I went to an Indian restaurant in the mall and asked if the
curry had nuts in it and that I’m allergic. They said no so I tried it and it was fine. The salad, however, must have had
peanut oil in it b/c I immediately got an itchy mouth and swelled tongue. I
took a Benadryl and monitored it for a little bit. My breathing was fine so I went home but called my friend to
ask about a hospital just in case.
He didn’t answer, nor did anyone I called. It was our night off so everyone was out. Finally I got thru to him and by this
time I knew I needed the hospital. He told me where it was and to get to the
taxi stand at the train station and call him so his wife could tell the driver
where to go. I did that and by the
time I got there I was much worse.
My eyes were so swollen I couldn’t see and my breathing was excruciating
and the puffer didn’t do anything.
I had an epi-pen but it was pouring rain outside and had nowhere to do
it or the right mind to think about it.
Finally a taxi came and I called my friend and his wife gave
directions. I kept urging him to
drive faster and faster and pleading.
I was in a full panic.
We got the emergency ward and the only people there were admin for paying bills. I went up and frantically started saying I need help. He went for a nurse and she finally came. I was collapsing on the chairs. I called my friend again and his wife was trying to speak to the nurse. They kept asking what I ate, how much, when, etc. I fell to the floor and couldn't speak. Then I forced myself up and tried shouting to the phone “tell them I’m literally dying and need help” but they couldn’t hear and my speech was ruined b/c of the swollen tongue – it sounded guttural.
FINALLY after several minutes and me sobbing and thinking, “I’m going to die before they help me” they motioned they were going to move me. They picked me up and dragged me past TWO wheelchairs and I fell in front of them unable to get up. THEN they started hitting me and poking me and telling me to get up. “Get up, get up!” *hit hit hit* Finally a third one came and she grabbed me too and I made it down the hall and onto a bed.
Then they started asking me questions in Japanese I couldn’t understand. I kept saying “anaphylaxis, anaphylactic.” They asked what I ate, when, how much, etc. I became even more unresponsive and when I couldn’t answer they would laugh as if “Well what are we supposed to do with this gaijin?” Then my vision started to black out like a thick fog and I tried to tell them and I one of them understood but it didn’t make a difference. I kept thinking, “no oxygen, I need oxygen” but they didn’t give it to me. My neck was too sore to hold up and I was sobbing thinking that I was going to die there. I put my legs up and they laughed and moved the pillow b/c THAT’S not where my legs go, hahaha. As if that’s my fucking concern. I finally fell back and just started waiting for something to happen. They didn’t even know what my epi-pen was.
They started asking me if they can set up the IV, if they can give me medicine, if they can take off my glasses, if they can put sticky monitors on me. YES!!!! You idiots! Don’t ask just fucking do it! Finally they gave me oxygen just when I thought I was done. They came and asked the same questions again and the doctor didn’t know what to do. I had to write down “anaphylactic” and they looked it up.
I kept clawing at the nurses asking if I was going to die and I was just chanting, “I don’t want to die in Japan.” Over and over.
My manager showed up (my friend and co-worker called her b/c he couldn’t come.) And she spoke with them but b/c she didn’t know the situation she was not much use. Then they asked if they could move me. YES!
I was put into the cubicle area and was just lying there with my IV. Then I started convulsing and shaking and they came and asked if I was cold. They kept miming ‘cold.’ I couldn’t answer and they just kept checking my blood pressure. If you know I’m cold bring me a goddamn blanket! I had to force myself to ask for one after god knows how long. My breathing was getting better and after an hour or so they came to speak with my manager to tell them the fucking cost! She came back and told me I could go home now, stay for a couple hours, or stay over night, which would cost another $200. I snapped at her and said “How the can I go home if I’m not better!?” She said we’d wait another 2 hours and see and felt bad for upsetting me.
So we waited for about an hour and the idiot doctor came back. He explained that my breathing was 100% and I could leave. No monitoring, no caring if there’s a relapse, no worrying about keeping up my fluids. I told him I’m still swollen everywhere. My hands, face, tongue, legs, feet. My fingernails were blue. He said it’s not from anaphylaxis but from my eczema. Are you stupid?!!??!?! I told him it wasn’t and asked if he was going to give me anything. He said he COULD give me an anti-histaminic but it would make me sleepy. SO? I asked what it would do. “Maybe, it’ll help with your reaction and get rid of it but the swelling won’t leave for several days.” Is there anything you can do? “I can give you an anti-histaminic to get rid of the allergy but the swelling will stay.” He kept talking in circles and kept saying maybe, maybe, maybe. I told him “STOP saying maybe. Are you a doctor? What do you do in these situations?” He replied, “Yes I’m a doctor. Mmm…different patients.” I asked him to give it to me thru IV and he said he can give it to me in a pill. I said I can’t swallow and isn’t it faster with the IV. “I don’t think so.” I lost it! “The IV sends it directly to my bloodstream. A pill is time released.” He said, “I think it’ll only make a 10-15 minute difference.” “FINE, give me the fucking pill!”
