Medical Issues
"You talking to me? Or chewing a brick? Either way, you'll lose teeth". Ahh, Viz comics such memorable lines. Yes, yesterday I visited my dentist for a tooth removal. As mentioned previously, my teeth are well-cared for in waking hours. I hadn't been to the dentist in over ten years, but I have no signs of decay. Instead, courtesy of recent stresses in my personal life, I have unconsciously generated three vertically-cracked molars; "How bad is it? Well, I'm literally losing teeth over it". The one that is definitely dead was removed yesterday, courtesy of a cancelled appointment, a lot quicker and less painful than my last appointment as this tooth did not have a corkscrew-shaped root. Another two are being checked in a few weeks; one has my doubts about it, the other I am somewhat more optimistic. It's all a little annoying; often painful, time-consuming, and would be horrifically expensive for those on lower incomes (it's a scandal that dental isn't on Medicare). But I think the worse part is actually psychological, the loss serving as a very visceral reminder of the damage. There is good reason to have the steely stoic exterior for the mind and the stormy romantic interior for the body; "think thoughts, feel feelings". But time wounds all heels and there is an inevitable junction point between the two. In this case, my body remembers via its teeth.
It is appropriate then that today I have completed what is now a very extensive theory component of renewing my First Aid certificate. Workplaces are legally required to have first-aiders on call, and it's a role that I've willingly taken up for a number of years and, in a few incidents, have actually used the knowledge and skills acquired. Times being as they are, the content has changed somewhat. There is, for example, a lot more emphasis on the prevention of danger to the first-aider, such as preventing cross-infection and the use of resuscitation masks when performing CPR, or other means of avoiding direct contact. It contrasts strongly with the "do anything that works and use anything that's available" approach that I first learned many years ago and I can see the logic in both approaches, even if my old preferences still lie with the latter. Another welcome new component is the emphasis on first-aider stress and debriefing. Any emotional situation has the potential to affect the well-being of the victims, the first aiders, and bystanders, and whilst some stress in such situations almost inevitable, it can potentially lead to flashbacks, depression, panic attacks, even PTSD (it's in the name), etc.
One of the core lessons that is taught is not to step beyond your area of expertise; "When in doubt, seek medical advice" is how I was brought up, and it seems to the appropriate course of action. On that matter, I have enormous gratitude for the affirmation and support I have received from friends from a recent medical incident, especially those who are in medical professions themselves; nurses, doctors, specialists, psychologists, and, to be frank, probably some of the best in the country (who, for some curious reason, have deigned to be my friend as well). As was gently pointed out, yes it is a tough call, and perhaps imperfectly carried out, but it is better to act and err on the side of caution and leave the decisions to medical professionals, than not act and live with potentially much worse consequences. Differences between estranged friends can be patched up at a later date when cooler heads prevail, but it requires both parties to be in the land of the living. Frankly, that has to be the priority. This entry was originally posted at https://tcpip.dreamwidth.org/314606.html.
It is appropriate then that today I have completed what is now a very extensive theory component of renewing my First Aid certificate. Workplaces are legally required to have first-aiders on call, and it's a role that I've willingly taken up for a number of years and, in a few incidents, have actually used the knowledge and skills acquired. Times being as they are, the content has changed somewhat. There is, for example, a lot more emphasis on the prevention of danger to the first-aider, such as preventing cross-infection and the use of resuscitation masks when performing CPR, or other means of avoiding direct contact. It contrasts strongly with the "do anything that works and use anything that's available" approach that I first learned many years ago and I can see the logic in both approaches, even if my old preferences still lie with the latter. Another welcome new component is the emphasis on first-aider stress and debriefing. Any emotional situation has the potential to affect the well-being of the victims, the first aiders, and bystanders, and whilst some stress in such situations almost inevitable, it can potentially lead to flashbacks, depression, panic attacks, even PTSD (it's in the name), etc.
One of the core lessons that is taught is not to step beyond your area of expertise; "When in doubt, seek medical advice" is how I was brought up, and it seems to the appropriate course of action. On that matter, I have enormous gratitude for the affirmation and support I have received from friends from a recent medical incident, especially those who are in medical professions themselves; nurses, doctors, specialists, psychologists, and, to be frank, probably some of the best in the country (who, for some curious reason, have deigned to be my friend as well). As was gently pointed out, yes it is a tough call, and perhaps imperfectly carried out, but it is better to act and err on the side of caution and leave the decisions to medical professionals, than not act and live with potentially much worse consequences. Differences between estranged friends can be patched up at a later date when cooler heads prevail, but it requires both parties to be in the land of the living. Frankly, that has to be the priority. This entry was originally posted at https://tcpip.dreamwidth.org/314606.html.