Ever see someone bleeding from the tip of his penis? Neither had I.
I don't know if it was better or worse that he was conscious and fully aware. But this was no trickle. It was pouring out. Soaking through his underwear, through his gown. And then spraying across the room.
"Why's this happening, doc?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I don't know. Your blood is very thin, from your blood thinner. Too thin."
"And so this is what happens when it's too thin?"
"I don't know. I've never seen it before."
"And how long have you been a doctor?"
"Not that long."
"So I'll be okay?"
"We're going to try our best."
"That's not encouraging."
"Well, hopefully they'll be more encouraging once we get you to the ICU."
"I'm going to the ICU?"
"Indeed you are."
"In the morning, you mean?"
"Nope. Right now."
"So it's an emergency?"
"It is."
"And it's happening because..."
"Still don't know."
"So should I be panicking?"
"Panicking isn't going to help."
"But you'd be panicking?"
"To be perfectly honest, yes, I would."
Sunday, December 11, 2011
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yikes! I have seen hemorrhagic cystitis before after the pt had radiation therapy for his prostate cancer years before. I think we put in a 3 way foley and did some irrigation... what did the urologist say?
ReplyDeleteI hope you really did say all that. I would consider myself very, very lucky to have my doctor be so honest with me. Rainbows and unicorns might be great for patient surveys, but they sure aren't nice. Or right.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your writing. Thanks for all you do.
Oh my god, what was it?!
ReplyDeletedon't know what happened-- I don't get the follow-up unless I check the notes in the computer.
ReplyDeleteI think you should make an exception and check up on this guy. I'm curious to know what happened.
ReplyDeleteI think we are all curious about this one. Hell 3/4 of my class have been debating it rather than studying for our clinical skills test tomorrow.
ReplyDeletefoley catheter / coumadin / traumatic bleed
ReplyDeleteWe just had a bleed like that on my last clinical only it was lower GI. No waynto stop it. Patient was to high risk for surgery. So we just ended up standing there while the family pulled care and watched him internally hemmorhage until he died a few hours later. Alcoholism and hepatic encephalopathy is a bitch.
ReplyDeletePoor guy. That really sucks. I hope things got better for him. It was great that you were able to talk so candidly with him.
ReplyDeleteWhen we took messages for dr's and vets, one called to say his goat's anus was expanding as it was giving birth. Sigh.
ReplyDelete