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?
@jeastridge Not a nurse. Former CNA, stay at home mom, going to nursing school soon (waiting on my acceptance letter!!)
There is a definite smell of death, I've come across it many times. Also that last tarry black bm a hospice patient may have.. unforgettable. But that brings me to a point- idk without being able to experience my patient fully (gross smells and all) I would be doing that patient a disservice as a health care professional. For example, if I were to wear a mask going into stinky rooms.. I may miss the ripe smell of infection. If I smelled infection I would check for it, if I didn't smell it- it has a better chance of going overlooked by myself and countless others until someone (finally) notices it. At that point, how bad has the infection gotten? Idk just a 4am insomniac thought..
Long story short...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?
I'm a little bit concerned about your situation and the symptoms being exhibited.
Some people have suggested that you go and visit your dentist. If you have done that and you're still tasting the "poop", for lack of a better word, out of your mouth."
The next step, I'd do is, check with your MD, if you are allowed to have Mag. Citrate; perhaps, a little stronger might help, and that would be drinking a gallon of Go-lytely, and since you're already on it, follow it up with a warm soap suds enema.
If none of these works, since you've, already done the first steps, look-up, just in case you missed it. This time, check with your MD if you are allowed to have an endoscopy or colonoscopy.
I hope that solves your problem! Please, do, keep us posted!
I'm a little bit concerned about your situation and the symptoms being exhibited.
Some people have suggested that you go and visit your dentist. If you have done that and you're still tasting the "poop", for lack of a better word, out of your mouth."
The next step, I'd do is, check with your MD, if you are allowed to have Mag. Citrate; perhaps, a little stronger might help, and that would be drinking a gallon of Go-lytely, and since you're already on it, follow it up with a warm soap suds enema.
If none of these works, since you've, already done the first steps, look-up, just in case you missed it. This time, check with your MD if you are allowed to have an endoscopy or colonoscopy.
I hope that solves your problem! Please, do, keep us posted!
1) I will never forget the smell of a uterine cancer. Ever. And that's not even the worst.
2) My first clinical rotation at an LTC got the smell of old, sick people and oatmeal stuck in my nose. I scrubbed myself raw to get rid of that smell....
3) I thought I'd be used to hospital smell by now (yay second semester!) but I'm not! The smell of artificial citrus makes me irrationally angry because it smells like work! And why/how does all hospital food manage to smell the same....yuck
I smell infected/necrotic foot wounds all day (I work for a podiatrist) and I still prefer that to the smell of hospital food and that weird scent old folks get when they haven't had a proper shower in a few days.
I always carried those big eucalyptus cough drops for situations like this. They have a really strong taste and smell that tends to over power what I don't like.
Probably smelled it, but since the cranial nerve 5, the trigeminal has the smell and taste branches,they converge at the same root right before entering your brain. Leading your brain to mistranslate/misdirect some of the incoming signals? That would be my guess
joleneliddell
87 Posts
@jeastridge Not a nurse. Former CNA, stay at home mom, going to nursing school soon (waiting on my acceptance letter!!)
There is a definite smell of death, I've come across it many times. Also that last tarry black bm a hospice patient may have.. unforgettable. But that brings me to a point- idk without being able to experience my patient fully (gross smells and all) I would be doing that patient a disservice as a health care professional. For example, if I were to wear a mask going into stinky rooms.. I may miss the ripe smell of infection. If I smelled infection I would check for it, if I didn't smell it- it has a better chance of going overlooked by myself and countless others until someone (finally) notices it. At that point, how bad has the infection gotten? Idk just a 4am insomniac thought..