When you can really really smell the patient

[Lollygag]

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Hey everyone so I have a kind of silly question 😕

Background: I've been a part time scribe in an ED for a little over 8 months, I am a total germophobe but not to the extent of irrationality; I do have a VERY sensitive nose and really do hate bad smells. But I've had the opportunity to observe a few surgeries and I was an EMT for 2 years and I have never had any issues with being grossed out, I have always been able to stomach what is thrown at me with no issue.

But today though...

This patient. Smelled. TERRIBLE. And I honestly felt like I could not handle it. I wasn't even standing next to him I was more than 5 feet away so I can't even imagine how strong the scent was for the physician who had to actually examine him. As a scribe I've smelled diarrhea, urine and blood many times and been perfectly okay. But this guy is unlike anything I've ever smelled... I do feel very sad for him as he most likely is homeless, but it smelled like he urinated all over his clothes and didn't change it for a month.

I felt nauseous so I went to the bathroom, I did feel for a moment like I would vomit but I tried to pull it together and felt okay after 30 mins or so. And to make it worse, the ER doc told me that that was nothing, and I'll definitely smell way worse than that. I'm legitimately concerned.

So for all you medical students and attending's, do you think that my low tolerance for bad smells smell will be a serious problem? Do you think it is something that you get used to after a while? And if it would be a serious problem do you think there is a way to solve it, even if it means I have to take Zofran the rest of my life before work.

 

[Astra]

One trick that helped me was carrying around some vick's and rubbing it under my nose as I saw it fit.

Hey everyone so I have a kind of silly question 😕

Background: I've been a part time scribe in an ED for a little over 8 months, I am a total germophobe but not to the extent of irrationality; I do have a VERY sensitive nose and really do hate bad smells. But I've had the opportunity to observe a few surgeries and I was an EMT for 2 years and I have never had any issues with being grossed out, I have always been able to stomach what is thrown at me with no issue.

But today though...

This patient. Smelled. TERRIBLE. And I honestly felt like I could not handle it. I wasn't even standing next to him I was more than 5 feet away so I can't even imagine how strong the scent was for the physician who had to actually examine him. As a scribe I've smelled diarrhea, urine and blood many times and been perfectly okay. But this guy is unlike anything I've ever smelled... I do feel very sad for him as he most likely is homeless, but it smelled like he urinated all over his clothes and didn't change it for a month.

I felt nauseous so I went to the bathroom, I did feel for a moment like I would vomit but I tried to pull it together and felt okay after 30 mins or so. And to make it worse, the ER doc told me that that was nothing, and I'll definitely smell way worse than that. I'm legitimately concerned.

So for all you medical students and attending's, do you think that my low tolerance for bad smells smell will be a serious problem? Do you think it is something that you get used to after a while? And if it would be a serious problem do you think there is a way to solve it, even if it means I have to take Zofran the rest of my life before work.

 

[desiredmembername123]

Peppermint extract also works for this purpose if I remember correctly.

 

[Ismet]

Also cherry chapstick under the nose, easier to carry around in scrubs, even better if you can grab a face mask and smear the chapstick in there.

Worst I've ever smelled was necrotic bowel in the OR. *shudder*

 

[Lollygag]

One trick that helped me was carrying around some vick's and rubbing it under my nose as I saw it fit.

Peppermint extract also works for this purpose if I remember correctly.

Also cherry chapstick under the nose, easier to carry around in scrubs, even better if you can grab a face mask and smear the chapstick in there.

Worst I've ever smelled was necrotic bowel in the OR. *shudder*

WOW those are all really good ideas, thank you so much! I think I might bring all 3 around with me 🙂 see which one is the strongest and lasts longest, I'm sure they won't completely eliminate the smell but as long as it makes it not as bad then I'd be happy

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Worst I've ever smelled was necrotic bowel in the OR. *shudder*

I can attest to this... Peri-rectal abscess isn't daisies either.

Op yeah you will probably smell worse, but on the bright side the more you have these experiences the more desensitized you will become

 

[moisne]

I breath through my mouth... Lol it solves the problem completely.

 

[Nerdeka]

Better than your friend smelling up your car which happened to me 2 days ago.

 

[LizzyM]

And to think that some folks think that being a scribe is not clinical experience....

 

[NicksMD]

I breath through my mouth... Lol it solves the problem completely.

If I did this I would feel like my breathe stinks.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[Hospitalized]

And to think that some folks think that being a scribe is not clinical experience....

Who thinks that? I'd like to have a chat.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

I second the Vick or Chapstick trick. But for the most part this is just something you have to tough out and get used to. You will be around foul smells quite a lot and over time it will become less stomach churning.

 

[Lawpy]

Also cherry chapstick under the nose, easier to carry around in scrubs, even better if you can grab a face mask and smear the chapstick in there.

Worst I've ever smelled was necrotic bowel in the OR. *shudder*

I can attest to this... Peri-rectal abscess isn't daisies either.

Op yeah you will probably smell worse, but on the bright side the more you have these experiences the more desensitized you will become

This is why anosmia can be a wonderful thing.

 

[Espressso]

+1 for the chapstick recommendation. Greatest thing ever.

 

[Wolfpack93]

Urine is bad but wait till you smell necrotic flesh. The first time I saw a patient with this I had to leave the room. I felt bad because it was probably embarrassing but I think I would've thrown up if I stayed in there. I've never forgotten Vicks since then.

 

[osckey]

Urine is bad but wait till you smell necrotic flesh. The first time I saw a patient with this I had to leave the room. I felt bad because it was probably embarrassing but I think I would've thrown up if I stayed in there. I've never forgotten Vicks since then.

While scribing, I had the pleasure of withstanding 6 minutes of the smell from a woman's necrotic vaginal tissue. No oils, no chapstick, no mask.

What. a. disaster.



(so much for my hiatus from SDN until school starts)

 

[Wolfpack93]

While scribing, I had the pleasure of withstanding 6 minutes of the smell from a woman's necrotic vaginal tissue. No oils, no chapstick, no mask.

What. a. disaster.



(so much for my hiatus from SDN until school starts)

It's so bad. I feel really bad for the patients with diabetes who feet are completely necrotic. Also makes me question how people can do podiatry

 

[osckey]

It's so bad. I feel really bad for the patients with diabetes who feet are completely necrotic. Also makes me question how people can do podiatry

Ya, the unfortunate lady was rather destitute and had poorly managed cancerous vaginal tissue which became necrotic (I have no idea why or how).

 

[Lollygag]

It's so bad. I feel really bad for the patients with diabetes who feet are completely necrotic. Also makes me question how people can do podiatry

Never. Lol never ever ever ever ever

Before this job I may have considered it as a back up if I for whatever reason couldn't get into medical school but I've learned.

Never lol

 

[LizzyM]

Never. Lol never ever ever ever ever

Before this job I may have considered it as a back up if I for whatever reason couldn't get into medical school but I've learned.

Never lol

I had someone tell me in a med school interview that they discarded the idea of a career in dentistry after encountering a patient with an infected tooth. I suspected that the applicant had had insufficient experience in medicine to realize that it was not a good career choice either.

 

[Catalystik]

This is why anosmia can be a wonderful thing.

Except that loss of smell has been associated with eventual onset of dementia.

 

[Lawpy]

Except that loss of smell has been associated with eventual onset of dementia.

🙁 well, i guess there's always desensitization of the smell receptors... That could help dealing with those rare cases of stinky feet and dead bowels without developing dementia 🤢🤢

 

[Tenk]

Can get an alcohol swab if you feel nauseated or put on a face mask next time.