Friday, October 22, 2010

Kung Fu Fighting

I love a distraction. Especially in the ER. Sometimes the distraction can be subtle and minor, one that I have to search out to find. Other times, though, a distraction can be glaringly obvious, practically smacking me in the face. Whatever the diversion, these moments can make a hectic, chaotic day in the ER much more tolerable. Not to mention fun.

Although it's usually the patients who provide the main attraction, occasionally it can be the waiting family or friends of the patient. For example, Aunt Alice's nose mole and smeared lipstick might make me do a double-take, detracting from the attention I would otherwise have given her nephew, the patient. Grandpa Ben isn't fooling anyone about his gas problem either, sitting over in the room's corner wearing a smug smile, shifting around on his chair before releasing another foul air biscuit.

The possibilities of distractions are endless and, quite frankly, most welcomed by my receptive self.

A few weeks back, I had a two-for-one zinger--both an intriguing patient and her entertaining boyfriend. The patient herself had a significant history of anxiety, bipolar depression, and schizophrenia and, while at an appointment at her mental health clinic, she had become extremely anxious and began to hyperventilate, ultimately passing out. This lead to her trip to our ER via the ambulance service. Her boyfriend, I was told, met her after she arrived.

Walking into Room 22, I found an anxious-appearing, thirty-ish, blond woman with extremely poor dentition. In fact, one of her front teeth was angled outward, barely hinged to her gums, and her tongue seemed to constantly caress this wayward tooth. Her blue eyes seemed out of focus, glazed-over even, probably a result of the valium given to her by the prehospital team. She fidgeted with her hands while her right foot rhythmically rubbed up and down her left shin. Her room smelled quite strongly of stale cigarette smoke.

Standing in the obscure corner of the treatment room was this patient's boyfriend. He was a small man, maybe 5'5", balding with a gathered ponytail. As I took his appearance in, he looked shyly down at his feet while pressing his hands together in front of him, prayer-like. Interestingly, he had no shirt on, just sandals and some worn jeans. His chest was sunken-in and fuzzy. His abandoned white t-shirt rested on the room's only counter top.

Between the two of them, I would have been quite content to spend the rest of my shift hanging out in their room, people-watching. I had a feeling that this interaction would be a memorable one.

The patient eyed me suspiciously as I approached her with my hand extended, ready to introduce myself. While in the middle of saying my name and explaining that I would be her doctor during this ER visit, I heard a loud exhalation followed by a hum originate from behind me, from the corner where the boyfriend stood. Quite frankly, it startled me.

I turned my head to look at the boyfriend, only to find him performing exaggerated motions of what I assumed to be some form of martial arts. After several moments of unorganized, flailing movements, he quit humming and folded his hands back together, bowing his head to me. Although I'm sure he didn't mean it to be, his actions and behavior were quite comical, and I fought myself from laughing out loud.

"Eddie," the patient shrieked, bringing my attention back to her, "cut that shit out. I ain't gonna watch your bogus karate while I'm lying here sick."

At this, Eddie began to hum loudly (again), keeping his head bowed, his hands folded, and his eyes closed. Suddenly, though, as if an "on" button had been pushed, he launched into another routine of air karate, randomly slicing and jabbing his hands while awkwardly kicking his feet outward. For his grand finale, he did a spin kick, almost tripping and falling to the ground on his landing. After collecting himself, he again folded his hands, bowed his head, and nodded to me before closing his eyes.

Funny, but I didn't feel threatened or in danger. I was, however, completely and totally mesmerized.

"Eddie," screamed the patient again, "if you do that one more time, I'm going to climb out of my bed and come over there to kick your ass. Got it?" Eddie apparently didn't, or else simply chose to ignore the patient's threats, remaining in his deep meditative state.

I tried to diffuse the situation. "Eddie," I said, smiling, "that's some really good stuff. Are you a professional?"

I had barely finished my question when the patient chimed in, laughing hysterically at my question. "Professional? You've got to be kidding!" she exclaimed, now choking on her words. "Hell, he's just making all of this shit up as he goes along."

"Well," I said, "his routine sure impressed the heck out of me." I was telling the truth, too. His routine was unlike any I had ever seen before.

With this, Eddie bowed forward again, I assume in thanks of my words.

