Amazing (but true) stories from the ER

Dr. Steve Martz shares his favorite ER stories.

After working in urgent care and emergency rooms for more than 20 years, I’ve seen or heard about all kinds of unusual cases. But despite all my experiences, I still come across stories that make me shake my head. Here are a few tales that are nothing new to Legacy ER & Urgent Care. More important, they’re a reminder that no matter how odd the story, never delay seeking medical treatment.

Good patient, bad chart

A patient checked in complaining that he had not been able to breathe well for several days. The doctor made a quick notation on the patient’s chart, and then stepped out of the room to check his blood work.

When the doctor returned, the patient asked “What did I do wrong?” The doctor, mystified, replied “Nothing.” The patient pointed to the chart and said “Then why did you write that I’m a ‘chronic SOB’ on my chart?”

Embarrassed, the M.D. replied that “SOB” stood for shortness of breath.

Of course, if you ever have trouble breathing, come by and see us immediately. We can help with a diagnosis and treatment of many causes of breathing issues, including asthma, lung infections and other health issues. Because many serious diseases can cause shortness of breath, we may need to administer a blood test or other examination to make sure we are able to identify and treat the source of your discomfort.  But I promise not to abbreviate your symptoms.

Foreign bodies and little bodies

Kids are by nature curious, and you’d be amazed at what all they will experiment with.  Noses and ears seem to be particularly popular places for sticking objects. For example, a young boy once tried to administer some nasal spray to himself.  Unfortunately, he forgot to remove the cap before inserting the bottle in his nostril. The cap got stuck up his nose.  Way, way up his nose.  And, of course, there are stories of peas, buttons, coins and all sorts of other items finding their way into places they don’t belong.

Usually, the best thing to do is to bring the little scientist to Legacy ER & Urgent Care.  Sometimes, parents who try to remove stray objects from noses or ears just make things worse.  In cases where the object has been inserted very deeply – or if your youngster has chosen to insert the object into the posterior or other opening – we may need to take an X-ray or perform a CT scan on your child to make sure there is no damage to interior organs and ensure safe removal.

I also know that these types of emergencies can affect grown-ups, too. Please don’t let your pride get in the way of getting the help you need. We have the right medical tools from forceps to CT scans to make sure any object is removed safely and all damage is treated properly.

Small problem, big reaction

A patient came in with oddly swollen and itchy ears.  She was at a loss to explain what caused the symptoms but otherwise appeared to be in good health.  A thorough examination soon revealed the source of her woes: an undetected ant bite on her foot. Usually, the reaction would be localized to the area of the bite, but in this case it was her ears that reacted.

If you experience anything out of the ordinary after a bite of any kind or exposure to certain plants or foods, it’s a good idea to come by. Legacy ER & Urgent Care can treat these allergic reactions and sometimes even pinpoint the source of the allergy so you know what to look out for in the future.

The best thing about dealing with so many different kinds of cases is that it keeps my staff and I on our toes and ready to tackle almost any medical issue that comes through our door.  And if you take a few minutes to become a VIP Member, you too can be more prepared to deal with the next unexpected incident that comes your way.