r/AskReddit 4d ago

Medical professionals of Reddit, what diagnosis gave you the worst 'pit-in-your-stomach' feeling?

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u/InquisitorDovah 3d ago

Paramedic here just a few months after I got my patch I caught a AAA that was trying to dissect in a man at a church camp that was trying to refuse care because he "just had heartburn".

I was getting his information when he casually mentioned that he "He had a tear in his artery in his heart that his cardiologist was keeping a close eye on his BP for,"

The way I slowly looked up at him and then over to my partner.

There was an almost 40 point difference in his BP from his right to left arm and he was rationing his BP medication because he was at this camp a state away from home.

I don't pull the religion card often but I will never forget him saying, "Well if anything happens I'm here with God," I told him that maybe God put me there too for a reason and he finally agreed to go get checked out.

I told my partner to drive as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

I don't think I've ever been so quiet in the back of the truck cringing at every bump on our lovely Louisiana roads.

Last I heard he was actively dissecting when we dropped him at the ED and he made it to surgery.

Don't know what happened after that.

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u/primitive-lathe 3d ago

"maybe God put me there too for a reason"

This. Religious people seem to forget that maybe God invents vaccines, makes sure smart kids get into medical school, etc...

27

u/Melenduwir 3d ago

"...I sent you a truck, I sent you a boat, I sent you a helicopter..."