Yucky Lessons Learned

Too much information about bodily fluids, medical issues, and such.  No names have been used to protect the innocent ...

• Eventually it feels normal when your 4.5 year old wets the bed a few times a week.
• Eventually it feels normal when your 4.5 year old goes through 6 pairs of underwear on some days.
• A cough, runny nose, post-nasal drip, and ear infections can be related to reflux.
• Early morning coughing and phlegm can result in vomiting a few times a month, and sadly that can begin to feel normal, too.
• A normal gallbladder is "robin's egg" blue and delicate.  One suffering from months of inflammation turns pink and tough. 
• Dancing is an effective way to release gas trapped in the intestines.  When that happens unexpectedly, it's really funny.  Dancing and laughter are great medicines.
• It's best to have a port de-accessed before leaving the ER.  Don't be afraid of further upsetting the poor patient at 3:30 in the morning.  Don't worry about removing the extraneous tape used cover the port bandage.  Don't assume you'll go to clinic the next day for more antibiotics and subsequent de-accessing.  And don't rely on luck when it comes to needing heparin in order to remove the port needle yourself.  
• It's a good idea to keep extra medical supplies around.  You never know when you will need that one last vial of heparin that's been in your bedroom closet for a few months.  It's a huge relief to see that the heparin has not yet expired.
• Finally, it's worth the time and effort it takes to hold down a pissed off 4-year-old and remove all adhesive residue when de-accessing a port.  Remaining residue can leave markings that last more than a month.  The residue becomes black and will eventually wear off.  Eventually.  We hope.