I followed the advice of my PCP and went to the Emergency Room at UPMC Chautauqua. I checked in and…read morestated that my Lipase was very high, and my PCP instructed me to go to the Emergency Room.
I was called into triage and asked about why I was there, as soon as I said Pancreatitis I was immediately asked about my drinking and asked if I was in withdrawal. I informed the nurse that I drink occasionally and mostly socially. She continued to ask further questions about alcohol and asked me to put my arms out in front of me to look at my hands. I told her several times that I had not had a drink for about 2 weeks.
While I was in Triage, I watched the providers dig through the charts and cases to "pick and choose" who they wanted to call in. I heard a provider state, "I'll take this one". There was no order, no first come first serve, and they did not pick the individuals who were worse off than others.
I returned to my seat in the Emergency Room and watched every single person in the waiting room, even those who came in after me; had already been called in to a room, even someone with a sore thumb, and someone with a sprain. After I sat in the waiting room alone for about a half hour, the receptionist came over to me and asked if I had been seen and I replied "no". She finally found a provider to call me in to go into a room. I had been waiting for at least 2 hours and was the very last person in the waiting room.
I was taken back to a room and changed into a gown. I am assuming that someone reviewed my labs earlier that day, they were taken at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital laboratory. I was given pain medication and waited for a provider to come to evaluate my condition. I had a friend come in to sit with me for a while and everything was fine during this time. A Dr. came in and asked me about my symptoms and what was going on. I was again asked about drinking. I informed the provider again that I had not had an alcoholic drink for about 2 weeks.
The Triage nurse then came in after I was given an IV port, she administered Thiamine through the port and stated that "drinkers" cannot retain Vitamin B1. I had not had any further blood work to verify that my Vitamin B1 was low. I had not yet realized what was coming for me during this hospital visit.
I was finally given pain medication by a kind male nurse. I was feeling better but, I was still nervous. My friend went out to my car and got my bag that I had packed and my bathrobe. I had my bag in my hand when Dr. Sappler came into the room. Dr. Sappler was explaining that I should go inpatient for my Pancreatitis. I was fidgeting with my bag as I was nervous. He asked my if I always fidget like that, I said, "yes, when I am nervous". My friend agreed and stated the same thing. I didn't realize that me being fidgety and having Pancreatitis, would cause me to be put on the WAS withdrawal scale. I had also admitted to the Triage nurse that I drink occasionally. I guess that was a very bad idea, and I will never be honest at a hospital again.
The Triage nurse, who wore a mask on her face, came back in and handed me Ativan and Clonidine, she stated that it would help me sleep. It was about 1:30 or 2 am by this time. I took the medications and I fell asleep. My friend had left a little before midnight. I fell asleep in the Emergency Room, they stated that they were waiting for a room for me to go to inpatient.
I was abruptly awoken at 4:30 am, a nurse with short blonde hair came in and started to yell at me to wake up. She stated that she was going to be my nurse for the next couple of hours. I was half asleep and scared, she startled me awake, she stated that I needed to give blood, for the first time that I was there. She started yelling at me while asking
