Sunday, November 4, 2007

The Beast and The NN

Elijah is an absolute Beast today. Really. I mean, I've never seen him like this before. Maybe it's 'Roid Rage? He's been doing the back arching thing and screaming and flopping around like a crazy fish all day long. I actually did not give him any more steroids after we left the hospital last night. Something is telling me it's just not right. We'll consult with E's pediatrician tomorrow and if she convinces us to go forward with them, then we will, but it just doesn't seem worth all of this extra stress. He doesn't sleep and he's a complete maniac. Thankfully Dan came home from his trip a bit early so he's been able to help out today and I've been able to nap. I was just a few seconds away from losing my sanity, so his arrival came just in time.

I have to share my least favorite episode from yesterday's ER visit. If YOU were a mean, cold person, would YOU become a nurse? Yeah, me either. Anyway, here's how it went down:


Nasty Nurse (NN): Bad news. I'm going to have to suction Elijah's nose to get a sample for an RSV test.
Mommy (M): Oh he's used to suctioning, we do it all the time. He'll be fine.

[M thinks this will be a "normal" suction, but it is far from normal. NN sticks a giant tube down Elijah's nasal passage (very harshly, I might add) and this makes E very mad. The kind of mad that M has never ever seen in E. His body flops crazily, the screams are ear-piercing, flailing arms are a blur of commotion. It is a bad scene. M can hardly keep E on the bed.]

NN: Almost done. Theeeeere, done.

[NN finishes the suction and E is still totally freaking out. He is not a happy baby. M tries to calm him, but he's flailing so much that M can't even pick him up. NN grabs a nebulizer mask and immediately puts it on E's face and starts a nebulizer treatment. M immediately takes the mask OFF and picks up her son.]

NN: What are you DOING? You're wasting medicine!
M: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Do you see how upset he is? I'm going to calm my baby.
NN: But we're wasting medicine!

[M gets E calmed down a bit, but he's still not calm. M can tell another episode is about to take place in the very near future. NN puts the mask back on E and tells M how to position E so he won't be upset. Riiiiight, thanks for the tip. E returns to his flopping, screaming, freakish state, but NN presses on. She keeps her hand firmly on the mask this time so M doesn't try to abort the situation again and waste more medicine.]

NN: He needs to get ALL of the medicine!

[M is basically trying to make a fish out of water sit still and is praying that the stupid medicine is ALMOST DONE. Finally, it ends and M takes the mask off E and once again attempts to comfort crazy mad baby.]

NN: Wow, you can tell who's in control HERE, can't you?

[M wonders, could she really mean what I think she means? Does she think that because a mother wants to comfort her extremely upset baby that the baby is "in control" of the parent? It's not even worth it to respond to this. M does cartwheels when NN leaves the room. NN must tell the staff that she doesn't want anything to do with that controlling mother and her screaming child because E suddenly has a new nurse (who is a peach, by the way).]

Note: E never used to even notice he was getting neb treatments. Ever since our experience with NN yesterday, he won't have anything to do with the evil nebulizer. Thank you, Nasty Nurse. Thank you. Your coldness has scarred our son. Change professions, please. Go do something where you never need to interact with another breathing creature ever again.

12 comments:

Krista said...

Megan...
So sorry you had to endure such an awful experience in the ER...it's bad enough going there and watching your kid get poked, prodded, and tested...heaven forbid a NN! Good for you for standing up to her...I've learned we are our kids best advocates...so many times "they" are so focused on the task...they forget they are dealing with a real, human and SICK kid! Praying for a much much better week...I know you probably feel it can't get any worse! Keep your chin up...you're a great mommy!

Samantha said...

I am so sorry that you had NN. She surely needs to change professions, and you need to report her to the hospital. Heaven forbid a mother should try to comfort her sick, unhappy baby. I probably would have punched her...but I seem to have lost all self control now days...

Also...don't all our kids rule the roost? I know mine all do and that is the way it should be...when they are upset, we take care of them...end of story.

Big hugs to you all...I hope that the steroids are not needed, since they make poor Eli so emotional. Hang in there...you are a terrific mommy and we all have our meltdown moments. Eli loves you so much for all you are doing for him.

Love,
Samantha

TimnKatienElinSam said...

Your last post was both funny and horrifying at the same time. It brings back a lot of the NICU memories for us. Here a few things that might help, but you probably already know......What type of steroids is he on? Eli had one does of oral steroids and that was ENOUGH. He definitely had roid-rage and I guess that is a really common reaction in babies, especially little boys. The inhaled steroids were much better, they only affect the lungs and have no systemic effect, but they are not as powerful. We have to give our Eli daily nebs. I am not sure if you are using the blow-bys (they take several minutes and blow out of a neb machine) or the puffs. Our Eli hates both, but we use the puffs because he gets more of the med, and it only takes a few seconds (just until he takes 6 breaths). Please disregard this if that is what you are already using, but I just wish there was some way to make this easier on you. You are a great mom and do not let some nasty nurse that obviously has no idea that her profession's goal is to CARE for children get you down. What did she think she was going to be doing when she applied to work at a childrens hospital?!

Kathy said...

Megan...
YOU crack me up!! The steroids do the same thing to Isaac (and his dad for that matter)...it's a guy thing...they can't handle it!
I hope you and Eli get back to normal soon! I'm sending Vegas sunshine your way!

Sarah said...

OMG - I Hate NN!!! Your right, why, why are they sent in to treat a sick, uncomfortable heart baby and ruin neb treatments forever? Oh Meg, I can so relate - I'll have to tell you our Vent. Scan NN story sometime. Praying that Eli is feeling more comfortable today.

Samantha said...

Just checking on you to see how the pedi appt went...hope she said no more 'roids!
Hugs,

The Portas said...

Dr. Judy said NO MORE ROIDS! Yess! Just neb treatments for now and then we also get to add another specialist to Elijah's list...a pulmonologist.

Katie, I think the new nebs we are getting are puffs. The old ones were blow-bys and took foreeeever. Hopefully these work better.

Anonymous said...

I would definately file a report on NN. That behavior is uncalled for. A professional should never react like that.

You guys have been tested to the Nth degree, that is for sure. You're hanging in there better than most.

I hope that you are able to get some rest now that Dan has returned. I'm sending sleep vibes to the Porta clan........

On a lighter note...how was deer hunting?! Any 30 pointers? --luv, Kendis

Ehlan said...

That is horrible. If I find out who she is, I might go and do something mean to her. You did the right thing and it is horrible she wouldn't let you comfort him!

Terri@SteelMagnolia said...

Oh God... that was just awful ...
I'm so sorry you guys...
*sad sad face*

Terri@SteelMagnolia said...

Oh yes.. steroids made Matthew a crazy boy too.. I hated them.

Wanna_B_slimmer said...

Thats terrible.. I would lodge a complaint. My son went thru similar as a young toddler.. and has the worst needle phobias now..
I have struck some very uncaring medical staff... they should be all put on a small island to care for each other somewhere...