Comments | burrito19: Work-a-billy

burrito19

Work-a-billy

May 29, 2008 20:09

Home from another exciting shift in the ER. I diagnosed constipation - twice! I saw a girl who was arrested on Monday and came to the ER today because she had pain in her back from when the cops pinned her to the floor. She's been in pain for four days but came in today for "documentation" of it. Mind you, her doctor's office is a stone's throw ( Read more... )

er, residency

Comments 8

orphandani May 30 2008, 03:28:19 UTC

pneumomediastinum

Air between the lungs... could it be caused by mucho rib-straining coughing? If so, I think I'm there! So glad I'm seeing my regular doc tomorrow.....

burrito19 May 30 2008, 13:08:03 UTC

I don't know, but I'm prone to being a hypochondriac simply because I know TOO MUCH.

I still feel totally crap-like today and I'm still having chest pain. No shortness of breath and it doesn't hurt to take a deep breath, but I've been sick for over a week now and it's getting worse, not better. I'm off from the ER today and I have an appointment to see my family doc this morning.

orphandani May 31 2008, 04:13:34 UTC

Dr. Buddy says he doesn't know what to do... his favorite doc and his favorite person, both sick at the same time... Gack!

Get well soon! (And I'll try to do likewise!)

glitterberrys May 30 2008, 03:29:37 UTC

People come to the ER when they can't poop? Seriously?

I know a lot of people don't have private doctors, and the ER sees a lot of non-urgent stuff because of it, but...they couldn't poop? I figure I'd try prune juice and/or colace before paying a few thousand dollars to figure out that I need to take a dump.

Yet somehow I still wish I had what it takes to be a doctor. I must be a masochist and not even know it.

burrito19 May 30 2008, 13:11:02 UTC

It's usually not the "not pooping" part that brings people in. It's the abdominal pain part that does. The pain comes in all shapes and sizes - constant, dull, achy, crampy, colicky, stabby - you name it. I had a boy yesterday I was sure had a kidney stone because he was writhing on the bed. After he tooted he felt better. An abdominal x-ray confirmed my diagnosis of FOS - full of shit. Constipation is the great mimicker.

And the paying of money? Surely you jest! Most of the folks that roll through our doors are not of the money-paying variety. Why, it's people like you and me who pay FOR their visit to the hospital, including the ambulance ride!

glitterberrys May 30 2008, 16:24:15 UTC

I'm not sure what it says about me that when I have any sort of abdominal pain - stabbing, constant, better when I lie on my back with my legs in the air - my first thought is "Hmm, when was the last time I spent some quality time in the bathroom?"

glitterberrys June 1 2008, 00:32:02 UTC

Hey, I don't want to be that person who harasses their doctor LJ friend with shit like this, but the internet is absolutely no help.

My sweat smells kinda like maple syrup (only noticeable when I've got a good amount of sweat going on and go out of my way to sniff - which I only started doing once I noticed I smelled like waffles, I don't make a habit out of smelling myself). Doctor says I don't have diabetes, though he only did a simple blood test with a battery of other ones when I first got sick. My thyroid is fine. Any idea what gives? Or could the diabetes test have been inaccurate? Because I've been eating unusual amounts of sugar these past couple of days. (It's HOT! I need ice cream!) Definitely my sweat, not my skin. Any ideas?

burrito19 June 6 2008, 07:00:09 UTC

That's a new one on me. I honestly have no idea. There's an inborn error of metabolism called maple syrup urine disease but you'd have been sick long before now with it. Interesting.