I don't remember anything that happened at home. Not feeling bad, or slumping in my chair, certainly not passing out. Then I was lying on a stretcher in the ER listening to my husband talking on the phone. He said he had called an ambulance because I was acting funny and he couldn't get me to stand up. That I seemed not to even know him. I told him I was fine now and not to scare my son like that.

About then a young man, Dr. Cooper he said his name was, came in from behind the curtain and listened with his stethoscope to my chest and back. I asked him what was wrong with me. From that moment on he made me feel so unworthy, so small, so ignorant. His diagnosis: My age was catching up with me. Ok I'm barely into my 70s. I lift weights in the gym twice a week and jog 3-5 miles every day. He didn't want to hear about that. In fact he didn't want to hear anything I said. Just maintained this little smirk when he looked at me though he mostly looked at his computer. I didn't require any follow up. No more tests. Didn't need any medicine but he could give me something for anxiety. By that time I probably needed it too!

Ageism. It's a real thing in the medical community. In hospitals. Among our healthcare providers. Seems that ought to be the last place you'd find prejudice against older people, but no. I only learned that term after my unfortunate experience in ER, but others have known it too. Ageism is a discrimination or bias against people based on their age. It might manifest as undertreatment in my case, but at a minimum can lead to stereotyping resulting in rudeness, lack of patience, condescending communication, and downplaying of symptoms. It may be partly due to pure ignorance. Look up how few hours physicians spend learning about older adult health! That may be grounded in the fact also that so little research is available to underpin health care for us. But sadly, it is also a picture of the value our society places on aged individuals.

Long story short, I had to find my own follow-up. My provider, a Nurse Practitioner, helped me get to a neurologist who determined I had likely suffered a mild stroke. She mapped out a plan for me that left me feeling confident in my care and in my future. It is true that all, hopefully most, providers don't suffer from ageism like Dr. Cooper, but you should be prepared when if it happens to you!

By the way, I'm writing this anonymously because I may have to go back to that hospital. And I could run into Dr. Cooper again. And if I get a chance, in a stronger moment I intend to give him a piece of my mind…on no, I mean I'm going to school him on the reality of ageism in the medical community. He needs to hear his own diagnosis!