Bizarre/funny things patients do

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I had the funniest thing happen. Yesterday, my relatively young (early 30s) patient took two tiny pills separately, flinging back his head violently while taking each one. Yesterday was the first time I've seen someone who is relatively young perform this odd behavior. I have seen many older patients do it, but never someone in their thirties. Of course, he had no reported swallowing issues and no difficulty bolting down huge bites of his cheeseburger without flinging back his head after each bite. When asked, he claimed he has to do it to swallow the pill. The pills were about the size of an Altoid mini by the way!

What makes you laugh that you've seen patients doing?

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
This is how I have to take pills. I cant swallow them any other way. And I am younger than 30 too

Really? Do you have issues swallowing food as well? I ask this sincerely, as someone with no issues swallowing food or pills. How does it help to do the head fling thing? Does the pill otherwise feel stuck? Is it because it tastes nasty or gags you?

I wanted to ask my patient this, but could not think of a nice way to ask how the patient could swallow huge chunks of a burger with hardly even chewing it, but not the tiny pill.

Perplexing. All our dysphagia people are taught to do the "chin tuck," the exact opposite

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Lol to all! ..I had a patient tell me I reminded her of her cat because I always welcomed her warmly and am so happy to see her ...lol..I politely said thank you that's very sweet..and then died laughing all the way back to the station....the doc on the floor..was like " did she really say that?" I said yes and now he meows at me everytime he works....great I'm ruined lol

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Working on postpartum one night, I walked in to a new father and mother holding their newborn over the toilet, spraying his bum with water using the mom's peri wash bottle. Well, that's a new way to change a diaper!

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Specializes in ICU.
Really? Do you have issues swallowing food as well? I ask this sincerely, as someone with no issues swallowing food or pills. How does it help to do the head fling thing? Does the pill otherwise feel stuck? Is it because it tastes nasty or gags you?

I wanted to ask my patient this, but could not think of a nice way to ask how the patient could swallow huge chunks of a burger with hardly even chewing it, but not the tiny pill.

Perplexing. All our dysphagia people are taught to do the "chin tuck," the exact opposite

I do this too! I have no issues swallowing food. The head fling thing gets the pill to the back of my mouth. I'm sure I could just reach all the way back with my fingers and put it there, but otherwise I just can't figure out how to get it back there in the first place. The problem with dysphagia is things getting back there too soon and losing control of them, not being unable to get items to the back of the mouth in the first place, so they are definitely separate problems.

I guess it's just a psychological thing, but when I swallow huge chunks of food they go by way of my teeth, which are on the sides of my mouth, to my throat. I don't know how to get something from the tip of my tongue down the middle of my tongue to my throat, which is a totally different movement. I guess it does look funny to other people!

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Had a female pt squat over a urinal and poop in it, despite being ambulatory and me offering to walk her to the restroom. She said "eh, this is just as easy". Um, okay then!

had a female pt squat over a hat to pee and wound up falling on the floor...note - she was AOX3, ambulatory with no bed alarm...wound up being a high fall risk complete with bed alarm and safety sitter after that little stunt!

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

Disrobing. It seems like every AMS patient is obsessed with disrobing. What psychological process or bizarre cognition could possibly possess an adult's will to necessitate removing their clothing?

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They were born that way! :)

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Really? Do you have issues swallowing food as well? I ask this sincerely, as someone with no issues swallowing food or pills. How does it help to do the head fling thing? Does the pill otherwise feel stuck? Is it because it tastes nasty or gags you?

I wanted to ask my patient this, but could not think of a nice way to ask how the patient could swallow huge chunks of a burger with hardly even chewing it, but not the tiny pill.

Perplexing. All our dysphagia people are taught to do the "chin tuck," the exact opposite

No issues at all with food. Its psychological. My head says "you are going to choke on this". Why it doesnt do that with food I have no idea. And to make it even worse, I have to chew it once to get that simulation that it is food. Needless to say, I dont take many meds if at all.

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

I love our lady who yells at the top of her lungs..." put me in bed you SOB`s"

after her meals....its usually after they're lined up in the hallways to be laid back down after meals.

Somedays you gotta laugh to keep from crying! :yes:

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.
No issues at all with food. Its psychological. My head says "you are going to choke on this". Why it doesnt do that with food I have no idea. And to make it even worse, I have to chew it once to get that simulation that it is food. Needless to say, I dont take many meds if at all.

:singing: A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down...the medicine go dooown.....the medicine go down......

Here's my favorites: Once I covered my friend, We'll call her Melissa, for lunch. She had a very needy patient in the last room at the end of the hall that would call her often. She checked on him just before giving me report. The nurse handed me her vocera and went to lunch. A few minutes later her vocera went off and I heard her needy patient whisper, "Meleesaaaaah.....Meleesaaaah......" It sounded kind of creepy. I told the patient nicely that she was at lunch and if I could help in anyway. He whispered, "Oh. It's ok I will wait for Melissa." He did this a few times in the next 15 minutes.

I went to his room. He just needed his bed brought up because his lunch tray was delivered. He was comfortable with Melissa as his nurse but didn't wan't to bother/trouble me. He was a sweet older man with a very soft, sometimes whispering voice. But it sure did sound creepy when he whispered on the vocera. I teased my friend a bit that day and would whisper "Meleeesaaaah....." when I walked by her.

Another time I had this bedbound lady from an LTC. She was slightly confused. In the mornings I would go in her room and feed her breakfast. She was so excited for her coffee. She would say quickly, almost whispering, "coffee coffee coffee coffee....." while I was getting it ready for her. She did this everytime she wanted a drink in between bites of food too. Sometimes before my break when I am craving a cup of coffee I can still hear her.....coffee coffee coffee coffee.....

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Specializes in retired LTC.
No issues at all with food. Its psychological. My head says "you are going to choke on this". Why it doesnt do that with food I have no idea. And to make it even worse, I have to chew it once to get that simulation that it is food. Needless to say, I dont take many meds if at all.
It IS psychological. I can't swallow a bare, naked white aspirin or Tylenol pill. Everything must be enteric-coated or capsule. No problem swallowing a big handful at one time (even those horse-pill vitamins), but don't ask me to do a white ASA or Tylenol.

As a kid, I did seriously gag on a tyl/ASA - almost aspirated it after gasping for air. So, yes I do crazies with some pills, too.

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Asthma/COPD pts complaining their inhalers don't work worth crap as you see their pack of Camels sticking out of their purse/pocket and can almost see the smoke clinging to them.

Regarding the pill thing, I'm in my mid-30s and have a strong gag reflex. Most pills require I take a bite of food, chew it thoroughly, and stick the pill in as I'm swallowing the bite of food. I physically gag and choke on pills with just water. The pill gets stuck at the back of my throat. I've had problems swallowing pills my entire life. Food and drinks don't bother me at all, just pills.

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