I can't get "poop" taste out of my mouth?

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Long story short, had 2nd clinical ever today and was assigned to a very edematous bed-bound pt with right-sided CHF. She had really bad skin breakdown and, as we were turning her to change the sheets, I felt like a lot of "debris" from the sheets went up into to the air. I could actually see it in the air. I wanted to slap the nurse b/c she wasn't being careful with them. Anyway, I feel like I definitely inhaled whatever "particles" these were and now I can't get the taste of "poop", for lack of a better word, out of my mouth.

Does skin break-down have a certain smell that mirrors feces? She had been using the bed-pan for her bowel movements, but I'm not sure if she had feces in between her skin folds or in the old sheets, b/c I wasn't on that side of her when turning her.

It is really rather unpleasant. I've tried brushing my teeth and mouth-washing and it has still come back on and off over the past few hours. UGH.

Am I crazy? What did I inhale? Should I be worried?

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

You sound like you are new that this and blowing something that was no big deal into something huge. This taste is very likely in your head. If what you were tasting was actually poop, you would likely be vomiting. I have never tasted, but by smell alone I'm going to assume vomit would be inevitable if it got in my mouth.

Broken down own skin does not generally just float in the air unless her skin was super dry and she had been laying there for quite a while for it to have gotten enough to become airborne with a roll.

It was likely good crumbs. But as I get further into this answer, a few things come to mind. Did you actually see debri? You were on second clinical day ever and somehow feel experienced enough to want to slap a nurse over what you deemed an improper turning technique? Is this even real or are you trying to get a rise out of people? Just the ridiculousness of this whole thing is out there.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Keep a stick of gum or a piece of peppermint in your mouth and keep it moving because, Suga, you ain't seen nothin' yet.:D

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Floss. See your dentist, cuz this sounds more like a coincidental dental problem. If it's not made-up.

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Specializes in ICU.

Just wait until someone rips a sock off in front of you, and you experience the wonders of dry foot flakes snowing down upon you/into your mouth/hair.

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Just wait until someone rips a sock off in front of you, and you experience the wonders of dry foot flakes snowing down upon you/into your mouth/hair.

YES. This is what gets me. Every. Single. Time.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
YES. This is what gets me. Every. Single. Time.

"Elder dust"

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Oh...oh no...

So sorry but....

YOU BREATHED THAT EVIL POO RIGHT INTO YOUR VERY SOUL. AND NEXT, YOU'LL GET AN AGGRESSIVE URGE TO SLAP THE NEAREST NURSE AND THE EVERLASTING TASTE OF POO...oh darn that already happened....so there's no going back now. Classic case of patient-poo-possession. Accept your fate.

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Just wait until someone rips a sock off in front of you, and you experience the wonders of dry foot flakes snowing down upon you/into your mouth/hair.[/quote

I call that gomer dust. Inhaled a lot over the years, with no untoward effects. However, I learned to mask up whenever removing stockings of any sort.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Floss. See your dentist, cuz this sounds more like a coincidental dental problem. If it's not made-up.

Exactly what I was going to say! Additionally people with tonsiliths will get "poop" taste in their mouth when a stone is forming or is dislodged. But to me it sounds like a coincidental dental or ENT issue.

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Wow, seriously you guys with all the hate? I was asking a serious question and NO IT'S NOT A DENTAL ISSUE. I floss every night and have perfect teeth and gums and have never had a cavity.

And YES, I wanted to slap the nurse, b/c we were taught that you are supposed to roll up the dirty bedding gently and so that the dirty side is on the inside, while having the dirty linens bin nearby, not just fling it all over the place and eventually onto the floor, causing debris to go everywhere.

The residual "taste" has mostly gone away, and I have several nurse friends who have confirmed that they have had this happen as well.

So, yeah, you can all get off your high horse. Jeez...

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"Elder dust"

:roflmao:

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