I have two chronic conditions that have been an incredible hassle over recent weeks. One of them has been a huge part of my recent employment issues (epilepsy, which rears its stupid, ugly face when I lack adequate sleep, though that wasn't everything at work). Both (epilepsy and spondylolisthesis) have made this week the suck!
What have I learned?
1. Don't go to Disney if you have any type of ortho or neuro issue that restricts your ability to ride almost everything. You'll be in pain and watching your vacation fly by from the sidelines.
2. If your inlaws are selfish jerks, do not tell them how your handicapped arm band works. They WILL hijack your pass (and your entire days making you unable to do anything you want) and treat you like ess when you shut that crap down because you're tired of sitting around waiting for a turn to use it (never happened until the end).
3. It makes my blood boil that people do NOT understand chronic medical issues, or at least open their minds to the fact that they may not understand what they are seeing. Instead, people go straight to, "I bet it's her meds for her back. That is not what epilepsy looks like." No, I didn't learn this one. I was reminded of it. My husband loved being called a liar. PEOPLE! EPILEPSY LOOKS LIKE "EPILEPSY" LESS THAN IT DOESN'T.
4. Girl Child has anxiety. This rips my heart out. My husband needs some coaching on this, but so far he's done okay.
5. Winning a fitbit workweek challenge against people who regularly go >20k is the best feat ever consider all the stuff above going on. I had a 28k day! Nurses, get a pedometer (if you don't have one) and challenge yourselves!
I have so few health/nursey (somewhat) things to add. Mostly I share this to help others when working with patients who share similar conditions. Lived experiences can sometimes trump textbook learning. So, ditch the inlaws early, get plenty of medicine, get benzos in case of persistent seizure episodes, and going to Disney right before spinal fusion is stupid. Wait a year.
I hope you all have had great weeks! I have not kept up at all.
Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.
Click the link in the post you responded to. Definitely not the good luck ones.
Yep, that's the lady bug I know. They are friends to farmers down here and eat the aphids which destroy crops. I read that they were brought into our country to help control the aphids in a more natural way. I have taken many a lady outside to set her free if she is stuck in my house.
I do have a hilarious nursing story about a ladybug trapped during surgery but am not sure I need to share it here. I am not trying to take the thread away...oh I know.
What I learned in nursing is that terminally cleaning the OR still requires a five minute lady bug check before reuse. Everytime. I learned that said lady bug can walk on the ceiling totally mindless and unconcerned about the operation happening below her. I learned that the OR director can control her breathing and panic attack while inventing the perfect tool to get said lady bug off the ceiling without her flying into the sterile field with a long handled mop handle and sticky sided tape.
I learned said lady bug will stick rather nicely to the tape, surly surgeon the god-man never was aware of any lady bug issues but did wonder why panicking OR Director smiled and excused herself with the handle and the lady bug proudly displayed on the end of the tape.
Sterile field saved. Less potential for additional infections.
I learned that I am in awe of the many intelligent and smart posters in that monstrous vaccine thread who are fighting the pseudo science and other nonsense with actual science and a lot of patience. Kudos to all of them, they rock.
I learned that I have the best boss ever and my co-workers are the best. I had the worst week of my career as a nurse. I can't be too specific about what happened as I suspect some folks where I work read AN but lets just say it involved a nurse (me), an orientee, and a major med error that led to the harm of a resident. Thankfully the resident is fine now but I am still in shock that I let it happen. My boss was very understanding and is using the incident as a teachable moment and an opportunity to improve systems so that such an error never happens again. My co-workers have been very supportive. I am still rattled and having nightmares about the whole thing.
ixchel, sorry to hear that you have had such a rough time and I hope your surgery and recovery goes well.
Count me in as one with a crappy week. Last night, my emailed my resignation in to my DON to be effective on May 7. I have been in this LTC for a year and things just get worse. I am of the age, where I don't need to take all this crap and drama. I had asked to work on just my weekends. I have already worked more this month than those 4 days. Yes, I was trying to be nice and help out. Had to call in sick yesterday and boy did I get reamed by one of the other nurses. Not my fault he couldn't say NO. I love my residents, but don't like so many other things about my job, like the administration. I am having quite the anxiety moments this week. Been able to avoid anti anxiety meds, but not sure how much longer that will last.
I have signed on with an Agency for agency nursing. Haven't been able to take shifts due to my work schedule and my personal life. That will change now. Some of the closer places are in the state north which is not a compact state so am sending for my endorsement there so I can take those shifts.
I am just so tired and exhausted and life is too short to deal with some of the stuff I have had to deal with.
Now, I need to figure out how to convince my husband into buying a condo down in southern Texas on the beach.
So sorry things have been so tough at work. The reason I stay at the LTC where I work, even though I would earn more at other nearby facilities, is because of my DON/ADON. They are amazing. I have worked for crappy bosses/managers in my non-nursing days and it sucked. Good luck and I hope you get that condo on the beach.
An update from me... It is possible a resolution for employment stuff is coming my way in the next day or two. This situation is just too damn complicated. Anyway, today I have so far learned little about that, but hope to learn something later.
My spouse has learned today what my preferences are if I experience severe post op complications.
I have learned its hard to talk about that stuff without being matter of fact, and I forget I need to soften some things for him.
I think my spouse has just learned that the immediate risks at this time may actually outweigh the immediate benefit, but that the long term benefit outweighs the long term risks. This feels much scarier to both of us. 7 more days.
I have learned just how much I wish surgery could be my only worry right now. Honest to god, I do not know how I'm going to get through these coming days.
I have love and gratitude for all of you. The chatter in these threads keeps me coming back, and that is something I've needed.
ixchel, I am sending you good wishes and thoughts and prayers (if that's ok). I am so sorry things are so tough for you right now.
Cheyenne RN,BSHS
285 Posts
Yep, that's the lady bug I know. They are friends to farmers down here and eat the aphids which destroy crops. I read that they were brought into our country to help control the aphids in a more natural way. I have taken many a lady outside to set her free if she is stuck in my house.
I do have a hilarious nursing story about a ladybug trapped during surgery but am not sure I need to share it here. I am not trying to take the thread away...oh I know.
What I learned in nursing is that terminally cleaning the OR still requires a five minute lady bug check before reuse. Everytime. I learned that said lady bug can walk on the ceiling totally mindless and unconcerned about the operation happening below her. I learned that the OR director can control her breathing and panic attack while inventing the perfect tool to get said lady bug off the ceiling without her flying into the sterile field with a long handled mop handle and sticky sided tape.
I learned said lady bug will stick rather nicely to the tape, surly surgeon the god-man never was aware of any lady bug issues but did wonder why panicking OR Director smiled and excused herself with the handle and the lady bug proudly displayed on the end of the tape.
Sterile field saved. Less potential for additional infections.