You go into the healthcare center for strep throat and come back with Vicodan. You have to get an X-ray after falling down the stairs and get told you didn’t break anything, only to get a call the next day that the X-rays were mixed up and you’ve been walking around on a broken leg. You go in with a headache and come back with antibiotics. You go in for a flu shot and find out two weeks later the nurse hit a nerve in your arm, which is what is causing the blinding pain.

(These are all true stories.)

Everyone has his or her own funny story of what went wrong during a trip to University of Illinois’ healthcare center, McKinley. The administration building, not-so-affectionately nicknamed “Mc-Kill-Me,” is located on Lincoln Avenue, and unfortunately can be the only health resource for some students and faculty.

One of these “funny stories” actually happened to me last semester. I get allergy shots at McKinley every week, and I’ve been getting those shots since I was about 7. So, I’m pretty used to the jab of injections into my weak-muscled arm. Yet, as usual, McKinley offered a different experience for me. A nurse who will remain unnamed came into the room to give me my shot. When she stuck me with the needle, I did what I normally do, which was to jump a little. I mean, I was being stuck with a needle. It doesn’t feel good, people. Her reaction was to pull the shot out, then restick me. I jumped again, so she pulled the needle back out, before resticking me for another time! All in all, I was stuck 3 times with the same needle, causing unnecessary pain. When I questioned her “method,” she answered snippily that I was being a difficult patient by jerking my arm. Man, those reactions you can’t control really will get you.

On the flip side, while McKinley does do the darndest things, it also can be a very helpful resource. With its experts on important issues such as eating disorders or nutrition, McKinley can be a great place to go for help. It also has inexpensive prescription options for students and faculty, which is appreciated in this financial crisis.

If you don’t feel comfortable going to McKinley, however, there are other options. Carle Clinic and Provena are two hospitals in the nearby area. Just be careful and check that they take your insurance.

Otherwise, next time you are sick, just remember: either you will get decent care, or a great story to share with your friends!