I got my IV removed and got dressed and left after 3 fucking hours. I didn’t even get anyone to tell me what to do if it happens again, when to take the drug, what to expect, anything!
We got the emergency ward and the only people there were admin for paying bills. I went up and frantically started saying I need help. He went for a nurse and she finally came. I was collapsing on the chairs. I called my friend again and his wife was trying to speak to the nurse. They kept asking what I ate, how much, when, etc. I fell to the floor and couldn't speak. Then I forced myself up and tried shouting to the phone “tell them I’m literally dying and need help” but they couldn’t hear and my speech was ruined b/c of the swollen tongue – it sounded guttural.
FINALLY after several minutes and me sobbing and thinking, “I’m going to die before they help me” they motioned they were going to move me. They picked me up and dragged me past TWO wheelchairs and I fell in front of them unable to get up. THEN they started hitting me and poking me and telling me to get up. “Get up, get up!” *hit hit hit* Finally a third one came and she grabbed me too and I made it down the hall and onto a bed.
Then they started asking me questions in Japanese I couldn’t understand. I kept saying “anaphylaxis, anaphylactic.” They asked what I ate, when, how much, etc. I became even more unresponsive and when I couldn’t answer they would laugh as if “Well what are we supposed to do with this gaijin?” Then my vision started to black out like a thick fog and I tried to tell them and I one of them understood but it didn’t make a difference. I kept thinking, “no oxygen, I need oxygen” but they didn’t give it to me. My neck was too sore to hold up and I was sobbing thinking that I was going to die there. I put my legs up and they laughed and moved the pillow b/c THAT’S not where my legs go, hahaha. As if that’s my fucking concern. I finally fell back and just started waiting for something to happen. They didn’t even know what my epi-pen was.
They started asking me if they can set up the IV, if they can give me medicine, if they can take off my glasses, if they can put sticky monitors on me. YES!!!! You idiots! Don’t ask just fucking do it! Finally they gave me oxygen just when I thought I was done. They came and asked the same questions again and the doctor didn’t know what to do. I had to write down “anaphylactic” and they looked it up.
I kept clawing at the nurses asking if I was going to die and I was just chanting, “I don’t want to die in Japan.” Over and over.
My manager showed up (my friend and co-worker called her b/c he couldn’t come.) And she spoke with them but b/c she didn’t know the situation she was not much use. Then they asked if they could move me. YES!
I was put into the cubicle area and was just lying there with my IV. Then I started convulsing and shaking and they came and asked if I was cold. They kept miming ‘cold.’ I couldn’t answer and they just kept checking my blood pressure. If you know I’m cold bring me a goddamn blanket! I had to force myself to ask for one after god knows how long. My breathing was getting better and after an hour or so they came to speak with my manager to tell them the fucking cost! She came back and told me I could go home now, stay for a couple hours, or stay over night, which would cost another $200. I snapped at her and said “How the can I go home if I’m not better!?” She said we’d wait another 2 hours and see and felt bad for upsetting me.
So we waited for about an hour and the idiot doctor came back. He explained that my breathing was 100% and I could leave. No monitoring, no caring if there’s a relapse, no worrying about keeping up my fluids. I told him I’m still swollen everywhere. My hands, face, tongue, legs, feet. My fingernails were blue. He said it’s not from anaphylaxis but from my eczema. Are you stupid?!!??!?! I told him it wasn’t and asked if he was going to give me anything. He said he COULD give me an anti-histaminic but it would make me sleepy. SO? I asked what it would do. “Maybe, it’ll help with your reaction and get rid of it but the swelling won’t leave for several days.” Is there anything you can do? “I can give you an anti-histaminic to get rid of the allergy but the swelling will stay.” He kept talking in circles and kept saying maybe, maybe, maybe. I told him “STOP saying maybe. Are you a doctor? What do you do in these situations?” He replied, “Yes I’m a doctor. Mmm…different patients.” I asked him to give it to me thru IV and he said he can give it to me in a pill. I said I can’t swallow and isn’t it faster with the IV. “I don’t think so.” I lost it! “The IV sends it directly to my bloodstream. A pill is time released.” He said, “I think it’ll only make a 10-15 minute difference.” “FINE, give me the fucking pill!”
I got my IV removed and got dressed and left after 3 fucking hours. I didn’t even get anyone to tell me what to do if it happens again, when to take the drug, what to expect, anything!
I went with my manager to fill the prescription and took the
subway home. So now I’m recovering. I’m shaky, nauseous, upset stomach,
headache, muscle aches, can’t climb a flight of stairs without getting winded,
feeling dizzy, and having my heart start racing. My eyes are still swollen and when I look down I can see my
under eyes.
