I went to the ER for severe constipation times four days due to taking narcotics and NSAIDs as pain relievers for back pain that I was seen for previously. I have taken narcotics very sparingly throughout my entire life, however, never had an adverse reaction like this. Upon arriving at the ER, I was greeted by the very kind police officer who made a great effort to acknowledge, smile, and shepherd people through the screening process. He directed me to the reception desk to check in there. I was greeted by an amazing lady who was kind and compassionate and acknowledged my discomfort and pain and told me she would get me into a room as soon as possible.

I was in the ER waiting room for less than five minutes before I was taken back to a private room with a restroom. Within a few moments, Tori came into my room, asked what was going on and took a history on the problem at hand. Tori shared with me her own personal experience after having her child. I felt automatically at ease, knowing I'm working with somebody who is not only a caring, knowledgeable professional, but also had been through this experience and could identify.

Once Tori took my history, the doctor came in and provided an overview of what he would like to do, which meant getting a CT to determine how severe the blockage was. Up until this point, I was able to urinate without any issues; however, they needed a urine sample to test for pregnancy before doing the CT. I was unable to urinate despite having a full bladder, and wanting for it to be released, I was hooked up to an IV for one hour with a rapid flow of fluids to force urination. This was not achieved, and my discomfort at this point was growing rapidly, not only with the bowel blockage but now with my bladder. The doctor said he would proceed with the CT if I authorized them to do so without a pregnancy test.

The technician who performed the scan was also incredibly kind and patient. She explained everything she was doing and why it helped me understand what was going on and what was going to happen next. The CT revealed significant bowel blockage and more importantly, a very significant bladder blockage. I would later come to find out that their main concern was if my bladder was going to burst. The doctor gave me the option to have an enema performed or an impact procedure performed, which basically means them physically digging the blocked stool out of my rectum manually themselves. I opted for the enema, hoping that would solve the issue; however, I've never had one before, so I asked for someone to help me, and Tori stepped right up to the plate. Tori went above and beyond performing the enema on me, rubbing my back, consoling me, talking me through, and trying to keep my spirits up.

We were halfway through the enema, and there was no relief in sight at this point. The lower half of my body, including my feet, was covered in various fluids and fecal matter as well as the floor and toilet bowl. The site was more than disgusting. It was utterly humiliating there. I was half naked with only a T-shirt on, covered in watery stool, sweating, aching, and crying for relief. Tori continued to be an advocate of support and kept reassuring me everything would be OK. Tori suggested we take a break, and I lay on my side on the bed and that she would try to do the manual extraction now to loosen things up. Now, another experience was about to begin. As I lay there shaking and incredibly cold, Tori kept up an upbeat, positive attitude, talking me through and working towards her mission. I started to feel some relief. Tori spent about five minutes doing the manual extraction, then let me have a break before we went back to the enema. Upon completing the enema, I was starting to feel my bowels move in the right direction I was able to produce stool in the bowl. Tori finished the enema and told me to take a break and go lie down. I don't know how long I was lying down, but Tori left to clean up herself and dispose of the items she had used. At this point, I was feeling a lot of relief. I felt disgusting but a lot of relief from the pressure and pain I was experiencing, the humiliation of what occurred was starting to set in and I finally realized these good people had been taking care of me for nearly 6 hours. I tried to clean myself up and the restroom as much as possible. It was a little bit better, but still, what was left behind will always be a morbid reminder of the experience. 

I know healthcare workers are normally 100% in tune with patient care, advocacy, and healing, that's why they do what they do, but the fact that Tori quickly identified with my condition and shared her experience firsthand helped me realize I'm not the only one this happens to and that I was in the right place to get help. Her kindness, her support, and her attitude truly made a difference! Please note that everyone I interacted with at this facility was top-notch above bar. They were amazing professionals! However, Tori going above and beyond and sitting with me throughout this process will stay with me forever. She is a superstar, an amazing lady, and, moreover, an incredible mom! I pray to God that I will never have this experience again. However, I have full faith and trust in the incredible healthcare professionals and support staff at the OhioHealth Hilliard emergency room. My ongoing appreciation will forever remain, and no offense, but I hope I do not see you in the near future or at all! However, please tell Tori she's amazing, and I could not have done this without her! God bless, and thank you!