Funny moments
 

Being in pain and drugged up is not much fun however I had a funny moment today and a 1st for me. Sometimes I take to much medication by mistake and today I accidentally took double my lyrica dose. (150 to 300)

The side effect was I started talking really fast and rambling. I was downstairs in the lobby having a conversation with 3 friends and had their total attention when for some bizarre reason what came out of my mouth was totally unrecognizable. My mouth detached from my brain and the result was I made several screeching guttural type noises. A real prehistoric jungle type noise a bit like a dinosaur calling for its mate.

All 3 guys dropped their jaws as they could see it wasn't intentional and I had no explanation for it either (that they would understand :p) but it scared me enough to stop talking. It was awkward until I started laughing and that got me more strange looks .......Ahhh PN, the gift that keeps on giving :rolleyes:

I'm sorry... hahahahaha!
Was having behavior similar to a mating dinosaur listed as a probable side effect?

I can't remember the name of it but I once took an antidepressant that was supposed to help smoking cessation. I was able to control it but I REALLY had the impulse to say whatever popped into my head like "Why are you wearing that ugly shirt", etc.

Hope you are doing better and have no further problems, get a pill organizer for daily meds?
Zygo

another thought
 

Sorry I was too busy giggling to post intelligently. Isn't the kind of reaction you describe considered a type of temporal lobe seizure? I get a mild version of that when I take fluroquinoolones, vocalization when I drop off to sleep. Do be careful and take care.
Zygo

Re: funny post
 

I just happen to read your post and couldn't help laughing. Your dinosaur vocals were funny. Most of the post here as you know are quite serious, and not often does something super funny happen. thank you for posting as it made me giggle. Be carefull on your medications. It was a good thing you weren't trying to talk to your doctor or somebody like that! giinnie

No pill organizer. Im usually quite good but that day I took my med in the morning but went back to sleep and when I woke I instinctively took another.

Ive had brain fog and lost word recall but have never had the signal from my brain to word construction distorted like that and it was embarrassing :o

Oh well may as well keep the thread open for the few light hearted moments that we do get :)

CAUTION: Be sure to engage brain before putting mouth in gear. :rolleyes:

Doc (BT-DT-interminably)

We have tons of funny moments here.... not from the humans though, but our new kitten, and our 1 yr old black cat keep us laughing all day long!

Keeping distracted, and being able to laugh at oneself, I think are important things for anyone with chronic illness and pain!.

We go to I Can Has Cheezburger, and Cute Overload, and we also watch funny YouTubes, every day. Today I was farming the net and Google for Xmas images to use here on the board for this season. It was a total hour of laughter!

Many of our members post funnies on Lighter Side forum and the Pets forum. I do so often myself! ;)

One of my favorites is Klaatu42 on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/klaatu42.../1/nGeKSiCQkPw

He has many videos now on his page... including some good Xmas ones!

Mrs D Ahahaha , I have that saved as my favorite all time feel good when your down Vid from months back and still watch it and it never fails to make me smile :D

This one is fun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP2kcmrJF5I

Hi zorrro
 

[Loved the vidio of the puppies working over the car. The cat loved it. Nice to see something to make a person smile. thank you ginnie

Hi Zygo, I had to grin when I read this. I once accidentally double-dosed on my med "Wellbutrin" and I'm wondering if this is the one you are talking about? Wellbutrin is also used to help quit smoking, under a different name. I think it started with a Z.
My experience was much more sinister than what you describe with the 'truth serum' effect. :o I went into a full-blown PANIC attack :eek: My lord what a frightening experience!

It's good to be able to laugh at ourselves once in awhile, that's for sure.
It has a way of making the pain a little less horrible, at least for a moment.

Thanks for the good thread

Rae
:grouphug:

How do you spend YOUR Saturday Nights?
 

With the effects some of the prescribed meds we're on have on the mind, this is becoming a serious problem -moreso with the eldery. I have an aunt in her 80s, who can seemingly never remember if/when/what she has/n't taken, and it's an increasing concern for the family. I find myself beginning to have problems I never had just a few years ago. Compound that with all the supplements we take for PN, etc. and the intricate timing involved with empty stomachs, food, X/day.... My wife & I have finally broken down and gotten some (Google: pill organizers ). She gets by with a couple of one compartment per day of week type; I've graduated to one of the full blown 4 compartments/day, 7 days/week monsters. Now it's a comical ritual (for anyone watching us) sitting at the kitchen table every Sat. night with a couple dozen bottles strewn across the table, filling our next week's worth of various pills....

