Medical professionals study for years in pursuit of knowledge that can help them save lives—but no amount of schooling could have prepared these doctors for these shocking cases. The following true stories prove two things: 1) doctors deserve every single cent they make, and 2) the human body is a scary, scary thing.
1. A Bad Prognosis
During my third year of med school, I saw a patient who'd been struggling with her balance and slurred speech for four years. Despite numerous and extensive tests at a different hospital, she was yet to receive a diagnosis and this was her first appointment at our university-based hospital.
I began to suspect something was off when I first met her. Upon extending my hand for a handshake, she struggled to look up at me from her wheelchair, indicating a possible issue. I also queried if she ever felt like one of her limbs moved independently, and she confirmed it. This suggested a condition known as the Alien Limb Phenomenon.
I managed, with my team's agreement, to identify her condition as a relatively uncommon one related to Parkinson's plus syndromes. Although the outlook wasn't very promising, it brought some relief to her family to finally know what they were dealing with.
2. And This Is Why We Wash Our Hands
Surgeons don't always know what they're going to find during an operation, just like my dad. My dad isn't specifically a surgeon, but during his time at med school, he did perform some surgical procedures. One memorable story he shared involved a patient with necrotizing fasciitis—a torrential flesh-eating disease.
Frankly, I wish he had never shared this particular tale. It sounds like something straight from a spooky zombie show like The Walking Dead. The patient had received a nasty garden cut, and the wound wasn't sufficiently treated. As my dad recounted to us, getting to the actual injury was like peeling an onion.
Firstly, he carefully removed the homemade bandages. Next, came the surprising sight of holy book pages that the patient had used to cover the wound. Layer by layer, bandage by bandage. Eventually, after removing each layer, they reached the gruesome wound.
Nothing could prepare my father for the sight that awaited. The injury was infested with maggots. Odd as it was, they were feeding on the dead tissue caused by the infection. My dad explained they removed the maggots before they began the operation to eliminate the infected parts.
Surprisingly, the patient should actually be grateful to the maggots. As they'd consumed the decayed and infected flesh, my father and his colleagues avoided the need to amputate the patient's limb. After experiencing this, my dad was pretty sure that he wanted to specialize in another area of medicine, ruling out surgery for now.
3. Off Like A Rocket
During a Caesarean section, for a mother who had been in labor for a long time, we encountered some issues. The baby would not emerge from the small hole we had made, prompting us to use extra pressure.
Suddenly, the baby flew out like a swiftly launched torpedo, drenched in amniotic fluid. She slid quickly over the surgery sheets, similar to a Slip 'n Slide, almost catapulting off the operating table.
Reacting quickly, the nurse managed to clutch onto the baby's foot, lifting her upward in a cartoony reversal of gravity, but she nearly slipped out of her hand. Then came a twist of fate—luckily, the midwife was prepared and caught the baby, wrapping her in a warm towel.
Surprisingly, the parents seemed unfazed by the whole event, assuming it was routine. My colleague and I exchanged a horrified glance.
The mere thought of how close the baby was to landing headfirst on the floor still sends shivers down my spine. It was a first, and thankfully, the last incident of its kind.
4. He’s Allergic To What?!
I once had to check a man into the hospital. He was significantly overweight at around 400 pounds, and was dealing with diabetes, heart disease, and a host of other health problems.
During the process, he suddenly expressed a strong thirst and urgently requested something to drink. I promptly asked the nurse assistant to bring in some ice water. Everyone in the room immediately erupted. Before I could even finish speaking, his family loudly objects: "NOOOO! NOT WATER! HE HAS A WATER ALLERGY!"
Apparently, due to his supposed "allergy" to water, this man had exclusively been consuming Sprite and sweet tea over the span of many years.
5. Welcome To The World
My dad works as a pediatrician with a focus on neurological problems. One day, while he was taking care of a patient at the hospital, a nurse abruptly brought him into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) because she was worried about a baby's health.
However, the child's primary doctor insisted the kid was alright, merely fatigued due to a challenging delivery involving a vacuum assist.
But my dad felt something was off about the baby's condition. Eventually, he convinced the parents to have a brain scan performed on their child.
Despite the attending NICU doctor criticizing my dad by saying he was overreacting to the parents, the outcome proved otherwise. It turned out that the child had a brain hemorrhage that required immediate surgery.
If it hadn't been for the nurse drawing my dad's attention to the situation, and the parents who heeded my dad's advice, the baby might not have survived. Regrettably, the delay caused by the initial doctor's dismissal may have resulted in some loss of brain function for the child.
I take immense pride in my dad for standing up and doing what was right.
6. The Greatest Showman
There's this woman who firmly thinks magnets can heal health problems. She's got these magnets stashed in her car, and occasionally, she'll put on this great drama about being unable to breathe—though she's perfectly fine—and insists that no one should call for an ambulance.
She'll go as far as heading out to her car, gathering her cheap refrigerator magnets, and bringing them back into the house. Rubbing the magnets over her chest, clothes and all, she'll pronounce herself healed, declaring no need for any emergency medical services.
Just a heads-up, you really don't want to get her talking about her belief that oranges and vitamins are a solution for autism. Seriously, don't. You may find yourself in a pickle if you do.
7. I Don’t Scare Easy
My father happens to be a specialist in cardiovascular and interventional radiology. A good while back, he was treating a prison inmate who was under heavy guard—handcuffed to the operating table, with officers standing watch close by.
Trying to throw a scare into my dad, the inmate stated that he had been jailed for manslaughter. But my father isn't one who's easily frightened.
Without any hesitation, my dad retorted, "Interestingly, the previous patient I subjected to this procedure didn't survive it." This caused the security officer to chortle, while the inmate kept mum for the remainder of the procedure.
8. That's No Scratch
I work as a nurse, and I recall one night being on ER duty when a man walked in with a simple neck abrasion and reporting feelings of sleepiness. All standard procedures were initiated when all of sudden, his blood pressure dramatically dropped.
Despite our best efforts, the man passed away within ten minutes of his arrival. Later, we came to the shocking realization that what we thought was a minor "scratch" was actually an exit wound from a .22 caliber gunshot.
The man himself hadn't realized he'd been shot. The shock that followed was further intensified—the autopsy report revealed he'd been shot in the leg, and the bullet had traveled through his body, damaging everything in its path.
Looking back, there's really nothing we could have done given the circumstances. But it left us in a state of disbelief for some time, believing we could have made a grave mistake.
9. It Hits The Fan
Looking at things from another angle, my family has a knack for pulling off the most unexpected ER visits. Once, I accidentally inflicted a concussion and whiplash on myself – all caused by a ceiling fan.
I broke it using my head, lost my consciousness for about half a minute, and then had nonstop migraines for over a week. What a surprise that was for the ER staff! Lots of personnel in the ER kept coming over to hear my tale and have a chuckle, as if saying, "That's a first!"
Sign up to our newsletter.
History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.
10. Ain’t Gonna Happen, Bud
As an ICU nurse, I've spent the last couple of nights looking after a big, muscular guy dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Part of the job is using four-point restraints.
This morning, as I was attempting to slip on his elbow pads, he made a move to hit me. Thanks to the restraints, he couldn't. He was visibly angry while I just stood there, calmly blinking at him.
11. A Swing And A Miss
I experienced a neck biopsy procedure performed by an ear, nose, and throat expert. It was far from pleasant. The doctor inserted a large needle just beneath my ear, wiggling it around uncomfortably before taking it out and reinserting it again.
The whole ordeal was quite dreadful. It resulted in a gigantic, multi-colored bruise covering my neck. To top it all, the test results were not definitive. The worst, however was yet to come.
About a month later, I paid a visit to a very seasoned doctor. After examining the area I was worried about, he asked, "Is this the lump you're anxious about?" I confirmed his query and he responded, "That's actually your second vertebrae. Did the previous doctor attempt to perform a biopsy on it?"
I was taken aback and could only respond with, "Um, yes..." To which he shook his head and replied, "That was quite irresponsible of him, I apologize."
12. The Doctor Was Too Stunned To Speak
You won't believe what I once heard from a young man around 20-22 years old. He grew up in an extremely poor, uneducated family. This guy had a severe case of tonsillitis, but wouldn't take any medication. In his mind, all he needed to do was "bite the sun." When I asked him to clarify, his explanation left me more baffled.
In his own words, at midday, he would look up towards the sun, open his mouth as wide as he could, and try to "bite" the sun several times. He claimed that this unusual action would "burn" his inflamed tonsils and heal him within a few weeks.
And if this strategy didn't work, his backup plan was to do the same thing, but at night, and only when the moon was full.
13. I Can See Clearly Now
There I was, in the middle of a corneal transplant, when I experienced what I'd call a "heart-sinking" moment. I was right at the part where I'd removed the patient's original cornea, ready to replace it with the donated one. There's this fragile period when nothing is covering the front of the eye but a layer of tears. Suddenly, the patient begins to vomit.
We always instruct patients not to consume food or drink beforehand to prevent them from choking if they happen to throw up. But this patient snuck in a breakfast and now was regurgitating everything. Keep in mind, at this point, the eye is in a vulnerable "open sky" state. Everything that was inside could easily come out.
Amid her retching and squirming, it was a nightmare scenario. I had to scramble to secure the new cornea, stitching as quick as possible, all while my patient was continually vomiting. So, here's a plea: please don't sneak in a meal before surgery, folks.
14. Hard To Miss
A lady walked in suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate use, alongside some difficult breathing. Because she was quite vocal about her discomfort, people assumed she just wanted drugs.
However, when I went to check on her in the morning, I decided to conduct a detailed physical examination to be safe. I was relieved about making that call.
To my surprise, I discovered a firm and enlarged lymph node. It was so noticeable that anyone could have found it with a simple checkup. We promptly arranged for a chest X-ray and followed up with a CT scan. Later, the biopsy results confirmed a diagnosis of lung cancer.
You see, it's crucial to never underestimate any signs.
15. Are You For Real?
One of our family friends, a lady in her 40s, was diagnosed with an advanced stage of uterine cancer. Even though she could have opted for surgery and chemotherapy to potentially lessen her pain and extend her life, she and her husband decided to accept the advice of a naturopath.
This health guru claimed they could eliminate her cancer by having her consume only fruit and vegetable juices, but in minimal amounts. In just one month, her weight plummeted dramatically, leaving her so frail that she ended up bed-bound and barely conscious in her final week.
On the last day of her life, she began to vomit violently. The naturopath interpreted this unsettling symptom as a positive sign, telling her husband that it was evidence of the cancer cells leaving her body.
At the funeral, my mother barely recognized her dear friend, as she had become a mere shadow of her former self, only skin covering bones. And the truly sad part? Her sorry-stricken husband maintains the belief that something else, not the cancer, was what finally took her life, after the disease supposedly left her body.
16. How’s The Weather Down There?
I had a rather peculiar encounter with a registered nurse once. She was attempting to take my waist measurements (starting from the belly button) in order to find out my BMI. Seemed like a standard procedure—but then things got weird.
It seemed like my height posed a bit of a challenge for her, considering she began to tug my shorts down in search of my navel. With me standing about six foot five, and her likely barely touching five feet, it's somewhat understandable. It just took her an awfully long time to get the measurements done.
17. If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Break It
Hi, I'm a patient. Once, one of my nurses wasn't sure about the correct way to use my new Epi-Pen medication. Honestly, these things aren't too tricky to use. However, she and her colleagues were outside fiddling with it, trying to figure out how it worked.
That's when disaster struck—they accidentally triggered it, effectively wasting a $1,500 dose of allergy medicine. This didn't go down well with the doctor at all. The nurse even attempted to wiggle out of the situation by passing the pen off as "faulty." Ultimately, it was left to my dad to set the record straight with the doctor.
I was just sitting there, torn between finding the whole situation ridiculously funny and being incredibly mad. After all, I had been waiting on that medication for four days, and now I'd have to wait even longer.
18. Doing More Damage Than Good
My dad is an emergency room doctor. There's this time when an elderly lady comes in complaining of a headache. The doctor on duty checks her out and gives her some Advil before sending her home. However, you can probably guess what happens next.
