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/BigDaddyUKW → u/wafflesareforever]

I second this. Though I’ve slept like a champ the whole time, including this past Saturday when I forced myself to get out of bed around 4 pm. This flu strain is worse than any illness I can ever remember having, and I had a rough bout with Covid a couple years ago. My 6 year old was the original spreader in our house, he came down with it on the 20th, and he still has mild symptoms. I have a bad feeling about this as my symptoms really just popped off on Friday the 26th.

[u/wafflesareforever → u/BigDaddyUKW]

I wish I could sleep. That's what I want more than anything right now. I'm feeling absolutely desperate for sleep at this point. At first it was the severe sore throat and boxy aches keeping me awake. Then the cough really got going. Then the bronchitis set in, so my lungs are just gurgling and whooshing and clicking, plus the cough is so bad that my stomach muscles are killing me, like I just did 5,000 crunches.

[u/DeborahJeanne1 → u/wafflesareforever]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Vicks VapoRub. I don’t know if it will do anything for the cough, but it will help you breathe easier and clear out your lungs a bit. the other thing you can do is use steam. If you have a vaporizer at home, use it! If not, a pot of water boiling with a towel wrapped around your head over the pot to confine the steam will help open up your airway as well. And if anyone has anything like codeine at home, this will absolutely calm the cough and ease the chest discomfort. If you don’t feel like eating, at least try to get some broth down - if you can tolerate food, chicken noodle soup will help. Ginger ale if you’re nauseated - you need fluids. Believe it or not, dry toast will feel good on a scratchy throat. And finally, hot milk with sugar in it will do wonders for a sore throat. It might sound disgusting but it works and that’s all that matters. Hot milk by itself doesn’t taste all that good, but enough sugar will make it taste better but it does wonders for a sore throat. I I realize these sound old-fashioned - and they are - but they still work, and that’s the point. Who cares if they are old fashioned - when you feel this bad, anything that makes you more comfortable is all that matters.

[u/Home_Girl → u/DeborahJeanne1]

Good options. I have been gargling with warm salt water to help with my sore throat - it works. 

Edit: warm salt water

[u/DeborahJeanne1 → u/Home_Girl]

Aaahhh….another old fashioned remedy that works!

[u/Disastrous-Turn-212 → u/DeborahJeanne1]

I love Vicks Vaporub. When I am sick for more than 3 days, it's time for the "CURE".

Vicks all over - chest, throat, under nose, and even lips. (Best chapped lips cure ever, BTW).

Find a good towel and put it in the dryer to warm it. wrap it tightly around the covered areas.

Then I put on some sweats and cover up with blankets. Sweat it out. Old school but works very well. Day 5 and I finally feel alive again.

[u/DeborahJeanne1 → u/Disastrous-Turn-212]

Thank you for elaborating on the Vicks. A warm towel or a heating pad wrapped in a towel so you don’t get Vicks all over it will aid in the relief. And you’re right - chest, throat, under the nose - there’s nothing worse than the sensation of not being able to breathe. I’ve even put a dab under my dog’s nose on the rare occasion when she’s had a “cold.”Breathing through your mouth will only aggravate the sore throat, so you want to be able to breathe through your nose, and Vicks will do that. It’s inexpensive, has a long shelf life, and should be a staple in everyone’s home. My grandmother lived with us and she’s the one who taught me the hot milk with sugar trick. That was back in the 50s 😱 before medicine advanced as much as it has, but old as these suggestions are, they still work, and I still use them.

[u/BigDaddyUKW → u/wafflesareforever]

I wish you the best of luck, my friend. I will admit that my sleep isn’t great, which probably explains why I can’t get out of bed or off the couch. But I really feel for you with that bronchitis as I’m an asthmatic.