"Terrible experience in the ED and Short Stay Unit."

I have previously suffered from mental illness, and worked my butt off recovering and can proudly say depression is gone and my mental health is pretty darn good. I am not ashamed, I have been through hell and back and am a stronger, kinder, better person than what I was before my mental illness.

I believe that because I have been treated previously at this hospital for mental health, when I became physically unwell months and months ago, I got barely any treatment and went home just as sick as I went in.

My doctor received my discharge summary which I feel was not accurate. By god since that visit I have suffered tremendously which can be verified by my GP. I have been waiting for months for specialists and have become pretty crook.

I went into emergency recently, near on screaming in pain as something in my stomach felt like it literally exploded while out shopping. I believe I was put into the 'maybe this is a mental health' scenario. Although I had some tests done, the pain relief they gave didn't really do much. Could barely walk and wasn't improving, only getting worse.

The few nurses I encountered in emergency showed not one ounce of compassion, no eye contact. It was devastating for me as I was so sick and have been for many months. Was made to feel like an annoyance. Shipped then to Short Stay moaning in pain, vomiting and other stuff.

Out of five doctors that popped in, the only doctor in the hospital which showed me an ounce of compassion was a doctor in charge, Dr Dean.

Short Stay was horrible, spent the entire time in there in constant pain and vomiting and other stuff, and being mostly ignored. While I was in the bed opposite the Nurse's Station I heard quite clearly the nurse tell the student nurse that I was a mental health patient. What the? The student nurse's response was that they really would never have guessed. After that, I felt so angry, hurt, ashamed and judged.

I had three different doctors in a matter of hours coming in saying I think it's this, I think it's that- all different responses. The last doctor said to me twice there's nothing more we can do. I asked them what am I supposed to do-feeling so helpless and my pain so intense they told me to take Panadol and Nurofen.

I knew I wasn't getting any more help and they discharged me. A day later I made myself read my discharge summary and yep in the Past Medical History section was only my previous mental health diagnosis. I have got a few important diagnosed medical conditions which are far more important than what's been put in that section.

I believe there is a high amount of discrimination in the hospital when it comes to people who have previously had or have a mental illness and I am proof of that. While I have little choice but to undergo a day procedure surgery there in a few days,  will not step foot in emergency again. The only person I would like to thank is Dr Dean who I believe is in charge of the doctors. Thank you for treating me like a human being and showing me compassion.