She returns after a couple of days experiencing both a severe stroke and discomfort in her chest. It's a major stroke, so they start her on blood thinners immediately. They decide to do a CAT scan to investigate what's going on in her brain.
Upon analyzing the scan, they spot something unusual. So they conduct another scan, only to find out that her aorta, the body's most blood-rich and high-pressure artery, is almost entirely dissected.
This is particularly alarming because an aortic dissection patient should never be administered blood thinners—it's the worst possible medication for them. Understandably, everyone starts panicking at this point. They rush her into emergency surgery in an attempt to fix the aorta. However, by this time, she's bleeding heavily.
Sadly, her heart gives out shortly after. Thankfully, my dad wasn't the one who had prescribed the blood thinners to her, but it was still a genuinely nerve-wracking situation. Regardless, her health state was lethal, and it wasn't a great day at all.
Unsplash
19. Seriously Serious Seafood
I once had a regular patient during my time as a medic who would repeatedly call for severe allergic reactions to shellfish about once every two months. She was aware of the allergy and recognized that the reactions were growing harsher.
My team and I finally decided to stick around with her after delivering her to the ER one day. We started a conversation about the repeated incidents, which she'd always been hush-hush about. Her response left us completely baffled.
She was part of a traditional family where her father played a dominant role. He had a talent for making a terrific seafood soup. If she refused to have it in an attempt to "train her body to accept this family gift", she'd be forced into punishments like losing her car or phone, depending on her dad's discretion.
We urged her to take whatever steps necessary to convince him about the real danger she faced, and stressed the importance of having Epi-Pens on hand.
Several years passed and I eventually joined that same ER as a nurse. One day, I spotted a face I'd seen many times before. Evidently, she'd been studying elsewhere and hadn’t been home for quite some time before she'd returned for a family holiday. Predictably, she was served the soup.
Despite promptly administering her Epi-Pen as soon as she felt her throat closing up, the reaction didn't stop. Her mom, who was a stranger to me, shared that she’d hurried to finish her soup and went straight to the restroom, where they later found her on the ground.
The paramedics struggled to intubate her in the field and had to try other methods until they were able to transport her to our ER. Upon arrival, the doctor performed an urgent tracheotomy at her bed, and she was then admitted to the ICU.
It was a grueling week-long recovery process, and the nurses informed me that her father finally understood that her allergy was not to be taken lightly.
20. The Tell-Tale Signs
I'll never forget the dramatic moment that occurred while I was on the operating table. A few years ago, during an intense 28-hour labor, and after six hours of pushing, my unborn child began showing signs of trouble. His heart rate had increased slightly.
My midwife, who was by my side in the hospital, informed me that the doctor was on her way to see if a vacuum assist procedure might be necessary. The doctor examined me, and her reaction was alarming. Immediately, she stood up, her hand covered in blood, and announced: "We need to get to the operating room. NOW."
I began to feel lightheaded and unfocused—a clear indication of shock. Despite my rising anxiety, I trusted that she knew what she was doing. And indeed, she did. We arrived in the OR just eight minutes later. As they prepared to perform an emergency C-section, I heard the surgeon exclaim, "Oh God. Would you look at this!"
The sight that met their eyes was startling: there was blood in my catheter bag, and upon closer inspection, they discovered my baby was trying to come through my uterus, which he had effectively ruptured. They managed to safely extract my son. Although, the silence before he began crying felt like it lasted forever.
But then he cried, and, miraculously, he was completely healthy. When I regained consciousness in my room, the doctor explained the incident. I didn't fully understand the gravity of a ruptured uterus until I looked it up—and I was immediately engulfed in a wave of panic.
A ruptured uterus is alarmingly rare and can often result in death of both mother and baby. The articles I read mentioned that from the point of rupture, there's roughly a 15-minute window before both mom and child risk losing their lives due to blood loss.
During my follow-up appointment, my midwife confessed that she had never seen a case like mine. My situation was so unique that a few days after my childbirth, the medical team had a meeting to discuss my case.
I feel extremely lucky to have chosen a hospital birth and to have had a medical team that detected something was off from my vitals and the baby's and acted swiftly. I can't express enough how thankful I am to Dr. S. She undoubtedly saved both my life and my son's, and for that, my family and I will be eternally grateful.
21. Cradle To Grave
During my early days as a surgical intern, I was called to assist in a chaotic medical case. One of our senior physicians was performing a routine liver biopsy on a patient when he inadvertently pierced her artery.
Given the patient's existing health complications, her tissue was as fragile as tissue paper, creating a challenge when trying to stitch the wound. Each attempt at suturing only seemed to tear the tissue further, leaving a larger, more severe opening.
It was all hands on deck. Even the highest-ranking residents were scrubbed in, while seasoned doctors were urgently infusing blood into the patient's veins. As interns, we played the crucial role of couriers, shuffling between the operating room and blood bank to ferry needed blood and plasma.
The alarming part was that the patient lost over double her entire blood volume during the surgery, requiring more than 12 liters of transfusion. At a critical point, a vascular surgeon stepped in with a strategic intervention, performing a skilled repair job that rectified the issue.
Interestingly, the patient shared an intimate bond with the surgeon, she was like a family member to him. He had saved her life multiple times, and their relationship had grown deep and personal over the years. He was so attached that one of her children was named after him.
The strain of the situation overwhelmed him emotionally, believing at times during the operation that he had lost his de facto daughter. In these intense instances, the senior residents stepped in when the surgeon needed mental respite. This incident marked the end of his time in the operating room; he retired the following day.
It was indeed an extraordinary conclusion to his surgical journey.
22. Oh To Be So Confident, Yet So Wrong
So, this interesting encounter happened with a lady I worked with once. She was feeling under the weather for a couple of days, grappling with nasty sinus issues and a pounding headache.
I suggested that she might be dealing with a sinus infection, but she promptly dismissed my suggestion. Looking at me squarely, she asked, "Have you ever noticed those airplanes that leave white trails behind them?" I nodded hesitantly.
That's when she shared her theory. "It's them," she told me. "They're disseminating harmful chemicals that are falling down on us. I bet that's why I'm feeling so sick right now."
Interestingly, her symptoms turned out to be nothing more than the common cold and she recovered within a few days.
23. Fly The Bird
Here's a really great story that proves my doctor was super cool. About two years ago, I ended up smashing my middle finger in a metal door. Of course, I had to go get my hand x-rayed.
While I was getting the x-ray done, my doctor decided to have a little fun. First, he took a normal x-ray with all my fingers spread out. Then, he took another one of my hand showing the classic 'flipping the bird' pose. It's a bit of a regret now that I didn't ask for a photocopy of that legendary birdie x-ray.
Pexels
24. Words Of Wisdom
During end-of-life care in a hospice, gently reassuring the person who is in the active stages of passing by whispering "It's fine to let go. Your family will be well looked after", can bring peace to their departure and often speeds up the process. But I cannot stress enough: this kindness should go both ways.
Offering a comforting embrace to the main caregiver and saying, "You've done an outstanding job", can provide significant support in helping them come to terms with the events.
25. Dirty Little Secret
Back when I was a nursing student, I had a hands-on experience during surgery rotation. We had a patient scheduled for an elbow repair. Since, I didn't really have any practical skills at that point, my role was mostly to provide emotional support.
So, there I was, having a conversation with the patient, when he confessed to having a rather serious substance addiction problem. I promptly informed the surgeon about it, but he just brushed it aside. This turned out to be a huge mistake.
What I should have done was to bring this up with the anesthetist. The reason being, in the middle of the surgery, the patient woke up and started to reach towards his exposed arm, now a sterilized surgical field. A major "oh no!" moment had us all scrambling to restrain his arm and prevent it from contaminating the surgical area.
26. Silence Is Golden
I once cared for a teenage patient who temporarily lost their ability to speak, but later recovered. During a follow-up visit, as his mother sat with us, I began to review the tests and talk about potential reasons behind the incident.
But the mother interrupted me, insisting, "Please don't continue. I honestly believe that if a diagnosis isn't spoken aloud, they can naturally get better on their own."
She indeed didn't want me to reveal any information, as she was under the impression that uttering certain words could somehow lead to her child falling sick.
27. It All Comes Down
Back in 2011, my father underwent a triple bypass surgery. But just as they were finalizing the operation, a ventilation unit suddenly plummeted from the ceiling, causing the sterile environment to be tainted.
When my dad eventually emerged from the procedure, he was so thoroughly scrubbed involuntarily that he bore a remarkable resemblance to a Smurf.
The surgeon on duty, a former military doctor, was beside himself with vexation. He unequivocally asserted that should my father contract any infection due to this incident, we'd practically acquire the hospital.
Thankfully, my father didn't suffer any after-surgery complications and is now in better health than he's been in quite some time. We learned later that the maintenance team received a monumental scolding for their negligence. The incident continues to live on, frequently narrated within the hospital's walls.
Unsplash
28. If It Isn’t The Consequences Of My Actions
We once had a woman in her late twenties who desired a dental implant. We informed her that a sinus lift would be necessary to accommodate the implant and avoid damaging her sinus membrane.
Despite our best efforts to elucidate the potential consequences, she remained steadfast in her refusal. Even with the offer of discounted treatment, she persisted. I had a bad feeling about it from the get-go.
Following this, we decided to seek advice from our lawyer and dental association, who suggested a waiver of liability. Our attorney prepared the document which we asked the woman to sign prior to beginning the procedure. She wasn't thrilled about it, asserting that it wasn't necessary.
However, we explained that this was a step we needed to take in order to proceed with a treatment that wasn't in her best interests. We also reassured her we'd still assist in the event of future complications but wouldn't be held legally accountable. Eventually, she signed and even photographed the document.
The surgery took place and was deemed a success. We were able to stably insert the implant without any damage to the sinus membrane and placed a healing cap to deter any interference.
We also prescribed two weeks of antibiotics and emphasized the importance of diligent dental hygiene. We arranged for a follow-up appointment in six months for an abutment and crown fitting.
However, a month later, the woman reached out to us, complaining about intense, throbbing cheek pain. We suspected a pinched nerve or severe infection and prescribed her amoxicillin—a powerful antibiotic that should have remedied the issue.
Since she was out of the country, we emailed the prescription to her. Unfortunately, this wasn't the end of the problems. Two months on, she got in touch again to inform us that her implant had fallen out and that she was planning to sue us.
She described a greenish-yellow discharge at the site of the failed implant, indicative of peri-implantitis (gum infection). We involved our dental association due to the unexpected nature of her condition.
Despite offering to treat the infection, replace the implant, and restore any lost bone free of charge, we received no response. Instead, all communication ceased and she failed to attend her scheduled appointment three months later.
A while later, we received a distressing call from her. She'd just found out from her eye doctor that she risked losing her sight in one eye. According to other notes from her doctors, she'd developed a major infection that had spread to vital facial nerves, as well as her nasal and optical sinuses.
Even her brain seemed to be affected. The source of all this? She admitted to not purchasing or using any prescribed medication due to cost concerns and not returning home for follow-up. She was full of regret and in tears over the phone. We tried to support her, but she ended her call before we could offer any help.
29. May We Join You?
This experience took place at my gynecologist's office. I was to undergo a biopsy, and no sooner than when the doctor began the procedure, I heard a knock on the door.
Entering the room were another doctor, and two girls who appeared quite young. "This is a teaching office," was the explanation provided by the second doctor, followed by, "Would you mind if the students observe this procedure?" By then, I was already in a somewhat vulnerable state.
In a light-hearted manner, I responded, "Sure! The more, the merrier!" Little did I realize he wasn't making a casual request, but was rather serious. For the next couple of minutes, those girls were given a medical tour of my feminine anatomy, their faces expressing innocent curiosity.
Unfortunately, the biopsy didn't go as smoothly as intended—the doctor took a larger sample than necessary, which made it difficult to control the subsequent bleeding.
Pexels
30. Things Fall Apart
As a nurse, we are trained about all the medical aspects of the human body in school—anatomy, physiology, you name it. But, the real raw emotional side of health care? That's something you only gather from working in the field.
I once had a patient who had gotten into a fight and was feeling depressed. The local jail had him transferred to our hospital because he was complaining about chest pain.
