I ended up getting a heat stroke. I was extremely dehydrated and was staying in a hot tub for too long while it was hot outside. It was nighttime, but still hot. I have anti-migraine medication that states to not be in direct/artificial sunlight for too long. So, I think the overheating reacted with the medication which caused a severe reaction. I was fading in and out of consciousness. I could only say my fiance's name and "I love you". I was gasping for air. There was burning in the upper part of my body and my brain. I seriously felt like I was dying.

While this was going on, my fiance was holding me. We were with his family. His family was thinking I was having a panic attack or psychotic episode. (I have depression, anxiety, and bi-polar.) But, I KNEW it wasn't that. After a bit, I was able to get the words to explain what was happening and ask for an ambulance. My fiance was the only one who believed me and went through with my pleas to call the ambulance. Even while at the ambulance, I said my mouth was very dry and I needed water. I didn't get any. At the hospital, no one took me seriously. I only started to feel better after getting an IV full of water hooked up to me.

I was sent home even before I was feeling 100%. It hurt a lot. Knowing that I was just thrown out and that they didn't even bother to listen to me. What kind of people are they? Why are medical "professionals" like them allowed to work in the ER? What if I had died due to their negligence?

I'm traumatized beyond belief. I'm terrified of the same thing happening again. I do have therapists, but I need to wait a few days to see them. I have way below negative trust in ERs... I've had a few bad ER experiences, but this one takes the cake. And, no one in my fiance's family has bothered to ask if I'm okay. They are only bitching about him not making it to work today... because he stayed awake to make sure I was breathing when I slept last night.

I just want to cry. A lot of trust is broken. But... there's this feeling for my fiance that I've never felt before. I don't know what it is... Like, I'm thankful beyond words that he believed me and he took care of me. Is this unconditional love? I'm not sure...

the ER doctors stole money out of my wallet when I was there, so I don't have much trust for them either. they even had me sign a form to put it in their "safe" so it wouldn't get stolen, even though I wasn't in any state of mind to be signing forms, I could have been signing anything. I trust doctors generally, because my dad is one, but experiences like yours and mine don't paint the ER with a pretty picture :x

I'm really sorry you went through that. I've been an EMT for 8 years and I can explain for them. EMTs can't give anything to drink because you may need to be put under anesthesia and anything in your stomach could end up in your lungs. That goes for every single patient they see. Whether it's a broken foot to a stroke. Paramedics, which is a step above EMTs can give IV fluids but I'm not sure where you live and what their protocols are. Furthermore, we have to tell the nurses and doctors EVERYTHING. EMT's have lost their licenses because they gave someone water. It's crazy, trust me.

As for the ER staff, you were so dehydrated, that just giving you water to drink would be made you sicker because your cells were already filled with too much salt. You needed an IV. You think you are still thirsty when you are getting IV fluids but you really aren't. It's a trick your brain play on you. IV is the fastest way to get you re-hydrated. And the ER can only hold you so long before they either admit you or discharge you, which is why you were sent him. Assuming you're in the US, that's the problem with the health care system. It's a hurry up, treat and release because time = money. And it's wrong for people to be treated that way.

Were you hooked to a heart monitor? You would know because there would have been 6 stickers on your chest. If so, there is a nurse or an assistant that sits and watches all the monitors. That's their job for the day, so they would have seen your vitals drop and reacted very quick.

As for the panic attack, it was your body letting you know it was in a crash and burn mode due to the dehydration. Things got better when you brain got the fluids it needs.

Again, I'm really sorry you went through all that and I really hope you're feeling better. I hope I was able to answer your concerns and feel free to ping me with any other questions.

- Oh wow, now that is just the worst. I'm really sorry that you have thieves for staff. And yeah, people who aren't in their right state of mind shouldn't be allowed to sign forms. Like, I had to sign forms, but I have no memory of signing anything. I just saw a date in my handwriting and was very confused as to how the writing got there.

- Ah, that makes a lot more sense. Thank you for clearing things up! I wish the staff told me all of that, as it would have been a lot less fishy if they would have given me an explanation of things. But then again, they would have had to explain stuff over and over again considering my amnesia.

