"Diagnosis in Er"

I presented to the Emergency Department at Derby Hospital in WA with abdominal pain, nausea, and a fever. The doctors were concerned I had appendicitis.

During my visit, I had an abdominal X-ray with a radiologist named Chris. He talked me through the procedure with such calmness and empathy. While explaining what he could see, he gently shared that he didn’t think it looked like appendicitis and instead suspected a ruptured ovarian cyst or something similar. This was the first time I felt genuinely heard. Despite my medical history—period pain, bleeding—this possibility hadn’t been raised by anyone else.

I’m so grateful to Chris. His words gave me the confidence to speak up about what I was feeling and question what was happening to my body. He reminded me that I know myself best—and that my voice matters.