He was genuinely a kind soul. Years back, he was a lawyer and during a case involving gangs, his office was targeted. They shot up his office and his assistant lost their life in the process. Following this tragic experience, he had a mental breakdown.
He not only lost his legal profession, but also ended up in bad company. With no family around, he was pretty much on his own. Unfortunately, his emotional vulnerability didn't allow him any respite.
As it turned out, anxiety was causing his chest pain. His drug tests were clear, yet he found himself unable to climb out of this pit of despair. My heart really ached for him. Here was a man who had lost everything, trying to rebuild his life.
I tried my best to have him transferred to a behavioral unit for professional help, but the attending physician deemed that he didn't meet the criteria.
The worst part of it all was I had to wake him up at 3 a.m. to relay the news that he was due for discharge and would be placed back behind bars. It was the toughest thing I've ever had to do.
It was even more challenging than informing a family that their loved one wasn't going to make it and they had to say their goodbyes.
31. Ignorance Isn’t Bliss
I used to be a med student and I remember an incident with a 22-year-old patient. He had come into the ER a while back after a nasty skateboard accident left him with bruises and scrapes all over. Fast forward six weeks, and he's back in the ER, this time feeling ill and throwing up.
As a third-year med student, they sent me to his bedside where I saw some doctors analyzing CT scans. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to interpret a CT scan nor what part of the body was in the images. But when a doctor instructed, "Get him ready for surgery," I decided to play along despite my confusion.
After administering anesthesia and prepping him for surgery, I joined the team in the OR. The lead surgeon commanded, "Open." This was the beginning of the mess.
I found out we were doing a Kocher maneuver, essentially moving the intestines aside to get a clear view. At this point, the team had noticed my disoriented state but let me proceed anyway.
I prepared to gently shift the intestines when I encountered unanticipated resistance. I noticed everyone backing away from the table, adding to my bewilderment. A surgeon encouraged me to press harder. That's when a barrier gave in, releasing an awful smell.
Suddenly, a torrent of brownish, bloody pus burst from the incision, dousing my surgical attire and shoes, and splashing onto the OR floors and walls. It turns out our patient had an abscess in his spleen.
The rest of the team took over, cleaning the area and effectively treating it. The patient was well on his way to recovery. As for me, well, I had to toss out those shoes.
32. Dad Vs. Dentist
As a dentist, I've had some strange requests, but this one might take the cake. A father drove his 16-year-old daughter from a remote part of New Hampshire to my clinic and asked me to pull all of her healthy teeth and replace them with dentures. I was absolutely floored.
His reasoning? She was getting married and he considered this his wedding gift; a way to spare her new husband future dental bills for the next 50 years.
Despite my best efforts to educate him about the benefits of keeping natural teeth, the downsides of dentures, and the fact that his daughter's teeth were in fantastic shape, he didn't take a bit of it in. More than that, such a procedure would be wildly unethical and put me in a position of professional misconduct.
Regardless, he was unswayed and quite persistent. Things got more and more intense—and it reached a point where I had to warn him about potential involvement of child protective services if he kept pushing. He didn't take kindly to that and stormed out with his daughter.
Now, 20 years later, I still can't believe it ever happened.
33. Don’t Go Empty-Handed
As a novice nurse working in an ICU at a large teaching hospital, one morning I began my shift with a new patient who was admitted overnight. He was sedated, intubated, and hooked up to all the machines we had.
His situation changed rapidly during my shift, though; by the end of it, we'd removed his breathing tube and he was fully conscious and able to communicate with us about his condition.
He was an end-stage renal patient, essentially his kidneys no longer functioned properly and he required dialysis treatment. He was still quite young, in his late 30s, and communicated to us that he didn't produce urine anymore, which made his catheter uncomfortable and unnecessary.
So, with his request and as a routine procedure which I'd performed countless times before, I went to remove the catheter. But what unfolded next could best be described as a nightmare.
The moment the catheter came out, a torrent of blood started flowing from his, well... private area. It turns out, the nurse who'd inserted the catheter during his admission hadn't pushed it in far enough—there was no urine to indicate that it was properly placed after all.
This mistake had resulted in significant injury. The bleeding just wouldn't stop, leading me to apply pressure on his intimate area while my colleague paged the on-call doctor.
The doctor walked in, gave me an empathetic look, and instructed me to continue applying pressure on this young man's private area to stem the bleeding until a urologist could come and assess the situation.
Unfortunately, every time I tried to reduce the pressure to check, an outpouring of blood would resume. So, for over an hour, I was there—holding, hoping, and engaging him in some lighthearted chat—until the urologist finally arrived.
Unsplash
34. Do You Know Who You’re Talking To?
I work as an ER doctor. A couple of months ago, I met a patient who was determined not to wear a mask. I gently reminded him about our hospital's protocol during these pandemic times—that everyone must wear a mask to ensure our mutual safety.
He initially seemed to understand, even though he kept insisting that wearing a mask made it hard for him to breathe.
But concurrently, he claimed to be well-versed with all the "science" behind masks, asserting they couldn't really prevent virus spread. His frustration escalated quickly, and he removed his mask, yelling in my face about how astoundingly ignorant I was for not being aware of all these "facts".
His exact words were, "How can the hospital hire such timid people like you to be a doctor? You need to show some courage, this isn't a big deal." He then stormed out while in a fit of coughing.
35. Take It On The Chin
I had this pesky ingrown hair on my chin, and I tried to get it out. It seems while doing so, the infection around the hair somehow turned against me and exploded, and my chin started getting bigger and bigger, like I had a sizeable hunk of gum or a jawbreaker tucked under my lower lip.
Knowing something wasn't right, I decided to see a doctor the next day. It was my initial visit to this specific doctor, which made the whole experience way more uncomfortable. I explained how my chin got into this situation, adding, "But hey, at least I managed to extract that pest!"
After analyzing my chin, she invited what I figured was a medical student to observe this golf ball-sized bump that had sprouted on my chin.
My response was, "Wow, this isn't making me feel self-conscious or awkward at all." We all shared a laugh and an apology. The doctor prescribed me some medicine, and my infected lump disappeared within a couple of days.
36. His Cup Spilleth Over
At the time of this incident, I was studying in nursing school and was also working overnight as a nurse’s aide. I was looking after a wonderful elderly man who was quite pleasant and coherent. He had mentioned one morning that his sleep had not been comfortable, making him eager for his daily serving of cafeteria coffee.
Later that day, his call light beeped, signaling me to his room. As I pushed open the door, he informed me, “It seems I've spilled my coffee.” I froze as I realized the situation. The sight was shocking and drained the color from my face.
The room was illuminated to reveal feces smeared everywhere; its reach extended to him, the walls, ceiling, bed, and floor. There he sat, clutching a coffee cup, also smeared with poop, as he gave me this helpless look.
37. Lending A Hand
Around a year ago, I was watching a hand surgery at a medical training center. The doctor was taking out one of the carpals—those are bones close to the hand's base—to make use of it later.
They handed this carpal to one of the nurses to keep it safe until they needed it again. However, she accidentally let it slip and it fell right onto the floor. The surgeon wasn't pleased at all—quite the opposite.
38. Good Luck! You Need It
One time, I had a person visit the emergency room for what was really just a cold. She was constantly asking for antibiotics. I'd repeatedly tell her that such meds couldn't bring relief with her virus-related issues.
Eventually, I took the time to teach her about the distinctions among bacteria, viruses, and the role of antibiotics versus antivirals. I truly hope this knowledge boost could be of aid at her medical school finals in the week ahead!
39. Close But Not Quite
In my medical school days, there was a moment that made everyone gasp. As the medical team prepared a patient for surgery and sedated him, the nurse confidently announced, "Alright, he's unconscious now"—just as they were about to begin the operation.
Surprisingly, the patient mustered some strength, shook his head and softly uttered, "No, I'm not asleep yet." The room filled with laughter, but had the patient not spoken up, things might not have ended on a humorous note.
40. They Fumbled The Ball
While I was playing a game of beach football with my brother, I managed to hurt my finger. A bruise quickly formed all around the finger, accompanied by some swelling. Since my brothers work as sports trainers, they brushed it off, saying I was just being weak—a sentiment they often express in their professional lives.
Despite the pain, I carried on working as normal for four weeks, frequently bumping my finger against various things. Eventually, I sought medical advice from a doctor who, upon examining my finger, bluntly informed me that not only was my middle finger broken, but my brothers and I were fairly foolish for not addressing this sooner.
41. Parting Gifts
When I was 14, I went in for my routine health checkup. By then, my menstrual cycle had started, but it was still irregular. Coincidentally, my period decided to break loose that day at school. All I had on me were panty liners, which was not nearly enough. So, I did what most girls would do—I made a makeshift pad using toilet paper.
Once I got to the doctor's, she wanted to examine my feminine area because, being a growing teenager, it was good to keep an eye on the natural changes happening. She was only intending to do an external examination.
But as I lowered my underwear, the blood-soaked, balled-up toilet paper I'd used tumbled out. As much as I tried to clean up before she saw it, she had already noticed.
Luckily, she was very understanding. Right before she left the room, she handed me a goodie bag—the kind she usually gave to kids with acne cream samples, candies, and small toys. This time, she discreetly added a sanitary pad in there as well. Talk about a friend in need!
42. Sic Transit Gloria
In truth, almost everything I encountered and experienced in the field of oncology was uncharted territory for me, following my medical training. It was the most breathtaking, gratifying, complicated, and emotional journey I've ever embarked on.
One particular day, as I was about to leave for a two-week vacation, I bid farewell to a patient I'd been caring for over the prior week. Given the circumstances, we both silently understood that this would be our final interaction, as his health was rapidly declining and he wasn't expected to last the fortnight.
The impact this moment had on me is nearly impossible to articulate. Despite his unfavorable situation, he remained the epitome of bravery. That's an episode from four years ago, and yet, his memory remains fresh in my mind.
He halted his treatment just a few days after my vacation commenced, choosing instead to return home and spend quality time reveling with his soccer group buddies.
43. The Neighbors
An older woman once visited my clinic, expressing concerns about her sleep disruption, which she attributed to purported Irish terrorists living in the apartment below her. We reassured her, claiming that neither she nor her small hometown of Cannock in the West Midlands were likely targets of any terrorist activity.
During her follow-up appointment, she continued to voice paranoia about impending explosions. Given these repeated concerns, her mental health was thoroughly evaluated by the general physician and a community psychiatrist. These evaluations revealed no actual mental health issues.
Consequently, we decided to inform the authorities. A few days later, a startling discovery unfolded: the apartment beneath our patient's was raided to reveal a cache of bomb-making equipment and actual members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Pexels
44. A Seed Of Truth
My uncle specializes in respiratory medicine, right? So, he was overseeing a lung surgery that aimed at taking out a tumor. However, when they started the procedure and 'unpacked' the patient, everyone was taken aback.
What they thought was a tumor, shockingly, was not. It was a root ball instead. Apparently, a seed of some kind had ended up in this guy's lungs and had begun to grow in there. Such an occurrence was a first for everyone in the room.
45. Denial Isn’t Just A River In Egypt
Recently, we had a visit from a married couple. The wife was suffering from advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which had gone undiagnosed for years. My boss was able to identify the disease and inform her and her husband about it.
However, the husband found it hard to accept the diagnosis because they had read online about her symptoms matching borreliosis. He was adamant and didn't allow either of them to accept the ALS diagnosis.
Interestingly enough, before they met us, they had visited the renowned Mayo Clinic where they received the same ALS diagnosis. The husband reacted in the same manner there, refusing the diagnosis.
So, as it stands, this poor woman is fighting a disease that she refuses to accept she has.
46. Never A Dull Moment
I was in my fourth and final year of residency, and it was my turn to be on call that day. By 5 pm, I began my rounds. As I entered the first room, I was met with a shocking sight—a first-year resident was frantically trying to help a patient who had just undergone neck surgery.
The closer I got, the more dread-filled I became. The resident was kneeling next to the patient's head, their hands and clothes smeared with blood. Every conceivable surface was covered in blood—the ceiling, the sheets, the bed, even pools on the floor. Fear washed over me.
