WTF ER Visit - Nurse LAUGHS at me at a TOP hospital in Maywood Illinois, Loyola University Hospital

[Justicekelly]

So I average 42-45,000 thanks to Rituximab for the last couple years. Not great but better than 9-15,000, my average before treatment.

I injured my ankle real bad. It was swollen like a tennis ball. Hurt real bad and people could hear my F-bombs for miles away. I went to the ER to check to make sure it was not fractured and most importantly check my bleeding.

I made sure I went to the ER at the hospital where I have been receiving treatments for my ITP since 2014, so they could have all the info. I made sure I told everyone at the ER who would and wouldn't listen that I have chronic ITP and that they need to check my platelet count.

They refused to listen and most of the staff did not know WTF I was saying. Most responded by saying ok but one nurse actually said "What's ITP?" This made me so frustrated and terrified.

They refused to give me a cat scan of my leg and only gave me regular x-rays. They refused to take my blood and check for my platelets.

After 4.5 hours in the waiting room, I insisted to talk to someone about my treatment. That maybe they are just not hearing me right. The nurse comes out and I explain ITP, how serious my injury is and that I could be bleeding to death out here. She began to laugh at me. I mean LAUGH at me. I said don't laugh at my illness or needs. ITP is a serious illness, not something to laugh at. I told her she should not be a nurse cause she lacks compassion. I also continued to explain that they are failing to treat me properly and I am in serious risk for internal bleeding. She just laughed again. I told her off and walked out. I did write emails to my Hematologist, keeping her up to date about what was going on. But it was 12 AM - 430 AM a time I am sure she is fast asleep.

And it does not stop here. I tried to call patient relations to report her and the situation and she kept answering my call and told me "I don't know what you want but you need to just go away" and hanging up on me. When I finally was patched directly to the head nurse, thanks to the compassionate switchboard operator at the hospital, She apologized but had no answers to why they failed to treat me correctly.

Everyone in the ER from the woman in check-in, intake nurse, laughing nurse and shockingly the doctor even did not know what ITP was or the proper procedures in an emergency. They did not know that I needed a CBC. They did not know I needed a cat scan to check for internal bleeding. They had no f'n clue. This was shocking, frustrating and scary as hell for me.

[clear67]

That is scary and shocking!

[Justicekelly in reply to clear67]

It was a nightmare!

[Kyriak51]

As a nurse I am ashamed at what passes as a “nurse”these days, my next call would have been to the hospital administrator advising him of the situation and a pending law suit; I guarantee they would have responded. I worked at Loyola and did not observe such unprofessional incompetent behavior. Hopefully you filed an official complaint, you need to advocate for yourself! Be well

[Justicekelly in reply to Kyriak51]

thank you! I know. I was shocked because Loyola is a good Hospital. I had a head injury a few years ago and that ER visit the staff/doctors/nurses were perfect.

[Justicekelly in reply to Kyriak51]

I did file a complaint, verbally to patient relations. I was told someone was going to call me back in 24/48 hours... No one has called yet.. it been almost a week since it happened.

[lsued]

So sorry you had to go thru that. It's frustrating enough to have this illness, to then have an ignorant laugh at you as if you were some lunatic.

[Justicekelly in reply to lsued]

Thanks, yeah it was a horrible experience.

[ssbanu]

Hi, it's really frustrating that even a doctor don't know what ITP is !!!! Medical personnel especially the doctors and nurses must know about this serious life threatening medical condition. In fact, it should be considered as an offence that doctors and nurses laugh at the patients, illness. There are many patients with chronic ITP throughout the world !!

[Justicekelly]

i felt emotionally offended, deeply. I was, and still am, terrified at the possibility that I was bleeding internally and after 4.5 hours of begging for medical assistance the nurse laughing at me just broke me. The stress was unmeasurable. I am still worried sick about it. I have a husband with Brain Cancer and a son with Autism, I did not need this added stress.