# I am the patient ER doctors make fun of... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339 "2009-01-21T19:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/21 "2009-01-21T20:11:10Z")
> [@Caricci](#): > > As **Litoris** mentioned, it’s gallbladder. > > Well, I know we aren’t supposed to diagnose or anything… Don’t worry, I am not going to pull out the DIY Cholecystectomy\* Kit. 🙂 \*Why yes, I Googled it. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/22 "2009-01-21T20:11:32Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Last night I had it again, it was bad, and today I have only eaten very small amounts of food after noticing that my pain comes after eating (along with bad heartburn). Are you taking anything for it? I get heartburn at night (sometimes it wakes me up) every few months, usually after eating something with a lot of acid. Zantac always helps, but sometimes it takes an hour or so to kick in. **Anne Neville** , thanks for that link. It’s reassuring. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/23 "2009-01-21T21:37:22Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > My 49-yr-old cousin had heartburn and discomfort last week - took some antacid, burped, declared that he felt much better, and went to bed. Never woke up. We suspect it was a heart attack, but the autopsy results aren’t back yet. Sorry to hear about your cousin. Unfortunately, sometimes heart problems do manifest as “heartburn” or “indigestion”, so I don’t think any doctor would actually make fun of a patient for getting “chest pain” or “heartburn” sensations checked out. The patients they make fun of are mostly people who do stupid stuff (yes, including the classic “got something I was using for sexual gratification stuck in my rectum”) and the people who are pretty blatantly abusing the system (like the mom who called for an ambulance because her kid had an earache - and yes, that really did happen during one of my rotations in an emergency dept) ---
**Author:** ![accidentalyuppie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@accidentalyuppie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/accidentalyuppie)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/24 "2009-01-21T21:41:59Z")
My mother was recently stricken with what she assumed was a virus. It kept worsening and she was having trouble swallowing and was very short of breath. My brother took her in to the ER. They examined her and claimed they found nothing wrong and tried to send her away, both her and my brother kept insisting that she was really sick. They finally let her stay but didn’t admit her, she was basically on a cot in the ER for something like 2 days, getting worse and worse. It turned out to be a bizarre bacterial pnuemonia that she had picked up in Russia and she was in the hospital for two weeks with the CDC crawling all over the place. The doctor actually apologized for the early misdiagnosis but said she was feeling ill “ahead of the symptoms” whatever that means. On the other hand, not all ER experiences suck. I once went to the ER very ill with something “idiopathic” ( to this day I don’t know what was wrong but I was really sick with a high fever and I couldn’t swallow) but they took it very seriously. They insisted on admitting me and I remember that intern taking care of me in the ER put off her lunch break until after I was admitted. They were all very kind to me and never once made me feel as if I shouldn’t have come in. I got better in a few days but never found out what was wrong, though ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/25 "2009-01-21T21:51:59Z")
> [@](#): > > I am the patient ER doctors make fun of… Don’t worry - they’ll soon go back to laughing at that X ray of the other girl - the one where you can even read the logo on the coke bottle… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/26 "2009-01-21T22:11:12Z")
I’ve always found that puking on the floor gets their undivided attention and much better room service. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/27 "2009-01-21T22:15:45Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > If it makes you feel any better, I totally thought this was going to be a story about how you got a sexual aid stuck in your anus and had to go to the emergency room to have it removed. This is the single best sentence ever written in the history of this message board. Feel better, **Mighty\_Girl** , and best of luck getting a helpful diagnosis soon. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/28 "2009-01-21T22:36:01Z")
Your symptoms sound exactly like what my best friend went through last summer. She had her gallbladder removed in 2007, but a few of the stones got caught in her system, and it made her ill, exactly like you described. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/29 "2009-01-21T22:55:18Z")
\So, I was not a weirdo with my chest pains reflecting gallbladder issues (based on the number of responses in this thread saying as much!) – why in the hell didn’t someone think about it before I’d wasted so much time (over a year) and money (CT-scans, EKGs, EEGs and fuckall else!) before I said “hey, just for shits and giggles, can we check my gallbladder?”?? UGH!\ ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/30 "2009-01-22T01:06:14Z")
A friend of mine at work was on vacation in Michigan when she started experiencing neck pain. Now normally, over Thanksgiving, this healthy woman would have blown off her symptoms so as not to ruin the holiday, but she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had started chemo, so she was unusually aware of odd things going on with her body. She went to the ER, and it turned out she had a dissected carotid artery. This sort of thing usually happens with car accident victims, but sometimes, it just happens. I told her she should play the lottery. She ended up in the hospital for six days on blood thinners. Moral of the story…don’t ignore pain that won’t go away with an aspirin. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/31 "2009-01-22T01:17:33Z")
I went to the doctor last week for shortness of breath and heartburn. He diagnosed me with GERD and put me on Nexium. He said something about the acid reflux creating vapors that I breathe, which causes the SOB. It seems better now. I never knew that acid reflux can cause SOB. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/32 "2009-01-22T01:41:59Z")
