We’ve all heard a few hospital horror stories that leave us clutching our stomachs, but this one might take the cake, or in this case, the surgical needle. Sadly, a woman from Iowa is sharing a story about how two hospitals gaslighted a serious issue she was having. Now she’s looking for a little payback.
A Reddit post recently shocked readers after a woman from Iowa shared her terrifying medical ordeal. After having surgery in South Dakota, a needle was left inside her abdomen following the procedure. This might sound like some wild plot from a medical drama like Grey’s Anatomy. However, it was a real-life nightmare for the patient, and what followed made it even worse.
According to her account, the patient underwent abdominal surgery and, like anyone would, expected her healing process to be somewhat painful but ultimately smooth. However, two months post-op, she began experiencing discomfort that didn’t feel quite right. So, she did the responsible thing and went back to the surgeon who operated on her. His response? “The pain would subside with time since she wasn’t fully healed.” Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
Iowa Woman Had Needle Left In Her Body After Surgery
Less than a week later, her pain escalated into something much more severe, and she rushed to an ER in her home state of Iowa. That’s when a CT scan revealed the unthinkable. A needle was still inside her abdomen. Yes, after months of pain and being told she was simply “still healing,” the truth finally surfaced.
Now, here’s where things take a wild turn. The ER team contacted the original surgeon, only to be met with a jaw-dropping response. The South Dakota hospital claimed that “All instruments were accounted for. If she’s still having discomfort in 4–6 weeks, she can follow up with another CT scan.”
It gets worse. To confirm the finding, the patient was sent for a pelvic ultrasound, where somehow, the techs claimed there was no needle. They tried to discharge her with this “all-clear” diagnosis, but she bravely pushed back. Feeling dismissed and gaslit, she knew something was wrong and decided to take matters into her own hands.
Since the Iowa ER and the South Dakota hospital were affiliated, she traveled to a hospital in another state, where staff actually listened to her. A simple X-ray confirmed what she already suspected. The needle was very much still there. She was quickly scheduled for another surgery to have it removed, something that could have and should have happened weeks earlier.
Reddit Gives Legal Advice
Her post gained traction quickly, with commenters calling out the gross negligence and encouraging her to seek legal counsel. One surgical nurse wrote, “Hospitals will definitely pay out for a retained foreign item. It’s a ‘never’ event that triggers an internal review and can affect hospitals ability to get Medicare funding. It’s a big deal. You have a very good case.”
“If the surgical team left a needle in your abdomen, you likely have a claim for medical malpractice and may be entitled to recovery of you subsequent medical costs to remove the retained item,” another person wrote.
Thankfully, she’s now recovering and seems to be in much better hands. But let’s be honest, the physical pain is only part of the trauma here. The emotional toll of not being believed, of being brushed off while something sharp and dangerous was lodged inside her body, is something no patient should ever experience.
This story serves as a chilling reminder that patients have to be their own biggest advocates, even when the system seems stacked against them. As this brave woman’s viral post proves, sometimes the only way to be heard is to take your story public — and hope it sparks change.
Hopefully, both medical centers in Iowa and South Dakota will be held accountable for the pain this patient was put through.
Emma Taylor 
Nina Franklin 
Kendra Quinn 