"Bullshit," the patient said, emphatically, "he doesn't know shit about karate or anything else. Tell him, Eddie." I looked from the patient to Eddie and, after he remained silent in his own world, back to the patient again. "Oh, that's right, I forgot," she added, now sarcasm dripping from her words, "you don't talk during your karate sessions. How could I have forgotten?" She rolled her glazed eyes as she spoke.

Ouch. For her sake, I could only hope that Eddie would never try out his routine on her.

They became the couple of the moment in our ER. When they were alone in their room, there seemed to be a quietness, a calm, to the area. But the moment someone, anyone, walked into the room, the show began. A loud exhalation by Eddie. Humming. Eddie's routine of his remarkable abilities, capped off by his spin kick and landing. The bowing of his head and folding of his hands in conclusion. The girlfriend's free earful of screaming at Eddie for his ridiculousness. The exit of the person who entered.

The nurse walked out of Room 22, shaking her head and laughing after witnessing this same show that I did. So did the x-ray tech. And EKG tech. "Is this for real?" I heard several of our staff ask, after checking out the scene on their own.

"It is," I assured them.

After clearing the patient with a good physical exam and several tests, we quickly discharged her, if only to get Eddie out before he hurt someone or himself.

You can't buy a ticket for this stuff. And you surely can't make it up. The only thing you can do, really, is appreciate these distractions that come with a job in the ER. Well, that and closely inspect the room's corners to make sure there isn't a hidden camera trying to record your response for some reality TV show. That you've been set-up, somehow.

I look forward to the next distraction to arrive. Somehow, as sure as time keeps ticking, I know I won't be disappointed.

Hiiiiii-yaaaah!

As always, big thanks for reading. I hope you have a great, distracting weekend...

14 comments:

Cyndi said...

I'm laughing almost out loud (at work, don't want to attract attention!) and am charmed by your ability to be entertained by behavior that might repel others.

Karate man is so odd, that if this scene were to appear in a tv show, it would be chalked up as being to unrealistic.

Thanks for sharing your glimpses of reality.

rlbates said...

lq2m

littlepretendnurse said...

Only in real life could this happen! Thanks for the laugh, Doc. Have a great weekend!

Katie Axelson said...

That is awesome! I love people watching; sometimes they do the strangest things. I'm also really good at finding distractions...

Have a good weekend!
<>< Katie

Karen said...

Bhahahaha!

J-Quell'n said...

Wow...just...wow...I'm thinking Psych consult for Eddie...LOL

myonlyphoto said...

OMG that was crazy, thanks for the great laugh, lol, lol. Anna :)

Wren said...

I guess Eddie figured you and your staff would be a perfect captive audience, Dr. Jim. What a hoot! ;o)

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i love people watching! sometimes on a cruise ship i sit along the side of the promenade and watch the world go by, so interesting. (and then there are other times when i "invent" some language and pretend to only speak that). i love to entertain myself! apparently so did your patient's boyfriend!

smiles, bee
xxxoxoxooxox

Ninja Pharmer said...

D'you think that he could perhaps be a student of Diamond Dave's Ninjee-skool?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuigcXvcy1A

It sure sounds to me like he was a-ninjee choppin' and a-kung-fu kickin' his way around the room! Just be glad he didn't have a can of chewin' tabaccy or a cheap jump rope in his posession, 'cause things coulda been a whole lot worse - 'specially if he decided you needed a-ninjee-in!

(Btw, Diamond Dave is for real. So are his "A ninja teachin' flicks")

*Ninjamedic is in no way shape or form associated with the aforementioned Diamond Dave's Ninjee skool. Any similarity is purely coincidental.

Heather said...

I've missed you!

I love patients...distractions always make otherwise overwhelming days so much more entertaining!

Kate said...

I love that this cracks you up as a distraction and doesn't just irritate you. Good to see the fun in it instead of getting mad.

Unknown said...

I know exactly what you're talking about! This one sounds particularly fun. As everyone is saying, glad you can see this with a positive light instead of getting irritated. I have recently discovered your blog; I love reading it! Looking forward to many more good stories.

Smalltown RN said...

Ok big chuckles going on here....so are you telling us doc that Eddie was no David Carridian? That is just priceless....and yet so true to life....

Happy Halloween doc!