TMI

We've all experienced the "Oh my God... that is too much information" moment. The TMI moment. You basically want to hit rewind... delete. Or wish for a sudden attack of amnesia. But since I couldn't do either, I will spread the wealth!

We admitted a patient last week after he was involved in an altercation and sustained a facial injury. Of course, the police showed up to take a statement and collect any information/ evidence that they needed. Due to the nature of the injury and the background information to the alteration, the police searched the patient. They found only 2 items on this patient... his ID and Axe body spray.

So the doctor, slightly jaded to these types of situations, asked the patient about the Axe body spray, "Do you huff this stuff?"

The patient (who does have gastritis mind you) responded, "No, I have sh*t-farts and I use it to cover up the odor."

WOW!!! TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!! Rewind... rewind... rewind. Maybe a minor head injury with resulting amnesia?? HELP!

2am and bored??

I've never understood the patient that comes to the ED because of some "problem" at 2am and proceeds to tell us that the "problem" started 2 weeks ago.

You ask, "Is it getting worse? Is it different than it was when it STARTED 2 weeks ago?"

They answer, "No."

So really, 2am, in the ED, is the most convenient time for you to seek medical care? Are you so bored that you want to spice up your life with an expensive visit to your local ED? And when did the EMERGENCY part of 'Emergency Department' disappear? Because personally, I don't think that your non-worsening back pain that started 2 weeks ago constitutes an emergency... especially if you are walking around comfortably with a 2 year old on your hip and your cell phone to your ear.

So while it gives me and my colleagues job security... it still doesn't stop me from asking, WHY?