When I was just a little kid, I went through bacterial meningitis. By the time they actually got me into the hospital, sepsis had already set in.
I don't have any actual memories of it since I was only three years old, but my mom used to tell me stories about how high my fever was. She said I was constantly restless, and I couldn't even bring my chin down to touch my chest...
And regarding this whole lumbar puncture thing—they performed one on me back then, and they actually did it again just two years ago. There aren't any spasms involved, because the space between your vertebrae isn't a muscle that can cramp up or spasm... and it's not some aggressive stabbing sensation; it’s more of a steady, gentle insertion. So, please, let's not spread unnecessary panic.
wearycyclist18 said:Are you truly planning to undergo surgery for a deviated septum at a private clinic? I find myself wondering what the underlying motivation might be for such a decision. Is there a specific reason you would choose to pay out of pocket when you are fully entitled to have this procedure covered by Medicare?
It’s not actually private; I just have supplemental insurance coverage.
So, I spent five days in the hospital, and my fever only showed up on Friday night and Saturday morning. Since then? Nothing. Not even now that I’m back home... Is a temperature of 4-24 degrees really considered normal? I realize there's some kind of inflammation going on, but does it really make sense to have two different chest X-rays in about ten days? Especially since the doctor isn't even certain it's pneumonia, and I haven't even been treated for it yet...
So, here’s my situation: I have multiple sclerosis, and for the last couple of weeks, it feels like I’ve been hitting a new flare-up. I was supposed to wait for my scheduled appointment at the clinic, but while I was waiting, things took a turn on Friday and I ended up in the ER because I simply couldn't walk. They checked my temperature there—it was 38.8°C—and they did a chest X-ray. Unfortunately, I don't have the written report on me right now, but they mentioned seeing "something that could be bronchopneumonia." However, since I haven't had any coughing or sneezing, and the fever didn't kick in until that evening, the doctor concluded it was most likely an error on the scan and diagnosed me with the flu instead. Anyway, I finished a Tamiflu 5 day course, and I was told to check in with my neurologist after a week if my CRP (which was 13 at the hospital), the X-ray, and my CBC results are looking good. Regarding the X-ray... does it even make sense to redo the scan if the doctor isn't even sure about the lung inflammation? My breathing sounded normal when I was admitted, too. For context, my blood work from the hospital showed SE 30, L 10.1 (seg. 89%), E 4.9, and Hg 140 Tr 307. Now, my primary care physician gave me more Tamiflu, though I’m honestly not sure why?! Because of this flare-up, getting around is really difficult, so I’m being quite cautious about these follow-up tests. Sorry for the long post, and thanks so much in advance for any insight!
In my relatively short time on this planet, I've lived in several different places, and through it all—whether it was during my clinical rotations at the hospital or just while dealing with my own health issues—I’ve crossed paths with quite a few people. You start to see a pattern when these kinds of tragedies cluster together. For instance, about a decade ago, a family friend took their own life. Then, just two or three years back, a neighbor did the same. There was even a neighbor who overdosed on pills, though thankfully they were found in time... and so on. I don't really feel like dwelling on those memories right now...
That’s all well and good in theory, but I’ve personally met far too many people who would actually try to kill you over something stupid. It’s not that I have anything against everyone, but looking at the people in my own neck of the woods, there are just way too many of them.
Scott Allen10 said:You know what... honestly, it isn't even a joke... and believe me, it’s not some kind of "brutality" either...
See, after spending 20 years dealing with anesthesia and surgery, me and most of the crew on my unit have seen it all—every time someone comes in after trying to end it all with pills, cutting, or whatever else... almost every single time we patch them up, stitch them back together, and pull out the tubes, we pretty much "suggest" they just take an > pipe to the mouth and pull the trigger next time... there's no mistake there... especially when they aren't making life a living hell for everyone around them or playing these little games with us....
When you spend years watching people fight tooth and nail just to hold onto a miserable life, desperate to escape illness or recover from an injury... and then you see these suicidal types who absolutely loathe that same life... hm... well, I don't really care much, even though most of them probably need a psychiatrist...
Man, maybe it's just professional burnout... maybe I've just gone numb... call it whatever you want...
Damn... I'm gonna have to give myself a warning card for going off-topic...☕
I realize this is off-topic, and I'll probably get flagged for it, but I don't care... I just need to comment on that bolded part. Back in 2009, I was diagnosed with a disease that is currently incurable. It was less than a month before my 19th birthday when I found out. When I got the news, I literally got out of bed and walked right out in front of the hospital just to prove to myself how strong I actually am! On the flip side, one of my "friends" at the exact same time broke up with her boyfriend and attempted suicide. Do I feel sorry for her? No. If someone wants to kill themselves, let them; they're a coward anyway!
