Last Saturday night I spent the night in the Emergency Room. Luckily, it wasn't for me. Sadly, it was for a close friend of mine experiencing stabbing chest pains for the past 2 weeks. And over some wings/hockey @St. Louis, the stabbing pains became unbearable.

Being exposed to "the signs of heart attacks and stroke" all day at work, I immediately asked her what symptoms she's been having. Since it WAS 2 weeks, it was doubtful it was an immediate life-threatening issue, however I have heard of mini-strokes that many of us get but don't even know we're having.

Off to Sunnybrook
Since the pains were getting worse we decided to go (leafs were getting killed by the Habs anyway!). Being around 8:45PM we had to go to the nearest ER, which was Sunnybrook Hospital. The last time I was there was in 1999, where a friend dislocated his knee at a going away to university party. Stellar!

We all know about waiting times, and this was no exception. Our wait (despite STABBING CHEST PAINS) lasted 5.75 hours, or from 9PM - 2:45AM. I got to watch such captivating TBS movies as Dangerous Minds, Mr. Deeds, My Best Friends' Wedding and Something To Talk About.

Wicked. It was like riding an airplane and all you've got is the crappy movie to watch... now that i think of it, this is a marketer's dream to communicate to such a captive audien--GAH ok back to reality! Sorry. But the fact that I sat watched these movies attests to the fact that I would sit and consume almost anything you threw at me in this environment.

Hosptal or General Hospital?
Having been and experienced the breathtaking front entrance to Sunnybrook, I was a bit disappointed by the "General Hospital" soap opera set-like look to the ER. Couldn't they spice up the waiting room a bit more? You've got waterfalls, an atrium, greenery in the front. In the back, we sit for an average of 5-7 HOURS, so anything other than pale green, grey and fluorescent lighting would be a step up. Watching the patience fake being sicker than they are was funny, hoping to get a more critical rating and jump the cue.

My heart went out to one couple that waiting since 4PM to be seen. They were so angry since they initally said 4-5 hours... but they were at the point of no return. If they left now, it would be like Seinfield at the Chinese Restaurant-once they left the nurse would call their name. Thankfuly at around 11PM [SEVEN HOURS] they were called.

SBF came and sat with us for a little before leaving, bringing some iced tea and cookies to keep us going. Sweet!

We got called in at 2:45AM. I went in with my friend and we didn't get out till about 7AM. Good thing we went, since the doctor wanted to do some bloodwork and xrays which would have taken 3-4 weeks to complete via conventional doctor route. Good to get it all done in one night. Thankfully the tests were negative and it appears to be an inflammation of rib muscles in front of the heart. No heart problems, no pneumonia, no scary cancer/diabetes/black lung/alien living in your chest diagnosis. The doctor was very articulate and helpful. He was also very sharp being on the graveyard shift!

As we left at 7AM there were now only a few people waiting in line. So the moral of the story: if you gonna get sick and need the ER, go at Sunday at 7AM!

-RE

"eat drink and be merry"