The doctor dance

[zyzyly]

I am home this morning with Arlina, nursing her though a bout of abdominal pain. It started yesterday while I was at work, but she didn't tell me until after 5, when the doctor's office had already closed. So I came home and found her lying on the sofa, writhing in pain.

Sometimes I wish I wasn't a nurse. I want to be ignorant of all but what is absolutely necessary for me to know. I want to call the doctor's office and tell them that I don't know what is happening, only that my wife is suffering, and could they please do something. But I can't.

Instead, I assess her pain--all the questions that I have been trained to ask. Sharp or dull, steady, intermittent, stabbing squeezing. "Point with one finger where it hurts the worst".

I take out my stethoscope and listen to each quadrant in turn. I palpate, percuss and poke. I take her temperature, and review the meds she has taken today.

I call the on-call doctor and share my findings with him. He is always appreciative of the thoroughness of my exam. We discuss possibilities and agree on a plan. He hangs up and I go in to try and help her through this. The husband stands in the corner while the nurse does what he has to do.

Comments

[blue-by-you.livejournal.com]

Oh, how I remember that dichotomy, although not to your level, being a nurse. Just wanted to say I'm listening.

[rawmr.livejournal.com]

I don't like to bring this up with strangers, as many have a negative reaction to it, especially when they are entrenched in "conservative" medicine. There is a non-centralized technology that has gained approval by the EU, but which is still not recognized by the AMA. More importantly, it has worked for many people where "conservative" approaches have failed. It is not 100%, but then again, what is? You can find out all you need to know about this and its adjuncts at the Rife and Rife-Forum yahoogroups if you are interested. Good luck.

[blistermoth.livejournal.com]

*sigh* *hug* *prays*

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

Strikes me you're a wonderful care-giver in every way. A is very lucky.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

i am so sorry about arlina's pain. but i agree with ruralrob that it's wonderful that you can give this professional care, in addition to the emotional. i hope the pain goes away very soon.

[eleanor.livejournal.com]

Thank God she has you.

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

imagine if you didn't know, if you had no medical knowledge. then you really would be standing in the corner whilst someone else attended to arlina.
i say this with the best of intentions... sometimes i think you may be too hard on yourself. you are so many things and your responsibility is huge. to be able to separate nurse/husband and attend to the task at hand is awesome.
my words seem stupid when held up against your reality.

love to you both. xxxxx

[whipporwill.livejournal.com]

sigh...

Lord, ease the pain.