X-ray Rocks

Say What?!?

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:20:00 +0000

I love the new voice recognition transcription.

Soooo funny.....

Sometimes you have to wonder what the Dr was trying to say.

Add a Dr with a lisp or accent and it's hilarious.

Actually ER notes:

This 17 year old uterus fell in a hole today.

Patient brought in a brief video tape of the accident and it looks like the colon was behind him and took him and the patient fell forward.

This 20 near all was seen by myself a week ago.

It feels like I would patient Mark got kicked in nuts.

(the pt's name was Ronald -so???)

Anything Else?

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Actual conversation with a patient:

Patient - "I'm cold. Why is it so cold in here? Are you cold? Why is this bed so hard? Do I have to stand up? This is taking too long. I can't stand up. I want another warm blanket. Where's my friend? Can my friend come back to my room now? You want me to stand up? How long will this take? Where's the nurse? Can I have a warm blanket now? How come these beds are so narrow? Do you have a bigger bed? Where's my friend? Why is it so cold? Ohhhhh, I'm sooooo sick. cough cough"

Too Much?

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Is it too much to ask, that when a pt is pregnant you tell me before I do the x-ray?

Or don't even tell me, just check the box next to pregnant in the chart, I do check the chart before every patient.

Or don't bother, I know you're too busy to click on a tiny box.

'Cause I look like a retard when I ask the patient,
"Any chance you might be pregnant?"
"Yes, I'm due in 4 weeks (like duh)."
"Does the Dr. know that you're pregnant?"
"Yes, he knows (again duh!)."

I'm sorry! YOU ARE FAT! I can't tell if you are carrying a baby in that belly or a submarine sandwich! Sorr-y!

Throat Ca-chunk

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:25:00 +0000

Ok - try this: Take a drink of water. Do you hear a noise in your head when you swallow? No? Try it again. Bend your neck to the right, to the left, down, across. Yes? You can hear a noise?

THAT'S NORMAL!!!!!!!!!!!

I did a video swallow (dumbest exam ever, next to VCUGs) today on a 30-something woman with the history of: chunking noise in head when swallows.

Yes. Really.

What did the Rad. tell her?

He said, "Huh, yeah I have that too. You're not crazy, there really is a noise. It's the cartilage in your neck. (Thank you for your money, have a good day.)"

She also had foot weakness, post-nasal drainage and sinus pressure. Really? A video swallow? Why?

Well, I like my job (and money) so come on crazy faker patients. Can't you think up any other imaginary symptoms?

~On a side note: I randomly picked up the optical space age thermometer today and took my temp. It was 100.1F

And I felt fine.........but I had a fever, so I had a perfectly good reason to go to the ER.

I took it a couple more times and it was 100.0 and 99.8

Oh, well I had better things to do than sit in the ER waiting room for 3 hours.~

Dark Angle

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:22:00 +0000

I'm a little burnt out, so I took a vacation from blogging. Why am I burnt out you ask? After only one year at this new job?
Well, I guess it's hard to be stretched in so many different directions. Starting Jan. 1 we saw a 50% increase in patient volume. The ER added more Dr.s and nurses. Did Radiology staff more people? No. They decreased the staff on each shift. Why?

Oh, that's easy - the hospital sold the radiology dept. to a private company.

We are no longer hospital employees, although we work in the hospital.

Strange? Yeah.

But now FINALLY!!! they've realized that we NEED more staff, so now I can breath and relax a tiny bit. Instead of one person doing 25 patients (unconscious, MVA, combative, drunk, bleeding), now 2 people share the load. And all the fun phone calls, order entering, processing and generally fire putting out of running a department.

~

Another reason I'm burnt out - I've x-rayed every single dead morgue patient we've had in 2009.
What are the odds of that happening? We get a lot of deaths and I work .8, so I'm not there all the time.

But I've had every single suicide, MVA and still born.

Part of me likes it and the other part is disgusted that I admitted that.

It's awful to see a man's body ripped open like a too full garbage bag, but unique because I'm the last person to x-ray them, too see into and through them.

When I was a kid, and I crossed a street, I would always stop in the middle of the road and touch the center line, because I thought no one else had ever touched that exact spot and so it was unique and special.

X-raying dead people is some what the same, in a way, unique.

Snap Crack

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:13:00 +0000

Owww - Poor Bone Density!!!

This is old age - be careful - it can sneak up on you at any time.

So, old person + slip and fall = Complex fracture through the distal left femoral metadiaphysis, displaced posterior to proximal femur, multiple free butterfly fragments*.

*Butterfly fragment - a wedge-shaped shard of bone from the shaft of one of the long bones. This injury occurs at the apex of the fracture force and is a subtype of a comminuted fracture.

Past Flash

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:08:00 +0000

Something really weird happened today.

