Pfunksfoolosophy

Okay, that was really, really reaching…well, I have to say that since today is a day off for me that I have a lot of ambition.
The room has GOT to get cleaned. I’m sitting at the computer, however. There’s a pile of laundry just waiting to be washed. No matter. Hey, the cable’s still on. That’s a bonus.
Gotta get that news fix before I do anything.
Also, I wanted to share a little something with you.

My friend is in the hospital. He’s in poor health, but he’s been in poor health ever since I’ve known him. Diabetes, high blood pressure, a heart condition, jungle rot from serving in Vietnam, alcoholism and for a time in his life, what we termed ‘reluctant bulimia’. For some reason he was purging what he ate. He didn’t want to, it just happened.
We even did a mock PSA about it. As is my way, I made light of it and his poor health to keep his spirits up. He’s had a rough life due to some crazy ass decisions.
At one time he was a drug addict. Heroin. So, he’s off that, but the booze has been a constant companion.
I went to visit him on Monday and we had a long talk. I made him laugh, which made all of his monitors go haywire for awhile. His blood pressure went up but it leveled off.
He discussed his poor choices healthwise and got some ICU religion.
The guy is smart and funny but there is a part him that’s just given up. I mentioned this and he agreed. He told me that he was going to mend his ways once he got out.
I told him that I would support him in his decisions.
We both know that he will be back to his old tricks…although I have to say he got a nice little scare when the woman in the bed across from him coded and died.
They couldn’t save her. She was slightly older than my friend. She had the same medical issues.
Scared him silly. He kept mentioning it.
So, I gave him a shave, helped him wash up and got him settled.
I also got a real good glimpse of his delicate underparts.
You’re never prepared for that. NEVER.
He’s not a family member and I didn’t want to see HIS member.
There it was, dangling for all the world to see.
I was going to bring him a healthy snack for later, but another person came in and put the kibosh on it. If he had kept his freakin’ mouth shut, I could have brought him in a low carb, low fat, no sodium snack. His blood sugars, while all over the place were in no way going to bring him to ketoacidosis. Friggin’ loud mouth. At least I know what I’m doing.
I listened to part of the conversation when the docs came in…they made me leave during the good bits.
You know, when his primary told him that she didn’t expect him to know what kind of meds he was on, I got pissed. WHY shouldn’t he know? WHY shouldn’t a patient be informed?
That’s ridiculous.
I told him what he was on and what they would do for him.
I can’t stand physicians who act as though they’re the keepers of all knowledge and that you wouldn’t understand because you didn’t go to med school.
Nope, the best doctors are the ones who explain everything and treat you like you’re an intelligent being.
It makes me want to go back to school and become a doctor.
Shame is that I’m too old now…well, to get into a decent medical school.
The kicker about my pal is that he’s in a teaching hospital. They’re supposed to have a bedside manner and explain this shit.
NOT talk over, around and AT him.
THIS is why I don’t like hospitals and THIS is why I tell every person I know to buy a PDR, become educated and informed before they go to a doctor’s appointment.
KNOW what you’re dealing with…a well informed patient is a happy patient.
All of my doctors in the past have treated me like a peer because of it. I’ve received great
assistance and I’ve survived cancer without having to get chemo or have invasive surgery.
Alternative methods are available and if you are informed, you can ask your doc about it.
They may poo poo it, but at least they’ll know that you’re being pro-active.
Remember, it only takes a ‘C’ average to become a physician.
That’s just average. If you think all docs are ‘A’ students, you’re wrong.
Ask. It’s in your best interest.

Hmm….this turned into something different, didn’t it?

Laundry or snack?

What do YOU think?

Keep on truckin’!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 at 12:59 pm and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.