I mean, someone who’s actually planning on checking out isn't exactly going to be hanging around here posting on the forums right before they do it... (sorry for the off-topic tangent)
Jamie Jones19 said:Thanks for all the input, everyone. I'm actually asking this about my mother. The symptoms look incredibly similar to Multiple Sclerosis, and honestly, it’s been weighing heavily on my mind.
Today, she developed some swelling just below her knee along with redness on the skin, so she just headed off to the ER. Could there be any connection between these things?
How old is your mom? And please, whatever you do, don't go down a Google rabbit hole before you talk to a doctor.
Hello there! About a month ago, I was staying at a medical spa, and because my condition started getting worse, I ended up stopping my treatment. I just finally received my discharge papers along with my blood and urine results. Here is what the blood work shows: SE:20 KKS: Erc 4,80 Hb 138 Htc 0,412 MCV 86 MCH 28,8 MCHC 335 Lkc 7,3 DKS: Seg 60 Ly 38 Mo 2
Trc 313 Kreatinin 62 GUK 5,0
Urinalysis results: cloudy appearance, WBC 8-12, some epithelial cells, amorphous crystals, and bacteria
The situation in our hospitals is a total disaster, I agree... but it’s still not quite at the level of a catastrophe where someone is drawing blood with an unsterile needle... Let's not panic just yet...
My mother ended up paying a fortune just for two hours of "post-op monitoring," let alone having someone there day and night—and that wasn't even including the extra fees for a private single room. It's a little... well, it's a little 🤔
Well, that's a different story entirely once you factor in a private single room. I'm not entirely certain myself, but when I was hospitalized this past summer, if I recall correctly, the nurses told me $33 for a full day, though I was just in a standard ward.
Look, it really all boils down to the patient's diagnosis. Some people just spiral into depression the second they hear what they're dealing with, and honestly, having ten different people hovering over them isn't what they need right now. It makes me wonder, though... how would those students and doctors actually feel if they were flipped into that exact situation? I've been on both sides of this, and I can definitely empathize with the patients just as much as the students.
Sam Hall15 said:Look, you can't learn 90% of medicine just by watching. If you follow that logic, you end up with someone who finished med school and completed their residency, then they're suddenly expected to work completely solo without any oversight or practical experience beyond just observing... well, great, we'd probably kill half the population. Unless you're suggesting this as some way to solve overcrowding, I don't see the point. Isn't it true that residents only learn under the supervision of an attending? That's how students and interns work too. And honestly, the idea that you'll get inferior care just because a student or intern examines you isn't really fair. Often, they're actually the ones being most thorough and serious about the "basic" stuff, like taking a history or checking vitals. Plus, their work is always reviewed, and any mistakes are caught. Most medical schools are moving toward keeping groups small—no more than four students per doctor if possible, though sometimes even fewer. I think those stories about ten students crowded around one doctor aren't really accurate, at least not at the universities I'm familiar with.
You have a point there. For instance, a nurse isn't going to master drawing blood just by reading a step-by-step guide in a textbook; they need to actually do it on a patient. It's the same thing with giving injections. I suppose if someone strictly wants to deal only with doctors, they should just say so. It’s also interesting that nobody ever mentions grand rounds, when all the doctors are gathered together in one room!
I can look at this from two different perspectives—as a patient and as a former student... Back when I was in school, it used to be really jarring when professors would just "drop in" on a room and expect us to observe without warning. It’s the same thing for me now as a patient; those massive rounds where every single doctor and intern swarms the room can be incredibly grating. Then again, I can't exactly complain too much, given my MS diagnosis and the fact that I’m practically a peer to some of them. What am I trying to say? It all comes down to communication between the physician and the patient. I agree that they need to learn from real-world cases, but obviously, that should only happen if the patient is okay with it. It also depends heavily on what you're dealing with... For instance, when I first got my MS diagnosis, I was in total shock. I didn't want to see or hear a soul that day. I turned off my phone so no one could call, and I told my family not to come by. Every now and then, a nurse would pop in to check on me, or my roommates from the hall would stop by... and everyone respected my space. So, if a medical student wants to come by and learn something from my experience? I'm open to it.
Yeah, I remember some of my high school instructors being incredibly respectful toward their patients. Especially my homeroom teacher... if someone needed blood drawn, she’d be so gentle about it (she usually focused on the women, since I know for a fact the guys were way more squeamish). She’d explain everything clearly and ask permission first. Some people would decline, others would say yes, and she just respected that. But then there was this one professor who used to drag us into the exam room and quiz us right in front of the patients—which was honestly awful. It was awkward for everyone involved, both for us students and the patients themselves. Fast forward to when I was actually in the hospital; they asked if anyone wanted to watch them perform my lumbar puncture. In my head, I was just thinking, "Sure, go ahead, I don't care, just make this over with quickly." But the staff kept peppering me with questions like, "Does this hurt?" because I had been chatting and laughing with the doctor the whole time. They seemed so confused by my attitude! At the end of the day, I think it all just comes down to communication and setting expectations.