This is what I wrote to the CEO of the hospital:
Here is the run down of what happened from the 14th backwards to what prompted me to seek medical attention.
Septermber 14 2011
8am
Shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, back pain and shoulder, jaw, shoulder blade pain. Throat pain. Dull ache in left side and extreme indigestion unresolved by OTC medications. Leg weakness, irritability and elevated heart rate with thumping in chest. Extreme nausea and feelings of being over heated. Forearms ached and burning sensation in wrists and hands. Finger tip numbness.
12pm
Saw Dr. XXXXXXXX in ER with list of symptoms and she refused to do blood work. Took short listen to heart and breathing. Did 10 sec EKG. Proceeded to dismiss my concerns and did not monitor heart rate for the duration of my ER stay. She proceeded to say these were all symptoms of cocaine use and asked me when I last used. Said I am too young to have a heart attack.
330pm
Elevated heart rate, burning sensation in ribs and in between ribs, jaw pain and left side of head pain. shortness of breath and dizziness. Weakness in legs. Intermittent coughing, fuzziness in chest. Lower back pain and hip pain.
9pm
Pounding feeling in chest, burning sensation across shoulders and shoulders blades, pain in jaw, neck, throat. Weakness in legs, shortness of breath, coughing attack, numbness in underside of arms. diziness and fullness in chest. Nausea. Lower back pain and hip pain. difficulty breathing or taking in deep breaths.
September 13 2011
Nausea, weakness in legs, burning sensation across shoulders and shoulder blades, diziness, pain in jaw, neck, ear and throat. Shortness of breath, difficulties getting around. Pain in forearms and wrists and arms.
September 12 2011 (lasted all day and most of night)
Shortness in breath, headache, dull throbbing ache in chest, left breast and ribs. Lower ribs, upper abs, indigestion and tingling and burning. Pain in jaw, neck throat, eat and shoulders\shoulder blades. Extreme, sudden onset of fatigue and gasping. Couldn't stay awake. tightness and pressure in chest and ribs. elevated heart rate, palpitations and "spasm" like feelings in chest. extreme shakiness and weakness. Slept all day and fell asleep at 11pm.
September 11 2011
Shortness of breath, headache, dull throbbing ache in chest, left ribs and breast. Pressure and tightness. Elevated heart rate. Felt like heart was ready to tear through the chest. Weakness and pain in the shoulders, shoulder blades, arms, wrists and hands. Neck, throat, ear pain (dull throb). gasping.
NOTE: These symptoms have been persisting off and on since January 2011. They had been mild until 4 months ago where a duration of about 3 days where the symptoms worsened and palpitations were the worse symptom. It literally felt like my heart was trying to vacate my chest. I decreased my caffiene intake from nearly 3 pots a day of coffee to two or three cups, eliminated energy drinks altogether and limited my soda intake to once or twice a week. This did lessen the symptoms to an extent and they returned to intermittent symptoms until September 11 2011 where another 3 days of extreme symptoms occured prompting me to seek medical advice on September 14th, 2011.
This is the list I provided Dr. XXXXXXXX that she removed from the file and handed back to me:
- chest tightness, pressure, soreness- light headed-ness, feeling faint (aka syncope)
- elevated heart rate, palpitations, fluttering, skipped heart beats
- pain in chest, radiates to shoulders, neck, under arms, jaw and ears. Between shoulder blades
- extreme and sudden fatigue
- nausea, indigestion not resolved by OTC medications
- sudden migraine headaches with aura (visual disturbances)
- inability to traverse stairs, walk across the room being completely winded
- new symptom as of 09-12-11 - pain above belly button to the left
- behind the breast (left) chest pain, dull ache
- lower rib and chest pain, dull ache
- shortness of breath both lasting hours and very sudden at times
- blood pressure drops on standing up with frequent occurances
Maternal history:
- anurism surgery
- high blood pressure and cholesterol
- 2 strokes
- recent hyperthyroidism discovery
Paternal history:
- valve defects
- cardiac disease
- congestive heart failure and death
According to the mayo clinic female heart attack symptoms can vary from textbook symptoms and male heart attack symptoms. Debra (the triage nurse who attended to me) confirmed this conclusion from the mayo clinic when I inquired if this was true. She also stated without me prompting that most women ignore these symptoms to the detriment of their health and do not seek medical attention. I am starting to wonder why us women ignore our health issues with doctors who treat us as if we are hysterical or "addicts" or hypochondriacs.
It is my belief that Dr. XXXXXXXX saw my tattoos and piercings and biased herself against me as an addict seeking narcotics from the ER and making up my symptoms. I have never been, nor will I ever be an addict of hard core or soft core illegal drugs. I am completely disappointed in the treatment I received and the cruelty that was doled out to me. I have already placed complaints with the Ministry of Health, yourself and the mayor of Elliot Lake. I am hoping that I do not need to place a complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. However, if I have to, I will do so.
Thank you for the link to the ministry, I contacted them as well to file a formal complaint. I have 6 tattoos and 6 piercings. They were visible (considering I had to change into a gown from the hospital). There is a very large population of perk heads and addicts in both my age group and below my age group here in town. We are perhaps 11500 people or less for population and half that is the addicts (to the point we have a state of the art rehab in town) and the other almost half are the seniors on pensions literally SELLING the perks and oxies to the other half. Then there is my group of common sense, non addict group who are slammed into the generalizations of the perk head group if we don't "look normal". I fully believe this woman biased me based on my appearance now that I've had time to think about the whole situation. I'm utterly raging warrior woman at this point. I'm so irate and angry that I was treated with such a cold and callous cruelty. I haven't bawled like that in public ever.
