Day 10
Today I was sent to the Veterans Hospital. The man I am taking care of is in his final stages of Parkinson's disease and on top of that hes got pneumonia.
Talk about shitty luck.
i was asked by one of the nurses if I'd ever been with anyone who'd died. I said no and she told me it may happen. If I feel him slipping away, I am to walk up to a nurse and quietly inform them. She asked if I was nervous and I said yes. She told me I had nothing to worry about, it is actually a release to know I was holding his hand throughout the last few minutes of his life. I was to call the nurse if I saw any shortness of breath or gurgling. If the gurgling was not solved, he could drown.
It was a wonder that they didnt let him 'drown' as drowning is supposed to be one of the most peaceful deaths. Although the body struggles at first, the body eventually gives up and falls into a type of sleep. Id love to go out in my sleep as opposed to bewilderment and pain.
The nurses here are the nicest, right away they were incredibly comforting, the showed me around, offering me food and drink, telling me to not be afraid to take a break. You have to wonder what kind of comfort they are given. Day in and day out they are surrounded by the dying and the dead. They have to channel and direct all their energies to these people and deny themselves. Do they go home feeling empty or fulfilled? Is it just another day at work?
The room my patient is in looks like home, its extremely comforting for him. He has uncontrolled moments and he can hear well but cannot speak.
Parkinsons:
-The body decreases in dopamine which means acytyl choline takes over causing symptoms
-Dietary habits can affect treatment, its more a chemical inbalance rather than a brain deterioration (doesnt affect mental capacity)
Alzheimer's:
-below normal levels of acetylcholine and altered levels of neurotransmitters, somatostatin and norepinephrine
-There are higher deposits of aluminum in cerebral tissue (why people think aerosol and deodorant contributes to alzheimers), high numbers of antibodies have been found in etiology (inherited chromosome)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Lil Eyetie lady (or sugery sweet nights)
Day 4
Today im in VG-5A taking care of a cute as hell little woman from an Italian family.
Shes about 4 foot nothing. Im not a big girl but shes a midget next to me. Its not even like shes at that age where they start to shrink. Well, ok, thats not true. Regardless shes short.
The Family was here when I showed up, they seem to be pretty incredible. Living stereotypes if you will. Definitely the stereotypes you want to see in people, you know the kind you see on those shitty romantic comedies where the family is kooky but loving. They really remind me of my Nana and Grandpa. The Husband seemed to be extremely concerned, he didnt want to leave but was showing it in an indirect manner.
He was going to stay all night, they had said something to the nurse about her being all fidgety so they called me in. I explained to them what it is that I do and they were visibly happy. I explained to her what I did and who I was and she said that I was 'perfect'. Sigh. What a sweetie.
We spent a majority of the night talking about books and brothers and sisters. She woke up at one point really wanting to leave. Sadly this entailed a tugging of the catheter, its purpose, she didnt understand. She kept saying that she had to go pee. I told her to go but she insisted that she had to use the toilet. Eventually she calmed down, went to sleep and I suspect 'released'
The nurses this shift were pretty sweet too. They were kind enough to get me a lamp and a flannel sheet for my chair. We discussed the book I am reading (cant remember what it was, feel like a retard for not having written down these details).
Did make my first few steps to becoming a doctor (just kidding) as the nurse instructed me to press the reset button when the IV machine beeps. Thats not to mention the fact that the Doctors asked me my opinion (highly vaunted, ill have you know) as to how our sweet lady was doing.
Today im in VG-5A taking care of a cute as hell little woman from an Italian family.
Shes about 4 foot nothing. Im not a big girl but shes a midget next to me. Its not even like shes at that age where they start to shrink. Well, ok, thats not true. Regardless shes short.
The Family was here when I showed up, they seem to be pretty incredible. Living stereotypes if you will. Definitely the stereotypes you want to see in people, you know the kind you see on those shitty romantic comedies where the family is kooky but loving. They really remind me of my Nana and Grandpa. The Husband seemed to be extremely concerned, he didnt want to leave but was showing it in an indirect manner.
He was going to stay all night, they had said something to the nurse about her being all fidgety so they called me in. I explained to them what it is that I do and they were visibly happy. I explained to her what I did and who I was and she said that I was 'perfect'. Sigh. What a sweetie.
We spent a majority of the night talking about books and brothers and sisters. She woke up at one point really wanting to leave. Sadly this entailed a tugging of the catheter, its purpose, she didnt understand. She kept saying that she had to go pee. I told her to go but she insisted that she had to use the toilet. Eventually she calmed down, went to sleep and I suspect 'released'
The nurses this shift were pretty sweet too. They were kind enough to get me a lamp and a flannel sheet for my chair. We discussed the book I am reading (cant remember what it was, feel like a retard for not having written down these details).
Did make my first few steps to becoming a doctor (just kidding) as the nurse instructed me to press the reset button when the IV machine beeps. Thats not to mention the fact that the Doctors asked me my opinion (highly vaunted, ill have you know) as to how our sweet lady was doing.
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