worst day of surgery EVER

[fang]

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I'm sure I can't be the only one with this problem-- (don't read if you're squeamish)

I have a URI that seems to be spreading like the plague through the hospital. I put on a mask to go in the OR and help transfer the patient... even through I had blown my nose when I changed scrubs, I was soon wondering if anyone could see any dark wet splotch on the exterior of my mask as I helped transfer the patient. I had a chance to surrupticiously (I hope) change masks before I scrubbed, and this time made sure there was a nice big spaceous fold between my nose and mouth. As time went on though, my nose plugged up and I had to search for thigs to say that didn't involve the letters "m" and "n". I decided I was too chicken to ask to scrub out and blow my nose-- it would just happen again and I didn't want to give up the chance for a 1st rate view during a colon resection. (Also, I didn't think my illness would hurt the patient in any way... half her nurses have the same cold and I'm just holding a retractor.)

So, as time goes on, the snot is literally dripping down my nose and on my upper lip. I didn't really have a choice-- I licked it off and hoped it would dry up. 😛 For 5 hours it did not dry up. And for 5 hours I also wanted to sneeze, and had an enourmous urge to itch my lip. Aside from being unusually mouse-like, I tried to hide what was going on. There was one dangerous period when I was worried one of the drips would make it down my chin, but luckily it stayed well under the cover of the mask.

Thankfully, no one asked me any questions I couldn't get through without the m's and n's, and no one mentioned anything. I went to the locker room and had the most gratifying sneeze and nose blow I can remember.

Moral of this story: there's a reason people keep pseudoephedrine behind the nurse's station.

Anyone know any other tricks?

 

[Dr JPH]

Afrin

I hate to use it normally but when there is something important going on, it is good stuff.

 

[ForbiddenComma]

Were you wearing a duckbill mask? They are the best when your nose is itchy.

I hope your hospital isn't cracking down on people who come to work with UTIs or other communicable diseases. The one here sort of is.

BTW, this reminds me of the time that my bladder decided it was time to pee 15 minutes into a bowel resection 🙁

 

[funkless]

Tangential question:

Does urinating oneself amount to contaminating the sterile field? What if you keep your urethral meatus in pristine condition?

 

[21JumpStreet]

I'm sure I can't be the only one with this problem-- (don't read if you're squeamish)

I have a URI that seems to be spreading like the plague through the hospital. I put on a mask to go in the OR and help transfer the patient... even through I had blown my nose when I changed scrubs, I was soon wondering if anyone could see any dark wet splotch on the exterior of my mask as I helped transfer the patient. I had a chance to surrupticiously (I hope) change masks before I scrubbed, and this time made sure there was a nice big spaceous fold between my nose and mouth. As time went on though, my nose plugged up and I had to search for thigs to say that didn't involve the letters "m" and "n". I decided I was too chicken to ask to scrub out and blow my nose-- it would just happen again and I didn't want to give up the chance for a 1st rate view during a colon resection. (Also, I didn't think my illness would hurt the patient in any way... half her nurses have the same cold and I'm just holding a retractor.)

So, as time goes on, the snot is literally dripping down my nose and on my upper lip. I didn't really have a choice-- I licked it off and hoped it would dry up. 😛 For 5 hours it did not dry up. And for 5 hours I also wanted to sneeze, and had an enourmous urge to itch my lip. Aside from being unusually mouse-like, I tried to hide what was going on. There was one dangerous period when I was worried one of the drips would make it down my chin, but luckily it stayed well under the cover of the mask.

Thankfully, no one asked me any questions I couldn't get through without the m's and n's, and no one mentioned anything. I went to the locker room and had the most gratifying sneeze and nose blow I can remember.

Moral of this story: there's a reason people keep pseudoephedrine behind the nurse's station.

Anyone know any other tricks?

Zicam works like a miracle. When your symptoms start, use either the spray form or the swab. Use it every four hours and your cold will disappear. The zinc in there works wonders.

 

[robotsonic]

Does urinating oneself amount to contaminating the sterile field? What if you keep your urethral meatus in pristine condition?

This implies that your urethral meatus is in the sterile field to begin with.

 

[beary]

I hope your hospital isn't cracking down on people who come to work with UTIs or other communicable diseases. The one here sort of is.

I stayed home for one day last week because I was feeling so bad - I think I had the flu or maybe an extremely bad cold. I am getting cracked down on for missing a day of rotation. 🙁 Guess they would rather have me come in, miserably drag myself around, and infect other people.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I like an antihistamine decongestant combination like Claritin-D OTC or a chlorpheniramine/PSE combination. The PSE or the newer PE decongestants by themselves seem to unclog my nose, but don't do anything for the running rivers of snot. The anti-histamine is what dries you up. So say the Rphs I work with. URI's suck. Good luck!

 

[fang]

I stayed home for one day last week because I was feeling so bad - I think I had the flu or maybe an extremely bad cold. I am getting cracked down on for missing a day of rotation. 🙁 Guess they would rather have me come in, miserably drag myself around, and infect other people.

Fear of this is why I came in at all... I definitely don't want to get people sick (and this crap really sucks.) I washed my hands a lot, didn't get too close to anyone, but I wonder if that mkaes any difference? Bottom line was that my attending had this cold, and he kept coming in, so I decided to do likewise.

 

[beastmaster]

So, as time goes on, the snot is literally dripping down my nose and on my upper lip. I didn't really have a choice-- I licked it off and hoped it would dry up. 😛 For 5 hours it did not dry up. And for 5 hours I also wanted to sneeze, and had an enourmous urge to itch my lip. Aside from being unusually mouse-like, I tried to hide what was going on. There was one dangerous period when I was worried one of the drips would make it down my chin, but luckily it stayed well under the cover of the mask.

Hate to say that I'm laughing at your expense, but thanks for the laugh I wonder how many people can relate to such stories, putting oneself through hell for a better view of a colon.

 

[funkless]

This implies that your urethral meatus is in the sterile field to begin with.

What? Yours isn't? You don't do the daily listerine swab? What a sicko!