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5952537 tn?1378326194

tramatic injuries and mental health

I have recently become acutely aware of the stigma that goes hand in hand with any physical injury which requires hospital treatment and having a long term mental illness! yesterday i took a hit to the ribs hard when i stood too close to the baseball/ batter person and by last evening i had a black and purple bruise on my ribs, swelling and symptoms hindering my breathing easily.
I decided to go to the hospital after much debate with various family and friends. However, I was sort of aware of the prejudicial treatment that would happen from disclosing my mental illness, i chose NOT to disclose my mental illness but unfortunately when the doctor came to examine me, he saw the scars from previous, long ago cutting incidents and i was then forced to explain. the conversation moved from pain, and my injury to issues surrounding my mental condition. i was then moved from a bed to rapid assessment, where i sat with other patients, and by proximity i would hear these "normal patients talking to the doctor and how they were responding. almost every person who presented with pain, was offered some form of relief but when my turn came around, i was told it's just a little bruise and i just need some ice and Advil?!
(i did know that the doctor was at the very least, underwhelming my bruised ribs because my father is a paramedic and ANY direct blow to the ribs that caused the black/purple bruising that day, along with the hurting to breath take up to 8 weeks too heal if nothing is fractured, and you are usual offered some form of pain management for the short term).

well i was given advice to take Advil and ice it and it would be better in 3 days! i am in terrible pain  and every breath is a severe pain, i need pain management of some kind just to do daily tasks and i don't have any idea what i should do?? i don't have a family doctor and i don't really want to go back to any hospital and be there 5-6 hours with the same result. if anyone can give me some info on how or what i am to do or say to lessen my chances of being treated  differently, please let me know. thanks
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Avatar universal
Honey, I am sorry you are hurting so bad after that incident. May I ask why you don't have a family doctor?

Regardless, what I would suggest is to have your father (or mom, or other family member) make an appointment with his/her family doctor to get you looked at. I'm not sure how old you are but when my son needed medical care way after he was too old for the pediatrician, that's what I did, made him an appointment with my family doc and also accompanied him to the appointment itself. Another idea, rather than going to the ER, maybe try an urgent care facility.

I wish you the best of luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well yes fractured ribs are painful and do take time to heal. My son fractured all of his ribs along with other bones in his body due to a fall.

All he could do is move SLOW and let them heal. He used  ibuprofen 800 (prescribed) and that worked real well for his pain. However he was given prescription (7 days worth) for hydro, but like I said he had other severe injuries. He was hospitalized for 5 days.

We also used a ten unit in the area. It did take about 6-8 weeks for all his fractures to heal, but they did. He did have to go to PT due to his fractured pelvis....

But take it slow and let them heal....It may not seem like they will, but they will..

Helpful - 0
5952537 tn?1378326194
Thanks,
I don't have a family doctor because every time i have gotten one to accept me that is taking new patients and make the first set up appointment with them, i either get a call before that appt. or after they get my file from my psychiatrist they are all of a sudden unable to accept any new patients. this has happened 4 times in 2 years. my psychiatrist even called a couple of these family doctors on my behalf to find out the real story and hopefully make the doctor more comfortable taking me on  but it seems when they get my chart and record, it is 3 folders full and i am only 25 yrs. my mental health doctor found out in a round about way that basically this file with all the mental issues scares them away. i do have a referral to a family doctor that has been now set up in a hospital ONLY for people who are mentally ill and need a doctor. so it is not just happening to me apparently. don't know what it's like in USA medical system but in Canada, our health care is free (the province pays) but because Canadians have a universal health care system set up by province's in Canada, it means that no matter where i go for ANY type of treatment, emergency, urgent care, or any other health care provider, makes it totally impossible to go else where to get a second unbiased opinion or to go to a new health care place and the place not to know my previous hospital visits, tests, complaints etc
Helpful - 0
5952537 tn?1378326194
I am not worried about them healing but I have a 5 year old kid and everything i do is causing so much pain that i can't function period. that is not acceptable. i never wanted a long term pain killer, but enough to get me through a week, at least as i am unable to sleep AT ALL. this happened within the last 48 hours and i have to sleep on my side due to epilepsy and asthma. so i have to switch sides during the night, or i get cramped up but attempting to lay on the ribs that are injured is like sharp ice picks going through my chest.

thank you for the support:)
Helpful - 0
5952537 tn?1378326194
yes, education you would assume would be the answer butt depending on the mental illness you have, the stigma attached is extremely hard to break free from. kind of like the saying "first impressions last a life time"
Helpful - 0
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