The Russians insist for gastroenteritis vodka with black pepper. A couple of kids even got out of detention when they found vodka in their rooms, because the parents explained it was medicinal. It turns out this was not just an excuse, but is widely believed. They use vodka for many of their health problems. I've never tested this theory out, but they truly believe it, Who knows?
A grain of sugar in a hard to get out splinter - a Zimbabwean nurse showed me this, and it really worked. The sugar apparently draws in fluid, and the splinter works its way out. Never used it myself, but watched the result when my colleague has. There have been some stories in the papers about the use of sugar lately, so they might have some hard evidence soon.
Fractured clavicles - we had some problems because the Russian parents insisted a middle clavicle fracture should be operated and put back in alignment, while local doctor's said no. Parents still angry despite 3 doctor's recommendations, and flew child home for surgery.
Bedrest - for minor coughs/colds, Russian parents insist on complete rest in bed, and the insist that a temp of 37.0 centigrade is a fever.
Just some of the interesting things I've come across.
Doesn't happen anymore (that I know about) but doctors would taste urine to diagnose diabetes. I'm thinking they could just spill it and let it dry . . . very sticky.
Yeah, diabetes is from an awkward Greek word that means "to pass through," and mellitus is from the Greek word for honey or sweetness. So diabetes mellitus is "passing sweetness." I tried to get my endocrinologist to do this test for me, but he refused. No sense of tradition, that guy.
The Greek etymology also explains why we have diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus when they're not related physiologically. It's all about the pee.
Well, I can't tell how long between your OP and the follow up "b*tth*rt" one where you think people are ignoring you, so I'm not sure if it's attention seeking or that your original topic isn't that interesting. Then I see how many threads you've started in the short period of time that you've been here. Now I vote "attention seeking"
Had a resident (well, he passed away this week) that had scheduled thorazine for hiccups!
We use leeches on the trauma floor. I had a patient with one on her neck, just behind her ear, that came off in the bed... she was uncomfortable to begin with, but once that thing was in the bed with her she flipped out. Can't say I blame her.
Thorazine is old school, but Haldol can also be used for intractable hiccups. Atypical APs can also be used as adjuvant pain medication.
QUOTE]Anybody work with leeches and maggot therapy? End of shift leech count was my favorite.
I worked with maggot therapy on a large sacral pressure ulcer once. It was a really cool procedure and it might have had a fighting chance to help if it had been started earlier. Unfortunately by the time the doc decided to order this last ditch effort it was too late and the lady passed away within a week of the therapy starting.
Had a resident (well, he passed away this week) that had scheduled thorazine for hiccups!
Weird. It's medically indicated, but not for long term use. The dose for intractable hiccups is high - often higher than for psychosis - but it's only recommended for 3-4 days total because of the high risk of thrombocytopenia and liver dysfunction. Maybe your patient couldn't take Haldol due to sensitivity... which would be strange (being able to take Thorazine but not Haldol), but you know physiology is weird, so anything is possible.
In the psych unit I've started doing some of the stuff from this book, which the patients generally hate ("Can't I just have Ativan... and trazodone... and maybe Zyprexa... or Restoril?"), but I'm the anti-drug nurse.
Weird. It's medically indicated, but not for long term use. The dose for intractable hiccups is high - often higher than for psychosis - but it's only recommended for 3-4 days total because of the high risk of thrombocytopenia and liver dysfunction. Maybe your patient couldn't take Haldol due to sensitivity... which would be strange (being able to take Thorazine but not Haldol), but you know physiology is weird, so anything is possible.
I'm enjoying learning about this (haldol, Thorazine, etc. for intractable hiccups). Thank you for sharing it. We had a patient who had intractable hiccups last week and he would end up in pain and nauseous from it all. Could you imagine living with this? I'd hide from people just to get away from the inevitable comments annoying people would make and the eye rolls that would come after saying it hurts.
Somehow my keyboard turned "u's" into *'s!! So weird....
It may have been censored by mods. They normally add more stars than that, but maybe your comment would have lost all meaning if we couldn't figure out the word at all?
Well, I can't tell how long between your OP and the follow up "b*tth*rt" one where you think people are ignoring you, so I'm not sure if it's attention seeking or that your original topic isn't that interesting. Then I see how many threads you've started in the short period of time that you've been here. Now I vote "attention seeking"
So I can add this to my list of things I learned this week, let's go over proper usage of b*tth*rt.
An inappropriately strong negative emotional response from a perceived personal insult. Characterized by strong feelings of shame. Frequently associated with a cessation of communication and overt hostility towards the "aggressor."
I would add, frequently preceded by "all". As in, "He was all b*tth*rt that she wouldn't catherize that female patient for him".
Dogen
897 Posts
Yeah, diabetes is from an awkward Greek word that means "to pass through," and mellitus is from the Greek word for honey or sweetness. So diabetes mellitus is "passing sweetness." I tried to get my endocrinologist to do this test for me, but he refused. No sense of tradition, that guy.
The Greek etymology also explains why we have diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus when they're not related physiologically. It's all about the pee.