So that was my experience and here’s my fucking rant! If someone comes into your hospital clearly unable to breathe, is incoherent, can’t stand, is sobbing - it doesn’t matter if you can understand them or not: they need care. I even gave them my foreigner card and health card! I understand they need to get information so they know what to treat but even with the information they still didn’t give me epi or oxygen. I can’t be the only person in my city to have this reaction! Impossible! I was terrified and sobbing and just thinking “I’m going to die b/c they won’t stop talking and won’t treat me and give me basic care and I’m going to die here!”
And who they hell hits someone when they’ve fallen. You have TWO fucking wheelchairs behind you! And don’t ask to remove my glasses, take my purse and jacket out from under my back where I collapsed on the bed.
I was swollen everywhere and they didn’t remove my watch which was biting into my skin, my boots, my bra, my jeggings, nothing. I had to fumble and struggle through my convulsions to undo my own bra and my manager came and helped.
What doctor says maybe? My manager said they even say that to locals. Take responsibility for your job and do it! How is it possible that I know more about IVs and health care than 3 nurses and 2 doctors?
So that was my experience and here’s my fucking rant! If someone comes into your hospital clearly unable to breathe, is incoherent, can’t stand, is sobbing - it doesn’t matter if you can understand them or not: they need care. I even gave them my foreigner card and health card! I understand they need to get information so they know what to treat but even with the information they still didn’t give me epi or oxygen. I can’t be the only person in my city to have this reaction! Impossible! I was terrified and sobbing and just thinking “I’m going to die b/c they won’t stop talking and won’t treat me and give me basic care and I’m going to die here!”
And who they hell hits someone when they’ve fallen. You have TWO fucking wheelchairs behind you! And don’t ask to remove my glasses, take my purse and jacket out from under my back where I collapsed on the bed.
I was swollen everywhere and they didn’t remove my watch which was biting into my skin, my boots, my bra, my jeggings, nothing. I had to fumble and struggle through my convulsions to undo my own bra and my manager came and helped.
What doctor says maybe? My manager said they even say that to locals. Take responsibility for your job and do it! How is it possible that I know more about IVs and health care than 3 nurses and 2 doctors?
Yes, I’m mad and I should be! Their lack of care and knowledge was deplorable and inexcusable. I can’t believe I was subjected to
hitting, poking, yelling. I can’t believe I had to explain the IV to the doctor
who said it was the same as taking a pill. I can’t believe the ‘maybe, maybe, maybe.” I can’t believe no overnight monitoring
or continued fluids or explanations.
My manager said it’s not common for patients to question doctors
there. I don’t care! I needed info
and I wasn’t getting it. For all
the good the questioning did I might as well not have even wasted my precious
oxygen.
This experience was terrifying and I can’t close my eyes without thinking or seeing it all over again. My reaction time becomes less and less and the symptoms worse and worse each time this happens. When I started blacking out from lack of oxygen I knew this was the worst it’s ever been and that I had maybe 5 minutes. If this happens again who knows how long I’ll have and I won’t be as lucky as I was this time having my friend with a Japanese wife and medical staff who speaks minimal English. Although the doctor did speak pretty well he was just uninformed and useless.
What did I learn? I’m going to write a sheet of info with my name and what my symptoms are and what they can do without asking for permission. It will explain the severity and have emergency contacts and be translated into Japanese.
I would love to say this was an isolated incident but I notice that everywhere people are constantly in the dark about what should happen or be done or needs to be done. This is mainly b/c things are not questioned and taken as they are given. It also takes a LONG time to say anything and “maybe” is a common word in any situation. In an emergency it shouldn’t be used. You’re a doctor – fucking act like it. I can only hope to god this won’t happen again and if it does the letter might help. But they’ll probably need to verify my identity and source of the letter and whether they can read it without my verbal consent and signature.
This experience was terrifying and I can’t close my eyes without thinking or seeing it all over again. My reaction time becomes less and less and the symptoms worse and worse each time this happens. When I started blacking out from lack of oxygen I knew this was the worst it’s ever been and that I had maybe 5 minutes. If this happens again who knows how long I’ll have and I won’t be as lucky as I was this time having my friend with a Japanese wife and medical staff who speaks minimal English. Although the doctor did speak pretty well he was just uninformed and useless.
What did I learn? I’m going to write a sheet of info with my name and what my symptoms are and what they can do without asking for permission. It will explain the severity and have emergency contacts and be translated into Japanese.
I would love to say this was an isolated incident but I notice that everywhere people are constantly in the dark about what should happen or be done or needs to be done. This is mainly b/c things are not questioned and taken as they are given. It also takes a LONG time to say anything and “maybe” is a common word in any situation. In an emergency it shouldn’t be used. You’re a doctor – fucking act like it. I can only hope to god this won’t happen again and if it does the letter might help. But they’ll probably need to verify my identity and source of the letter and whether they can read it without my verbal consent and signature.