I realized the patient's carotid artery must have burst, something I had never repaired myself. I felt completely out of my depth. We needed help, but I was the senior resident on duty, the one they were counting on.
To make matters worse, there wasn't enough time for anyone else to get there and help. The patient was rapidly losing blood; it was down to me to save him. So, I quickly rushed him into the operating room, constantly reassuring myself that I could handle this, despite feeling completely terrified and like everyone was depending on me.
Upon opening him up, I found the problematic artery; it was loose and spurting blood everywhere. Swiftly, I clamped it and tied it off, and just like that, it was over. We patched him up, provided a blood transfusion, and I all but collapsed on a stool from exhaustion and relief.
47. Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes
My father suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the ER. There, unbelievably, his heart stopped on eight separate occasions. Each time, they managed to bring him back. Despite the serious damage to his heart, he lived through it and got a bed in the hospital.
Yet after a few weeks, he decided to discharge himself, claiming "those fools have no clue what they're even saying." Sadly, about three weeks after that, he was found, having tragically passed away from heart failure.
48. Lights Out, Pants Off
Once, I had an appointment with a urologist at a hospital. Midway through my visit, the power at the hospital flickered off a couple of times. Luckily, each time, backup generators sprang into action. But as the urologist started to wrap up our appointment, the lights suddenly went off again.
This time, the generators didn't immediately jump to our rescue. The urologist left to see what was going on. About 15 minutes later, the lights finally came back on. I was still sitting on the examination bed, not quite decent, with my pants down. Then the worst happened. A nurse happened to be walking by and spotted me from the open door.
She did a comedic double-take and asked,"Do...do you have an appointment?" It turns out, the urologist had finished his review and already gone back to his ward.
From the nurse's perspective, I just seemed like a random man who came into the hospital, dropped his trousers, and left the door wide open. It was quite the awkward situation.
Shutterstock
49. Choose Your Words
We learn to carefully phrase our explanations to patients, particularly during sensitive procedures like female pelvic exams. Rather than straightforwardly saying, "Alright, I'll now insert the speculum and you'll feel a bit of warmth and pressure," my inexperienced friend blurted out, "Alright, I'm going to go inside you now."
The female patient retorted, "No need, I already have three kids."
50. No Laughing Matter
When I was 14, I suffered from an ingrown toenail that was supposed to be a simple remedy. My mom was there throughout the whole process. An inexperienced trainee was assigned to operate on my toe, but at one point, he suddenly exclaimed "Oh God." The senior doctor cheekily responded with "No risk, no fun."
Unfortunately, this casual approach resulted in complications on my toe, and I eventually had to undergo four additional surgeries to rectify the issue. That situation really tore me up.
51. Dad Doesn’t Know Best
Back when I was in the seventh grade, I injured my pinky while playing softball. My dad, being an assistant coach, dismissed it as a simple "jammed" finger. I protested, explaining my numb yet throbbing finger felt far worse. It was as though a hole had formed exactly where my finger was meant to fit when holding the ball.
Despite my tearful explanations, he treated it as a jammed finger and straightened it out. For months after, I soldiered through the softball season, depending on Icy Hot and Advil to pull me through.
Noticing my persistent discomfort, my dad thought that it might be a bone bruise rather than a jammed finger. As time went by, a firm lump appeared on my joint—which is still there—and the pain never truly subsided.
Once the softball season was over, we finally had it checked by a doctor who was shocked to find my finger bone shattered into half a dozen pieces or more. Due to the ongoing healing and unclear x-ray angles, he couldn't be definite with the number.
The lump turned out to be a calcium deposit—a result of the healing process—which could have been bypassed if I'd immediately sought medical attention. The silver lining was that I didn’t need further injury—like rebreaking the fragments—for realignment. I guess assistant coach dads do have their advantages!
52. It’s Getting Hot In Here
During a heatwave, I was busy at work in the maternity ward, a place that's usually kept warm because newborns can't control their body temperatures. Amid a cesarean surgery, our experienced scrub nurse, who made a career out of these procedures, felt light-headed.
I guess the warmth got to her. She had to step aside, leaving her duties to a green, less-experienced nurse at her first cesarean operation. I had a queasy feeling about this. This fresh hand was helping with the job in the uterus when she felt dizzy and nearly took a tumble into the open womb.
In an instant, I caught the back of her gown to prevent a disaster from happening and gently leaned her onto me while someone else stepped in. Luckily, the baby was already out safely by then.
53. You Had One Job
We were in the middle of surgery on a patient's carotid artery. During the process, a large hole appeared in his neck, and suddenly, the patient regained consciousness. In my mind, I was thinking, "No problem, easy to handle."
I began calling out to the anesthesiologist to sedate the patient again, but he had momentarily left the room. I was left with no choice but to stabilize the patient's head with my elbow to prevent any further injury, waiting for him until he returned.
54. That Really Grinds His Gears
In the middle of a class, I went for a quick restroom break but ended up tripping over a backpack some kid had left in the hallway. My wrist seized up, and I couldn't move it a bit. My parents brushed it off as a sprain, but the immobility lasted for two months. When it finally started moving, it made an awful grinding sound.
Jump forward ten years, on the day of a car race, my wrist froze up again, totally immobile. I finally decided to see a doctor who ordered an MRI. It turned out to be a fracture, along with two torn tendons or ligaments. Since it wasn't treated appropriately at the time, they deteriorated rather than healed, leaving me with only ten out of the normal twelve.
Because of this, my wrist now has a peculiar sideways sliding motion. After having an arthroscopy to remove bone fragments, here I am, a decade later, heading towards a second surgery as more bone fragments wear off every dozen years or so! The funny part is, each time I mention the condition of my wrist, my parents still get surprised.
55. This Promise I Keep
At my annual health review, my physician expressed worry about my increasing pounds. I assured him I would turn things around and return to a fit size by next year.
Approximately a week after that, he spotted me at a neighborhood bar having a plate full of spicy chicken wings and a glass of beer. He acted cool and didn't mention it, but I could tell from his expression that he was let down.
56. A Real Tear-Jerker
I'm not a physician, but rather a pharmacy assistant. Roughly one year ago, I had an encounter with a distressed young woman at the pharmacy. She handed me a prescription teeming with anti-anxiety and anti-psychotics. All was progressing smoothly until I realized we didn’t have one of the medicines she needed in stock.
I gently broke to her that we'd have to arrange for it to arrive the next day. She initially appeared to accept this, but soon—I could see simmering anger in her eyes.
Upon asking her if everything was alright, she reassured me she was fine, so I proceeded to process the remaining prescriptions. But suddenly, she started to cry. She divulged to me that she had recently been discharged from a psychiatric ward following a self-harm incident a few weeks prior.
Drawing up her sleeves, she revealed cuts that were shockingly deep. And then, she asked me a heartrending question: will she ever be readmitted to study nursing?
It seems you lose your spot if you're hospitalized for psychological disturbance. I didn’t really know what to reassure her with, except to say that I genuinely hoped she was allowed back in and that a display of dedication should warrant her another shot.
It might appear a tad superficial, but I was caught off-guard by this situation. No aspect of my pharmacy assistant training had prepared me to respond in such situations.
57. A Win For Once
I'm in my fifth year as a resident and while I've had my share of challenging moments, there's one particular instance that stood out as quite amazing. The subject of story is a patient diagnosed with kidney cancer.
We had to make a large cut for the surgery, with my lead and I carefully working around crucial parts like the aorta and vena cava. I was anticipating that we would need to cut and clamp the vena cava to fully remove the tumor.
However, my lead did something remarkable and literally eased the tumor out of the vena cava, allowing it to retreat back into the renal vein, and then instructed me to tie it off. It was a spectacular and rare accomplishment.
The patient was discharged within just four days and is maintaining good health even now. That was my genuine "Wow, I'm really a surgeon" moment.
Unsplash
58. Double The Trouble
My boss recently found out he has stage 2 cancer. He discovered it because of a growth on the side of his neck—it developed dramatically like something you'd see in a film. His doctor advised starting chemotherapy and radiation right away. However, my boss has chosen a different path.
He plans to treat his condition naturally by having fresh juice daily and detoxifying his body through foot baths. He's noticed another lump on his neck now.
59. Small Cut, Big Consequences
I was the one on the operating table. I received a liver transplant and underwent an operation to install a new bile duct stent. Unluckily, my body architecture wasn't typical; my lungs extend lower down my sides than usual. This led the surgeon to accidentally make a small cut, which led to disastrous results.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself gasping for air. They ran an X-ray and found it necessary to place a chest tube. I was told he was so distraught he shed tears over the incident. However, there was no ill intent or negligence involved—it was purely accidental.
60. Well That Didn’t End Well
My dad met a patient once who was completely convinced that the whole concept of hospitals was phony. She was battling cancer. She underwent chemotherapy for a little while but soon let my dad know that she wasn't planning on continuing her treatment. Her reasoning was absurd...She firmly believed that she was being fooled and her medication's side effects "proved" it.
According to her, the chemotherapy that my dad prescribed was just a deliberate move by the pharmaceutical giants. For her, this was the real cause of her "cancer".
So, she made the choice to halt her medication for some time and, since she wasn't undergoing chemo, she felt better due to the absence of side effects. She considered this as additional proof of the swindling ways of hospitals and even blogged about her thoughts.
I couldn't believe it. She actively posted online, claiming that she was living evidence of medical fraud, and encouraged others to stop believing in the pharmaceutical industry's dishonesty.
A while later, she was rushed back to my dad via an ambulance. The test reports came in and, no big surprise, her cancer had reached stage four. She spent her last few days in the hospital, where she passed away later that week.
61. Pearl Of Wisdom
This isn't quite an awkward tale because my doctor is super awesome, but here goes. At about 16, I found myself dealing with allergies for the first time and decided to consult a doctor. After examining my nose and throat, she confirmed it was indeed allergies.
After that, she inspected my right ear and was dumbfounded, asking, "What on Earth is that?" I quickly apologized explaining my frequent ear wax issues when she interrupted saying, "No, it's glittering." Let's rewind to four days earlier. I was in the throes of teenage rebellion, wanting to stretch my earlobes without alerting my mom.
So, in my infinite wisdom, I covertly stuck some pearls onto the plugs to make them seem like ordinary earrings. Not long after, I'd woken up to discover one missing and spent days searching for it to no avail.
So, I ended up admitting to my doctor that my 'earring' had fallen apart and the elusive pearl was what she'd found. We both had a good laugh, she tried to remove it without success and finally had to call in an Ear Nose Throat (ENT) specialist. However, I managed to extract it at home later.
62. Cat’s Cradle
When you're in the tough position of putting down a 91-year-old woman's very old cat, her husband's beloved pet; and then, as you gently place the cat on a cozy hospital blanket, you turn to this kind-hearted lady who's recently suffered the loss of her husband and daughter within a single month.
You ask, "Would you like your blanket back?" Overcome with emotion, she replies through her tears, "I just want my family back." Believe me, it doesn't become less painful.
63. A Rude Awakening
I had to undergo a surgical procedure on my chest owing to a potential cancer diagnosis. During the operation, I had a moment of wakefulness. I saw four medical staff in surgical caps looking at me.
I got a glance at my own chest and I was terrified. That's the last thing I recall before they put me back to sleep. The memory still makes me feel queasy.
64. Half-Baked Health Hack
My mom firmly believes in the health benefits of making food at home from scratch. For example, she feels that a homemade chocolate cake, where she even mills her own flour, trumps a store-bought cake with the same ingredients in terms of health.
She's a diabetic and has been repeatedly advised by doctors to cut down her carb consumption. In her mind, she thinks, “Perhaps, I should start thriving on my own sugarcane instead of buying store sugar, and then my blood reports will settle down into the safe zone.” Man, was she ever wrong.
Throughout her journey with diabetes, she has had multiple instances of liver and pancreas failure. Each these setbacks, her doctors have managed to revive her organ function by putting her on a low-carb dietary regimen. They also urge her to adhere to a low-carb routine at home.
But she remains convinced that existing dietary practices are already healthy enough. So, this cycle just keeps on replaying.
