the paramedic hooked me up to the monitor and then said, "Oh, shit," and that's when I knew there was trouble. He said, "Have you ever had a heart attack?" and I asked, "Why? Am I having one NOW?"

Believe me, you don't want a nervous paramedic trying to spike your antecubital vein.

I didn't know I had an antecubital vein. :eek:

I have a feeling paramedics aren't supposed to say things like "oh shit" when they see your readings. Reassuring and comforting, or at least being professional, are the go.

Unless you work for Dr House, in which case standard practice is to exchange puzzled/worried/horrified looks directly in view of the patient.

Call juju!;)

made me laff out loud, dana.

They also shout things like, "She's bleeding out!!" or "He's CRASHING! Get the CART!" right in front of a worried family member who counters by yelling, "WHAT IS GOING ON???!!!"

perfection.

ditto what everyone said, Bri.

I know what it's like, at least sort of, from that angle. Kind of like being sent to the ER with blood pressure of 220 over 150 and being told by a medic that he'd never SEEN blood pressure like that in a person who was coherent and walking around. Yup, that's me, high-pressurized freak.

Sometimes it does not pay to watch House. I was in the ER, having been given a drug to bring my pressure down, and suddenly I felt like I was dying, had people scurrying around to figure me out and it was so surreal, like a House episode -- what have they done to me? given me the wrong treatment because some asshole doctor wants to make someone else feel stupid? Ack!

Feel better, Bri.