"You got the B12? I can't find the B12."

"It's over there behind the TripleFlex."

"No, that's the B-100. I need the B12's - the little pink ones you pop under your tongue."

"Which ones - the 1000s or the 5000s?"

"I don't know - better make it the 5s - I've been dragging by butt all week."

"Have you got the Cs?"

"Just my Ester Cs - you take the ascorbic acid."

"Oh, yeah... well I can't find it."

"Did you remember to grab it out of the cabinet?"

"I thought you had it."

"I got my stuff, and that's enuff. Can't you keep track of your own pills?"

"I thought that's what we got these things for...."

"Where's the Lipoic acid?"

"Right there in front of you."

"No, that's the NAC. I already did those; I need the Lipoic acid. They look just like the NAC but they're smaller."

"I don't see it. Some new ones came in yesterday. I'll go get one of those."

"While you're at it, did my ALC come in?"

"It was supposed to, but they emailed, and it won't ship til Tuesday."

"TUESDAY‽ What am I supposed to do until Tuesday?"

"I don't know. What do you want me to do about it - pull some outta my..."

"Nevermind. I'll just take 2 Pantothenic acids - I can't tell them apart anyway; they look exactly the same...."


It gets worse. We could/should take the show on the road...

Doc

Yup, I had forgotten the name but it was Welbutrin. I'm wish I could find one that would guarantee a 'mating dinosaur moment' for my next visit to my evil pulmonologist...

".ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN TO ME???!! BWWRRAAACCCKKKK!!!!" :D
Zygo

Re: re-read for laugh
 

I just had another funny thought, maybe if we all started to vocalize in the way dinosaus did, somebody would finally listen! That will get their attention for sure. ginnie

Might getcha locked up, too! :eek:

Remember:
Doctors only hear 25% of what patients tell them (usually because they're going through possibilities in their minds).
Patients only hear 50% of what doctors tell them (usually because they're sick/upset/have no clue what the doctor's saying).

If we know that, then one way of looking at it is that if they're not listening, or we're not getting their attention, 75% of the burden is on us to be heard/paid attention to. ;)

If that doesn't work, we may have the wrong doctor.

Q: What do they call the guy who graduated at the bottom of his class in Med School?

A: "Doctor."

Doc

OOOooooo :cool: I love doctor jokes!

"I can't find a cause for your illness", the doctor said, "Frankly, I think it's due to drinking"
"In that case", replied his patient, "I'll come back when you are sober"

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Why did the proctologist use 2 fingers?
In case the patient wanted a second opinion

Ok :D I'll shut up

I do too, but it wasn't (meant as) a joke! :eek:

Our PCP is a bit of a walking contradiction. :Hum: The hours he keeps & his dedication to his patients are classic Type A Personality*, but his laidback demeanor and bedside manner are more Type B. He always has an anecdote (or 3) to interject about whatever we happen to be discussing, which usually has a much broader range than medicine.

With that in mind, we embroidered an apropos quote, framed it, and gave it to him as a tongue-in-cheek gift... :rolleyes:
He loves it; it's been hanging prominently on his office wall ever since. ;)

Doc

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_A_...onality_theory

The PCP I used to see called my pulmo ' Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.' I'm usually pretty comfortable communicating with Drs but this one really tends to brush off mere mortals and then throw temper tantrums if hes pushed at all. The last time I saw him he walked out on me, his nurse told me "You just have to let him vent and then He'll listen". Okaaaay...

It is my fault to some extent because I should have confronted him sooner, hes just so dismissive and aggressive it was easier to let things go. I did get him to admit that the only reasonable course of action right now is to titrate the meds enough to control symptoms without taking enough to cause such severe side effects. He should have done that 3 years ago, he does a lot of critical care and really just seems indifferent to quality of life issues.

