The Hot Pepper

Spontaneous pneumothorax, apparently I'm just a healthy young white guy. Smoking didn't help. Chest tube removed today. Off the narcotics as of 1030 this morning. It's a real pain, huh!?

Of all the procedures I've had, the chest tube going in ranked up there as the most painful. Even more painful than a gunshot to the gut lol. Did they give you the ketamine when they put it in?

They put me on an IV of Dilaudid before hitting the site with a shot of Lidocaine (iirc). Been on a steady regiment of Dilaudid, Tylenol, Hydrocodone, and Gabapentin. Except my nurse last night, who refused to give me anything but Tylenol. I was pissed and in major pain this morning. She got a firm talking to. It was insane how the pain subsided when they pulled the tube out.

Was super surprised, I just got a roommate who had an apendectomy, he gets just Tylenol.

And her...

I just thought I was weak...didn't realize how high on the pain scale these rank.

Oh yeah, the surgeon who did it wasn't a rookie, but she was still a student. And 7 months pregnant. She was a boss!

Dilaudid, tylenol, oxy, and gaba here also. I am not sure why some nurses break the med schedule, but you are not alone in having to get pissed.

I think my nurse had a power trip...did yours seem that way? I've had great rapport all around with every other nurse, but this one was just...not kind

We have the teaching hospital here, so the attending let a fellow put the tube in, I clearly remember saying park that thing rookie..I felt bad, :/

Yeah...that's just scary. This is a county hospital/teaching hospital as well. I could tell my surgeon was competent and was teaching another, despite still being a student herself. And it was pretty nerve wrecking - I couldn't imagine having an incompetent surgeon try. I'm wondering if you didn't get a larger tube than me too, I heard mine is pretty skinny vs trauma based repair tubes.

The Nurses are on 12 hour shifts here, so I can understand if things get hectic or tired seeps in. But this particular nurse missed an 8 hour block.

I hope you can get some rest and don't feel bad about giving an accurate pain level.

Man, I know exactly your pain (when it comes to the mismanagement of meds.) Ours do both 8 and 12s, this nurse was on a 12, dosed me at 9pm, and I didn't get dosed again until a new nurse took over at 7 am. She was supposed to do the first dose around 730pm, made me wait.

Just because she "wanted to see how my pain was." Despite the head nurse planning me to keep the pain minimal rather than fighting it once it got bad lol

All it takes is for one nurse to tell another nurse that she/he had problem then the entire floor treats you like a scruffy Nerf herder.

Thank you! You too! I'm actually down to Tylenol and Gabapentin now, the tube was removed earlier, and I'm waiting to go home. I hope you can get some rest, it sounds like you have more on your plate.

Seems like all the other nurses love me, some who have seen me that are now with other patients keep checking in on me! She's the only one I didn't have rapport with. Like, super weird, would maintain eye contact after finishing a conversation, like just staring with a blankish look.

The better nurses here were like we want to keep ahead of the pain. I can normally switch over to 800 motrin when I get home, but the arm is going to take a bit longer.

Yeah it sounds like you had a really serious incident, as soon as my tube was pulled, all my pain subsided. That's the plan our nurses had, save for the c. Here's hoping for a swift recovery for you!

You as well brother! The hole usually seals after 48 hours, then you can keep it clean and rock on!

Rock on!