I was hooked up to a heart monitor but they left me alone. I saw my heart rate was at least 130 BPM the whole time.

I wasn't having a panic attack. I know when I'm having one as I had them frequently. I still have control over my body and my memories are in tact. This time, I lost control of the majority of my physical functions and I have very limited memory of that time frame. But, according to my fiance, I was talking and able to drink water. But, he had to hold me as I couldn't walk on my own. I can't recall any of this. It's all black.

I had a mini heat induced stroke 10 years ago. It wasn't as bad as this one, but bad enough to damage something in my brain. And, I'm prone to heat exhaustion. So, the fact that this happened is not a surprise. But, the fact that everyone but my fiance thinks I had a panic attack is frustrating.

OH MY! I'm so sorry about your heat stroke! I'll accept Tardis's explanation about why you didn't get water. Your fiance's family not so much.

- It's okay. ^^ I'm working through the aftermath, no matter how hard it is.

Your fiance's actions and your reaction to what he did tells me that you have found a good one. He might actually be THE ONE. ❤

However, I am not pleased with how his family reacted AT ALL. 😡 Especially when they scolded him for not coming to work, which was only because he was taking care of you. My first thought is that your fiance's family might not know the full details about those who have depression, anxiety, or bi-polar. Nevertheless, I don't think that was much of an excuse for their behavior. I most CERTAINLY recommend that your fiance's family get into some kind of classes that teach people about what you are suffering from.

I'm sorry about what happened to you as well. I hope you didn't have any credit cards in there....

I could have probably fought the signature if it was anything bad, pretty sure you can't sign anything when you're under the influence of anything. it was $11 or something like that, nothing bad, but it pissed me off and still does to this day.

I did but they left those, cash is much easier to steal and get away with I guess. it wasn't much but it pissed me off

D: Wow. I am so sorry you had to go through that. I think the no-water thing is fairly normal, but sadly it sounds like the staff were just assholes )= The other unfortunate truth is that women aren't treated as aggressively as men because we live in a sexist fucked up world.

You might want to file a complaint with the hospital or medical board, but beyond that I'm not sure there's a whole lot to do.

@ Tomorrow - I can't really afford to pay the ER's outrageous medical bill, so I don't think any medical board will listen to me. :x And, the same ER also did a shitty job with my fiance, who is male, so they just suck.

- I actually misunderstood my fiance about his family a bit. They weren't upset at him not working. It was them saying that his co-workers were upset at him not working. (His sister is his assistant manager.) The sister is also not good with emotional support at the slightest, so it's okay. Apparently, she gave me water to drink.

That's a major problem I have to the health care system in the US. A lack of communication. I always do my best to explain things to my patients and their families in simple terms so they understand. I don't make promises like, "Oh they'll be okay" but I'll explain and I will say I honestly don't know and tell them to express their concerns to a nurse or a doctor and not to take a simple answer.

I hope you are feeling better!

THIS. ABSOLUTELY. I once almost got dosed with contrast dye {iodine dye}- which there is a very good chance I am VIOLENTLY ALLERGIC TOO and only didn't because I asked the doc right before the procedure if it was iodine dye. This was DESPITE having WRITTEN IN "ALLERGIES: IODINE DYE". Because injecting an allergen that could result in anaphalactic shock into my spine might be a bad idea angry

=/ that really sucks... well, you can leave nasty online reviews.

UGH. That makes me angry too. I'm allergic to penicillin and sulfa. Several years ago, I had a really bad case of strep throat and my doctor gave me penicillin. I got the pharmacy feeling like death and they wouldn't fill the prescription and I had to call in and get a new one that wouldn't cover my body in hives and blister rashes. At least the pharmacist paid attention.

I've seen nurses glare and give nasty looks to patients when they remind them they are allergic to something. Its like "really? You're a nurse and you're giving a patient a hard time because you didn't pay attention?"

I just don't understand why it is so hard to communicate. I get they are busy but it's their job. A job in which they can very easily sued. That's one of my biggest fears, which is why I explain everything in simple terms and tell them not to take a simple answer