I'm pretty much stuck with him, he heads the only clinic in town. Do you think it would help if I called him 'O Exalted One'? :D

Pardon my ignorance. :Scratch-Head: Inferring that description was about your pulmonologist - not your PCP, :confused: that's very telling. It sounds like he's either got some kind of personality issue, or he's become very jaded.

I just posted something in Medications & Treatments that may apply (but who knows...?) Normally, I'd suggest thinking about finding a different doc; this one may not be the best for your team. But if that's not practicable, I guess my suggestion is be prepared for each "confrontation"/ordeal (office call :D ) with a written agenda (topics, talking points, questions, homework/articles, etc.), follow the nurses suggestion about his venting, be tolerant but firm and persistent, and don't be intimidated by this guy. If you find you've forgotten something, don't hesitate to call the office back. If you can develop a better relationship with that nurse, she may be able to help you with simple things, or advice on dealing with the guy; she has to deal with him every day! :eek:

I don't know about addressing him that way. I could get away with it, but everybody knows I'm a horse's patoot! :rolleyes:

Doc

It is the pulmonogist, former PCP just had some problems with him too. Your suggestions were all good but I think I've tried many of them already.

Most Drs are disinclined to take what patients say at face value and that's appropriate because they went to medical school and we didn't. A lot of them will also take a conservative approach with respect to side effects but eventually if symptoms continue to be a problem they will 'get it' and either titrate the dose, change the med, or monitor things to see if they progress.
Pulmonary medicine is also probably harder because if patients can't breathe they can die but at this point I think he was a little negligent.

The nurse I mentioned hasn't been with him very long and I don't know if she will hang in there. He did have one for a long time but shes been gone for 2 or 3 years and hes had quite a turn over since then. His front desk employees die like flies. I used to think he was impatient because he is very smart and I thought he was just intolerant of inefficiency. That may be true to some degree but I'm beginning to think the biggest problem is that he's just a nasty little weasel. Its one thing to be angry, he becomes snide and literally vicious. I think your comment that he has some personality problems was accurate. From a mental health standpoint hes kind of funny, the little sucker is FAST and he can cut you off at the knees before you know what hit you, but its hard being a patient. I'm not sure but I have the impression he isn't married :eek:.

Thank you for listening, that in itself helped, I am going to try calm firmness more than I have been able to do recently. I think he would be quite insulted if I tried to take in an article, maybe some literature on anger management classes would be more appropriate. ha ha
Zygo

It has been my experience that "nasty little weasels" are nasty because they are concealing their own inadequacies! IMO the more imperious, the more they are afraid someone will "find out".

When I started 40 yrs ago in my profession I was bashed by nasty weasels all the time...they were sooooo threatened by a woman with ability!

Now of course, that has changed quite a bit. But back then it was fight to survive for me most days. In fact one Pediatrician who dumped attitude on me every day (he was a popular doctor in the area for some mysterious reason), dropped dead at 45 in his driveway, one day of a heart attack. That was the path he created for himself with his stressful judgemental nasty behavior...it killed him!

And that conclusion doesn't strike you as judgmental (not to mention a bit of a stretch :rolleyes: )? I don't/won't dispute the guy was a weasel/horrible to you, but I don't think I've ever heard of a death certificate or autopsy report giving as Cause of Death: "Nasty Judgmental Behavior" :eek: :winky:

My first PCP, whom I had from age 15 until my 40s was known for having the greatest number of patients, and assembly lined more through his office per day, than any other in the metropolitan area, yet the vast majority loved the guy. I think he was one of those guys in it strictly for the money. Always had a smile on his face, (no wonder why) and fast! Then one day out of the blue we got a form letter informing us he had retired and sold his practice to some guy we never heard of. (We learned about a year later that he had not, in fact, retired; he just moved his practice to Florida and went into Geriatrics along with the aging baby-boomers - he followed the money again.)

Before we ever got a chance to meet the new guy, he sold the practice to a third guy, who was a walking poster boy for the arrogant whippersnapper with a chip on his shoulder. For some reason we've still to fathom (we suspect it was because my wife had the audacity to question him about something) we got a form letter informing us that our "doctor-patient relationship was no longer therapeutic", and we had 30 days to find a new doctor. It was the best favor he could have done us, because we found (with the help of the internet - see below), and got, the best PCP for us that we've ever had or could ever possibly imagine (who also happens to be just a couple years younger than us, and on a similar wavelength, "so we've got that going for us, which is nice..." :cool2:)

Funny thing is, our current guy will be the first to volunteer that patients either love him or hate him - no middle ground, and he's kind of a Will Rogers type with respect to most patients (met very few he hasn't liked).

