Ask me about my day...

Well, the gut feeling wasn't anything as bad as I was anticipating. There were a lot of little things that were a little not-fun for me, though.

I had my first HIV positive patient today. I know - I don't know how I've dodged that bullet until now, but I did. That's all I'm saying about this particular patient. As a quick disclaimer, I have nothing against HIV+ people and I've always thought it was kind of gross how people treat those infected in some sub-human sort of way. The call went without incident... it was really a good call. It was kind of weird, though, to deal with someone whose bloody tissues could infect you with a disease that could ultimately kill you. It was definitely a weird experience.

I also had to stair-chair someone down stairs today. To other EMS professionals, that wouldn't sound like a problem. On small amounts of sturdy stairs, it isn't usually a problem. But, I have climicaphobia. I'm afraid of stairs...not deathly so, but certain types of stairs (steep ones, narrow ones, long stairs, and the stairs that you can see what's under you through the backs being open or there being holes to allow water drainage) make me anxious and I avoid them at all cost. Unfortunately, this patient was on the second story and there was no elevator. Bad news bears. Luckily I made it without freaking out... I held it in until I got home when I got in my room and I threw myself down in the ground and SCREAMED while waving my arms and legs like a crazy person. I needed to get it out.

I found out today that a patient I previously cared for coincidently got caught with child porn. What a douche bag. And he complained when the medics couldn't find a vein. He said that they were treating him like a "pin cushion." Bro, you deserve so much worse then a couple of 18 gauge needles in your arm.

As a disclaimer, any anecdotes in this blog are stories that have merely been based on real life experiences; there is no true identifying information - it has either been changed, or excluded from the story to protect the privacy of my patients. If the described patients sound like anyone (alive or deceased), then it is merely a coincidence that occurs because most health problems that I encounter are very common. The opinions expressed in this blog are mine; they in no way represent protocol in my area, the views of my certifying agency, or anyone/thing else. Don't be stupid.