What Freaks You Out?

DAB · Jan 10, 2002

I had a good one tonight. Thick, green, tannish GT drng. (a little of the same consistency as pistachio pudding) with a serosanguinous topping. Almost gagged right then and I could suction while eating . . . of course there was the time when I liften up the abdominal fold of an obese patient and the smell of dead fish came whafting out . . . beautiful!

kids · Jan 10, 2002

I can't remove or insert a glass eye, infact I have a big problem doing (other peoples) contact lenses.

About 6 years ago I had a guy with some kind or rare optic nerve cancer, they had removed the eye and a bunch of stuff behind it (brain?)...it had to be packed BID and took 1 1/2 rolls of 2" kerlex. I told my Charge Nurse I couldn't do it, when she brushed me off I went to my DNS and gave her the choice of finding someone else to do the dressing or find someone else to work my shifts-permenently... the ADON ended up doing it.

semstr · Jan 10, 2002

I actually had a female patient with lepra, she looked like something from a horrormovie! Nose was gone, as were her ears and her toes too, her fingers started to go.

She was an old Indonesian woman (didn't know here age, but the guess was 90+), who lived alone for years, didn't let anybody come into her place, had her food delivered. But the neighbours complained again and again about the smell from her house. Finally the police openend up her place, and had the shock of their lives (at least one of the officers told me): the stank was incredible and the dirt even more and on top of this, the old women looking like a zombie!!

the diagnosis lepra was there as soon as the specialist for tropical deceases saw here, we all freaked out!! Hey, what do you know about that thing really?

She was transferred to a special clinic in Rotterdam, but she was in our hospital for 3 or 4 days, guarded of and the whole show.

Her medication was flown in from London, with special order from the ministery of health, she got Softenon. (was it called like that in the States? you know Thalidomide-embryopathy)

Take care, Renee

psnurse · Jan 10, 2002

After 10 years, I still don't do snot. It isn't the trach thing that bothers me, the ET tubes are ok. But let someone actually spit a specimen into a cup and I lose it. This was confirmed the other day in the ED when a patient was coughing on arrival and someone handed him a cup. I looked up and found the snotball sitting there on his lower lip and had to excuse myself gagging all the way.

But this is improvement. I used to suction ET tubes and trachs with a trash can at my feet.

deespoohbear · Jan 10, 2002

Colostomy! Yuck! Grosses me out! I will change them, but it isn't without holding my breath, and going lickety split! Hate it!

One thing that grossed me out one time happened with my own son. It was Memorial Day, and I was working. My husband called and said he was bringing in our oldest son. He had a fishhook in his shoulder blade. He was trying to cast out his line, and was wearing a tank top. The fishhook caught in his shoulder blade. I think my kid was 11 at the time. The ER doc numbed up the area, and then removed the fishhook. I about lost my cookies!! And this after I have assisted with central line placements, complex wound changes. traumas in the ER (including horrific farming accident where a farmer was ran over by a "hopper" wagon). Just couldn't do the fishhook thing!! Gives me the creeps!!

:eek: :eek:

Cindy_A · Jan 10, 2002

Pooh, I'm sure it makes a big difference when it's your own kid!

Renee, is lepra the same as leprosy?

I love this thread! It's gross, yet interesting! :eek:

nicola · Jan 10, 2002

I'm glad I ate lunch BEFORE stumbling on this thread!!!

I also have a pretty good stomach, but some of the stuff posted (intestinal worms.... eeewwww!) just gave me the heebies!

I also so HH and detest roaches. The worst for me was the woman who was absentmindedly crushing the teeny ones (the ones wandering around the dining room table) between her fingers as I did my teaching, then wanted to shake hands with me as I left... I was able to shake her hand but the minute I was out of sight I poured a GALLON of the alcohol washie stuff on my hands!

Vomit doesn't bother me much any more. When I was graduating and we were lining up on pairs to march into the auditorium, the girl next to me turned green and announced she was going to lose it. I told her she couldn't because if she did, I would. Then if I did, the people behind us would. If they did, then the people in the stands would see and start and our whole beautiful day would be ruined by a vomit fest. She laughed so hard she forgot to be nauseated!

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2002

Nicola, you are a far better woman than me. I never would have shaken her hand. Would have made up something like I have a cold qand don't want to pass it on. NEVER. I would have had to leave. In fact I would have had to outright ask her to stop that, I could have never done my teaching, I would have been distracted beyond functioning!

KeniRN · Jan 11, 2002

I work with the pediatric population so I can deal with snot,poop,vomit. You know, things that kids put out. I didn't really even mind irrigating ears. What I can't stand is irrigating a kids ears and a ROACH crawls out. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Thus I have not been too eager lately to flush any ears.

RNKitty · Jan 11, 2002

Vomit and toe jam. Yup - the smells are just too much. I hate helping a pt take off their socks!

deespoohbear · Jan 11, 2002

Cindy A- I think it is the fishhook. I had guy come in last year to the ER with a fishhook in his NECK! Gave me the creeps when the doctor pulled it out! The guy did well though. He said he was more upset because it was a triple barbed lure he was going to lose!!

janmae1950 · Jan 11, 2002

I'm still in school. I'm trying to get used to yucky stuff by forcing myself to look at pictures on rotten.com.