In my lifetime, I've met more doctors than I would have cared to, and all kinds - nice, nasty, brilliant, incompetent, sharp, clueless, and just plain weird.... Enough to learn/realize that there are all kinds, and it's worthwhile.... (I am loath to say "shopping" because of the negative connotation, but essentially that's what it is - just not in that way) interviewing & trying them to find the right ones for our "team". The internet has made this process vastly easier. Not that long ago, the only way you could vet doctors was by recommendation or word of mouth, and there was very little in the way of background (education/certification) checks or ratings. Nowadays, there's very little you can't find out about prospective doctors before ever making that first appointment. I predict this will be a boon for patients and medicine in the long term. Doctors are being consumer (as well as peer & professionally) reviewed and rated, and they will have to sharpen their game much more than just having the sheepskin & shingle to hang. Points for charisma and performance.

Doc

No, I am not being judgemental when the facts of that situation, showed that the unpleasant, rude, and abusive personality of a doctor, who could or would not take care of his own health, met with an abrupt and early end. It was no surprise to me and many others who put up with his tantrums on a daily basis.

People receiving abuse are not being judgemental in reporting so. When doctors' egos get the better of themselves, they can pay a price ... and seeing it happen is not judgemental. What does one think when a male psychiatrist (this is a true story) drives his Mercedes Benz into a flooded area in broad daylight with barracades blocking the road? Is this because he thought he knew better? He drowned quickly as a result. Or the woman psychiatrist here, that refused to monitor her own diabetes, refused to take care of herself, and dropped on her porch of ketoacidosis and died? Was that some major form of denial? Arrogance? (I knew both her husband and his second wife).

These boards are filled with patients disappointed with their doctors, or who have been poorly treated, or caused considerable harm. They are not being judgmental in reporting it here or venting. There really is no place to go when someone in power goes on a "power trip" at your expense. Women receive this type of abuse more often than men, but times are changing.
I see men on these boards, being told by their doctors that their pain is all in their heads! emotional...etc. There is a thread going right now, about a cold, unfeeling neurologist, in fact, elsewhere on these boards.

Our PN forum has had several threads about arrogant, nasty doctors who dismiss PNers, or act in cruel ways, by withholding treatments, pain intervention and the like.

So it is no surprise to me that zygopetalum is describing her doctor the way she did. I found her description of him FUNNY and this is a thread about FUNNY MOMENTS after all. And I believe her description is not judgemental either, and that the doctor deserves it. I have a long list of similar personalities I've encountered in my professional career, as well. And sadly many are NOT funny at all.

Hi zygo
 

I have read quite a few posts about doctors who do not behave very well. My opinion is to go to another town even if it is far away to have someone respond to you as you need. Our quality of life is involved. They have such power over whether we will have that quality or not. Not being able to communicate, or walking on egg shells around him, isn't the best thing for your well being. Doctors are suppose to be in your support team, not on the other team. You need better care than someone in opposition to you, or mean to you. I have no patience with doctors who are indifferent, or do not care to listen to you. My origional neurologist, told me he would not treat me unless I submitted to a test he wanted. I gave my reasons clearly, and he told me he wouldn't help me unless I did this particular test. I had known from my research there were other tests, not so difficult to endure. I left that doctors office, and never went back. My new neurologist did the other less invasive testing, and I had a wonderful relationship with him. I was able to tell him about my fears and he listened to me. He was supportive all the way through surgery and recovery. His disposition helped relieve my anxiety, instead of making it worse. Our health conditions are hard enough to deal with, without a doctor making us feel worse. I hope you consider moving on, even if it means travel. I don't want you to suffer, because of this physician, there are better ones out there if you care to look. I wish you all the best in this situation. ginnie:hug:

:Oops: Whoa! :o I think there's been a miscommunication/misunderstanding here. I wasn't saying that people receiving abuse are being judgemental in reporting so. But even if I did, all "judgmental" means is "tending to judge or criticize the conduct of other people"* and that's exactly what people reporting others' conduct are doing. Truth/fact really have no bearing either way. It's not a dirty word or an insult. It's very human, and there isn't a sentient creature on this planet who has not, and does judge anothers words or actions - not one. We constantly evaluate, and judge, and are critical of things; that's part of decision-making, learning, and many many more processes.