65. You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get
One day, I got summoned to be part of a lengthy, six-hour heart surgery. My job? To confirm that the laparoscopic camera was in prime condition and ready to record. We were approaching the climax of the procedure, and I had a feeling it was going to capture something dramatic—they were preparing to document a significant moment.
Then, out of the blue, the surgeon yanked out a strange growth from deep within the patient's heart. Surprising as it may seem, this growth was as big as a chicken wing. It had been expanding through his valve, and honestly, I was genuinely astonished that the patient was still alive.
Apparently, the only indication that something was off was his shortness of breath.
66. Too Little, Too Late
I once cared for a young man in our ICU who was critically ill with COVID-19 and severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Believe it or not, he didn't trust insulin or other diabetes medications. Despite insulin being affordable here, he chose to treat his Type Two diabetes with herbs, a decision that led to skyrocketing test results.
Moreover, he had declined the offer for a vaccination and was wary of precautionary measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and even the existence of the coronavirus itself.
Most of what I've just shared was learned from his 20-year-old daughter, who was his primary contact during his illness. He was too disoriented when he first arrived, and we had to insert a breathing tube immediately. His daughter would call daily, crying over the phone for about one-and-a-half months until he died.
I often held the phone up to his ear so he could hear her speaking, especially when we had managed to temporarily reduce his sedatives and he was more alert.
Towards the end, with medical tubes and lines attached to his body, I truly believe that he acknowledged his previous misconceptions in his clearer, final moments.
67. Wait Until You See This…
When I was 18 and on the brink of starting college, I had an appointment with a dermatologist. There were some red blemishes on my chest, and she wanted to make sure there was no internal bleeding by examining my lower body area. While this was happening, the nurse barged in without a knock.
Not only did she get an unexpected eyeful, but so did a handful of patients in the waiting area. The nurse quickly retreated, and the dermatologist profusely apologized. She had to leave to set up a treatment, and I overheard her strongly reprimanding the nurse in the next room.
68. Cruel To Be Kind
Before I started my medical practice, I believed that death was the most dreadful fate. But after spending a decade in the intensive care unit, my perspective has shifted. Sometimes, as healthcare providers, we are compelled to extend life even when it questions moral boundaries.
There are moments when our efforts result in patients enduring prolonged and intense suffering. For instance, I once had a patient in the neurosurgical ICU who suffered from a severe ruptured brain aneurysm.
This patient was rushed into surgery upon arrival at the hospital, which involved removing significant portions of his skull to accommodate the swelling in his brain. Despite weeks of care, he showed no signs of recovery.
He barely had any reflexes, and he was practically unresponsive, unable to command his limbs. Yet, he wasn't technically brain-dead. This is where it got complicated.
There were multiple discussions with the patient's family outlining the extreme nature of the injuries and the absolute impossibility of any meaningful recovery, but the family instructed us to do everything possible to sustain his life. Things deteriorated significantly from here on.
Within three months inside the ICU, due to his critical condition that prevented repositioning, he developed extensive bed sores. He also developed necrotic body parts, including his feet, hands, ears, and nose. The swelling of his brain worsened to an extent that the surgical cuts on his head began to pull apart.
Gradually, his body succumbed to multi-organ failure. The final stages of his life were drawn-out and excruciatingly painful. This was an incredibly distressing situation, one that still fills me with regret.
69. Caught Red-Handed
So, my hubby had to go in for a regular colonoscopy. As he was getting prepped, the guy in charge of giving anesthesia took notice of his hair color and asked, "You're a redhead, right?" My husband confirmed, "Yeah."
He used to have pretty bright, firetruck-red hair when he was young, but now it's more strawberry blonde. The anesthetist gave a chuckle and responded, "Alright, got it, you'll get the redhead dose."
He gave us a cheeky wink. My husband found it amusing...until he unexpectedly woke up while the procedure was still going on and the doctors were just casually chatting.
Apparently, it wasn't a joke—redheads do have some sort of natural resistance to anesthesia. The doctor had given him the maximum dose allowed, and he still woke up! We are lucky things didn't take a turn for the worse.
70. I Didn’t Get It From My Papa
My dad was quite a headstrong character, refusing to listen to medical advice. He smoked and drank for years. Then one day, he goes in to get a mole removed from his sensitive area. Unfortunately. They run tests, but it's not cancerous. Fantastic news, but his disregard for the doctor's aftercare instructions leads to a big problem—gangrene.
You guessed it. They had to amputate. I only discovered this shocking fact when I was older, thanks to a candid disclosure from my mother and sister.
71. The Swamps Of Dagobah
As a nurse, I had an unforgettable on-duty night that began at two o'clock in the morning with an ambiguous "general surgery" call. Hailing from a town overrun by young military men and notorious substance abusers, such nocturnal emergencies were not uncommon. Upon arrival at the town's hospital, I got hit with more specific details – an "anal abscess."
Understandably, our medical team wasn't thrilled. I went down to the ER to transfer the patient, receiving cynical remarks from an ER nurse along. Commenting, "Enjoy this one," she made it clear we were in for quite a ride. Vague utterances in the healthcare world are typically bad news. The patient I was dealing with was a 314 lb. woman barely fitting on the transportation stretcher.
In clear distress, she rolled about, moaning in agony, pulling her clothes, and whispering religious pleas. Extracting even her name was a laborious task, due to her agonized state. After confirming her identity and our procedure, I felt it was best to expedite her to the anesthesiologist. Knocking her out would allow us to commence what can only be likened to a circus performance.
Throughout the 10-minute journey to the operating room, she remained theatrical, almost tumbling off the operation table as we attempted to anesthetize her. Regrettably, we encounter patients like this regularly. Chronic drug users with a high tolerance to pain relief medications often struggle to manage pain effectively.
We finally managed to sleep the patient, place her in stirrups, and I began to clean the affected area, which appeared typical – red, inflamed, with minor pus discharge. From her chart, I learned that the patient had been injecting substances intravenously through her backside. This was evidently a dirty needle infection. However, I didn't think it justified her continuous exclamations of "Oh Jesus". Well, I was in for a surprise.
The surgeon, scalpel at the ready, made an incision just as the patient had a diaphragm muscle twitch. Chaos ensued. Without our realization, the infection had created a foot-long tunnel into her abdomen filled with pus, decayed tissue, and fecal matter escaping from her colon.
This horrific concoction erupted from the small incision. Despite our waterproof gowns, masks, gloves, and hats, we were as unprotected as in rain boots facing a fire hose. The patient was in the center of the room, a fair seven feet away from the nearest wall, but that didn’t prevent rotten flesh bits from reaching as far as the wall.
As the surgeon continued slicing, the downpour persisted. With the patient's muscle contractions causing more murky fluid to flood the room, it wasn’t long before we had a footwear situation. My wide-open jawed shock was mirrored on my surgical-masked face, as I watched my colleagues' disgust unfold in front of this unnerving spectacle.
My colleagues reached their breaking point when the pungent odor became unbearable. The other nurse dashed out of the room, mask off, in a vomiting frenzy. I stood paralyzed as I tasted the despair and despondency of the patient's life, backed by the unbearable smell. Struggling to breathe in the repulsive air, I saw the anesthesiologist rush out, throwing the OR suite door open for ventilation.
The odor seeped through our OR suite, drifting down a 40-foot distance to the front desk where the nauseous other nurse restrained her heaving stomach. Our suite's scene resembled a ghastly, post-apocalyptic zombie spectacle covered in grimy matter.
I returned to the OR suite, not wanting to leave the surgeon alone, needing possible assistance to scrap the insides of the abscess and clean up the debris. We managed the cleanup, bandaged the patient's backside, woke her up, and moved her to the recovery ward.
We desperately scrubbed ourselves with multiple bottles of 70% isopropyl, the only solution able to ward off such a foul stench soaked into our skins. It was one of the rare occasions where drinking a bit of it seemed justifiable.
As we exited the locker room, the only negative comment I ever heard from the often calm surgeon in our two and a half year of working together was, "That was bad." The following morning, a lingering smell filled the entire department. The cleaning staff informed us that the cleanup took them almost an hour. The OR suite remained closed and quarantined for an additional two days to eliminate the persistent smell.
72. Why Am I Even Here?
As a paramedic, I had an interesting call to a church a few months ago. It was quite a peculiar situation with a gentleman who had fainted and was showing other concerning symptoms. As a part of the emergency response team, I am usually the first to arrive and attend to the patient. This time it was the same.
When I attempted to approach the semi-conscious man, who was shaking a bit on the side, his wife intervened. I couldn't believe what she did next. She blocked my path with an outstretched arm and said, "Please stand back. Jesus is healing him."
73. You’re Not My Doctor
Even though I'm a doctor myself, this is a tale about my great uncle, who happened to also be a physician. His medical practice was in a small, rural Australian town, where he shared with another doctor known as Dr. Snow. Dr. Snow had a son who, in today's terms, we'd say had a learning disability.
However, back then, they weren't exactly politically correct, and would refer to him as an imbecile. One day, as Dr. Snow was attending to some patients and his mid-20s son was hanging about in the practice, Dr. Snow had to step away for a moment.
His son thought it a good time for some make-believe and decided to play doctor. He got into a white coat and even called in the next patient. The next patient happened to be a pregnant woman. He requested she undress and then turned his back to her.
But, when he faced her again and saw no male organ, he exclaimed, "What, no Johnson?" Understandably, the woman bolted out of one door, and he dashed out of another. It seems like they were both quite mortified.
74. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
I worked as a mental health nurse for almost two years, and truthfully, we didn't study much about psychology in school. The practical lessons were generally unhelpful, so I had to learn a lot of things on the job.
Such as, the art of staying composed while trying to remove a pillowcase someone attempted to use for self-harm, or managing a teenager, larger than me, who's having a psychotic episode—making holes in the drywall and turning the debris into weapons.
And, imagine this situation: it's a pitch-black room at 3 in the morning, and your patient is sitting atop a massive TV as if they think they're some kind of Batman battling schizophrenia. Indeed, there was never a boring day at work.
75. Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls
About a week ago, I had a hysterectomy. After the procedure, while I was in recovery, I found the catheter really uncomfortable. It caused a lot of pain and I had a constant urge to urinate. I expressed my discomfort to the nurse for about four hours, pleading with her to take it out.
She would reassure me that what I was feeling was just the usual discomfort from a catheter. Granted, I knew that was part of it. Nonetheless, the pressure in my bladder was intense. I feared it would rupture. I was unaware then of how severe it would get.
After she reluctantly removed the catheter, about ten minutes later I had to call another nurse to assist me to the toilet. As she was trying to tell me that it might take a while or a few tries to actually pee, because the urge was likely residual from the catheter, I unexpectedly had a massive flow of urine.
I couldn't tell if the catheter was clogged, improperly inserted or if it was just my body acting unusually by not relaxing enough to let the urine out through the catheter. If only she would have listened and removed it sooner than making me wait those dreadful four hours.
76. That’ll Show Them!
The woman had been getting treatment for her diabetes for quite a while, but she regularly neglected her diet and medications. Despite numerous attempts to encourage her, she made no significant changes in managing her condition.
At their wits' end, her doctor candidly informed her about the severe consequences if she didn't begin to take better care of herself. Her response was downright bizarre.
Offended, the patient stormed off to the nearest store, returned with a shopping bag overflowing with candy bars, and defiantly sat down in the waiting room. She began munching on the candy right there just to provoke the doctor.
77. The Water Cure
When I was battling mono, I felt really hot and was guzzling down water like nobody's business. But, shockingly, I was still feeling super parched. I reached out to a nurse-on-duty and told her about this unending thirst. Despite chugging down liters and liters of water, I just wasn't feeling refueled and my headache was going from bad to worse. Her advice? Keep drinking more water. Sadly, this nearly cost me my life.
My condition kept going downhill, so, at last, I decided it was time to see a doctor. The doc gave me some shocking news—I was minutes away from potentially succumbing to water intoxication. He gave me a few bottles of Gatorade instead and, voila, I felt dramatically better very quickly.
