emergency room

My experience with the ER (which I know some countries call A&E) and migraine treatment has been a wild ride.

Back when my pain management was a lot more volatile (in terms of huge fluctuations in pain levels), going to the ER was always a go-to strategy for me. I became so well versed in how to explain my health history, even going as far as to tell them what my migraine “cocktail” was for breaking my current attack.

But in the past five years, I’ve actively avoided this tactic and suffered at home. Why? Because the fight for medication became harder. The bills piled up. The relief was temporary, and inevitably my migraine roared back. “The juice wasn’t worth the squeeze,” as they say.

So I’m curious: What’s been your experience? Has it been similar to mine?

#HemiplegicMigraine #Migraine #Fibromyalgia #Endometriosis #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #RareDisease #Disability #mightywithmigraine #EmergencyRoom

Have you ever been in an ambulance before? Were you the patient or did you ride along with a loved one? What was it like from an emotional, mental, and physical perspective?

We’d love to hear about your experience — the good, the harrowing, the stuff you haven’t told others. A few things you can think about:

☎️ What was it like to call emergency services?
🏥 Was your interaction with the paramedics comforting or traumatic?
🚑 What do you remember about the actual ride?

P.S. Your answer may be shared in an upcoming story on The Mighty.

#MentalHealth #SuicidalThoughts #Stroke #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #RareDisease #Caregiving #EmergencyRoom #CheckInWithMe

I made this graphic from a video that I made for TikTok. An ER doctor made a video expressing his frustration when people aren't happy to hear that tests didn't find anything wrong, resulting in many responses from the chronic illness community. I doubt the doctor was really think about us, in particular, when this video was made- probably more so the people that use the ER incorrectly when they should be going to an urgent care or primary physician (and I'm sure that this pandemic is making it harder to NOT vent, and do these kinds of things,) but this unveils another issue- insensitivity to chronic patients. So, whether this is an issue of a bad choice of venting, or a true misunderstanding of patients- the bottom line is that choosing to be a doctor or nurse gives you a level of responsibility that obligates you to take it seriously, and try not to weaken the confidence patients have in you. When you hold lives in your hands, you have to be more careful than others, in many ways. Watching what you put out in public is one of those ways. Having compassion for, and listening to your patients are also required. Chronic illnesses can have acute symptoms that require emergency treatment. We know our bodies, and usually try to avoid the ER if we can. We don't do it for fun, but to get help or relief. Sometimes our chronic pain flares severely & we can't wait to get into primary care & many urgent cares can't/won't use the medication we need for relief, so we have no choice but to turn to the ER. Sometimes, a complication of our illnesses happen that requires emergency care, but it's hard to see because of our chronic conditions. Don't write us off. For more, follow me or visit the link in my profile. #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #Fibromyalgia #MultipleSclerosis #Spoonie

I went to the #EmergencyRoom as directed by Telehealth & my ICU nurse friend & my doctor's receptionist, for overwhelming #Pain . I told them I was a 7.5 on the #PainScale - I was doubting myself at this point. I think it's a #fibroflare but I don't know, it's new acute pain on top of old #ChronicPain & it makes me want to do drastic things to stop it. I was put in a #COVID19 holding ward because I was short of breath from the drugs I was piling in & the exertion of getting out of the car. But they swabbed me for it & then cancelled the test. Anyway, I lay on a stretcher for some hours. I cried the whole time I was there. My mask was a bag of snot. They checked my heart. They took blood. There was no sign of #Infection , nor #Inflammation . I saw a kind #Doctor , he didn't want to interfere with the complex regime of #medications that my only doctor had me on. There was a mental health team on the floor that he sent in, they are setting me up with a #Psychiatrist , hopefully this week. (I have been waiting 4 years for a referral to be picked up.) And then he sent me home. I shook my head, but he reiterated his stance & I, not wanting to appear drug-seeking, despite having all my meds there, thanked him for his efforts & kindness & hobbled out crying, the same way I had come in. I was too foggy from pain & too upset, to ask him what I was supposed to do now? #Suicide #fallthroughthecracks