Being in the profession that we are and trying to let that go and just be the patient is taking its toll on Gerald. Im going to get on my soapbox just a little right now and challenge all my medical friends to really think about how our judgmental attitudes have a negative impact on our patients and our peers when they become the patient. There is such a stigma associated with narcotics and benzos that people who NEED these medications dont take them for fear of being labeled a drug seeker. Geralds has available to him oral narcotics for pain control with IV narcotics hourly for breakthrough pain. He also has a benzo ordered to help with muscle spasms, anxiety, and as a sleep aid. I honestly believe that his fear of appearing to be a drug seeker has been hindering his healing. He has fought and fought to not appear weak by taking those things to the point of hurting himself more. He didnt sleep for 48 hours and wouldnt take the sleep aid- until last night. We finally had a good heart to heart about it and he agreed to trust me and try things my way. Last night he slept most of the night. Yesterday he finally gave it up and accepted narcotics to keep his pain well controlled. He was able to deep breathe and cough up some of the junk from his lungs. Today his white count is back up, and he is going to see the infectious disease doctor. He is probably going to have to start a more powerful antibiotic and add an anti fungal to the mix. He was offered a PICC line today and immediately said no. (Same stigma- automatically assume that somebody with a PICC has a narcotic addiction and has the PICC because their veins are all used upnot that they are just sick and need a more comfortable route for medication administration and blood draws) We had a talk about it after the doctor left and he is going to go ahead and have one placed today. There is absolutely no talk of discharge anytime soon and as a matter of fact, the outgoing nurse today said see you guys Thursday and wasnt kidding.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:15:09 +0000