78. Game, Set, Match
Back when I was finishing up my pharmacy studies, I had a stint in internal medicine. My supervisor and I were reviewing medications in the Intensive Care Unit one day when a doctor popped by with an intriguing offer: "Want to see something interesting?" He was attempting to remove a foreign item stuck in a patient's lung.
We followed him into the room where about half a dozen medical professionals were gathered. A tube had been inserted into the patient's throat, equipped with tiny grippers at the tip.
Two physicians were studying a screen, manipulating the mini grabbers, akin to a claw game at an arcade. I watched for a bit, then eventually lost interest and drifted back to my own tasks.
A few minutes later, a cheer erupted from the room: "We got it! It's a tooth!" It turns out that the patient had accidentally inhaled his own molar. The victorious doctor emerged from the room, holding his prize—a perfectly preserved tooth, complete with its root, displayed proudly in a jar.
79. Is It His Will Or Are You Witless?
There was a troubling story that made the headlines here recently. A small boy hurt his arm while at play and instead of rushing him to a hospital, his mother opted to visit a local healer. I can't say for certain what the healer did to the arm—perhaps he didn't set it properly, or just sprinkled some herbs over it.
But after some time, the poor boy started complaining about pain, and his arm was turning a worrying shade of blue. Eventually, his mom decided to take him to a certified doctor. Sadly, by that time, the situation had gotten so critical that the only option left was to amputate the arm.
What's particularly distressing is that the mother didn't show any signs of guilt, nor did she point a finger at the healer. Instead, she claimed it was destiny, God's will for her son to lose his arm at such a young age.
80. A Curious Stranger
I work in an emergency room as a doctor. One day, I was asking a rather good-looking young woman some questions about a pelvic issue she was having. She seemed pretty at ease answering my inquiries, even with a guy in the room.
When I gave her a gown to change into for the upcoming pelvic exam, she spoke a sharp statement: "Could you ask this man to leave first? He just tagged along with me from the initial assessment area."
That experience taught me never to overlook finding out how everyone in the room is related to the patient.
81. Ice Cold
One of the seniors living in the nursing facility I work at developed bleeding hemorrhoids at the start of my shift. I prescribed some medication for her, but it unfortunately didn't arrive that very night. Upon checking in on her, she seemed alright, so I thought it would be okay to wait for the medicine.
When my shift was ending, I handed off this information to the oncoming team and then headed home. Seems my judgement wasn't quite right. The following day, I was called into the workplace by my boss and received quite the earful.
My puzzlement was through the roof because I had adhered to the established procedures and diligently updated her medical record. When they questioned me, "Why didn't you use an ice cube on her?", I was taken aback. "An ice cube?", I blurted out. The answer from them was, "Yes, didn't they teach you that at school?"
To that, my response was a bewildered no...
82. Pobody’s Nerfect
I have a heart condition. One time, at Baylor, I managed to view a recording of my own operation, which they often use for educational purposes. In the midst of the procedure, while my heart was cradled in his hand, the surgeon said "Oops!"
I couldn't identify what went wrong, but it certainly scared me then. And it's something that still lingers in my thoughts.
Unsplash
83. You’re Missing The Key Ingredient
The patient walked in confidently, claiming a knowledge of the medical field spanning over ten years. The visit was implied to be a mere formality required by their company to confirm sickness for benefits like unemployment, worker's compensation, or leave.
They were entirely convinced they had sickle-cell anemia, citing all the classic symptoms and even seeming to imitate them. However, the patient was taken aback when my sister determined they were just dehydrated and possibly had an inner ear problem, recommending a specialist. The patient's frustration was clear as they became agitated.
My sister then asked why they were so sure of having sickle cell anemia. When answered with claims of medical expertise, my sister gently suggested they see the specialist. My sister also advised them to be more cautious when using symptom checkers on platforms like WebMD, as they might lead to misdiagnosis.
She specifically highlighted they missed an essential point about why they couldn't have sickle-cell anemia—they were Caucasian.
84. What Lies Beneath
My mom suffered from back pain for nearly two years before she decided to seek medical help. When she finally went to the hospital, it turned out that she had a huge kidney stone. Not only that, but her kidney was infected, filled with awful pus that was rendering it ineffective. After the doctors got rid of the fluid via tubes, she was set up for surgery.
Then came last Wednesday, the day she'd been waiting for—surgery day. The stent was removed and tubes were installed without any hitches. But when it came time to take out the kidney, there were complications. That's when the doctors discovered that the kidney infection had infiltrated her lung and a crucial artery, making them as delicate as tissue paper.
During the process of removing the kidney, the surgeon accidentally damaged her lung and cut the artery. The situation quickly escalated into an emergency as the medical team scrambled to save her life and stabilize her.
I can’t recall all the details of how they managed to do so, but they had to airlift her to another hospital for a heart surgeon to repair the artery in a more durable manner.
Fast forward—the heart surgeon evaluated the perilous situation and only gave her a 1% chance of survival. But thanks to his exceptional skills, my mom is still with us and getting stronger every day. The takeaway from this ordeal? Don't ignore your health if you have insurance and you're experiencing pain. Seek medical help as soon as you can—you might not only save your life but also spare some doctors from experiencing a nerve-wracking situation like this.
Pexels
85. Thanks For The Lesson…Or Not
When I was still learning the ropes in med school, I encountered this middle-aged man from the countryside who had convinced himself I knew zilch about medicine, and he thought he was doing me a favor by schooling me.
His medical concerns were mainly centered around colorectal issues, yet he turned his attention to an apparent "gland" on his neck that would periodically "drain."
Upon noticing my bewilderment about this peculiar "gland," he gave me a smug smile, chuckled, and began enlightening this clueless med student about it.
According to him, this unique gland was a normal part of our immune system, but his would 'drain' during periods of stress. In reality, I was being courteous, but he was actually dealing with a grimy abscess on the back of his neck.
86. Sounds Like A Cool Dude
At the hospital where I was working, a notably pretty young woman in her mid-twenties walked in with her boyfriend, complaining of pain in her abdomen. As part of the procedure, she needed to undergo a pelvic exam which included a bimanual examination—involving the insertion of two fingers into the cervix.
I proposed that a female staff could conduct the exam, but she didn't mind me doing it. While a chaperone was present throughout, her boyfriend insisted on being there as well. Now, I'm a professional, but this scenario became quite odd.
The boyfriend positioned himself at the end of the bed, maintaining a stern gaze right at me throughout the entire examination. The whole thing turned out to be an awkward experience for everyone involved, especially since it didn't just stop there.
Post examination, the boyfriend decided to have a one-on-one chat with me. He shared his theory about his girlfriend's pain as he confessed he had been more intimately vigorous with her the night before than usual. I was dumbfounded as to why he thought it necessary to share that piece of information.
Presumably, he was trying to assert himself in some way. Needless to say, it was one of the most bizarre interactions I've had with either a patient or their kin.
Shutterstock
87. The Rear View
I'm a nurse. One day, a nursing aide rushes over to my station, face flushed with worry, exclaiming, "Come quick! I need your help!" She guides me into a private room where a patient was mid-bath. She indicates a specific spot on the patient's backside, asking, "What is that?" I lean over for a closer look and my complexion goes pale.
Suddenly, the patient starts twisting around and exclaims, "IS THAT MY EYE?!" And it was. My patient's prosthetic eye had somehow popped out and managed to adhere itself to her rear.
I exited the room, laughter bursting from me like never before. It was undoubtedly one of the strangest yet funniest moments I've ever experienced in my nursing career.
88. Odd Anatomy
I work as a biomedical scientist, and I share my office with a medical doctor who's currently pursuing his PhD. He once recounted an incident where he was performing an appendectomy. After making the incision into the patient's abdomen, he was perplexed to find no appendix. This unexpected discovery sent him into a panic.
The nurses assisting him, however, chuckled a bit. They realized straight off what the issue was.
Every now and then, they come across a patient with an unusual genetic condition that causes all their organ placements to be mirrored. This patient’s appendix was actually located on the opposite side.
89. There’s No Cure For Stupidity
Over the years, I've encountered some pretty misinformed individuals. A couple of weeks back, a patient's relative and I had a bit of a disagreement about the temperature at which we were keeping his mother. He continuously pointed to the digital thermostat, which read 23 degrees Celsius, and accused me of trying to "freeze" her.
Even as I patiently explained that 23 degrees Celsius isn't cold, he remained fixated on the number, exclaiming, "How can you say 23 degrees isn't cold?! It's 23 DEGREES IN HERE!" His reactions were outrageous.
Despite various explanations from me, the head nurse, the house manager and security, trying to clarify the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit, we ended up at a dead end. Eventually, the choice was made to escort him out.
Surprisingly, this gentleman, in his late thirties and a high school graduate, had never encountered the concepts of Celsius and Fahrenheit. Even more surprisingly, he assumed we were fabricating this distinction to cover up a plot to chill his seriously sick, intubated mother to her bones.
90. An Honest Mistake
I've got a pal who works as a doctor. One time, he was conducting a medical procedure where he inserted a camera for a check-up in a patient's back area. Surprisingly, he encountered an array of wild, psychedelic colors on the screen. He was totally stumped and rattled...
Then he glanced down and noticed his tie got tangled with the camera and was the cause of the visual mess.
91. Nightmare Fuel
This is about the day I had to get my wisdom teeth extracted. Each one was impacted, which means the dentist had no choice but to bring out the serious tools. Before I knew it, I was asleep and unaware of the dentist coming into the room.
Suddenly, I find myself awake but unable to move — my body isn't responding to any of my commands. With each vibration, I can feel the dentist driving a chisel into my tooth in order to create a break, allowing for an easier extraction.
Each strike sends a shockwave through my skull, it feels as if my jaw is shattering. There's a strange metallic contraption prying my mouth open, and my eyes are bulging with fear.
Desperate, I stare at the dental assistant, practically begging her with my eyes to notice my plight. After what feels like an eternity and a million strikes to my jaw, she finally looks in my direction.
Dropping her suction tool with a gasp, she lets out a scream. The process grinds to a halt as the dentist follows her gaze, landing on me. I catch the words "Oh God" escape his lips just as I begin to lose consciousness again.
Waking up after the surgery was like emerging from the darkest of nightmares. The whole experience is truly the stuff of nightmares.
Unplash
92. Lights Out
In nursing school, I once had to watch a tonsil removal procedure. During the operation, the electricity suddenly shut off. Thankfully, the backup generators kicked in to power most of the hospital equipment except for one crucial device—the suction, exceptionally vital in throat surgeries.
In response to this problem, the surgical team improvised in a BIG way—by attaching a sizeable syringe to some suction tubing, creating a manual suction tool. This took place while someone else was rushing to another part of the building, searching for a portable suction device to use instead.
93. Seeing Things
I work in a ward for dementia patients, and believe me, it can get pretty eerie late at night. Picture this: it's 3 am and the rain is hammering down—thunder, lightning, the works. My colleague is on break and I'm alone at the nursing station when I hear a groan.
I figure it must be a patient disturbed by the storm. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I spot a figure in a white dress. That's weird, I think, considering it's a men's area of the ward. So, I take a second look and there she is, a delicate woman just standing there, staring at me.
It takes me a moment to realize that a female patient had somehow slipped past me while I was checking on the other patients and she's now trying to return to her room.
94. The Potato Famine
My tenure as an ER nurse brought many unique experiences. One particularly unusual story involves an eccentric elderly woman. This recluse of an old lady rarely ventured out of her confines but one day found herself in the ER.
Her main issue? She claimed she was suffering from "the greens." Now, this took us by surprise, so I had to delve deeper into her story. What unfolded was truly astounding.
She was struggling with uterine prolapse, a common issue amongst aging women who have given birth multiple times. This condition causes the uterus to descend partially. Apparently, she opted for a home remedy that involved an ordinary potato, a Yukon Gold to be exact, to address this problem.
Yes, you heard that right. She tucked it up as if it were a plug to hold everything in place.
That alone would have been noteworthy but the story takes an even stranger turn. She completely forgot about her self-made solution, which, given potatoes' proclivity for thriving in damp, dark environments, sprouted into a veritable garden. When she undressed, we were presented with an undeniably unique scene involving plant growth.
