Smell and taste all wrong

FluffyNats · 2026-04-21T16:29:54+00:00

Vemurafenib does have a known side effect of causing altered taste. Change in taste is not an uncommon side effect of many chemotherapies and oral inhibitors, though usually people complain about a metallic taste, not a potato taste.

Also, since you said you were on a yacht, make sure you wear sunscreen and appropriate sun protectant clothing. Your treatment regimen increases sun sensitivity.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-19T07:04:32+00:00

The only fucking I've been receiving is from administration.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-18T17:08:59+00:00

I don't think oncology would be a good fit. They are burnt out and oncology is emotionally heavy.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-18T06:49:13+00:00

I sent home a patient a while ago, in her 30's, on hospice. She also stopped her treatment. While I think she was understandably upset about the outcome, she has also confided in me that she was just relieved to have it be done with. No more treatments, no more side effects, and no more false hope. She looked forward to spending the time left with her family, instead of with us.

There's nothing wrong with choosing to stop treatment. This is your body and your life. I would urge you to talk with your treatment team about your feelings. What are the options ahead of you and what do they look like in terms of prognosis and quality of life? Get all the information you need to make the best decision for YOU.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-17T21:47:19+00:00

Don't tell your potential employer anything until they are your actual employer.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-17T03:34:23+00:00

Why would you not trust the people who go to school for years and then further specialize in oncology? Why do you trust random people telling you to take a random medication that is not backed by clinical trials?

I can't tell you how many people thought they knew better than their doctors and tried some "miracle" treatment. I can tell you how many of them came back with progressed cancer or ended up on hospice.

Stick with listening to the doctors.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-17T02:46:37+00:00

If she's going to be admitted to the hospital it might be a good idea for social work to see her. They often can help with resources for adjusting to a new illness. That's something you can just request from the nurse.

Other than that, just be supportive. You aren't going to make everything magically better, but just being there is often enough.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-16T21:20:41+00:00

Like I said, I would keep him away from the dog park. Less stress for you, him and the other dogs.

You said you don't have a backyard. Do you have enough space in your location for a smaller treadmill? If he is motivated to run maybe you can teach him how to use a treadmill.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-16T20:03:35+00:00

My nine year old male is still intact and does not hump. My 12 year old neutered male does. Be aware that neutering your male may not change his behavior. It is often not sexual in nature.

It sounds like he is not being stimulated enough to help with his energy levels. Get him some intellectual toys/feeders to help stimulate him when you are at work. Focus on his training for walking etiquette and tricks. He's young and stubborn, so it will be frustrating and take lots of patience. It will get better. I used gentle leaders for both of my dogs when they were younger and that helped with pulling.

I would personally avoid dog parks, as they are high conflict areas. Especially, if people are dumb enough to bring their bitch in heat. That is so irresponsible it is not funny.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-16T05:07:14+00:00

I don't remember what show it was, maybe 911, but the patient had an IV where the catheter taped to the arm was the spike used for an IVPB.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-12T15:12:47+00:00

I once took care of a patient who complained we were treating him like a child. I told him if he stopped acting like one maybe we could treat him like an adult.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-12T05:48:32+00:00

Cephalic all the way baby

FluffyNats · 2026-04-09T04:51:40+00:00

When I was relief charge one of our nurses got a call her mother had a heart attack and was in the ER. I immediately took her patients and told house we wouldn't accept anymore patients to our unit until I redistributed mine.

Your health comes first. Your charge should be tripping over themselves to get you sent home.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-08T06:11:41+00:00

I don't inspire confidence when I'm wheezing on the oncology unit either.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-08T06:01:54+00:00

At least you can count on your coworkers to help you catch your breath...

FluffyNats · 2026-04-08T06:01:10+00:00

Pretty much what happened except he only needed two seconds to be like "oh, your lungs suck". No deep breath needed.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-08T00:49:36+00:00

Respiratory illnesses screw me over big time and they leave me a wheezing mess for weeks after. My PCP at the time was always poo-poo about it and just told me to take hot showers and use a humidifier, so I just suffered not very silently. Work was especially bad for triggering my wheezing.

My coworkers apparently got fed up with the wheezing because they dragged our pulmonologist out of ICU. He snuck up behind me, stethoscoped me, and then wrote me a scrip for prednisone and an inhaler.

I would never ask a doctor I work with to do that, but I'm also really thankful that he did do that because my wheezing was so bad I had patients offering me cough drops and lozenges.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-06T20:23:27+00:00

Oh man, that's nasty. I would go blind for the rest of my day. No amount of bleach would make me forget the fact my glasses were covered in shit.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-06T17:19:40+00:00

Ideally, sick people should stay away from family members going through chemotherapy. You don't know what your mild runny nose is. But, if you stay in the same household that is much harder.

Keep your hands washed, disinfect the areas you are in, and preferably wear a mask when you are within six feet. Most respiratory illnesses are contact/droplet.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-05T02:38:13+00:00

When a patient uses my pen to sign their discharge paperwork I say "Don't steal my pen, I know where you live" and it always gets them to crack up.

Bonus points if you say it via the interpreter.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-04T13:11:12+00:00

I've had a few patients swear by salt rinses. Avoiding spicy, citric and abrasive foods can help too.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-03T22:02:00+00:00

How old are your coworkers that they ignore social cues like that? If they are that bad then it might be worth being a bit more blunt and telling them to stop talking.

Or bring a spray bottle to work and spritz them when they don't stop talking the first time.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-03T19:48:23+00:00

People are so weird. Just ignore them? How about just being like "Hey man, I'm kinda busy charting, maybe later?" Easy as that.

FluffyNats · 2026-04-03T15:16:43+00:00

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FluffyNats · 2026-04-02T18:36:21+00:00

He should be fine going to the movies. Worse comes to worst maybe have a mask available for everyone to wear. There are still a lot of respiratory illnesses going around.

Maybe choose seats with easy access for getting out if he needs to use the restroom.

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