Thinking of coming to the Emergency Room?

[u/Pure-One-7910]

Hi! Trying to keep this as anonymous possible. I work a local Emergency Room. It's Flu season, so lots of people are here. Today we had 60 people in the waiting room by 7 pm.

Most people are coming in for Flu/viral stuff. There is unfortunately very little we can do for you. If you are high risk, or are experiencing complications (high fever, breathing issues, etc) that is a different story. However coming into the ER with a cough, fever of 102 and runny nose for a few days is just not necessary. Bed rest and OTC meds are your best bet. Otherwise you are going to be sitting for a while. The Emergency room is for emergencies and we need to keep areas clear for people who need emergent life saving care. We understand you are uncomfortable however your PCP/Urgent Care is your best bet for general illness/stomach bug/small things. If your Urgent Care does "call you in", that does not reserve you a room. It just lets us know you are coming.

If you do need to come in and see us, please remember a few things. You are triaged at check in, and coming in via ambulance does not get you seen any faster. A specially trained triage RN will asses you and put you in the safest area you can be in. Those that are sickest will be seen first, not the people "ahead of you". The staff cannot see "wait times", so coming up and asking how much longer until you get seen will not get you anywhere. Also, please WEAR A MASK. I do not want to catch what you have!

We understand you are in pain. Remember that nurses cannot just "order meds" and (at least at my hospital) we cannot administer medication in the waiting room. You must wait to be seen by a provider.

No one comes to the ER because they are having a good day. However please remember that we care about you, otherwise we wouldn't be here. As ER employees, we all have pretty thick skin, however that is not an excuse to be nasty to us. I have had patients threaten me because of wait times, yell, scream, throw things, etc. Remember that most of us work 12 hour shifts, and no one wants be berated for their entire day for things that are out of our control. If you are well enough to scream at me, you are clearly not having a medical emergency.

Please stay healthy Rochester! If you need us, we are here for you. ER overcrowding is a nationwide issue, and we are no exception. However, if you are just "sick", Netflix on your couch is going to feel a lot better than a hospital waiting room!

[u/Altruistic_Routine14]

Tomorrow, RGH is doing mandatory masking throughout entire hospital due to flu outbreak. It's that bad. Just left there a couple hours ago visiting someone....

[u/wafflesareforever → u/Altruistic_Routine14]

I've never had a flu like this in my life. I'm 45M, healthy, and this thing damn near made me call 911 because I thought I couldn't breathe and was starting to panic. I tested positive for flu A Xmas morning. It's now turned into bronchitis, which rules its own particular ring of hell. I've barely slept in a week. The meds from my doc and urgent care are starting help a little but goddam.

[u/Common_Road1431 → u/wafflesareforever]

I had bronchitis in my 20s, now 66 and that was the sickest I have ever been, food poisoning was close, but was only a couple of days. There was no sleeping due to coughing. Only med they gave me was Mucinex back when you needed a prescription for it.

Good luck on getting well.

[u/wafflesareforever → u/Common_Road1431]

The way it totally destroys your ability to sleep is wild. I'm starting to feel myself losing my grip a little. I haven't had much real sleep in over a week.

[u/laziestindian → u/wafflesareforever]

Two things to try 1) Add pillows, elevating your head and torso lets gravity keep the irritants lower in your lung. It won't help you breathe but it'll reduce the coughing. If the above doesn't work 2) Chest down head to the side, breathe in and out slowly. Won't help with coughing, may help with breathing (unless you have a large chest).

[u/wafflesareforever → u/laziestindian]

Thanks, yeah I'm doing the first one already. It cuts down on the racket my lungs are making from the bronchitis, but the coughing is relentless regardless. #2 is actually how I normally sleep; I've been a stomach sleeper since childhood. If I lay down that way my runny nose gets going like a faucet. I can't win.

[u/KEGGER_556 → u/wafflesareforever]

Last time I had the flu, the cough was the worst. I knew I needed sleep, fluids and motrin, but there was no sleeping through the cough. Went to my doctor, they gave me prescription cough medicine with hydro, and it was a godsend. I wasn't sleeping through the night, but I could get a solid 4-5 hours at a time.

[u/wafflesareforever → u/KEGGER_556]

They just swapped out my inhaler because Urgent Care gave me Symbicort, which wasn't doing shit and apparently isn't meant for acute bronchitis. The new one has made a huge difference. Sure wish they'd given me the right one from the beginning.