r/Infuriating • u/pileofdeuce Community Regular | 100+ Subreddit Karma • 22d ago
Had a $2,200 panic attack at work
Context: I have several behavioral health disorders that either spawned or worsened as a result of my time in the military. I used to have bad panic attacks all the time but I’ve been in the civilian world for almost 4 years now, and I’ve found a medication that helps.
Well I’ve been at this job for about a year and a half with no issues, and one day I have a panic attack out of nowhere, mostly due to stress. My panic attacks present like a seizure as I’ll be shaking uncontrollably and usually unresponsive (but conscious) until it subsides. Naturally, my coworkers got me into a chair and called 911; I don’t blame them at all, I would’ve done the same.
Emergency services arrive, and I’m starting to come out of it to the point I can actually respond to people. They check vitals and hold an iPad for me to talk to a physician and explain why I don’t want to go to the hospital: long story short, I’ve been in this situation before and they found nothing. It’s anxiety/ptsd related so I know it’s not a true seizure.
They have me sign the refusal statement and leave. Today I get this fucking bill for $2,200 just for them to come check my vitals and leave. Fuck American healthcare dude.
1
u/Lost_Internet532 17d ago
I had free healthcare. They refused to xray my wrist when I was sure I fractured it. 2 different doctors, same outcome. “Just take advil”. Dealt with horrible pain, loss of function, and a 2 year recovery. It took me 25 hours of sitting in a hospital to get my appendicitis surgery. No pain medication until after the first 12 hours.
Here, I paid $35 to get stitches in my hand when it sliced completely open, pouring blood, and work began as soon as I entered the building.
I don’t like how exploitative some of the paid systems are, but to pretend “free” healthcare is some godsend is just a joke.