Usually there are so many scumbags out there and we are always complaining about the crappy people we deal with, I thought it might be nice to mention the cool pt's. I know I've said that I'd retire the month I get nothing but crap calls. But there is always that gem lurking around the corner. I love this job for those people. Like the 89 yo dive bomber pilot who never got shot down during WWII. But his brother flew PBY's and was shot down just after takeoff, rescued by a destroyer and that was torpedoed out from under him. His bro is 90 and still alive in Portland OR. I wanted to drive around the block just to listen to him talk.
So anyway I'll start with the coolest lady I ever treated who taught me a lot.
70's frail, she slipped to the floor trying to make the bathroom while her daughter was away for an hour. She sat there with her back against the sideboard and we found her there. Exam showed no damage but after speaking with the daughter, the Drs and the Pt. we xported so she could spend the night in the hospital and be checked out for some rib pain from an injury sustained at NH while being picked up.
Background on her. Arthritis bad. Bilat knees replaced, elbows worked on, back bowed, neck fused and to top it off every bone in her fingers removed, just stumps on pads. Lung disease, heart trouble, kidney problems and a few more I can't even remember. This woman was in more pain every second of her life than any one I have ever seen.
When we took her out of the back she apologized to me for causing us so much trouble. She never uttered a wimper or complained about anything. She really looked and acted like life was great. She was inspiring.
I figured her for one of those people who get all the bad stuff so some of us never do. You know the 1 of 10 get DM, 1 in 5 have cardiac problem etc. I figured she had so many things wrong she was saving ten people from those stats. The next morning I checked in on her. Xrays of her ribs found a crack alright.... and lung CA. Some people never get a break. But she never let it show. When I think of her I have a hard time complaining about my life.
Anybody else with a most interesting patient?
So anyway I'll start with the coolest lady I ever treated who taught me a lot.
70's frail, she slipped to the floor trying to make the bathroom while her daughter was away for an hour. She sat there with her back against the sideboard and we found her there. Exam showed no damage but after speaking with the daughter, the Drs and the Pt. we xported so she could spend the night in the hospital and be checked out for some rib pain from an injury sustained at NH while being picked up.
Background on her. Arthritis bad. Bilat knees replaced, elbows worked on, back bowed, neck fused and to top it off every bone in her fingers removed, just stumps on pads. Lung disease, heart trouble, kidney problems and a few more I can't even remember. This woman was in more pain every second of her life than any one I have ever seen.
When we took her out of the back she apologized to me for causing us so much trouble. She never uttered a wimper or complained about anything. She really looked and acted like life was great. She was inspiring.
I figured her for one of those people who get all the bad stuff so some of us never do. You know the 1 of 10 get DM, 1 in 5 have cardiac problem etc. I figured she had so many things wrong she was saving ten people from those stats. The next morning I checked in on her. Xrays of her ribs found a crack alright.... and lung CA. Some people never get a break. But she never let it show. When I think of her I have a hard time complaining about my life.
Anybody else with a most interesting patient?