If you’re having continuing problems, go to the ER. You’re not being a pest. Dr. Helen Smith (wife of Instapundit) had heart problems which were first misdiagnosed. [http://drhelen.blogspot.com/2005/10/more-than-you-wanted-to-know-about-my.html](http://drhelen.blogspot.com/2005/10/more-than-you-wanted-to-know-about-my.html) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/33 "2009-01-22T04:31:23Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > …various doctors I am sure will want to poke me. You have a high opinion of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/34 "2009-01-22T04:36:47Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > My 49-yr-old cousin had heartburn and discomfort last week - took some antacid, burped, declared that he felt much better, and went to bed. Never woke up. We suspect it was a heart attack, but the autopsy results aren’t back yet. OK- so I have mild heartburn and now I’m afraid to go to sleep. ☹ Hope you feel better **Mighty\_Girl**.. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/35 "2009-01-22T04:54:50Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > OK- so I have mild heartburn and now I’m afraid to go to sleep. ☹ Tonight’s update clarified that my cousin was being treated for diabetes and high blood pressure, and was on a CPAP machine (because of sleep apnea). He was also significantly overweight. But he had recently undergone some testing, including an EKG or MRI or CYA, whatever it was, that came out “fine”. He was a really nice guy, it’s a damn shame. Hope you get some answers **Mighty\_Girl**. I’ve had gallbladder attacks, that was extraordinarily painful. I also had an anxiety attack (post-partum) that felt like a heart attack. Such things are not pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/36 "2009-01-22T04:56:47Z")
> [@dre2xl](#): > > Well, I mean, when I have heartburn, I have chest pain right in the middle. Obviously I can’t go to the ER every time I have heartburn. How do you tell the difference between chest pain and heartburn? Heartburn is usually more like a burning feeling, but can also feel like there’s something stuck in your esophagus. It’s usually more centered, and a little lower. With a heart attack, you’ll have intense crushing chest pain, like an elephant is sitting on you. The pain will (usually, but not always) radiate down the left arm. Some people say they feel it radiating to their armpit but no further. Also, you’ll be sweating. Please don’t go to the walk-in clinic if you think it might be a heart attack. They’ll just have to call me to come pick your sorry ass up and run you to the ER. You’d be amazed at how often that happens. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/37 "2009-01-22T04:58:18Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > Sorry to hear about your cousin. > Unfortunately, sometimes heart problems do manifest as “heartburn” or “indigestion”, so I don’t think any doctor would actually make fun of a patient for getting “chest pain” or “heartburn” sensations checked out. > The patients they make fun of are mostly people who do stupid stuff (yes, including the classic “got something I was using for sexual gratification stuck in my rectum”) and the people who are pretty blatantly abusing the system (like the mom who called for an ambulance because her kid had an earache - and yes, that really did happen during one of my rotations in an emergency dept) They also make fun of the people with utterly bizarre but ultimately harmless problems. For example: In Band last year we had a formation near the end in a line where we did a horn flash (quick horns down/up) on the up my arms betrayed me and moved my trombone to the right… allowing me to whap myself in the forehead with the tuning slide. I run off the field in mild pain (I was close to the front) and my eyes closed (I was really dizzy and disorientated so I pretty much just bolted for “somewhere in front of me”) open my eyes and… surprise! My left eye is twitching uncontrollably! We decide to wait it off but around 3rd period the next day it’s STILL twitching so I leave school because my mom, the school nurse, and I decided a day and a half of twitching usually isn’t a good thing. We go to my doctor. Now mind you, I felt completely fine except my left eye was tired and I couldn’t see at 100%. So I’m sitting in his office with a big stupid grin on my face, eye twitching and he walks in, looks at me and almost laughs. He asks me what happened I tell him and it was all he could do to prevent a literal, real life rofl-ing. (I ended up being told to get an eye patch and come back in a week if it hadn’t stopped, bgut call immediately if I had any other head-trauma related problems. It ended up slowing the next day and stopping completely, except for a couple times over the next month where it would flutter for a second to a minute, but that’s completely stopped now). He could see I had a problem but I’ll be damned if he wasn’t making fun of me with the entire office immediately afterward… Anyway I hope you feel better, **Mighty\_Girl** , and oyu did the right thing by going in. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/38 "2009-01-22T05:11:20Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Heartburn is usually more like a burning feeling, but can also feel like there’s something stuck in your esophagus. It’s usually more centered, and a little lower. > With a heart attack, you’ll have intense crushing chest pain, like an elephant is sitting on you. The pain will (usually, but not always) radiate down the left arm. Some people say they feel it radiating to their armpit but no further. Also, you’ll be sweating. > > Please don’t go to the walk-in clinic if you think it might be a heart attack. They’ll just have to call me to come pick your sorry ass up and run you to the ER. You’d be amazed at how often that happens. Please know that these aren’t always the symptoms in women. Women’s symptoms are often less dramatic and include heartburn/abdominal pain. [mayo clinic](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack-symptoms/HB00054) This happened to a close friend in September- she had abdominal pain and was feeling unwell, and died later that day from a heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/39 "2009-01-22T05:12:37Z")
If they send you a survey form to fill out about your visit, like they do around here, let them know how you were treated. The administration would like to know that people are being treated poorly and being given the wrong message (to not come in when you’re having chest pain). ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339/40 "2009-01-22T05:31:17Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Please know that these aren’t always the symptoms in women. Women’s symptoms are often less dramatic and include heartburn/abdominal pain. [mayo clinic](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack-symptoms/HB00054) > > This happened to a close friend in September- she had abdominal pain and was feeling unwell, and died later that day from a heart attack. We’re screwed. Gotcha. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-the-patient-er-doctors-make-fun-of/482339.md?page=3)