As you say, "this is a thread about FUNNY MOMENTS after all." and I found your statement funny (as you found zygos statement funny) and a bit ironical in that it was judgmental about someone who was judgmental. Deserving/justified/true, it was still judgmental.

I think it's good to (be able to) laugh at ourselves.

Doc

*Encarta Dictionary: English (North America)

I mentioned early on that that would have been my preferred suggestion, but zygo had preemptorily stated it was impractical.

I know what you mean about invasive testing. We have the right to refuse medical care of any kind. The flipside to that is that doctors have the right to refuse to treat us (except lifesaving emergency treatment - in this state anyway - probably most everywhere?)

A few years back I got sent to the ER because I blacked out behind the wheel (without incident). They prudently held me for 24 hours and performed about every cardiac test they could (justify to my insurance company.) One of them was a cardiac stress test that involved injecting me with a radioactive isotope, which they "assured" me was completely safe because the ppb were so low. "Less than an x-ray" they said. I read their pamphlet and noted, "I've had x-rays before, and x-rays expose a person for a second or less, and don't require the necessity of carrying a letter to have on my person for a MONTH lest I be stopped at the border for being a "terrorist" because the isotope was enough to set off their nuclear bomb threat sensors."

I gotta confess, I broke down & cried over that decision (I was so upset they even offered me valium, but I declined), and I've regretted it (allowing the test - not declining the valium) ever since, especially because when I asked if the test was absolutely necessary, the said, "If you want to be sure, it is." They did/would not inform me that there was an alternative test that would not require being injected with an isotope. It wasn't the safety issue (though it was a factor) that had me upset so much as the fact that I've been a lifelong opponent of nuclear energy since learning what I did about it in college.... Radioactive isotopes for anything other than life-saving procedures (like cancer) just go against every fiber of my being. (Can you tell I'm a child of the 60s?)

Doc

Hi Doc Smith
 

I too am a child of the 60's. I can relate to you. The isotope test is one I would not want eithor. It goes against what I think should be put into my body. I would have a strong reaction against it, if it were ever requested of me. I am against the neuclear things all but in the most serious of conditions. Seed plants and such, I would have a problem with that too. The test they wanted me to do that I didn't want, was to put needles in me and then turn on the electricity. No thank you, I am not a cow, and do not need cattle prods. I considered that test a kind of torture, and I don't react too well to the pain I already have!
I have known two people now both in their 80's and did that stress test. Neithor recovered well. It took months for them to feel better. It makes me wonder for sure just what that isotope does to a person. I have had so many x-rays, MRI'S and CT scans, I had the dentist protect my neck since I have thyroid nodes now. Who knows what caused them. I think it was due to all the exposure I had of my cervical spine, and too many of these tests.
Lately, I do the research like you do, into everything that is asked of me, including all my medications. I have been called a problem patient because I guestion all tests and proceedures. I want to be informed like you do. Sorry you had to go through the stress test at all. ginnie

Sounds like an EMG/Nerve Conduction Study. I didn't like the idea either (and I had one many years ago that I had after-effects from for several days). I actually wound up having two for PN; one from each of two different neurologists. I wasn't terribly confident in the first test (or the neurologist for that matter) so a second test was done at the PN Clinic of the Neurology Dept. of a major Medical Center. Neither test was pleasant, but I felt more confident about the reasons for them being done, so I tried to relax and got through them.