You know that person in school that nobody liked? The one who came to school in smelly clothes and their parents were drug addicts or something?

I saw that person today at work.
Only now we're all grown up and adults. Only....she's still stinky and fat and....I think she might use drugs.
It was really weird.

Thankfully, I don't think she recognized me.

Chop Chop

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:01:00 +0000

Amputation at the 2nd and 3rd digit.

Ouch. Again, another victim of a circular saw attack.

Conga Line

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:20:00 +0000

This 80 y/o won't be doing the conga anytime soon.

Comminuted left hip intertrochanteric fracture.
Medial superior and inferior pubic rami fracture.

Fall Back

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:10:00 +0000

60-year old woman fell backwards off of a 6 foot high stone wall.

Trimalleolar fracture with dislocation pre and post films.

You can see on the medial side where the fibula was sticking through her skin.

Falling Children

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:58:00 +0000

Caution: Falling Children

Another kid that fell from an extreme height. This one fell off of a backyard zip-line, that her Dad built. Awww that's so sweet. Only he built it TWELVE feet in the air. Accident waiting to happen.

Radius Fracture

This kid never complained or cried. Very brave. I gave her extra stickers.

Casted up nicely.

I turned cast into a verb. Is that OK?

Failed Infanticide

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:01:00 +0000

This case -here -of a woman who had an x-ray and discovered 23 needles in her body, makes me sick. Investigators believe her grandparents inserted the needles many years ago. They were trying to kill her, so her parents could have a baby boy.

Very Strange

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:06:00 +0000

Check this site out - X-ray photos

It's very disturbing, but amazing.

or these - Funny x-ray pictures.

This one is a little bit too realistic - 3d accident

Pressure Cooker

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:22:00 +0000

I canned vegetable soup.

And Peach/Mango/Passion fruit marmalade.

And Sugar cookies!

Monkey Bread

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:22:00 +0000

Today I felt like monkey bread, in that everyone wanted a little piece of me.
Or maybe like Brad Pitt in his underwear.
Or a million dollars.

Anyway- I was very busy.
We were (of course) short staffed and swamped with old people. Every holiday it's the same way.
"Grandma, what! you look so old! I can't believe you've aged in a year! When did that happen!?!"
"And Grandpa you banged your knee four weeks ago and it's bruised? Your old skin hasn't healed rapidly like my young healthy skin!?! That can't be! To the ER we must flee! With the entire family! All 50 of us."

So....when we have actual sick, DYING patients, the faux sickies (semi-sickies) get upset that they have to wait and their 50 relatives complain and argue with the million other relatives in the waiting room and the fighting spills out the front door and the police come and arrest everyone and finally - - - - there is peace.

OK it wasn't quite that bad.

At one point I was the only tech in the hospital (the other person was out to get lunch). I was in the recovery room doing post op xrays on a hip and ER called with a stat port chest on a baby. I hung up and anesthesia called for a port chest for line placement.
It was that kind of day.
Everyone wanted everything STAT.

And everything was portable and none of the patients could stand or move themselves.

Honestly, I had a really great day.
It was fun.
I love crazy.

NPO U

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:32:00 +0000

So, here's something new.
I had to look this up.
The Rad read this as "post maxillary LeFort BSSO".

A quick google -"Surgery to the maxilla is carried out at three levels named after a French Surgeon René Le Fort.

The Le Fort I osteotomy involves separating the maxilla and the palate from the skull above the roots of the upper teeth through an incision inside the upper lip. The maxilla is fixed in its new position with titanium screws and plates. Surgery time is around three hours. The operation is frequently carried out with the mandibular Sagittal split osteotomy when it is termed a Bimaxillary Osteotomy.

Bimaxillary osteotomies take around five hours to complete and may be carried out in conjunction with chin surgery and liposuction/liposculpture. On occasions bone grafting is required in the Le Fort I osteotomy to ensure bone healing and union across the bone cuts. The graft is frequently harvested from the hip. Bone graft material may be harvested from the chin or lower jaw in bimaxillary cases – leaving the hip intact.

Cosmetic improvement is startling for those individuals requiring these procedures, and with proper planning it is unusual for patients not to be delighted with outcome.

Interesting.....gross, painful, but very interesting.

Ouch.

NPO 4 U!!

Contact Sports

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:32:00 +0000

I'm getting really sick of x-raying little ( 7-10y/o) kids injured in contact sports. This little boy was playing tackle football and he was wearing all the right protective equipment. It wasn't a pick-up game in someones backyard.
His parents were surprised that he had a broken femur. "It was just a little kid. (that tackled their son and broke his femur)" the dad said.
When you go to a Mighty Midgets' (or whatever their team is called) game and there's an ambulance and paramedic crew parked on the sideline it indicates that this might be a dangerous sport.

This is the fifth femur fx on a child under 10 that I have done in the last 2 months.

