I have not been confident in my local emergency department to care for me, due to dozens of terrible experiences. Am I mad at them? No. Is it their fault? Not really. This ER is 2.3 miles from my home. I can be upset or I can do something to help myself and others. Thanks to Dysautonomia International, I have access to educational printouts for physicians. I have dropped off information to the ER director and plan to follow up with a call today since he was unavailable.
I want the entire staff to be aware of medical issues that can present themselves as anxiety. Please, rule out other possibilities! Dysautonomia does not show up in standard blood work, and it is particularly common in young women, who are often dismissed and labeled as simply having anxiety. There are many causes for this. My underlying condition is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Many ERs focus on just one complaint, while other issues—often just as important—get overlooked, which could help solve the bigger picture.
Times are changing. I am joining the medical field as soon as I can and advocating for a new approach to healthcare. This is my ER, and I refuse to be afraid of coming here, should I find myself in a life-or-death situation, simply because of the lack of knowledge surrounding invisible illnesses. Learn my name. Set aside your ego and let me help teach you.
