Somethings are becoming more predictable now
1. had to put a cannula in a BIG 20 year-old Maori guy. Told me he was scared of needles, but i didn't pay any heed. But as soon as i got the needle in, he started sweating perfusely (totally covered with sweat in a matter of seconds!), started rolling his eyes, got very floppy and eventually collapsed into the arms of his girfriend. [I'm not exaggerating at all.] I was quite amused, and a little bit freaked out. thankfully the nurses told me it was just a vasovagal attack. First time for me to witness or induce a vasovagal attack on someone, although i've heard about it happening not uncommonly.So, when i was contemplating putting a cannula in a BIG 18 year-old guy yesterday, i had the feeling he wouldn't like the idea, despite the tattoo! on his arm. And i was right. as soon as i told him that i had to do it, he begged me not to put it in. i told him it might be life-threatening if i didn't. then he begged me to use the anaesthetic cream that we normally only use in kids before we put in the needle. i had sympathy for him somehow and agreed. or maybe i didn't want to induce another vasovagal attack on someone.
What is it with big young men and needles??? I swear i've met at least one other like the above 2. Elderly ladies, on the other hand, (and there're zillions of them in hospitals) almost NEVER have any problems with needles.
2. "had to " (actually was very excited to finally get a chance to ) suture a scaple laceration on a 8 year-old the other day. he was very scared but, at the end, surprisingly brave. didn't kick, shout, cry or run. Then yesterday, "had to" stitch up a laceration just above the eye-brow in a 2 year-old, on his Birthday. Knew it would involve a lot of drama. he kicked, shouted, cried, but couldn't run (cos we had him pinned down by 3 adults). poor kid. he had to go thru the most painful part (injection of the local anaesthetic) twice, cos there was an unexpected delay after i did it the first time. the second time, he started crying as soon as we brought him back to the suturing table. hope the midazolam we gave him helped him to forget this traumatic event. The dad wasn't very helpful. kept telling him that he had to suffer all this because he didn't eat his vegetables like he was told to!
[remember quite vividly the time i had to get my eye stitched when i was around 6. the procedure itself went pretty well. but unfortunately, the movie i went to see immediately after i left the hospital involved the villain being identified by the police at the end of the movie because of a scar on his face. Poor me didn't know better. was haunted, for months afterwards, by the thought that the police catches and punishes anyone that had a scar on their face. Ironically, i only lacerated my face cos i was impatient about seeing the movie and ran into a basin.]
posted by zhinger @ 12:59 am
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