1. My dad takes his lasix and digoxin religiously, but never takes his potassium.
2. My mom takes tylenol PM to sleep every night, even though she has no pain, just wants to sleep. I keep telling her plain benadryl will suffice, and she insists that tylenol PM works better.
3. My whole family abuses antibiotics. They take half courses. They save them for future use. They want them for stuffy noses. They want them in case their colds turns into an infection- just in case.
A friend that c/o migraines CONSTANTLY and pops Imitrex like it's candy DAILY. After an long night of drinking she woke up with 'the worst migraine ever'! Suprised that the Imitrex didn't help. IT'S A FREAKING HANGOVER!!!!
1. If you're diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis then going on thyroid replacment therapy isn't providing your body with an unnatural crutch. Yes, I'm sure - I work on an endocrinology unit, have for the past 15+ years. No, taking less than the prescribed amount won't be "almost as good"
2. Me: "Dad has an autoimmune disease" (that has a high mortality rate, but you all live overseas so let's not worry about telling you that just yet)
2 out of 3 siblings: "Is that, like, code for AIDS?"
Me: "No, AIDS is where your immune system isn't working properly; autoimmune diseases are where your immune system gets ramped up and attacks itself instead of invading organisms"
Siblings: "Are you sure?"
Me: (Uh, the mix of specialties on my ward includes the state's HIV/AIDS inpatient service) "Yes"
Siblings: "So it's not AIDS?"
Me: "No"
Siblings: "Okay" - but no questions about what it actually is, prognosis etc
Actually, my habits are much worse than my families.
They are all healthy, live life in moderation, and if they DO face a medical issue, are compliant.
Me.....also healthy, moderate, but have a "yearly" physical about every 5 years. I tend to think if I leave something alone, it will go away. I avoid seeking medical care at all costs. My joke about myself is that I'll be dead 6 months before I see a doctor.:)
Terrific thread! Thanks for the many chuckles! :chuckle
One of my personal favorites is when family members hear of some awful medical event, like someone injured in a car accident, and have to try to "explain" the injuries and treatments to me as if I've never heard of this stuff before. I always want to ask them what they think I've been doing in the PICU for the last 18 years.
Another was when DH's cousin was a resident doing a rotation in a different PICU. I had to hear DH's family go on and on about the different things she was seeing in great amazement, even though they're no different than what I'd been seeing for the last decade. :chuckle Again, what do you people think I have been doing these last many years at work?
~When your elderly father (86 y/o) calls you, tells you he's very dizzy, tilting to the right, has some SOB, and is very, very fatigued....and then refuses to go to the hospital because he doesn't feel like dealing with Drs. all night long.
Yes, this just happened. He's taking a shower (auuuughhhhhh!) and will call me back in a few minutes...we may be taking a trip to the ER tonight...which would make his daughter (that would be me) very, very happy. 'Course, we may not, too...which would make his daughter (me again) very, very stressed...
~When your elderly father (86 y/o) calls you, tells you he's very dizzy, tilting to the right, has some SOB, and is very, very fatigued....and then refuses to go to the hospital because he doesn't feel like dealing with Drs. all night long.
Yes, this just happened. He's taking a shower (auuuughhhhhh!) and will call me back in a few minutes...we may be taking a trip to the ER tonight...which would make his daughter (that would be me) very, very happy. 'Course, we may not, too...which would make his daughter (me again) very, very stressed...
Well, my stepdad has some (I think) fairly bad acid reflux that he never fully discusses with his doctor (first mistake that kind of drives me crazy....but then again his doctor only seems to do the most cursory exam/assessment, so that doesn't help), but on top of that, he doesn't even take the simple, non-medication type steps to try to lessen the problem! He uses crazy amounts of hot sauce, eats REALLY big meals and goes to bed shortly there after, and the list continues.
But I think that one of the funniest/most aggravating moments with him was the other night, when I came downstairs and noticed him gulping down Coke (RIGHT before bed!) and I was like, "Ummm...you know that's probably going to make your heartburn/reflux worse, right? Because of carbonation?" Of course he knew I was right-as evidenced by his sheepish look-but he just looked a little guilty and said, "Ohh, but I'm so thirsty!" And this morning he mentioned that he thought that "maybe he should try some Zantac"
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Well, my stepdad has some (I think) fairly bad acid reflux that he never fully discusses with his doctor (first mistake that kind of drives me crazy....but then again his doctor only seems to do the most cursory exam/assessment, so that doesn't help), but on top of that, he doesn't even take the simple, non-medication type steps to try to lessen the problem! He uses crazy amounts of hot sauce, eats REALLY big meals and goes to bed shortly there after, and the list continues.
But I think that one of the funniest/most aggravating moments with him was the other night, when I came downstairs and noticed him gulping down Coke (RIGHT before bed!) and I was like, "Ummm...you know that's probably going to make your heartburn/reflux worse, right? Because of carbonation?" Of course he knew I was right-as evidenced by his sheepish look-but he just looked a little guilty and said, "Ohh, but I'm so thirsty!" And this morning he mentioned that he thought that "maybe he should try some Zantac"
Ummmm........you just described ME to a T!!
I am hopelessly addicted to hot, spicy foods and Diet Coke. Unfortunately, as much as I love these things, they do NOT love me back, especially since my gallbladder died and had to be removed back in 2005. So I've learned to simply pop a Zantac before I tuck into a plateful of enchiladas and chipotle salsa---when I remember, that is:icon_roll---and hope for the best. When I forget to take it, I burp up fire for twelve hours.........NOT a happy time, I can tell you.
Here's where "civilians" will chime in and go "But you're a NURSE, you know better!" Well, knowing better and doing better are two totally different animals, and I'm only human....
michael79
133 Posts
A friend that c/o migraines CONSTANTLY and pops Imitrex like it's candy DAILY. After an long night of drinking she woke up with 'the worst migraine ever'! Suprised that the Imitrex didn't help. IT'S A FREAKING HANGOVER!!!!
A husband that calls all medication ASA.