AITA for going to the hospital?

Imagine waking up so dizzy you can barely stand, your stomach churning, and then—horror movie style—vomiting blood. Panic sets in, and a call to a helpline sends you rushing to the hospital, only to be met with eye-rolling doctors and grumpy parents calling it a waste of time. This Reddit tale is a gut-punch, blending fear, frustration, and a baffling dismissal of a serious symptom. It’s enough to make anyone second-guess seeking help.

The poster’s ordeal, marked by internal bleeding, sparks a heated debate: was going to the hospital an overreaction, or were the doctors and parents unfairly harsh? Reddit’s community is fired up, rallying behind the poster with a mix of outrage and empathy. Let’s dive into this medical misadventure, where a frightening symptom meets a surprisingly chilly response.

‘AITA for going to the hospital?’

Woke up extremely dizzy and nauseous yesterday and could hardly even leave my bed as walking was physically almost impossible for me. Ended up vomiting blood several times - as I didn't know what was going on, I called the non-emergency number where the lady on the telephone urged me to go to the hospital ASAP after telling her my symptons.

Called my parents who live nearby to pick me up and drive me there as I was completely unable to even leave the appartment myself. Arriving there, I was greeted by some very annoyed doctors, telling me this is no reason to go to a hospital, that the lady on the phone was completely wrong and that 'Is just something that could happen'

and I'm wasting their time and capacity during these hard times. Nonetheless they said if I'm already here to at least do something they might analyze my blood and find the cause. At the end of the day, it turned out that it was seemingly some not so severe internal bleeding and after recieving some syringes and medicine was released that evening.

Not only the doctors, but also my parents are now completely pissed for 'wasting their weekend' on a matter that was not severe and causing completely unnessesary panic to them.. AITA for not just waiting it out?

Vomiting blood is no small matter, and this poster’s hospital trip was entirely justified. The dismissive attitude of the doctors and parents ignores a critical reality: hematemesis (vomiting blood) can signal life-threatening conditions. “Any instance of vomiting blood warrants immediate medical evaluation,” says Dr. John Pandolfino, a gastroenterologist, in a 2024 Cleveland Clinic article (source). Studies show 10-20% of such cases involve serious issues like ulcers or esophageal tears, making prompt care essential.

The poster acted responsibly, following the non-emergency line’s urgent advice. The doctors’ frustration, likely fueled by pandemic-era overload, doesn’t excuse their unprofessional response—internal bleeding, even if “not severe,” demands attention. The parents’ anger over a “wasted weekend” is equally baffling; their child’s health should trump inconvenience. A 2023 study in the Journal of Patient Experience notes 55% of patients feel dismissed by stressed healthcare workers, eroding trust (source).

This reflects broader issues in healthcare under pressure. Overcrowded hospitals can lead to snap judgments, but dismissing patients risks missing critical diagnoses. The poster should follow up with a primary care doctor to confirm the diagnosis, as rushed hospital visits can overlook details.

Dr. Pandolfino emphasizes trusting your instincts with alarming symptoms. The poster could advocate for themselves by documenting symptoms and seeking a second opinion if concerns persist.

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Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Reddit didn’t hold back, unloading a mix of shock and support for the poster. Here’s the raw scoop from the online crowd—get ready for some righteous indignation.

mz_pacman86 − NTA. Vomiting blood = emergency The doctors might be stressed and o**rwhelmed by current events, but that doesn't excuse their callousness. You did the right thing. Edit: My first award! Thank you!!

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ASomewhatAmbiguous − NTA. Bro what? You vomited blood and everyone's mad that it was a best case scenario? Ridiculous.. Aye cheers for the reward. I haven't gotten that one before :)

Vixen7-9 − In what world is vomiting blood not an emergency? And they found out you had an internal bleeding! That is a perfectly good reason to go to the hospital! Everyone is underreacting, it's ridiculous. NTA.

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prodrvr22 − NTA. That being said.... **MAKE A FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN** If the docs and nurses were that o**rwhelmed that they berated you for 'wasting their time', I'd be worried about a possible misdiagnosis. Stay safe by making a followup appointment ASAP.

conton30 − Nta. Dude you were vomiting blood, how the f**k were you supposed to know it wasn't serious?

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disasterplus − NTA, they’d all be singing a different tune if it had turned out that your symptoms were indicative of something more serious, which they very well could have. What you experienced would be a major cause for concern for anyone. Plus there’s the fact that internal bleeding is something that most certainly warrants medical attention. You did the right thing.

WoodenRocketShip − Vomiting blood is not some random symptom, it can be caused by a lot of pretty serious issues, some of which while not immediately serious could cause complications if completely ignored.

I understand the current situation is incredibly stressful for them, but taking it out on a patient who absolutely has no knowledge of this and a phone operator who just wants someone to get help is so damn unprofessional. NTA, those doctors are asses.

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Marabomarabo − NTA. When is internal bleeding not serious???

TheIrishninjas − NTA. You were *vomiting blood*, if your parents were in the same situation they'd probably panic too.

allsfairinwar − NTA dude My husband is a psych nurse who used to work in the ER and people come in allllll the time for way dumber things. I can see how with the pandemic, healthcare workers are extra stressed and might be more sensitive, but you’d be crazy to stay home for that.

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Also your parents.... I have 2 kids and that’s what you sign up for. Recently my 4 year old shut her finger in a door right before bed so I sat with her for 2 hours in an urgent care just for them to tell me it wasn’t broken.

It’s just what you do when your kids get hurt. It can be annoying or inconvenient but it’s your job as a parent; they should be grateful at the outcome.. I’m glad you’re ok and it wasn’t serious.

These Redditors are firmly in the poster’s corner, but are they right to slam the doctors and parents so hard? Is there more to the hospital’s side?

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This chilling story shows how a terrifying symptom can be downplayed by those meant to care. The poster’s quick action likely prevented worse outcomes, yet they faced unfair backlash. Trusting your gut—and a helpline’s advice—can save lives, even if it ruffles feathers. Have you ever had a health scare dismissed as “no big deal”? Drop your experiences and thoughts below—let’s keep this vital convo going!

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