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May 8, 2007
And How Many Nurses Do You Know?
MR asked me something like this today as I pondered whether or not I had a kidney infection.
Around noon I was doubled over on the floor of my office in pain. Lower back, localized on the left side. I have a history of chronic urinary tract infections. I've not been drinking enough water as of late, and I missed my cranberry pills for a few days while my supplement feeder (aka my partner MR) was out of town at a scientific conference.
So I was a bit concerned... a kidney infection can be very dangerous. I had nausea, a low grade fever, and localized pain in my lower back, left side.
I called a bunch of nurses. One perk of my job is that if you have a nursing question, you've got people.
I got ahold of one of my ER tech good friends who described kidney infection symptoms in detail.
"Get MR to hit your back where it hurts. If pain radiates throughout your body, you have a kidney infection. If it doesn't, you don't."
I got MR to hit me a few times. Pain didn't radiate; in fact, I felt better.
It's muscular. Muscle spasms as a result of stress and sleeping terribly/not at all. I was up at 1:30 am and never got back to sleep, left for work at 5:30 am.
I got MR to rub out the knots in my lower back and I felt better, went on to my meeting with nurses.
Of course, my nurses, upon hearing the story, said, "Call me anytime!"
It's a wonderful side effect of my work. The most amazing, dedicated women and men on earth are there to help me if I'm sick. I'm about to have some of their cell phone numbers tatooed on my chest in case I'm in a car accident, cause if I'm ever a trauma, I want these people to take care of me. I know they'd save my life.
And they know I'll be there for them, no matter what it takes out of me.
Tonight I find myself calling upon the spirits of every patient my brave nurses have ever saved, protected, and helped to heal. Those of you who are alive and well today because these people were there for you, send your prayers and your energy to the men and women who sacrifice so much to care for you.
As I drove to my morning meeting at 5:30 am, I hear one of my old favorite songs, one that always reminds me of why it is I'm willing to be there for my nurses.
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you.
And when, when the night falls on you baby
You're feeling all alone
Wandering on your own...
I'll stand by you.
PS It occurs to me that it's been awhile since someone wrote in and said, "You CR people must have no priorities in life other than counting calories!"
PS PS One of my union members, the ER tech I mentioned, was doing some googling about diet and health and found me! It was very funny. She asked me to send her info, which I will now do.
PS PS PS I haven't mentioned them in awhile, but I spent last year working with professional and technical staff at the same hospital system where the last group of unorganized nurses are currently organizing. It was a wonderful experience working with all the other people who make health care possible... med techs, respiratory therapists, dieticians (I loved the dieticians!), social workers, physical therapists, OR techs, radiology techs, peds techs, telemetry techs... the list goes on. So when I refer to nurses, it's because they're at the forefront of my mind now that I'm running two RN campaigns. But hospitals wouldn't run without everyone else who takes care of you, even the ones you don't see like the med techs locked up in the lab.
Posted by april at May 8, 2007 6:24 PM
Comments
Oh Dear..this is really taking a lot out of you April. I'll add my thoughts to yours for your nurses as well. My niece is a nurse and she does work so very hard. I'd stand by her..and I'd stand by you!
D
Posted by: Deborah at May 9, 2007 3:53 AM