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Original poster

Medical things you didn’t know?

738 replies

Emptychairdoasolo · 04/07/2023 21:09

Just watching a medical drama and wondered what happens if you die on the operating table? Do they just sew you back up without repairing anything inside?

but also had me thinking what other medical things didn’t you know until you maybe experienced them or learned?

OP posts:
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8
Harperwillow · 05/07/2023 00:56

Tea in a china mug = bad news

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:05

chrystlha · 04/07/2023 23:52

What the?

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removing the native kidney is actually a far more invasive surgery due to its position.

Flopsythebunny · 05/07/2023 01:06

FourTeaFallOut · 04/07/2023 22:43

That a gastroscopy isn't a delicate thread like thing that gently has a nose around in your stomach, it's like being pummeled with a hosepipe. This is something you should know before you shrug your shoulders and say that you are sure you'll be fine without sedation.

I've had it done many times without sedation

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:10

the reason surgeons in the uk (once they pass their exams, they are Dr before their exams) are referred to as Mr or Miss is because traditionally barbers used to perform surgery in the not so good old days. surgeons usually prefer to be referred to as Mr/Miss, not doctor

OnGoldenPond · 05/07/2023 01:13

Spidey66 · 04/07/2023 21:30

When you die most nurses will open a window to allow your soul out

I doubt that's the reason. I think it's more likely to prevent any smell.

When my FIL died they opened the window and told us it was to let his soul free. I found that really touching.

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:18

Flopsythebunny · 05/07/2023 01:06

I've had it done many times without sedation

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you have my respect. local anaesthetic is the best option as you don't feel it but without risks from sedation. it was suggested to me once (with the option of not just sedation, but general anaesthetic).. and I basically ran away from the consultation like a coward.

HarpyValley · 05/07/2023 01:20

Happinessischeeseontoast · 04/07/2023 23:02

If being brain stem dead means you are medically dead then why has there been legal cases between parents and doctors in the last few years? I'm thinking Archie battersby most recently.

Unfortunately desperate families who are understandably reluctant to “let go” of their loved ones are preyed on by unscrupulous legal firms with their own agenda (usually anti-abortionists trying to get a “life = heartbeat” law passed through the back door) who give them false hope and encourage them to drag the hospital through the courts challenging and blocking the medical decision to switch off the ventilator.

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 05/07/2023 01:21

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:18

you have my respect. local anaesthetic is the best option as you don't feel it but without risks from sedation. it was suggested to me once (with the option of not just sedation, but general anaesthetic).. and I basically ran away from the consultation like a coward.

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Some people tolerate it OK, some people very well. Many struggle, some can't tolerate it at all unless heavily sedated. Same with NG tubes.

To anyone who freaks out for either of these, when they tell you you're not the only one - believe them.

And no one should fight to get either a gastroscope or NG tube you - if they're forcing it then they're ignoring that you've withdrawn consent.

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:24

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 05/07/2023 00:46

It is possible for a pulse not to be detectable at the standard pulse points while the heart continues to beat however. The person doesn't even need to be unconscious. I've been with a person who had a pulse test wasn't detectable (by someone trained to find it) in their neck or wrist while they were speaking - they had a heart condition and were whisked off to hospital pronto.

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if someone is speaking... their brain has to be getting oxygen... and the carotid artery (in the neck) supplies oxygen to the brain... so the pulse should be detectable... but very easy to miss if it's very weak. in some cases the person can have a very abnormal heart beat (these aren't classified as the heart actually beating as they are so abnormal) and no pulse and the patient is in cardiac arrest so will be unconscious

ohwhatafunday · 05/07/2023 01:24

Diabetic Ketoacidosis can kill a Type 1 Diabetic pretty darn fast - I think lots of people do know this.

However, what plenty of healthcare professionals don't know is that you can go into Euglycemic DKA as a Type 1. Where blood sugars are normal-ish but a lack of insulin means DKA arises in a perfect storm - usually something like no insulin, infection plus dehydration.

It happens, for example, if a Type 1 has a vomiting bug and having trouble with going low. So they suspend their pump to prevent hypos and blood sugars all look fine, nothing to worry about...

Really dangerous, because if blood sugars are 'good' nobody is immediately thinking of DKA and time is very much of the essence with DKA.

GlucklicheTage · 05/07/2023 01:27

That our eyes are the only things in our bodies that stay the same size from birth

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:28

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 05/07/2023 01:21

Some people tolerate it OK, some people very well. Many struggle, some can't tolerate it at all unless heavily sedated. Same with NG tubes.

To anyone who freaks out for either of these, when they tell you you're not the only one - believe them.

And no one should fight to get either a gastroscope or NG tube you - if they're forcing it then they're ignoring that you've withdrawn consent.

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no one forced anything, I balanced the clinical risk and my cowardice and decided I wasn't having any of it lol. I am a terrible patient, very cliché.

unfortunately sometimes we do have to 'force' patients to do procedures eg. emergency surgery, critical care procedures etc. when they are unable to give consent.... but of course only in extremis and/or when they are deemed unable to give consent in the long term .

Dustyblue · 05/07/2023 01:30

This thread is gripping!

