January 10th, 2010 by GruntDoc in Better Health Network, True Stories
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A patient comes in with the entirely understandable complaint of “I have a fishbone lodged in my throat”. Came straight from dinner to the ED. When I ask a stupid question I’m given a stupid answer: “It feels like…a fishbone…”. Duh on me.
Now, I went to a pretty good EM residency, and while there I learned two things: the books say fishbones don’t show up on x-rays of the neck, and, fishbones sometimes show up on x-rays. I’m about 70% positive in my career…
So, I got an xray. See if you can spot the fishbone (hint: there’s an arrow pointing at it…)
So, it’s there… Now what… There are very few wrong answers. Call ENT, etc. My answer: go get it. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at GruntDoc*
January 8th, 2010 by Emergiblog in Better Health Network, True Stories
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Constipated since childhood, but after 63 years, she decided to deal with it on Christmas at 0400.
Okay, not really.
Apparently, if you are constipated you should eat yeast.
Plain squares of yeast.
I don’t get the mechanism.
Yeast rises in a warm environment.
So, if you eat it, does it keep expanding until it explodes everything in front of it out the, uh, exit door?
*****
I will say that the most interesting chief complaints tend to cluster around the holidays.
It goes something like this: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Emergiblog*
January 5th, 2010 by Edwin Leap, M.D. in Better Health Network, Humor, True Stories
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My genius partner, RKM, was lately confronted by a patient seeking pain medication. Due to a very nice system instituted by the state of SC, providers can search for their patients’ prescription histories. Turns out this individual had received multiple narcotic prescriptions from multiple providers all over the state, and had done it using at least three separate addresses.
Ever the resourceful doc, my partner confronted this patient with the following information:
‘Sir, it appears that you have been the victim of identity theft! Fortunately, we were able to discover that someone has used your information to obtain narcotics under false pretense! But rest assured, we have contacted the authorities and we’ll catch the SOB who did this to you!’
He was met, I am told, by wide-eyed, open-mouthed silence.
No prescriptions were dispensed. Though it is entirely possible the patient will be needing a big bottle of Jim Beam for his nerves, and adult diapers for irritable bowel, for the next several weeks.
Bless you, RKM, for the theatrical, perfectly passive-aggressive genius you are!
Edwin
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
January 5th, 2010 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Research
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Wilderness medicine professionals often discuss which medications should be carried on which trips. There’s usually a limit to the size of the medical kit, and precious space must be allotted to the most important items. The painful passage of a kidney stone as it travels down the ureter, enters the bladder, then exits the urinary tract via the urethra, is “epic” for anyone who has ever suffered this event. So, anything that might be helpful to facilitate the stone’s passage or ease the discomfort is a good thing. Tamulosin (Flomax) is a drug that is often prescribed by physicians to promote the passage of a kidney stone(s). It has not quite become “standard of care” to prescribe the drug, but it is increasing in popularity, largely because of the observations by patients and doctors that it seems to help. Read more »
This post, Can Flomax Help You Pass A Kidney Stone?, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..
January 3rd, 2010 by GruntDoc in Better Health Network, True Stories
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It’s going to take a while to draw all those labs. And the patient will probably need a transfusion at the end of it.
(Reportedly the printer engaged itself in a loop and printed out blood culture label sets 25 times, so don’t panic).
*This blog post was originally published at GruntDoc*
