fRiDaY tHe 13tH

Spent Friday night, the 13th, in the ER with younger daughter who will forever be referred to as Potato Chip. In almost 5 years of suffering from chronic/daily migraine headaches - the result of a closed head injury from an auto accident - Friday night was the first time that we have gone to the ER. We called ahead to the big trauma center ER - long wait, our local ER is a total nightmare that some folks never recover from. So we drove into town (big town) to a smaller, private hospital with great service. Now, that is great service on a normal day. Remember, this IS Friday the 13th. We checked in, and were quickly taken back to the little curtained cubicle. Fast Track - great!! Then it started. Potato Chip was interviewed and we waitied. and we waited...and we waited. Finally, a doctor rushes into the curtain next door to us. I heard the frustration of the teen male next to us as he tried to explain to a doctor who didn't speak English that he couldn't "pee". He kept trying to explain his problem, and finally the doctor told him in broken English to go get a urine specimen by peeing into a cup. Now, we are in the cubicle right across from the bathroom and nurses station - PRIME LOCATION. Teen male goes into the bathroom - now, moans and groans, moans and groans. After about 10 minutes teen male comes out with a FULL CUP OF URINE!! During all of this there is a room (room #8) in view that doesn't have a curtain, but a door, walls and windows. Now it doesn't take us long to figure out that this is the room for those "going upstair" or getting Baker-Acted. Felix, very nicely dressed, very handsome (reminds me of Tony Dimera on Days of Our Lives) Cuban just cannot keep his gown on, or stay in the room. He is demanding the service that he is accustomed to, and when he doesn't get it he just keeps wandering off, getting lost, and the nurses are looking for him. Soon he is taken "upstairs". His room is quickly occupied by a young man accompanied by a policewoman. He comes in with two rolling suitcases - hmmm, and asks for dinner to be brought in, I didn't realize that we could have ordered in. We are still waiting for the non-English speaking doctor to drop by for a visit. The nurse goes in to interview the young man - who begins to tell her that he just wants to kill someone. Thinking that he is suicidal, she proceeds with the interview. - asking more questions about why he would want to hurt himself. Nooooo, he didn't want to hurt himself - he just wants to kill someone, well who? Oh, it doesn't matter - just needs to kill someone tonight. OK, so the 2 rolling suitcases are discreetly rolled over to the nurses' station. Potato Chip and Idecide if something starts going down, that we can hide under the bed. Headache is escalating. The doctor finally comes in to see us. PC is too sick to try and talk to the doctor. I start giving a little background, and tell him that she was at the Pain Clinic for an IV around noon, and that gave no relief. We were instructed by the on call doctor to go to the ER. "Ohhh, he says - pre-eclampsia?" Now, I know that is a pregnant term. "NOOOOO, she is not pregnant - migraine - MIGRAINE.. She needs something for the pain and nausea." all said while I am smacking my head for emphasis..."CATSCAN" he says. "NOOOO, just give her an injection to stop the pain." "OK, I write script, go home." Oh, great - that is just not going to work at all. I finally got the nurse who spoke and understood perfect english. She comes back with two injections - yes, thank you Lord that someone in this town speaks and understands english - especially in the ER - good grief , I was so frustrated - and then to top it off it IS Friday the 13th, remember this is a very small ER - the guy beside us - young, skinny guy wearing pants with all of the tags still on them hanging around his rear - He wants someone to bring him spaghetti and meatballs...meanwhile, back to room #8 - the young man has gotten too warm in his sweater and decides to take it off. Young man is a YOUNG GIRL!! Remember we can see and hear everything that is going on in here - so much for all of the privacy papers we had just signed!! hmmm...this girl is told the same thing - just stay calm, and we will be taking you "upstairs"......Now, everytime someone goes into this little bathroom - 5 feet in front of us - there is always moaning and groaning - I finally have to go in there - oh my gosh - no wonder everyone is moaning - it smells like someone has died in that little bathroom - died days ago....finally two injections later - we are RELEASED, leaving young man who can't pee waiting for his spaghetti and meatballs to arrive !?!, girl bartender who sliced her finger instead of the lime crying like a baby, gender questionable person who wants to kill someone before the nights over, emergency physician who doesn't communicate in english, the wonderful nurses of the night and we head home to quiet little suburb before the window of consciousness closes on Potato Chip in the back seat.