When you donate blood, they take the same amount from everyone. So when you're donating next to a 6'4" bodybuilder, they take the same from both of you.

If you have a double-lung transplant, the incision is a cross-cut that looks way further down than I would've thought your lungs are!

Genetic Truth- Boys will always be taller than their mothers.

BadNomad · 05/07/2023 01:33

I've nursed in the community and in hospitals for many years. Never heard of opening the window to let the soul out. That wouldn't even work (for us) because we generally believe that the soul stays around for 3ish days and that's why we have wakes and fast funerals.

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 05/07/2023 01:33

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:28

no one forced anything, I balanced the clinical risk and my cowardice and decided I wasn't having any of it lol. I am a terrible patient, very cliché.

unfortunately sometimes we do have to 'force' patients to do procedures eg. emergency surgery, critical care procedures etc. when they are unable to give consent.... but of course only in extremis and/or when they are deemed unable to give consent in the long term .

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In a non-critical situation when the patient has consented, they are allowed to withdraw consent at any time during the procedure. This doesn't have to be verbal - if, for example, a patient is pushing away medics or the scope/tube, or attempting to pull it out, then that is withdrawn consent.

abbey44 · 05/07/2023 01:33

@ohwhatafunday - I had this about 15 years ago when the cartridge in an insulin pen split so that not all the insulin was coming through the needle, although I didn’t realise at the time. My sugars weren’t spectacularly high and I didn’t twig what was going on. It was my friend who thought something was off and called the ambulance - I ended up in intensive care for a week, with a 50:50 chance of not coming out. It was pretty bloody scary, I have to say.

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:35

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 05/07/2023 01:33

In a non-critical situation when the patient has consented, they are allowed to withdraw consent at any time during the procedure. This doesn't have to be verbal - if, for example, a patient is pushing away medics or the scope/tube, or attempting to pull it out, then that is withdrawn consent.

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absolutely, otherwise its just assault.

Flopsythebunny · 05/07/2023 01:37

tt9 · 05/07/2023 01:18

you have my respect. local anaesthetic is the best option as you don't feel it but without risks from sedation. it was suggested to me once (with the option of not just sedation, but general anaesthetic).. and I basically ran away from the consultation like a coward.

Show quote history

It becomes easier after the first couple. I've just taught myself to relax into it.
I have Barrett's Esophagus so have one every year.

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 05/07/2023 01:40

Flopsythebunny · 05/07/2023 01:37

It becomes easier after the first couple. I've just taught myself to relax into it.
I have Barrett's Esophagus so have one every year.

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I'm impressed! I've had them since childhood and am yet to get the hang of it lol

BadNomad · 05/07/2023 01:41

Oh god. The gastroscopy was one of the most traumatic procedures I've ever gone through. I was only offered numbing spray. As soon as it pushed on the back of my throat I started fighting it. A nurse held me down and said it will only take a moment while the guy shoved it on down. Never again.

ohwhatafunday · 05/07/2023 01:44

abbey44 · 05/07/2023 01:33

@ohwhatafunday - I had this about 15 years ago when the cartridge in an insulin pen split so that not all the insulin was coming through the needle, although I didn’t realise at the time. My sugars weren’t spectacularly high and I didn’t twig what was going on. It was my friend who thought something was off and called the ambulance - I ended up in intensive care for a week, with a 50:50 chance of not coming out. It was pretty bloody scary, I have to say.

Sending solidarity @abbey44 !

Type 1 really does seem to always have more tricks to pull out of the bag to keep us on our toes.

GlucklicheTage · 05/07/2023 01:45

BadNomad · 05/07/2023 01:33

I've nursed in the community and in hospitals for many years. Never heard of opening the window to let the soul out. That wouldn't even work (for us) because we generally believe that the soul stays around for 3ish days and that's why we have wakes and fast funerals.

We opened the windows and faced our relatives including my parents towards it.
Irish , not sure if it’s just a thing in Ireland though.
My aunts also wouldn’t allow the bed to face the window or door prior to death and was only turned as the moment became very near.

Yarnorama · 05/07/2023 01:46

Genetic Truth- Boys will always be taller than their mothers.

@Dustyblue my adult son is not taller than me!

GlucklicheTage · 05/07/2023 01:47

GlucklicheTage · 05/07/2023 01:45

We opened the windows and faced our relatives including my parents towards it.
Irish , not sure if it’s just a thing in Ireland though.
My aunts also wouldn’t allow the bed to face the window or door prior to death and was only turned as the moment became very near.

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Although my aunt did sit in the garden with a shot gun shooting at all the magpies thinking that would stop her father dying.
So maybe the whole family are just bonkers

BadNomad · 05/07/2023 01:52

GlucklicheTage · 05/07/2023 01:45

We opened the windows and faced our relatives including my parents towards it.
Irish , not sure if it’s just a thing in Ireland though.
My aunts also wouldn’t allow the bed to face the window or door prior to death and was only turned as the moment became very near.

Show quote history

That's interesting. I'm in Northern Ireland so you would think our rituals/traditions would be similar. Maybe that does happen more in the country. I just know it's not something that was done on any of the wards I've worked on around Belfast.