Attention ER Physicians! (allergy, recalled, doctor, prescription)

[cekkk]

I really hope things have changed and my concern is no longer valid. Around 1970 my DW and I were strolling around Caesar's Palace waiting to see Elvis. Suddenly, she fell to the floor in convulsions. In the ER the doctor came out and insisted I tell him what drugs she'd taken, she was in bad shape. I responded, none we don't do drugs. He persisted and left quite angry.

Over a decade later I was taken to an ER in Washington DC, unconscious. I awoke to the physician insisting I'm in trouble and he needs to know what I've taken. Nothing was a n unacceptable answer.

Turns out my wife, who suffered from then undiagnosed MS, from which she died in her 30s, had decided to quit taking some of the meds her doctors had prescribed. Apparently, that, along with a day or two of free drinks, in a woman who rarely drank any alcohol, brought about her seizures.

Years after my incident I realized (don't recall how) that I had mixed one drink with Contact, or something similar, I took for allergies triggered my problem. It took a while to have it happen a second time because I only have three or four drinks a year. Never cared for the stuff.

Now, if those doctors had merely followed my denials by asking if we took prescription or OTC meds, there would have been a better outcome. In my wife's case, I didn't know she had quit, but could have named several drugs she was taking, chasing phantom problems. And I might well have thought about taking allergy medicine that day.

When people who have never even smoked pot and drank very little are accused of being druggies, especially while in duress, they. Might not think clearly. I didn't.

Been wanting to get this message out there for 35years! Social media is good for something after all!

[Flamingo13]

This really isn't the place....

[cekkk]

Health and Wellness? Perhaps you could direct me. I thought since this forum is read by lots of folks representing lots of fields, it might get forwarded to the right person or place.

Or did I miss your point?

[Luckyd609]

I feel I just wasted 3 minutes of my life reading that post.

[cekkk]

Oh. Guess how badly that make me feel. If you read that slowly, perhaps you might want to be more selective. Just wishing to be helpful.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

It must have been years since you were in an ER. They ALWAYS ask what meds you take.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

It must have been years since you were in an ER. They ALWAYS ask what meds you take.

Great! As I wrote, it was in the late sixties or early seventies, then years later, maybe '81. Once, I could, and did, assume it was the physician. But twice?

[Luckyd609]

Originally Posted by cekkk

Great! As I wrote, it was in the late sixties or early seventies, then years later, maybe '81. Once, I could, and did, assume it was the physician. But twice?

It is 2017 - you are writing about something that happened to you 36 years ago?

[Mikala43]

I've had trouble with ER doctors too with similar situations.

ER doctors are to make sure you are not going to die or parts are not going to fall off.... I learned not to let them bother me and rely on my own doctors.

I get your point, and it is frustrating.

[saibot]

So the problem is that the doctors asked what "drugs" you were taking, and you jumped to the conclusion that they meant "illegal drugs" and that you were a "druggie."

Well, yes, it probably would have been better if they had said "medications," but it also would have helped if you had recalled that "drug" is another word for "medication" (which you can buy at a drug store).