#68 The Quiet Ones Are Always the Ones You Need to Watch out For…
Acute GI bleed, patient was in her 90s. She had been on our floor for about three days with no improvement. I help one of the aides take care of her because she will not respond to any verbal commands and never moved. No moans, no eye-opening, only breathing. Regardless, I like to talk to my patients and let them know who I am before I do anything, introduce myself, and tell them a bit about me.
I tell her my name, I mention my two golden retrievers at home. I assisted my coworker with giving her a bath and Q2 turns and then would leave, never seeing a response from her. The next day I come in and she is my patient. To my surprise, she is fully alert and talking. Just out of curiosity, I ask her if she knew who I was. “Yes dear, you are [insert my name]. You’re planning to go to medical school and have two golden retrievers at home, Levi and Leo.”
I’m shocked that she heard and remembered so much, but then she continues: “I saw my mother yesterday…. She wants me to tell you that you really need to get that weight off of you.” Just then the signal to the TV drops and the room is filled with a blaring loud static noise before switching back to the channel that was on before. I know it was likely coincidence but it was enough to worry me regardless.
Credit: cosakaz
