"Seeking Treatment in the ER"

In my opinion I have been treated horribly at every ER in the city (except Peter Lougheed) when I asked for care for my Chronic Migraines. I am a former RN, I can no longer work because of my Migraines. I found out quickly that if you asked for care for a Migraine, they seemingly assume you are seeking drugs or a drug addict. This broke my heart, because NO ONE should be treated the way I have. 

I had a necrotizing gum infection which destroyed all the gum tissue of my two back upper teeth on the right and all the tissue of my hard palate, down to the bone. 

After a few weeks of treatment, the infection spread to my outer right ear. There was a large area of exposed cartilage. I went to my family Doctor, who insisted I get IV antibiotic treatment immediately, as it could permanently deform my ear. I swore I would never go back to the ER. But I thought maybe because it’s a visible condition that I would be treated better. I was wrong. I went to South Health Campus ER first, the only thing I recall the physician said to me was this type of infection is usually only found in homeless people. 

That was it. No treatment. So I decided to try the ER at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary. While I was waiting to be seen, a doctor came in, I can’t remember if she even introduced herself. My husband was with me at the time. When she came in, she was doing something behind the me, she then without any warning, grabbed the outside of my ear that was infected to put in an otoscope, it was extremely painful. I told her to stop, that she was hurting me. She wouldn’t stop. My husband asked her to stop, she didn’t acknowledge him either. Then I was literally saved by the bell, as her pager went off as she was paged to go somewhere else. About 2 mins later, someone came in and told me I was discharged. It was the cleaning staff, they wanted to clean my bed for the next patient. I was stunned but at this point angry about the way I had been treated. I’m trying to save my ear!!! 

I told them that I refused to leave unless I get an order for antibiotics for 10 full days, not 7.  I at least got that. That saved my ear.  

I feel like one of the biggest contributing factors to the care I received was because of my Netcare profile that showed them all the medications I was taking. I feel like I was always treated differently after that. I had Chronic Migraines that were out of control, when I got to see the Neurologist, I had to trial many different medications. I also saw a Neuropsychiatrist to help optimize my ongoing issues with Depression and Anxiety. 

I had a prescription for a controlled substance, which I used only when my Migraine could not be controlled. It was my rescue medication. 

Thankfully we had an avenue to express our concerns. The fact is that Opioids work. 

When the term “Opioid Use Disorder” came out, I was shocked but not surprised. I think to use a medication, to require pain medication for acute or chronic pain is not a disorder. 

I feel like I have proven to my physician that I can use Opioids responsibly when I need them. In my opinion this is not a disorder, that is giving your patient proper care.  

I will never forget the ER physician that who's behaviour I felt was beyond inappropriate. 

Knowing the medication history of a patient is important, but I felt has led to a lot of judgement, people assuming things about you and treating you as less than human. I doubt I’m the only one that has experienced this. I swore I’d never go back to the ER and I never have.