mental breakdown and finding placements for mental health patients. This on top of the regular trauma and medical emergenices. Yeah it's a busy ER and even though I know the reasons it's so busy I do feel frustated by it when I've had to take family members there.

[OlderAndWiser]

Fortunately, the hospital ER which I visit most often has plenty of free parking but the waiting is horrendous!

[meetkitty123]

If we are still here by 10pm it will be 12hrs

[OlderAndWiser]

Yikes!

[OlderAndWiser]

RESPONSE TO UPDATE: The hospital which I visit most often (as a visitor) has a separate children's emergency room. If you are with an adult patient, you never see the sick kids.

[meetkitty123]

I've seen some places like that. But the hospital in my area just has separate waiting areas but its still an open floor concept

[ChrisMaster69]

Sitting waiting for a family member to die.

You know they are never waking up, that it’s just a waiting game.

Watching them slowly slip further and further.

passing knowing looks with the nursing staff.

Comforting your sister.

Then watching as those final moments arrive, standing walking to the desk and telling the nurse your family member was about to go.

Then sitting around as he passed away.

[meetkitty123]

Yes that is indeed horrible. I understand perfectly I spent a week in hospice by my grandpa side. Ne er left until he passed. Sorry for your lost.

[ChrisMaster69]

Thank you
I was luckily only had 3 days of it

[meetkitty123]

Your welcome 🤗

[ohshee]

I have to knock on wood I really don't even want to answer this question I hate to wait I don't even like going there I will supper before I have to go there LOL

[meetkitty123]

I knocked on wood for you too I don't want anyone going there

[ohshee]

Yeah I probably haven't been sick for over 12 to 13 years maybe even 14 usually I can feel something coming on and I popped to Bayer Aspirin and I put cold medicine or mouthwash or lemon in my mouth and I hold it there as long as I possibly can cuz that just burns out all the bacteria any kind of germ that's in there

[meetkitty123]

Preventive care is the best way to go. I been popping in zinc and Vit c and B if I feel anything funny

[zeitgeist057]

good idea, don't go on an empty stomach.

[genericname85]

the chance to get hospital bourne diseases, viruses and infections that you wouldn't have gotten if you didn't go to the hospital.

it's so bad that if you're 70+ years old, you actually have a better chance of dying to hospital borne diseases than dying to things like flu or covid.

[genericname85]

but on a less serious note: the fact that you're never able to sleep. you're in hospital to rest and heal. yet every hour some doctor or nurse storms in to keep you awake all through the night and day.

[Vendela]

I've been to the ER once and what I can remember is the staring. Granted, I was covered in blood, but I felt very uneasy with everyone's eyes on me in one of my worst times.

[meetkitty123]

Awe we really need a sad emoji on here its weird to choose a heart emoji in these circumstances.

[Vendela]

Haha it's ok 🤣

[Still-alive]

Hospitals in general i feel are often too crowded and the wait times are terrible. Food is either unhealthy or not even food. And yeah no internet sucks too

[meetkitty123]

Thank goodness they have wifi here

[Guardian45]

My experience hospitals and as former paramedic, is Hurry Up and Wait! And Wait! And Wait! And then Wait some more!

[meetkitty123]

Always waiting

[Guardian45]

Gets some rest!

[meetkitty123]

Yes very much needed

[purplepoppy]

Sitting next to a Karen with a tiny insignificant injury complaining because a guy with a torn off arm has jumped the queue

[Static_In_The_Attic]

The worst part of visiting the ER is when you receive the bill a few weeks later.

[Andres77]

Just feeling sick and vulnerable around a bunch of strangers and having to wait in those uncomfortable chairs.
And signal strength is usually poor inside hospitals.

[EnglishEuropean]

UK here. At least we don't have to worry about the bill, emergency treatment is already paid for by taxes. Parking can be an issue and of course waiting for hours when you need "emergency" treatment is just horrendous.

[Whatthefluff]

Knowing of the medical debt you are going to be billed

[andreasderjuengere]

Worst: they won't let me smoke or have a beer in there :)

[larry69]

Everything including the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting areas

[exitseven]

It is always a long wait. I went with my wife and we waited for 7 hours to have the doc take one look at her and say she was okay, than he was gone.

[OddBeMe]

Bacteria and staff infection. I’ve been told several times never to go barefoot in a hospital.

[DaveToo]

Arrived where my 105-year-old mother was taken after being found on the floor of her apartment.

[meetkitty123]

Awe im sorry 😔

[red_knight]

Seeing sad shit like death or families torn apart

[meetkitty123]

Yes that would indeed suck

[red_knight]

I've already seen so much I'm numb, but still seen things that made me weep after

[20yearsolder]

The waiting time to be seen

[abc3643]

THE FUCKING BILL!

[zeitgeist057]

Scrolling looking for this, wondering when anybody would mention the price.

[meetkitty123]

@zeitgeist057 can be several 100s to several 1000s

[zeitgeist057]

@meetkitty123 oh yeah I know. I had a motorcycle accident and the helicopter ride alone was over $40K. The ambulance to the helispot was around $2,500, and that was just the beginning of the overpriced services.

[meetkitty123]

@zeitgeist057 omg thank goodness you lived to tell the tale!

[zeitgeist057]

@meetkitty123 charmed life :)

[Agape93]

The bill at the end

[meetkitty123]

Good one so true

[Anon_Y_Mous]

All... and the bills too🥲

[josephinelcajon]

Death!

[MCheetah]

Other: The BS bill.

[jimmy2]

The backup cases before you

[moonpie89]

I hate waiting for ever

[Jamie05rhs]

Yep. What you said.

[msc545]

The waiting is awful