It seriously took "bush" to an unprecedented level. The doctor had quite the task of safely retrieving the renegade potato. And the odor that ordeal produced? Unforgettable. And not in a good way.
95. Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
Some folks have a tendency to talk or even yell aloud while they're under anesthesia. Truthfully, there were times when it was so challenging that I would end up going home crying, particularly after dealing with outspoken patients.
What provided solace was when patients would awaken and express their gratitude, mentioning how quick it all seemed. Also, reassurance came during follow-up checks a week later, seeing that patients were still on the mend.
Early on, I would repeatedly question the doctor, asking persistently, "Are you certain they're under, are you confident they won't feel a thing?" However, with a few years' worth of hands-on experience under my belt, I’ve realized the extent of the local anesthetic dosage.
Most likely, patients would have remained numb for a couple of hours after the procedure.
96. A Bad Bridge To Cross
During my time in dental school, I treated an emergency patient who complained of painful gums. Looking closer, I found a huge build-up of tartar behind her bottom front teeth. This lady only had about three teeth left on her lower jaw, and they were all stuck together by a large mineral deposit that was roughly the size of a golf ball.
Aged around 55, she made a stark confession—she never cleaned her teeth, ever. In response, I carried out an urgent dental cleaning. The difference it made was remarkable; she was able to speak much more comfortably after the treatment.
Although I acted as if this was a routine scenario, I must admit that in all my years of practice, I've rarely encountered such a severe case.
My advice is to not ignore dental health. Regular teeth cleaning is essential. If getting it done every six months is not feasible for you, try to do it annually or at least every two years. It's definitely better than not doing it at all.
Pexels
97. All Eyes On Me
Medical school never showed me how to put a prosthetic eye back in place. I once had a patient from a less-than-stellar nursing home with a spectrum of health issues. One of them was a seeping prosthetic eye, which needed to be taken out for treatment. When it was time to discharge the patient, we needed to put it back in.
Sounds simple, right? Well, not so much. We really had no clue how to do it and scrambled to figure it out.
That's probably why the staff at the nursing home never bothered to remove it for cleaning. Mind you, this was many years ago. I bet prosthetic eye technology has improved a lot since then.
98. The Saga Of Private Idiot
I served as a combat medic in the Army. Once I'd finished my basic training, I found myself at my very first duty posting. Being a green private, I thought my responsibilities would show up in the name—combat medicine.
However, I soon got a reality check. Instead of easing into things, they threw me in the deep end, having me deal with medical needs for a 15-mile ruck march.
A bunch of things raced through my mind. Firstly, do folks actually walk that far? Secondly, what does "medical coverage" even mean? Lastly, without an aid bag on hand, how was I going to treat people?
The advice I got was essentially to figure things out on my own. I tried seeking out allies in my medic platoon, but they had recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan, having dealt with real-life combat casualties.
They weren’t exactly the friendliest. When you’re the newbie private, you find yourself at the rock bottom, and it’s pretty hard to win friends. Long story short, following a few push-ups and such, I managed to secure the aid bag. I sifted through my notes, steeling myself for gory wounds and broken bones.
But boy, was I in for a shock! The most common casualty for a medic is actually heat-related. Despite numerous reminders, soldiers just didn’t seem to stay hydrated, which caused them to drop left and right.
Fast forward to the ruck march. Just a couple of miles in, I got my first patient. I managed to keep my cool on the outside, despite internal panic. There I was, administering whatever first aid measures I could remember. After all, they only spent about five minutes on heat casualties back in class, and let’s just say I wasn’t exactly attentively taking notes.
I used the ice sheets, put the guy in a shady spot, and did all I could before loading him into the truck. At that point, I was relieved. He was alive and stable. Then, one crucial question turned that relief into dread.
"Did you get a core temperature?" No, I hadn't. The process is straightforward enough, but the practice is more disturbing than you'd think. It involves the unglamorous task of inserting a thermometer where the sun doesn’t shine, trying not to gag.
Dubbed the "silver bullet," it sure had a reputation. I was the lucky one who had to deal with it. Suffice to say, my first attempt didn’t go so well. It ended up in a "phantom hole" and resulted in a very uncomfortable patient and a lot of mockery from my peers.
The second time around, I finally got it right. But then, while filling out paperwork, I left the thermometer in a bit too long, creating another wave of chaos and reprimands. I misunderstood the need for reassessment as needing to leave the thermometer there indefinitely!
Subsequently, I had to pen an apology note for the poor guy who had to endure my inexperience. "They never taught THAT in school," were the only words left echoing in my mind.
99. A Warm Bedside Manner
I'm a medical student who happens to be a woman and my first-ever patient suffered from an inguinal hernia. I needed to conduct an exam on his lower abdomen and testicles and then detect the hernia.
But, my nerves got the better of me and I ended up rubbing his testicles a little too gently with my fingers. The predictable outcome ensued: he began to show signs of arousal. Stunned and mortified by the awkward situation, I swiftly left the room.
100. A Slip Of The Hand
I'd been the patient undergoing a kidney biopsy. Even though I was feeling pretty foggy, I was awake enough for them to communicate with me. I was lying with my face down while my kidney specialist carried out the procedure from behind.
He reassured me that I would hear a clicking sound followed by a feeling reminiscent of a punch from Mike Tyson to my back. Surprised, I thought, "Alright, then?" Next, I heard a click, felt the blow, then heard someone exclaim, "Oh, man. Dial now!"
A nurse swiftly approached to soothe me and possibly to keep a close eye as well. My memory of the whole situation is a bit hazy. But it turned out the truth was pretty shocking—the physician accidentally nicked a blood vessel, causing some serious internal bleeding.
I found myself unexpectedly spending the night in the hospital, excreting what looked like pure blood for the next 24 hours. Note to self: never squeeze a kidney biopsy into the schedule right before the doctor heads off for a holiday.
101. A Twist Of Fate
At times life throws you a curveball, even when you follow the rules perfectly. You might find yourself caring for an elderly patient who, despite your best efforts, isn't likely to recover, and you can only strive to make them more comfortable.
There could be a patient's family member who points fingers at you, causing you emotional distress, despite the bond you've formed. At times, trusting in your superiors might not pay off as you'd expect. I once had a new patient assigned to me during my off day.
Upon my return, the nurse briefed me concerning his condition, assuring me that he was mildly resistant but not aggressive. Because of my composed nature and ability to connect with patients, I was picked to take care of him.
As usual, we were understaffed. While aiding another nurse in shifting him, she had to rush out to fetch an oxygen canister for him but, unfortunately, didn't return. With an oxygen canister hooked on him, he became unsettled, and I couldn't leave him alone nor could I move him.
In an unexpected twist, he punched me in the eye. With broken glasses and in shock, I called for help... but no response came. Couldn't spot anyone in the hallway either. I had to resort to call the front desk, pleading for the nurse to return because he hit me and I couldn't stay there by myself.
She eventually came back... after 15 long minutes. Soon, it dawned on me that something grave had occurred. Upon seeing a doctor, I was diagnosed with a concussion, a slight break in my nasal cartilage, coupled with a black eye and vision troubles. After a few months, I've lost the center vision in that eye and am experiencing spots and floaters in the other.
Likely, my license will be revoked soon. Multiple doctors and specialists deem my condition helpless and suggest that surgery wouldn't yield any results as my eye's rods and cones are nearly vanished. To top it off, I've been battling migraines daily. I had ambitions of becoming a nurse, and it hurts to abandon that dream in my youth.
Protect yourselves. Small incidents can drastically change your life.
102. Take It Easy
One of my patients just received a below-the-knee amputation. Right after surgery, with the surgeon's approval, we provided him with a prosthetic limb. We urged him repeatedly to be gentle, but his enthusiasm made us realize he might not heed our advice.
We even asked our company's owner and some amputee colleagues to reiterate the need for caution because the freshly amputated limb undergoes many changes and still needs time to heal.
A few weeks later, after he'd taken his new leg home, we lost contact. He canceled his follow-up appointment saying he felt wonderful. Then, a week later, a colleague of ours encountered him while he was waiting for the surgeon because his prosthetic limb was scabbed over, covered in lesions, and unusually discolored.
Our patient revealed that he'd felt so great with his new leg, he'd decided to participate in a marathon and obstacle course! Unfortunately, he developed a serious infection because of the mud on the course. He was fortunate, though, that his infection didn't require further amputation above the knee.
103. A Hairy Situation
This story dates back to my time in medical school, yet it remains the most unusual case I've ever seen. It took place during my final placement, just before graduating and starting my medical residency.
With all my main subjects completed, I decided to take some unique electives, and this took me to a dermatology rotation at a veterans' hospital.
The stint was relaxed and intriguing, and I was on my penultimate day, examining my third-to-last patient as a med student. A man came in and, as is common practice, the on-duty resident asked him about his issue. The man mystifyingly said, "I have hair growing out of my hand."
I first thought he implied some abnormality like a hairy mole or such, but he—seemingly in his late thirties or early forties—clarified that hair was emerging from underneath his skin.
When asked about his occupation, he revealed that he was a barber. Interestingly, it turned out it's not all that rare for short, thin hairs to pierce the skin, especially for hairdressers working with male clients.
In this case, it felt somewhat like a splinter, but made of hair. Yet, the man protested, saying it was quite a significant amount of hair before revealing his hand.
He clenched his hand into a fist, and sure enough, several hairs were poking through the skin between the first and second fingers. Puzzled, both the resident and I watched as he used tweezers to extract about half a dozen short, black hairs. The man freely admitted to already removing around 50. That's when the resident's shock became evident.
We then anaesthetised the specified area and made a small cut. What we found next left us dumbfounded—a heap of hair underneath his skin. We began extracting clumps of 20 or 30 hairs at a time.
Eventually, the resident had to bring in magnification glasses with a built-in light and exclaimed, "There's even more hair in there! Do you have any idea how all this hair ended up in your hand, sir?" His answer was eerie, and one I won't forget.
He casually replied, "Oh, it must have entered through here," flipping his hand to reveal an open WOUND on the palm of his hand. Apparently, he had injured himself about two years ago, and due to diabetes, it had never healed properly. Consequently, he continued his barbing job, and tiny bits of hair got trapped in the open wound daily.
Over time, these hairs had worked their way through the flesh between his first and second fingers, moving from palm to backside. That day, we spent about half an hour continuously removing hair from that area of his hand.
Finally, the resident had to admit, "There's no way we got it all today. So, please come back every fortnight for a few months for us to keep extracting more embedded hair from your hand."
104. It Is What It Is
I work as a doctor at our facility's Triage Unit. One Friday, an elderly man came in with his family and none were wearing masks. They all had mild COVID symptoms, except him.
He was experiencing difficulty breathing. We suggested running tests for COVID but both he and his wife refused. They didn't believe in COVID and assumed it was merely a bacterial infection.
The longer we engaged with him, the more distressed he became, his face eventually turning red. We advised him to get admitted in the hospital for stabilization and treatment.
Yet, they believed we were overhyping his symptoms and just wanted him hospital-bound to extract fluid from his knees. They bad-mouthed us and said they were going to a superior hospital to get antibiotics.
Despite seeing this situation unfold frequently, it always strikes a chord. After 24 hours, a call came in from a nearby hospital, informing us that they had to intubate our patient due to respiratory failure upon his arrival. He had to be transferred back to our facility as they lacked the necessary equipment.
By Sunday, we transferred him and a CAT scan revealed his lungs were 90% damaged. Tragically, he died on Monday morning.
As the family was preparing to take his body, I handed his widow the death certificate. As she was leaving, she turned around waving the certificate and exclaimed, "See! I knew it wasn't COVID! It states here: 'resulting from pulmonary pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2! I was sure it was bacteria!.”
I had to correct her: "Actually, ma'am, SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.”
105. The Woman Who Knew Too Much
My twin is a nurse. She was never taught in nursing school how to care for our dying mother. Our mom died from cancer; we gave her all our care at home until she took her last breath. I felt so grateful that my sister had nursing knowledge, yet when mom left us, my sister just couldn't stay in the room.
