The day after the assault (I'll spare the major details here, but it wasn't a rape, but I was penetrated.) I began to experience bleeding. I knew it wasn't my period as I was on my second week of active pills, so I knew there had to be a connection. It wasn't until yesterday, when I could feel a small abrasion on the side of my vagina while inserting my cup did I realize I needed to get to the hospital. I'd been planning on going to a clinic for treatment for panic attacks anyway, since my regular psychiatrist was being a douchebag (what kind of doctor, after learning his patient has been sexually assaulted says "see you in 6 months, I'm sure your old meds are fine." ANYWAY, other bad service tangent.
Because I was experiencing pain dissimilar to menstrual cramps - above the pubic bone, rather than the abdomen, I called 911 to bring me to my local ER.
I was sobbing hysterically throughout the ambulance ride, in to the ER triage area, where I did my best to explain what was wrong (and where I felt extremely judged by the triage nurse for ""crying" for a week and not doing anything about it.")
I was then brought to a room, where a tech did my vitals and that was the last person I saw for at least 20 minutes - meanwhile I am still audibly sobbing this whole time. Then a nurse comes in (Mary Martha, I believe?) Asks for the story again, I tell her, although struggling, because I am still in hysterics. She tells me a pelvic exam will be necessary - and that they are only male attendings to perform it. I tell her I can't deal with that unless they sedate me, she says it's not procedure. She leaves. Without starting an IV, fluids, a small sedative to stop my panic attack (and stop it from turning to an asthma attack.)
I see no one else in my little room for at least another 30 minutes. I continue crying non-stop, violently enough that I make myself sick, throwing up bile in a paper bag near the bed. The next person I do see, a tech named Regina, comes to check my vitals and berates me for using the paper bags to throw up in. She starts to take my vitals, says she'll be right back, and then ... 15 minutes later ... nothing. As it has now been more than 2 hours since I arrived, and I haven't seen a doctor or received ANY treatment at all, I take off the vital machines and get dressed to leave and go to another hospital. As I was leaving a doctor finally showed up and I told him I was done. He said if I wanted fluids or a sedative I should have pushed the call button (which I did, twice - no response) - but regardless, a clearly hysterical person should NOT have to request these basic treatments.
I walked across the street to a more women-focused hospital and had the best experience a rape-kit can be. The differences between the treatment I received is appalling. I've written a letter to the first hospital, doubt it will do much good as it is the major hospital in the capital city, but ending it with a threat to go to the media might help, ha.
Also: They have arrested my rapist! Worried for the trial, as I've never pressed charges before, but I've got enough support around me to be okay.
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