1/
#AmazingGrady, Day 1
From the ICU to the step-down unit. From the step-down unit to the floor. Things were getting better. You were getting better.
Yup.
But then the confusion came.
"My mama wasn't like this!" Your daughter was emphatic.
Your daughter was right.
#AmazingGrady, Day 1
From the ICU to the step-down unit. From the step-down unit to the floor. Things were getting better. You were getting better.
Yup.
But then the confusion came.
"My mama wasn't like this!" Your daughter was emphatic.
Your daughter was right.
2/
We reconciled the meds. The astute med student even cross checked your list with the Beers Criteria list since you're an elder.
Vitals were fine.
No sneaky hypothermia.
Or a sucker punch UTI even.
Nope.
"Now they got her tied down!" Your daughter shook her head.
We reconciled the meds. The astute med student even cross checked your list with the Beers Criteria list since you're an elder.
Vitals were fine.
No sneaky hypothermia.
Or a sucker punch UTI even.
Nope.
"Now they got her tied down!" Your daughter shook her head.
3/
The team had a good schema for delirium. I agreed with everything they'd already started to explore. And since your daughter was vehement about you never having cognitive issues, it wasn't fair to even think for five seconds that this was your "new baseline."
Nah.
The team had a good schema for delirium. I agreed with everything they'd already started to explore. And since your daughter was vehement about you never having cognitive issues, it wasn't fair to even think for five seconds that this was your "new baseline."
Nah.
4/
But then I looked into your eyes and then beyond them to the pink curtain behind you. You were in bed 1. And even if you'd been in bed 2, this was a room that faced a concrete wall.
Was it day?
Was it night?
Hell. How would you know?
But then I looked into your eyes and then beyond them to the pink curtain behind you. You were in bed 1. And even if you'd been in bed 2, this was a room that faced a concrete wall.
Was it day?
Was it night?
Hell. How would you know?
5/
And so.
We removed the restraints.
And got you out of bed into a chair.
And moved you over to another room.
A room with a view.
Yup.
And so.
We removed the restraints.
And got you out of bed into a chair.
And moved you over to another room.
A room with a view.
Yup.
6/
And that intervention--our only intervention--was mighty. Man, it was.
Me: "Hey there. How are you?"
Her: "Dr. Manning! Anybody ever tell you that you favor that lady Tamron Hall on TV?"
Me: *laughter* "Yes, ma'am. They have."
Her: "Except you have some grey."
*laughter*
And that intervention--our only intervention--was mighty. Man, it was.
Me: "Hey there. How are you?"
Her: "Dr. Manning! Anybody ever tell you that you favor that lady Tamron Hall on TV?"
Me: *laughter* "Yes, ma'am. They have."
Her: "Except you have some grey."
*laughter*
7/
Me: "Do you know where we are right now?"
Her: "Grady Memorial."
Me: "Do you know the year?"
Her: "It's 19. Almost time to start cooking. What you making?"
Me: "I'm not much of a cook. But I make a mean Mac and cheese, though. So I'll be making that."
Her: "Hmmmm."
Me: "Do you know where we are right now?"
Her: "Grady Memorial."
Me: "Do you know the year?"
Her: "It's 19. Almost time to start cooking. What you making?"
Me: "I'm not much of a cook. But I make a mean Mac and cheese, though. So I'll be making that."
Her: "Hmmmm."
8/
After that, we compared details of our Mac and cheese recipes. And whether "stuffing" or "dressing" was the right term for the Thanksgiving side dish.
You were AxO x 5:
Person
Place
Time
Situation
And food.
After that, we compared details of our Mac and cheese recipes. And whether "stuffing" or "dressing" was the right term for the Thanksgiving side dish.
You were AxO x 5:
Person
Place
Time
Situation
And food.
9/
Best of all? Your daughter said that you were back to being yourself. And everyone was relieved.
Years ago, I saw my attending do this very thing for an elder. Take off the restraints. Get the patient out of bed. And get them over to a room with a view.
And I never forgot.
Best of all? Your daughter said that you were back to being yourself. And everyone was relieved.
Years ago, I saw my attending do this very thing for an elder. Take off the restraints. Get the patient out of bed. And get them over to a room with a view.
And I never forgot.
10/
Here's what I know for sure:
Some things in medicine are super complicated. And some things? They aren't.
Nope.
I'm really glad you are back to being yourself.
P.S. I agree with you--it's "dressing" not "stuffing" for sure. 😊👊🏾
Here's what I know for sure:
Some things in medicine are super complicated. And some things? They aren't.
Nope.
I'm really glad you are back to being yourself.
P.S. I agree with you--it's "dressing" not "stuffing" for sure. 😊👊🏾