There were some funny moments during the second test. It was administered by a young woman technician, and being the way I can be when I'm trying to relieve stress with humor, my wife was kinda split between falling out of her chair laughing and trying to keep the tech. from running out of the room... :p

It wasn't terribly different than using a TENS unit set to pulse & turned up too high... :eek:

Doc

Re: yes EMG
 

Yes Dr. Smith it was the EMG they wanted me to do. I was already in such pain that I refused any more pain. I had gone with a friend while she had this test and listened to her scream. Well that turned me off that test! Nice to know you had some funny moments in your second EMG. Now that I know someone who got through it OK and kinda what it is like, maybe I would submit to it. I know the feeling of the Tens unit, but don't care for that much either. My second Neuro surgeon, said I didn't have to have that particular test at all, that there were others he could do. I was sure happy to hear that! I think the doctor who first asked me to do the EMG was not addressing my fears, or anxiety. He was curt and allowed me no say in the matter. He also did my first surgery that didn't turn out well at all on C6-7. I was going back to him because I was still in so much pain. I found out reading my records, that he did not address several other conditions in my neck. nor did he tell me about them at all. My second neuro surgeon couldn't figure out why he did not do all the surgery that needed to be done the first time around. I was kept in the dark about the true condition of my cervical spine. I was not told there was anything else wrong with me. I had to get my records to find out. Then I realized what was going on, and sought out the second neruo for my second surgery, C3-7, having to have C6-7 re-done. I lost alot of faith in doctors from that experience, and learned I must question everything and learn first hand what is in my records. That is also when I found neuro talk. I learned more here, than anything the doctors said. If you want the truth, you find it right here among those who have experienced similar conditions. I am glad you are around this site Dr. smith. ginnie

Did a EMG recently and neuro said this may hurt and I laughed and told him to turn it up all the way because nothing will compare with the 10,000volt electric shocks in my feet that Im getting at the moment.

I think with the EMG its the anticipation that hurts the most

Re: EMG/Nerve Conduction Studies
 

I can see how this test is one that's difficult to assuage patients' fears about - they're zapping us with electricity! I cracked up on the table they had me lying on. The tech asked me what was so funny, and I asked her, "Ever seen the movie Men In Black?" All I could think of was Tony Shaloub's line when Agent K blows his head off, and it suddenly re-grows, "Do you have any idea how much that STINGS‽"

After that I went through another laughter attack, thinking of an early Simpson's episode when the family goes to Dr. Marvin Monroe and he gives them each a button with which they can zap other family members with jolts of electricity. I told the tech that patients should all be given similar buttons, so we could zap them (or the doctors) every time they tell us "This may sting a little." etc. I would have enjoyed that. :icon_twisted: (BWAHAHAHAHA!)

The same thing happens when I go for a blood draw... "You may feel a little pinch." A LITTLE PINCH? I got really deep (and small) veins, and those vampires go at it like they're drilling for oil! :eek:

Nevertheless, we have to put these things in perspective, and as with all things medical, weigh the benefits vs. risk (or discomfort/pain in this case). They're trying to find out some important information for dx or treatment, and there are far worse things (including medical tests) than the nerve zaps and needle jabs. Lumbar punctures (spinal taps) for one. With advances in medical electronics, I'm a little surprised there haven't been any significant improvements in nerve conduction studies to utilize much lower voltages (or some other electronic "tricks") in the past 50 years. (One of the problems I had with my first PN test was that the neuro's equipment was an oscilloscope that was manufactured before I was, and hadn't been inspected/serviced in more than 12 years!) I mean.... look how far they've come with 3D movies!!!

Doc

Just as an aside--
 

--I've had numerous EMG/nerve conduction studies over the years, and a lot depends on the skill and experience of the individual doing it; I've had a range of experiences ranging from mild, temporary discomfort, to major sharp stinging pain and bruising. It's a real caveat emptor situation--one wants to try and find someone who does a lot of these and has modern, up to date equipment (and who knows it should be done in a fairly cool room, as heat is the enemy of nerve conduction and a warm room often necessitates more trials to get an accurate reading . . .)

This idea is certainly expandable to other tests--I've certainly had wildly variable experiences with blood draws, to the point at which if I'm going to have one of my annual or so glucose tolerance tests done--the one that involves about ten draws for glucose and insulin over a five hour period--I'll only go to one center on the days I know certain phlebotomists are there.

