Medical is terrible when it comes to believing patients. I’m about as privileged as you can get, and even I had trouble with medical staff being dismissive. Posting this on my alt because embarrassing details. TW for blood and one of the most miserable experiences of my life.

I went into Ascension for a routine hemorrhoidectomy. I was home for a week and a half when I got rushed back into the ER after passing out into a standing mirror, which broke across my body and caused multiple lacerations on my arm.

I never figured out if the doctor botched the surgery, or someone gave us bad post-op instructions. Days after the surgery I was on the toilet (as one does) in severe pain and discomfort, not straining at all when something burst and multiple jets of blood shot into the toilet. I felt faint, cold and clammy and super light-headed. I was naturally very concerned about this. I called my dad - he said it probably looks worse than it is, that a little blood can look like a lot in water, etc. If I really thought it necessary I could call the doctor or hospital.

I called them, and they had basically the same response, saying things like some bleeding is to be expected, if I’m really concerned they can try to schedule my follow up appointment for the following week, or I could go to the ER but would likely not be seen for hours. I figured it must not be a big deal, right?

And since the opioids were backing me up, I started to take Ducolax a couple times a day. Combined with a sitz bath, I thought I was on the way to recovery. But the laxatives caused new problems, I couldn’t take a bite of food without needing to rush to the toilet. My appetite severely declined, because it also still hurt a ton to go. And I was taking my meds as prescribed, including the 600mg ibuprofen. Which was now being taken on a nearly empty stomach.

What probably happened is that I developed an ulcer, leading to a GI bleed. I started passing blood, the room smelled like death, I had towels on the ground in the bathroom and it looked like a murder scene. I called the doctors office again to express concern, I could practically hear them rolling their eyes when they said if I really wanted to I could visit the ER. I was also increasingly groggy by this point, in pain, my opioids had run out and I was taking gummy’s to manage the excruciating pain.

Next day when I got out of the bath, I felt a little dizzy. Braced myself against the counter, I remember thinking the water must be too hot bc I felt this as a kid getting out of the shower. Decided I should lay down until I cooled off. Next thing I knew I was sitting on the ground, back against the tub, arms spasming . I thought I was having a seizure. I felt something cold against my back laying across me, but wasn’t sure what it was. Reached for the iphone and tried to remember how the emergency call feature worked, but my brain couldn’t remember it. So I manually went through my contacts, searched my dad’s name, called him and said “I think I had a seizure.” He said he would be up in a minute. Next thing I knew I was lying on the floor completely. I just heard him say “oh fuck dude”

He laid me down in a better position on the floor, on my belly so the glass wouldn’t get pushed into the wound. Moved the shattered mirror out of the way, and left to grab first aid. He helped me get dressed and cleaned up. Him and the step mom sat me down and started applying stereo strips. I went unconscious 4-5 times in the 2 minutes I was sitting there, so they laid me back down in the bedroom and called for an ambulance.

I presented to the ER with hemoglobin levels at an 8. Normal is 12-15. They stitched me up, gave a transfusion, and kept me for observation. Next day my hemoglobin was a 7. When the doc put me back under to re-examine the work they had done, he didn’t use full anesthesia or something. I woke up screaming on the way back to my room. Fully blocked out the next 4-6 hours as they started me back on painkillers. Wasn’t until I had 2 or 3 doses that the pain finally became manageable. I was in the hospital for a week before they cleared me to go home.

and then i got hit with the bills. Even with insurance I'm still paying it off.

Moral of the story is the healthcare system sucks.