Non disabled people see the ER as a magical place you go when you’re suffering.
They believe they will be “fixed” and sent home feeling better than before.
People like me know it’s not true. We mourn the loss of the innocence we had when we too believed the hospital was safe 🧵
They believe they will be “fixed” and sent home feeling better than before.
People like me know it’s not true. We mourn the loss of the innocence we had when we too believed the hospital was safe 🧵
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I literally spent 9 months in bed. I couldn't go to the bathroom without help. BUT I'm one of the fortunate ones because that part ended for me. However, I was left dealing with POTS & MCAS.
Some of my dear friends (most are on Bsky) helped me survive the 9 months in bed.
Thanks, guys 💕
@drclareharris.bsky.social @joneson.bsky.social @rosiechooseshope.bsky.social @wendypa.bsky.social @dobieblue.bsky.social
Covid is a novel virus & we are still trying different things to treat Long Covid with varying levels of success.
I’m working on future article about setting expectations for the ER - if you have spoons maybe we should connect!
Very hard on a person with energy limiting conditions
I will only go if unconscious, seriously injured, or severe pain not explained by my normal symptoms.
This is why it took 5 days to go with a blocked kidney stone. Similar pain to usual back pain, so eventually called GP, who sent me to A&E (ER).
A parade of bad rxs, erroneous treatments, lost paperwork which kept her on a ventilator she didn't need, misdiagnoses, incorrect doses, and being ignored, all causing her to come close to losing her life.
https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/climate-change-fuels-african-floods-that-hit-harder-in-vulnerable-regions/
The ER for a lot of poor folks is the only place they get healthcare and is a last resort. They know the wait times are God awful and they aren’t prioritized but ignored.
Who are the ableds that think it’s “a magical place to go when you’re suffering?”
So many people that can't find GPs or appointments when needed. Another issues is getting in to see a specialist when needed. It can take MONTHS. Can't imagine how much worse this is for the disabled..
We need actual healthcare. The lack of it has led my mom to be so miserable for years now. Thank you so much for sharing this 💜
I don't know how many non disabled people have bitched me out because I fight when people force me to go to the ER.
Obviously it’s not “all”… but if you live with disability long enough a great many people will try & force you to ER and judge you for not going
If you don’t agree - you’re welcome to just scroll by.
It is not a magical place, even if we want it to be.
They’re busy, full of sick people, staff are overworked and often burned out and they can be a sensory nightmare.
Ever spent 2 days on an ER gurney? You will know what I mean. /2
You may have good days and bad days - but most of us exist at a level of suffering that would send a healthy person to the ER. We just have to adapt to it. /3
They go expecting relief. Reassurance. They expect to be made “better” /4
Their main goal is to deal with acute & life threatening issues. If you break a bone or have a heart attack - they’re fab
If you feel “funny” from chronic illness? Not so much /5
When you’re finally seen the goal is not to make you “all better”… it’s to ensure you’re not dying in the next 24 hours. It’s to ensure you’re “relatively stable” /7
I just went through six horrible days at home, some of it could have been mitigated at the ER, but it would have meant another $10k or so I just don't have. I'm not qualified for any other assistance yet.
So if I can hold out another 3 weeks and go January 1st, it makes a huge difference.
I was half right in that they nearly accidentally killed me🤷🏼♂️
People over fifty are fairly likely to die of pneumonia and RSV, because ERs won’t treat upper respiratory conditions.
Which of course just compounds our trauma.