And I don't even want to tell you about my spinal tap experience. (I've talked about it on Neurotalk before, and it's funny now in retrospect, but I was close to beating the c**p out of the two small Russian female technicians they sent to do it who COULDN'T FIND THE CANAL. I was finally taken to X-ray where they did it in ten minutes under floroscopy--painless--and when I asked why they didn't do them all that way, I was told insurance wouldn't pay for it unless it couldn't be done "conventionally". I almost smacked that person, too.)

i recently had an evoked potentials test (SSEP) upper and lower. When they put the electrodes on my ankles i told the tech crank it up im not going to feel it, and i didnt.

I first realized how much PN had advanced into my hands and arms when i went to the ER for a 5 week continuous asthma episode and they were taking blood out of my radial artery in the wrist for a blood gas test and i knew it was suppossed to hurt but it didnt. i told the tech you are either the best i ever had or im more numb than i thought.

Ah... that explains why my breath was visible. You'd think they could/should at least have had an upholstered exam table instead of that stark hard ice-cold stainless gurney, not to mention one of those gowns that's open in the back.... :eek: (Or maybe that was their technique for misdirection... :Ponder: )

Doc

Hi zorrro
 

I wish you didn't have to experience those shocks. Even after my surgery, I take meds. for the shocks in my ankles and my arms. I was just a chicken with the EMG, I really hope there is some help for the pain you feel. It is horrible to have to live through. I pray there is a solution for you. ginnie

Re: tests glenn
 

I think I would have punched the tech over the spinal tap. If the techs know there are ways to do a test that do not cause so much pain, they aught to do it to begin with. Not after poking you numerous times and giving up. I wonder if they were on the receiving end of such tests, that they themselves would opt for the floroscopy method. I get sick of insurance companies who make people suffer because of their "rules" There are more humane ways to treat us patients. I have a reputation for being a difficult patient. There is no doubt about that. Sorry you had that lousy experience with both the spinal, and EMG. ginnie

Hi Zorro 13,
I have been following this thread for a few days. Oh how true and funny it all is. I do however (don't want to unlighten the mood) feel compelled to tell you to report this to your doctor. There are other things, medically speaking, this could be other than a side effect of your medication. Sorry, had to say it.
Hopefuk

online again
 

I haven't been online for awhile, trying to figure out what is wrong with my computer. I don't know if this will get bumped up enough to show.

I didn't mean to cause any contention, thanks for the support Mrs D and Ginnie, no offense taken Dr. Smith, was there meant to be some? :) Mrs D is right that it is probably worse because I'm female and 'abusive' is probably an accurate description. That's an objective assessment of his behavior based on events, my JUDGEMENT is that hes a competent physician and an unmentionable body part.

I took care of my mom when she had cancer and they never were able to control her nausea from the narcotics very well. One of the first meds her Dr tried was Reglan, there has recently been some bad press on it but at that time it was considered a benign drug. I told the Dr she was having unpleasant SE and he brushed me off (nicely) and said they would titrate it when she went into the hospital for her transfusion. After she was there for a couple of days I got a call saying 'its time', she was dying. When I arrived she was arched like people can be when there is damage to the brain stem (?). It was a small hospital where she had worked and volunteered for years and she was well loved, two nurses, the CNA, the social worker and chaplain were gathered around her bed. I'd seen that behavior before and I knew she could be kind of shocked out of it so I said, "What are you doing, we brought you mail!!" When the Dr came rushing in a few minutes later she was sitting up reading letters form her great grand children, he asked if it was the Reglan. Yup. Then there was the time I told the Dr on call it probably wasn't a good idea to double her dose of Oxycontin and she hallucinated Mastadons and refused to eat anything with 'o's' in it for 3 days...I'm not a health care professional and I'm not always right but sometimes we all just know stuff. Dr. Weasel beware.:D

It all pales in comparison to having a spinal tap performed by 2 unsympathetic Russians.:eek:
Zygo

Hi Doc, you're absolutely right. I have found that I need to be proactive in my own health, making phone calls etc, otherwise your a file on someone's desk. What really ****** me off is that you're a sick person in a world of pain, you probably haven't got the concentration to boil a kettle without wondering, what was I doing a minute ago or you might go to the fridge for a drink only to o pen the fridge door and wonder why. With all of this I found I had to make these phone calls just to make sure you don't end up as paper on someone's desk.

I hope I didn't waffle on too much.

Sinéad :(