SaintCecelia
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2018
- Messages
- 56
A couple a weeks ago for the first time in my 47 years I ended up in the ER for mental health. I was treating my PTSD symptoms with Kratom, quit cold turkey, and WD/PTSD crisis hell broke loose. Currently back on track, treatment, and healing. However, there were major confidentiality issues that my family and I believe need to be evaluated by the hospital. I am posting this summary to get outside feedback before I send the survey back to the hospital. I am a survivor and hell cat when pushed, but no one going into a facility for help needs to be forced to survive the very thing paid to help?!!
When admitted I finally told the truth, flashbacks, and my struggle for the last year with suicidal thoughts. It was hard to watch my family but I know they were relieved. However, prior to going to the ER I called the triage nurse told her everything. She told me she would pull my file, talk to my husband, and off we went. Upon entrance to the ER there was a line. While waiting in line (which I thought was odd) two patients infront of me, receptionist looks at me said what r u here for? I live in a small community and have a senior graduating. I certainly do not need to blurt out ?oh I am in a PTSD/WD crisis and have suicidal thoughts?. So all I said was I have anxiety and sat down. Trying to hide my WD symptoms while waiting just made it worse. I thought about leaving, going to a bigger hospital but stayed. She called me up, told I had called the nurse and file was pulled, I have federal BCBS. She then ASSUMED I was a Vet and said ?you know there is a VA hospital here right?? I said I am not a Vet, then proceeded the wtf look and ?crickets?. So they triage me slap me on a bed in the hallway, people walking by, hours before I saw the doc, he did his assessment in the hallway for anyone walking by to hear, gave me meds, he handed me over to mental health. While in the hallway, mental health kept walking by never introduced herself. She finally stopped to perform a small assessment again infront of everyone, then informed me she was leaving and the next shift would handle me. Survivor kicked in, I said to the next shift bs this bs and guess what I got a room with proper treatment. While this maybe an on-going conflict, there has to be a better way. This is mild in comparison to what I?ve heard from others. I cannot help but think this is part of the stigma problem, part of why others do not seek help. So here I sit with my survey, my family angry and upset wanting their voice to be heard. Any experiences, ideas, or reflections please reply.
When admitted I finally told the truth, flashbacks, and my struggle for the last year with suicidal thoughts. It was hard to watch my family but I know they were relieved. However, prior to going to the ER I called the triage nurse told her everything. She told me she would pull my file, talk to my husband, and off we went. Upon entrance to the ER there was a line. While waiting in line (which I thought was odd) two patients infront of me, receptionist looks at me said what r u here for? I live in a small community and have a senior graduating. I certainly do not need to blurt out ?oh I am in a PTSD/WD crisis and have suicidal thoughts?. So all I said was I have anxiety and sat down. Trying to hide my WD symptoms while waiting just made it worse. I thought about leaving, going to a bigger hospital but stayed. She called me up, told I had called the nurse and file was pulled, I have federal BCBS. She then ASSUMED I was a Vet and said ?you know there is a VA hospital here right?? I said I am not a Vet, then proceeded the wtf look and ?crickets?. So they triage me slap me on a bed in the hallway, people walking by, hours before I saw the doc, he did his assessment in the hallway for anyone walking by to hear, gave me meds, he handed me over to mental health. While in the hallway, mental health kept walking by never introduced herself. She finally stopped to perform a small assessment again infront of everyone, then informed me she was leaving and the next shift would handle me. Survivor kicked in, I said to the next shift bs this bs and guess what I got a room with proper treatment. While this maybe an on-going conflict, there has to be a better way. This is mild in comparison to what I?ve heard from others. I cannot help but think this is part of the stigma problem, part of why others do not seek help. So here I sit with my survey, my family angry and upset wanting their voice to be heard. Any experiences, ideas, or reflections please reply.
