Unfiltered Story #106958
While cleaning a route for climbing, some rocks came loose and hit my foot. I was a few hours from the nearest town, and about 6 from the nearest hospital. Because the pain in managable, I just lace my boots up and get a ride to the hospital a few days later. I will admit to looking more than a little scruffy at this point, and bathing hasn’t exactly been a common occurrence over the past few months due to lack of facilities.
Nurse: Why are you here today?
Me: I think I broke my foot.
Nurse: Why do you think that?
Me: Around 45 pounds of rocks fell on it a few days back, and I can move one of the bones around.
Nurse: *rolls her eyes* Are you sure that’s not just a joint? If you broke something a few days ago, you would have come in a few days ago.
Me: Well, it wasn’t really an option because I was two hours outside of (small, rural town) and had to wait to get a ride to here. Plus, it’s really swollen and I don’t think the arch of my foot has a joint in it.
Nurse: If you want pain meds, just admit it. I’m not wasting time on a room for you if you’re just looking for pills.
Me: I haven’t asked for any medications at all, and I just want an x-ray of my foot.
Nurse: No. You clearly want drugs. I’m not wasting time on you anymore. Just leave. Try the methadone clinic across the street.
Me: No. I am not leaving until someone actually examines my foot!
Nurse: *rolls eyes agains and motions to the security guard* Listen, if you won’t leave, we’ll have to escort you out.
Me: Just have someone actually look at my foot! I don’t want pills, I don’t want a room, just have an actual doctor look at my damn foot!
The security guard looks at me and the nurse.
Nurse: Get her out of here, she’s a junkie.
Guard: *looking confused* Has she asked for pills? Or been violent to you? Because I haven’t seen her threaten you, [Nurse]. I don’t see why she needs to leave before seeing a doctor.
Nurse: *yells like an angsty teen movie and stomps away*
The nurse returns a few minutes later, dragging a doctor by the sleeve.
Nurse: See? This is the hobo. She claims she broke her foot days ago and just now came in for it. She’s clearly looking for drugs or a place to sleep.
Doctor: Have you actually looked at her foot yet, [Nurse]?
Nurse: No! She’s gross and clearly faking it! She doesn’t need treatment, she needs a f****** job!
Doctor: Let me see your foot, ma’am.
I take off my boot and sock. Apparently one of the bones has moved around and it’s now visibly poking up.
Doctor: [Nurse], get out of here. Her foot is clearly broken. Go find something else to do, instead of your asinine crusade against people who you don’t like.
I get my foot x-rayed and get a boot for it. I broke it in five places and the doctor said I was lucky to not have caused permanent damage by not getting it set right away. The nurse had to send me an apology letter for her behavior, and I learned to shower and look nicer before going to a hospital!