What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for? - Page 171

Register Today!
  1. Dec 3, '11 by
    One of my last days in the ER. Had a woman, her sister, and a combined thirteen kids between the two of them (not exaggerating) check all of themselves in. Because they'd had a big family picnic about two weeks ago with someone who was eventually diagnosed with MRSA in a "spider bite."

    They just wanted to be "checked out." Even after the Urgent Care NP came out and explained that this was the dumbest thing he'd ever seen in his entire life.
    SNB1014, Malpal23, opossum, and 2 others like this.
  2. Dec 3, '11 by
    Quote from packfan007
    I couldn't believe how many people came in with earwax buildup.
    Ugghh my husband has some weird condition which causes mass production of earwax. He needs his ears flushed out probably once a month or so. Walgreens walk-in charged $85 to do it so I finally just snatched a 19 gauge (obviously using just the catheter!), a 60 cc syringe, and a kidney basin from work. I haven't ruptured his ear drum...yet...
    Malpal23, opossum, sharpeimom, and 2 others like this.
  3. Dec 5, '11 by
    Quote from dirtyhippiegirl
    Ugghh my husband has some weird condition which causes mass production of earwax. He needs his ears flushed out probably once a month or so. Walgreens walk-in charged $85 to do it so I finally just snatched a 19 gauge (obviously using just the catheter!), a 60 cc syringe, and a kidney basin from work. I haven't ruptured his ear drum...yet...
    Just FYI, you can also get liquid earwax softener at the pharmacy, OTC, to use before flushing. I use a 10 or 20 cc syringe, easier to control the pressure and volume that way.
    sharpeimom likes this.
  4. Asst. Admin
    Dec 5, '11 by
    Quote from JBudd
    Just FYI, you can also get liquid earwax softener at the pharmacy, OTC, to use before flushing. I use a 10 or 20 cc syringe, easier to control the pressure and volume that way.
    Yep, I was going to suggest that -- Debrox. Great stuff.
  5. Dec 5, '11 by
    For the ear wax problem, here's a tip I got from a Family practice doctor. Docusate sodium liquid (a stool softener) in each ear for about twenty minutes - with a cotton ball to hold it in- will soften the wax. I tried that on my friend and flushed her ears and it really works.

    The doc said it's a cheap off label use.
  6. Dec 6, '11 by
    ^Tried all of these options over the last ten years. I'd prefer to not have to use a 60 cc for obvious reasons. None of the OTC earwax softening stuff works at all. I'm just hoping that our future children don't end up with whatever he has.
  7. Dec 7, '11 by
    Mineral oil / baby oil is great for softening ear wax -- cheap and easy to buy, too.
  8. Dec 14, '11 by
    A 17 year old guy presented to triage and there was a little bit of a language barrier and he seemed embarrassed so I brought him inside to chat. Thats right folks, he came to the EMERGENCY department because he was having too many wet dreams.

    Im not kidding, and yes, I triaged him because he insisted on seeing a doctor.
    opossum, sauconyrunner, Franemtnurse, and 1 other like this.
  9. Jun 18, '12 by
    Quote from VivaLasViejas

    I agree.......kidney stones are an experience in pain that Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition, could never have topped! I had two of 'em several years ago---one in the right kidney, and one in the bladder, both of which were almost a centimeter in diameter---and ended up having to have them blasted out by laser lithotripsy. A couple days before the procedure the bladder stone had tried to pass on its own, but of course it was far too big to get through, and I'm telling you, I sat on the toilet for about three hours (it felt like I had to pee every two minutes, so I ended up just staying in there), the sweat was pouring off me in rivers, and it was all I could do to keep from screaming! I'd never been in such agony in my life, and I've been through appendicitis, unmedicated childbirth, and three C-sections. On a 0-10 scale, this pain rated at least a 12.5.......I'll never forget it.

    Then, of course, after you have the laser lithotripsy, there's the little matter of having stents in your ureters to keep them patent. Every time I went to the bathroom---and that was pretty danged often---it felt like someone had lit twin blowtorches in my lower back. The first time I was able to pee without pain, after my urologist had removed the stents, it felt so good I literally burst into tears........Needless to say, I make sure to ALWAYS drink at least two liters of water and other non-caffeinated fluids every day, as I know the statistical probability of a repeat performance (and thus live in fear of another attack ).
    I also agree on the seriousness of kidney stone pain! For about six years straight no matter what I did, how I ate or drank I just kept forming and passing kidney stones! I has lithotripsy done twice and passed a whole bunch from both sides and then, about four years ago or so they just suddenly stopped as mysteriously as they began and I didn't change a thing. My doctor was baffled. He goes "Sometimes the human body is just weird." But, yeah, it's never silly to head to the ER if you feel like your passing a stone!
  10. Jun 18, '12 by
    I had a guy once transported by ambulance for chapped lips. No kidding. I am not sure if I was more irritated by the patient or the ambulance crew...
    Malpal23, NO50FRANNY, and DeLanaHarvickWannabe like this.