My Terrifying, Horrible, Eye Opening, Overseas Crisis!!

So, this past Christmas (2010) I went on vacation with my family to Trinidad. I had a BALL, as always when I go HOME! This time we stayed for 2 whole weeks, so it really felt like a vacation. Anyway, Christmas Eve I wasn't feeling well. I woke up with some pain, but nothing I wasn't used to handling on my own. I came prepared (so I thought), had ALL MY NARCOTICS  with me; you name it, I had it. From oxycontin and percocet to motrin and tylenol with codeine (which does nothing for me), but I had it with me, just in case. 

I started my pain management like normal, taking 1 percocet every two hours until my pain subsided. Well, it didn't, it only got worse, so I moved on to oxycontin. After a few hours it only got worse, so bad I was crying (people that know me well, know that I'm not a cryer) because my pain was unbearable. So my parents at this point are concerned because I can usually handle a pain crisis at home. In the states (back home) I don't go to the ER unless I have Acute Chest Syndrome or some type of infection.

My Mom asked me did I feel like I needed to go to the hospital, I told her yes, I wanted to say "HELL YEA, What you think?"; but it's my Mom, sooooo....I calmly told her, yes. She was concerned because she wasn't sure how the healthcare in Trinidad was since she hasn't lived there for years, obviously.

My Mom called my Aunt, who wanted to take me to her Private Doctor, but he said to take me to the local hospital. So my Aunt called the ambulance, they arrived quickly.......and the experience begun!!!

Ambulance Man: whats wrong?

My Mom: She's having a Sickle Cell Crisis

Ambulance Man: A what?

Me: A crisis

Ambulance Man: Mam, you have to ride in the front.

My Mom: Ok, but do you understand whats going on with my daughter

Ambulance Man: She'll be ok

He puts me in the back of the Ambulance, and begins asking me questions, like normal (so I thought).

Ambulance Man:When did you get Sickle Cell?

Me: HUH?

Ambulance Man: How long have you had Sickle Cell?

Me: *Blank Stare*.....You playing, right? I was born with it, it's GENETIC!!!

Ambulance Man: Ohhhhh ok

Me: Oh Lawwwwwdddd!!!!

He gave me some oxygen and I was relieved...he stopped asking me questions

Now onto the doctor. I reach the hospital and it was a sight, it was more like a jail cell than hospital. Bars on the windows, guards everywhere; did yall bring me to the right place?

The Doc came out, asked what was going on, I told him. He told me I didn't "look" like I have Sickle Cell, so I was annoyed with that. Then he asked me about the meds I usually take, I told him morphine and dilaudid. He said he had neither, but had another narcotic that would help. I said cool, I'll take it!

#Don'tjudgeme...I was in pain

He began to give me an IV, he searched for a vein and found one. Good job so far! But before I can open my mouth he stuck the needle in and didn't even CLEAN THE SITE.........

The needle was sterile it came out of the pack...but still.

Now on to the nurse.

We see "Sicklers" (did she just call me a Sickler?) like yourself all the time, but most of them are Indian or Negroes. Do white people get Sickle Cell in the States?

When does it end?

She then tried to place me on a bed that had bloody sheets, and tried to hide it. Lady YOU ARE NUTS! I told her she had to place me somewhere else, so she took me to an open room where I was laid on a bed with clean PAPER. I was cool with that. I laid there with my fluids running thru me while the meds did their job. In 5 hours I was being discharged and my IV was being taken out at the FRONT DESK by an intern with NO GLOVES on.

I was out of there!!! Thank God I didn't have to get transfused because I would have been on the first plane back to the U.S.A.

With all this said, Trinidad needs a lot of help caring for the Sickle Cell Community there. This task will be by next initiative!