I went to the Orem Community Hospital Emergency Room yesterday morning at the request of my dentist…read morebecause I have a severely infected tooth, a visibly huge and swollen cheek, and so much pain, OTC meds weren't touching it so I was forced to take my back pain meds (which still didn't take the pain away,) as well as a fever of 103.4 earlier in the morning. My dentist thought I should go to the ER for IV antibiotics for fear that my tooth infection had turned into something much more serious because the antibiotics he gave me weren't working.
The admitting person was a sweetheart as was the male nurse; both compassionate, empathetic, and kind. The doctor came in and made me feel foolish and idiotic for going to the ER for 'simple' tooth pain, actually pulling faces at the mention of a dentist sending someone to the ER, and rolling her eyes.
THEN, when she seemingly, finally decided to figure out exactly what was going on, she sat down in front of me and said, "Hon, tell me what is going on. How did this happen?" All I could think was, are you serious?? I mean look at my ginormous, pink cheek, lady!! She talked to me as if I were a child and was extremely condescending. I just felt stupid and wanted to leave and go to a different ER but I had an IV at that point (for blood tests, mind you, not antibiotics).
Then she sent me in for CT scans of my face to make certain that the infection hadn't spread anywhere dangerous, finally taking my issue seriously.
She didn't give me the IV antibiotics for the severe infection, she simply 'upped' my antibiotic (from the one the dentist gave me) to a stronger one. How hard would it have been to simply give me even just a injection of stronger antibiotics?? Or better still, through the IV that was already in my arm?!?
Then, she numbed my tooth to take away some of the pain, which it did, for about 30 minutes when the pain came back with a vengeance.
I feel like the doctor didn't like being told what to do from a measly dentist, or God forbid, me, and didn't do the antibiotics out of sheer stubbornness and pride.
No, I did not go to medical school, I am not a doctor and will not pretend to know how to heal someone in the way a doctor can. I do know my body and knew something was wrong. I also know empathy, which this doctor didn't seem to posses, nor, really, did the female nurse who just acted like it was an inconvenience for me to be there.
I went to this ER with the hopes of having some relief from my pain and severe infection. I left feeling stupid for going in the first place. There was no empathy, compassion, or even patience from this doctor. I know there are other doctors working at the Orem Community Hospital's ER, some with likely more empathy than was shown me, but I will *never* chance that again. I will drive the extra several miles to AF Hospital's ER where they are kind, respectful, and even humble enough to listen.