Have you ever had a patient share a gem of their own medical wisdom with you ... and it just struck you as funny?
Today I had an older patient, 1st day post-op. He had an NG in place which was causing him considerable nasal irritation in addition to his abdominal surgery pain. He had started on Toradol earlier in the day for pain not covered by his other pain meds.
He said to me: "I'm allergic to the 'Torazone'. You know how you can tell if someone is allergic to a medication? Their nose is running like mine is, because when your allergic to a medicine, it gets excreted though your nose."
Though I managed to keep a straight face, I'm still grinning over that one.
I'd love to hear any funny bits of wisdom your patients may have shared with you!
It was my first 11-7 shift working by myself. I was sitting at the desk charting and i heard this lady say, " George I have a headache, go to sleep!" I sat up and look around to see who was talking and no one was there. Next I heard, "George I said NO! I have a headache!!! Leave me alone!" So I got up and started walking down the hall to see what was going on. At the 2nd room I heard this little old lady say, "Oh alright already come on!" So I peaked into this room in time to see this lady roll over in bed towards the side rail and throw her arm over it like she was hugging it, then she said, " Well dammit! thats just a side rail poking at me!" That was my first on the job experience that no matter how old you are sex is still on the brain LOL:imbar
I floated to the emergency room once and interviewed an elderly woman as to why she came to the er..She looked at me quizzically and asked me where else did I think she should go. I tried to explain that I needed to know the reason she came. Because I'm sick you fool! After getting through that fiasco, I had to ask her what medications she was on. Latex and rabbit pills..I politely excused myself and checked her old records..The meds were actually "Lasix and verapamil" Couldn't wait to get out of there...She did NOT like me...
While working in a long term care facility- I had gone in to introduce myself to a new admit and his family. When I walked into the room- his wife and son were putting his clothes away in his closet and he was sitting on the bed. I began talking to him (to determine his cognitive level- it was on an alzheimers unit). I introduced myself and said "And you must be John..." He looked at me and then said something about "the farm..." His wife then smiled at me and said- "This is my husband John and he is "sprinkled" with alzheimers."
She said it with such love and affection....I think it made the diagnosis easier for her to accept..."sprinkle" is a soft gentle word. "John" is still living at that facility and his dedicated wife still visits him daily (3 yrs later)
Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.
Working in the Cath Lab, one of the Cardiologists swore he could feel when the X-rays were on, could feel them going through him. . .. The techs and I would just roll our eyes @ each other (but hey, -- really, who knows???!!!)
A doc told me last night he was discussing code status with a woman. She said "Doctor, I want everything possible done for me, unless I'm gonna be a vegetarian for the rest of my life."
kmchugh
801 Posts
Actually, there are patients who are allergic to benedryl. Kinda sucks, huh?
Kevin McHugh