Robin Hood

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:10:00 +0000

I'm so excited. League sign-ups for the local archery club are next week. Because of the old job, I worked on league nights, I couldn't sign up. But this year I can sign up!!!
My bow is strung, my fletchings are glued and my nocks are tight. I'm ready - and I hope the next time I post Robin Hood, it's means I've actually shot a robin hood* (like that will ever happen!).

*The term "Robin Hood" refers to splitting the shaft of an arrow already in the target with another arrow.

Shepard's Pie

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:29:00 +0000

I made a Shepard's Pie last week. The recipe's from the Sunday's At Moosewood cookbook. Every vegetarian should have a copy. The book is divided into regional sections - vegetarian recipes from Africa, British Isles, Italy, China, Mexico, ect. ect.
I used a prepared tofu "sausage" instead of the frozen, shredded tofu called for in the recipe and pre-packaged mashed potatoes, because they were free with a purchase at the grocery store.

Tofu Layer -

Tofu "sausage" 16 oz pkg
1 large onion chopped
2 med carrots sliced
1/2 cup celery sliced (or any root veg. of your choice, parsnips,beets,ect.)
2 Tbs veg. oil
1/4 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp coriander/cumin seeds
pinch freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tbs soy sauce

Saute the onions, sliced vegetables, and spices in the oil until the onions are translucent. Stir in the tofu, lemon juice, soy sauce, and black pepper. When heated through, remove from heat and set aside. Place this first layer in a well greased 9x9 inch baking dish.

Potato Layer

Use pre-packaged mash potatoes (like me) OR

4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 Tbs butter
1/2 cup milk
salt to taste

Place cubed potatoes in saucepan and cover with lightly salted water. Bring to boil, simmer until potatoes are soft. Drain - saving hot potato water to use in gravy. Mash potatoes with butter and milk. Salt to taste. Set aside.

Mushroom Gravy

2 Tbs veg. oil
1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced
3 Tbs soy sauce
pinch black pepper
1 1/2 cups hot potato water
2 Tbs corn starch dissolved in 1/2 cup water

Heat oil in a skillet, stir in mushrooms, soy sauce and black pepper. Saute until mushrooms are tender. Add 1 1/2 cups hot potato water and bring to a boil. Slowly stir in cornstarch mixture and cook at a low boil, stirring continuously, until gravy in clear and thick.

Pour mushroom gravy over veg./onion layer in baking dish.

Cover with mashed potatoes, dot the top with butter and bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 mins - until top becomes golden.

If I made in again I wouldn't bother with the tofu "sausage". I used portabella mushrooms and they are 'meaty' enough.

Wii Mii

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:02:00 +0000

I'm addicted to Wii. It's sad, but true. That's my mii hanging out with Mario and Princess Peach. I got a gold on every level in Mario Cart and they took a commemorative picture.

This is the first video game I have ever played and I can see why people become addicted.

"Just one more game. Ok. One more. Now just one more...."

Well, excuse me, now I have to get back to Rock Band.

The Wii is calling.

Down Fall

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:28:00 +0000

This patient fell 15 feet from a roof and broke his radius and ulna. Another tech did the x-rays (and hung this first one upside down).

The bones are so crushed that this lateral looks almost like an AP.

Vet Visit

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:05:00 +0000

So I took my cats to the Vet today.

Did you think this post was about Veteran's Day? :)

Catty, the 8 y/o, is doing fine, but Saveta, 15 y/o, has all the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Ugh. They took blood and urine and now I'm waiting for the Vet to call with the results. He said he would probably prescribe pills for her and see how she reacts to them. She also has an icky tooth that needs to come out.

I hate the idea of giving her pills everyday. She is a cat. Just a pet...but still. She runs around and plays with her toys. She doesn't act sick.

I've had her since I was 10. I watched her birth and was the first person to touch her, so I guess it's hard to think about her dying, because she's a part of my childhood. And a part that hasn't really changed - cats don't get wrinkles!

Ouch Eww

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:47:00 +0000

Nicely dislocated finger on a 50ish woman. "Caught finger in sweater and fell over onto hand." Ouch! It looked really messed up from the outside too. I felt like telling the woman to take a pic of it with her cell phone. She could show it to her friends. The 4th digit was almost perpendicular to her other fingers! So weird.

Dr. Horrible

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:37:00 +0000

I Love Dr. Horrible!!

I just stumbled upon this funny, funny video on hulu.
Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

The singing is great and Neil Patrick Harris is such a cutie.

But I want more! Another episode - more, more, more!!

On Y'mark

noreply@blogger.com (X-ray Rocks!) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:06:00 +0000

On your mark-get set-GO!
Tomorrow is a BIG fluoro day - 24 pts and counting!
Keep your fingers crossed for me that it's better than last week!