Before, she had dealt with numerous tragic situations in her nursing career, yet nothing could brace her for the loss of our mother. Her passing made my sister question her decision to become a nurse. From my perspective, it was hard but I saw it as our mom's release from her suffering. But my sister, she knew more about what was happening internally.
She understood the state of mom's lungs and the failing of her heart. The idea of her having such knowledge pained me just as much as mom's departure. I hold such immense love and respect for my sister.
106. Hidden Agenda
I work as a paramedic...I've got dozens of stories, but this one's etched in my mind. On a rainy spring afternoon, we respond to a call about an intoxicated man disturbing the peace by randomly knocking on doors. Usually, cops would handle this, but they're overloaded. We get to the scene, all quiet, no sirens. Honestly, I'm so worn out at that point that I don’t even get out of the car.
I just lower my window. "Hey!" I holler at the elderly man on the stoop, "What are you up to?" He stops the knocking and shambles toward our ambulance. The annoyed home-owner peeks out, then shuts her curtain in relief. "I just need to lie down!" The old man tells me.
My coworker and I share a look. Henry Ford Hospital is just six blocks down. We can probably get him there, right? "Climb in the back!" I tell him sternly. "If you mess up my ambulance, you're cleaning it with your own clothes." "But my chest hurts," he replies, cradling his hand against the rain. I scoff, "I've got chest pains too. Let's both get checked out at Ford."
The man starts unbuttoning his coat, and I lean over to turn up the heat. When I glance back, he's showcasing the problem area. The sight of it still chills me. There, stark against his white shirt, is a star-shaped powder burn.
Huge. A direct, close-range gunshot wound. I'm struck with disbelief. The following few minutes are flurry of activity. I rush out to catch the man as he stumbles, my coworker pulls out the stretcher, and we manage to get him in the back. Clothes are cut, oxygen masks are fitted. "Go, go, go!" I bellow as my partner speeds the six blocks to the hospital.
In the frenzied three-minute ride, I manage to insert one IV. But he doesn't make it, just 25 minutes later. A fist-sized exit wound is visible when we wheel him into the trauma room. The doctors insist nothing could've helped him unless he had fallen into an operating room immediately after the shot. But that doesn't console me.
We spent about 10 minutes chatting with him in the rain. For me, that was the last straw. I took a week off after that, and quit two weeks later.
Pexels
107. The Family Jewels
My teenage son, who's 13, brought up to me that he's experiencing extreme itchiness in his private area. My initial thought was that it might be due to sweat—so, I suggested he clean and completely dry it out.
Yet, a couple of days later he approached me again, insisting that the itching persisted and the area was swelling. Without any pain involved, I still believed it was just some sort of sweat rash requiring a topical treatment.
However, a visit to our family doctor led to an unexpected turn of events. We were asked to undergo an ultrasound. The scan revealed an alarming absence of blood flow in the region, resulting in an immediate transfer to the emergency room. After an urgent surgical procedure, the urologist removed one necrotic lump.
The unwelcome mass had strangely twisted and died off about a week ago. The enlargement was really due to a serious infection underway, explaining the persistent itchiness and swelling.
Interestingly, my son didn't feel any pain at all, which stunned the doctor. Generally, most boys experiencing such a condition—called torsion—equate the sensation to continuous kicks in the groin. By the time the infection progressed as far as in my son's case, he should have been experiencing overwhelming pain.
If we had lingered any longer before seeking medical attention, he was at risk of developing a lethal condition known as sepsis. A month after, he had a secondary surgery to implant a prosthetic and to fasten his remaining 'part' in position to prevent a repeat occurrence.
108. Picking Up The Pieces
Hey there, I'm a nurse. The thing about medical school is, they don't really coach you on how to be honest when your doctor is trying to sidestep a cancer diagnosis. I've been in a couple of scenarios where the doc doesn't answer any questions and instead, just tells the patient and their family to wait for the pathology results.
Next, the doctor briefly stops by the room to share some unclear details, then takes off and leaves me to handle the aftermath. I often hear, "What do you think the doctor was hinting at when they said that?" And my answer usually doesn't beat around the bush—that if it appears like that, it generally implies it's cancer.
I feel it's important to be straightforward. I make sure to dedicate the following half hour to enlighten the patient and provide sources to guide them on what their next moves should be.
109. Three’s Already A Crowd
The toughest day for me happened when a mother brought her two-year-old son in, who was dealing with a fever and diarrhea. The little one was extremely dehydrated. We decided to take a COVID swab since we intended to hospitalize him for further care.
When the test came back positive, the mother just couldn't believe it, refusing to accept the diagnosis. We were prepared to repeat the test and even suggested that she and the child's father should also be tested.
She couldn't wrap her head around it, arguing with us, "How is it possible for him to have COVID? He's been at home all the time. Only his father and I go to work every day, leaving him with his grandma.
He can't get COVID without being out and about.” She then dialed her husband who arrived with a considerable crowd of 10-15 family members in tow. They caused quite a scene, damaging some furniture before leaving hastily with the child.
110. Feel My Pain
My buddy went through a pretty horrific ordeal while being operated on. Just a couple of minutes after the procedure began, his doctors observed some changes in his eye pupils. He described the horrifying experience of feeling the surgical cut, the unbearable pain, and the intermittent supply of oxygen from his mask.
Fortunately, the medical team realized he wasn't fully sedated and rectified the situation. Then, an alarming realization surfaced. As it turned out, his recent ex-girlfriend was the anesthesiologist in charge of his sedation, a detail that had slipped under everyone's radar. It was suggested that she could have done this deliberately.
Despite some hiccups, the surgery was eventually successful, although the recovery process took a bit longer than anticipated. Thankfully, he's fully recovered now.
111. Not A Way To Go
In a pretty extreme bedroom kink, a guy consented to be fully "mummified". Essentially, he was wrapped up in a head-to-toe plaster cast, including his face—the only way to breathe was through tubes in the cast. He was completely encased, with exceptions for his toes and private parts. Being totally immobilized like this really excited him.
Typically, something like a cattle prod would be used for this practice, but in his situation, either by error or malicious intent, his private parts were linked to a direct 220-volt supply using a single probe.
It resulted in third-degree burns on his entire private area, a severe burnt foot and from the stench, extensive burns in other places too. We tried to remove the cast to see if revival was possible, but it was evident he was beyond saving even before we had removed it halfway.
All of us were speechless, just staring in shock. When the authorities arrived, they were equally speechless. I stepped up to remove the rest of the cast and provide some after-death care.
I found deep cuts over most of his body, heavy bruising, and several other burns. His body was sent to the coroner's and I spent the rest of the shift visibly shaken.
112. A Rash Of Problems
For a while, I had a bothersome little rash that just wouldn't clear up. I kept hoping it'd vanish, but when it didn't, I finally went to see a doctor. He diagnosed it as ringworm and prescribed an antifungal. Unfortunately, my rash didn't get better, it got worse. I went back to him, and he prescribed a stronger antifungal.
But to my dismay, the rash spread even further, extending all the way down my arms. At this point, I decided to see a dermatologist, and got a referral from the doctor. I braced myself for that appointment.
After a quick glance, the dermatologist immediately identified it as contact dermatitis. Apparently, a recent change in my soap had upset my skin, which resulted in a rash. All the antifungals that the doctor had prescribed only made my skin condition worse.
I decided to quit using soap altogether for about a week, and surprisingly, my skin improved. However, it took almost an entire year to get rid of the skin discoloration.
113. The Living Dead
A woman came to the ER labeled as having "Multiple Medical Problems". This label usually indicates problems like diabetes or blood issues, maybe abnormal blood tests. Before I could even meet her, the doctor was already looking for who was on duty for room 15. That was me, so I quickly got up and rushed to follow him into the room.
Upon entering, I was dumbfounded at the sight before me. The woman appeared skeletal, resembling images of concentration camp survivors. You could see every bone in her frail body, twisted in a troubling posture with her jaw unnaturally wide open.
A wave of putrid smell assaulted my senses—the unmistakable scent of rot and bodily fluids. I tried my hardest to not let my revulsion show on my face.
As I tried to put a blood pressure cuff around her arm, her skin came off in flakes. I couldn't help but gag. The doctor started undressing her for a physical exam. Blackened feet, hip bones poking through blackened skin, rib areas reduced to exposed, weeping muscle were what greeted me.
Her lower legs were grotesquely bloated, their skin cracking like torn fabric. The adult diaper was soiled all over her genitals. Next, as the doctor removed a large bandage from her lower back, the scene grew worse. Her sacrum was visible with bare bones, surrounded by liquefied, blackened skin. I can't even begin to describe the stench.
The doctor assigned me to clean her sores and wounds for surgical prep, even though he knew she wouldn't make it to the operation table. I was at a loss—nursing school does not prepare you for cleaning decaying bone and liquid skin.
Trying to clean the sacral area was a horrifying experience as fluid from her decomposing skin seeped all over the bed. I fought hard to remain composed.
I found a moment of respite in the supply closet, giving myself a tearful break. It was unfathomable to me how much the human body could decay while still being alive. I often think about that woman, wondering what led her to such a tragic state. It's heartbreaking. Most likely, she suffered a traumatic brain event or a stroke.
She was under the care of her family, but I believe they were severely negligent. As her skin worsened, she may have developed dangerous bedsores that were left untreated. Her malnutrition and insufficient protein intake likely led to the swelling. The image of her face haunts my nightmares. In one dream, she appeared in the bed beside me.
The terror sent me running into the hallway, where my toddler followed closely, blinking sleepily, asking why I had run off so abruptly.
114. He Was Itching For Some Help
I wound up in the hospital after a motorbike crash. The guy sharing my room had been involved in a collision with a big rig. He kept saying his back was itchy, and finally, someone came to help and rolled him over to his side.
The shock on their faces was apparent when they saw his back—it was covered in shards of glass. I'm baffled as to how they missed that.
115. Doing Things The Old Fashioned Way
Before starting my first year of college, I had to get a physical exam at the doctor's office. My doctor was a quite assertive and somewhat nerve-racking woman, and the time came for the hernia test.
All my life, that test always involved the doctor checking my lower private area while I coughed. But apparently, nowadays, doctors only need to touch slightly above the private area instead of the actual area.
Sadly, I wasn't clued in about this change in procedure, which led to an extremely embarrassing situation. So here I was, sitting on the examination table when the doctor told me to unbutton my pants for the hernia check.
Completely oblivious to the fact that my pants didn't need to come all the way down, I lowered them to my knees when she turned away to grab a glove.
Maintaining an impeccable poker face, she walked over and positioned her hand on my lower belly area, asking me to cough. Twice, she performed the check on both sides, all while my privates were unnecessarily on display. She didn't comment about it or even acknowledge the obvious overexposure on my end.
I guess I was fortunate that day to have a doctor like her. If someone more expressive had been on duty, the embarrassment might have been unbearable.
116. Seeing Green
In my early twenties, I once accompanied someone to the ER for a severe wound infection. When I informed the middle-aged doctor of the infection, he laughed and said, "You're probably just mistaking it for inflammation." I agreed to an extent, but also insisted it was indeed infected. He simply brushed off my concerns.
He would later regret doing that.
There were chuckles from the nurses and other doctors. However, the moment the doctor inspected the wound, he admitted, "Wow, this infection is serious." From that point on, he avoided eye contact with me. I didn't understand why he felt the need to dismiss my concerns and make me look foolish before everyone else.
117. Let’s See Those Pearly Whites
It feels a bit weird and a bit unfortunate to say this. My mother used to work as a dental hygienist and one of her elderly patients enjoyed taking a snooze while she went about cleaning his teeth. She didn't have any problem with it—on the contrary, she found it to be quite peaceful.
But then, one day something tragic happened. The man had a painless heart attack while sitting in her chair. Unaware of his critical condition, my mom went on with her job, not realizing that he had died.
118. The Milk Is For The Baby
I met with a patient who expressed worries because she was still producing breast milk, even though she had finished nursing her twin children about two years ago. She shared, "there are times when I wake up in the wee hours of the night to find my spouse nursing from my breasts.
He claims he's helping me by relieving the milk supply." I found it necessary to clarify that having her husband breastfeed would actually result in ongoing milk production.
