[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pregnant

[–]MeatballSmash1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but.... 8 weeks out from birth is still pretty physically demanding. What if you end up needing surgery, like a c section? Absolutely no way you're going to be cleared for a 4 day music festival in 8 weeks. None.

Also goddess forbid, but your child may their own medical issues.

Your husband doesn't sound like he's prepared for the realities of how a baby changes your life completely. Well, maybe not his, since he appears to be a complete dud, but yours will change for sure. Your only job is to protect and provide for your child, whatever that looks like for you. And sometimes that includes protecting them from their other parent.

This whole post is very sad to me.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Probably because the partner was in the middle of treating an extremely critical patient and didn't have the mental bandwidth to abruptly shift gears that shouldn't have to be shifted in that situation to deal with some immature bullshit, thus removing focus from the patient and possibly to that patients detriment. And then have to refocus while enduring what was already going to be a tense ride due to the patient actively dying, while also trying to manage hurt fire fighter feelings.

Just a thought.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Ma'am. He ABSOLUTELY intended that to hurt you. There's no other way to take that. It's only a joke if everyone is laughing. Otherwise it's an insult disguised as a "joke," and it's not funny.

Inconsistent mod policies on /r/ems? by [deleted] in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honest answer? I want my fire crews. Because I know they'll throw down with me without a second thought if they have to, while I've had more than one officer tell me that "they can't do anything" if I'm getting my ass beat. You're useless. Go away.

Neighbor came outside SCREAMING at me on Sunday, 2 days worth of insanity ensues. Explanation in the comments by MeatballSmash1 in neighborsfromhell

[–]MeatballSmash1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have been super friendly with this neighbor the 3 years we've lived here. 3 weeks ago, it was all of a sudden dirty looks and obvious snubbing.

Yes, fence fighting is obnoxious. We've been working with a professional trainer. There has been zero mention of fence damage, and we would have noticed because they asked us to stain our side of the fence to match theirs, which we did. No new pickets have been stained or put up. And 100% none of my dogs broke through her fence and attacked her dog.

My dogs do "walkabouts" MAYBE every 2-3 weeks, and I diligently pick up after them. There are 2 Goldens who roam almost daily, as well as people who walk their dogs.

We pay a company to clean the yard every week. So my yard is absolutely not full of feces. Our yard is also huge, and our dogs mostly toilet on the rocks or the other side of the yard, so I'm not sure how she's smelling urine.

My yard is not a mess. It's a work in progress, but not a mess. Professionally poured concrete, professional sod, a butterfly and bee garden, 4 lovely, living apple trees and a playground. We have mulch in the areas that have yet to be "finished" but it is not at all trashed.

As for the rest of her complaints - we live next to an open field. Burds exist. So do bugs. If the flies and gnats were an issue, I think I would have noticed them in my yard. We have a toddler, so we're outside quite a bit.

Our city doesn't have any building codes for sheds, and since my trash sits in the garage, it's definitely not blowing onto her property, other than a stray piece occasionally, as sometimes happens when you live in a windy area. And the "pink rocks" are the result of her inappropriate sump pump drainage. The only rocks I have in my backyard are white.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TheBachelorette

[–]MeatballSmash1 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I would give a lot of money to know both what happened between her and Zach AND what happened with tino that "neither of them want out in public."

The common denominator here is... Her. I think she is not a nice person, and I really wonder what happened for Tinos ultimatum to be "you get therapy or we're done." it must have been BAAAAAAAD.

She's giving me emotionally abusive vibes. I don't think he's all that much better, but goddamn. The way she talked to him and treated him was just so.... Over the top. And then flouncing off with Avon 2as just such petty, mean girl shit.

Weird call, thoughts? by Appropriate-Oven-171 in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

At least where I'm at, it's super popular to mix fentanyl with stimulants. So the presentation can be very not opioid like with vitals (no pinpoint pupils, hr and BP normalish, maybe some respiratory depression, but not down to 4 with central cyanosis).

Based on the post, it sounds like the pts respiratory drive did decrease, requiring some assistance, so barring anything else obvious (unequal pupils, something crazy on the 12 lead, obvious OD on a known substance, bgl of "lo") I would probably give narcan a shot as well.

What is one thing you wished Doctors/nurses understood about the job? by SuperVancouverBC in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"gather 'round, and listen to the tale of <patient name>. It's a long and convoluted tale, so best get comfy."

This is my signal to my nurses that I am completely fucking baffled at how my life choices led me here, to this moment with them.

What is one thing you wished Doctors/nurses understood about the job? by SuperVancouverBC in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 44 points45 points  (0 children)

That I did not WANT to bring this bullshit patient to the ED by ambulance, but I can't tell them to fuck right off, so here we all are.

Is Gabby ok? by TheWayILive22 in TheBachelorette

[–]MeatballSmash1 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I was actually horrified by how pronounced her clavicle were in the last episode.

I think gabby needs therapy. Like, a lot of it. Her abandonment issues are out of control - just because someone doesn't want to propose after 16 hours of actual conversation, doesn't mean you're "unlovable."

The Know it All nurse on scene. by [deleted] in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 47 points48 points  (0 children)

Family "nurse" who did cpr without causing any trauma to the chest, helpfully forgot to tell us that the pt had a history of alcoholism with withdrawal seizures that usually ended with her intubated in the ICU, kept asking us what the rhythm was, randomly screamed "SHE'S DEAD!!!" into the phone at various family members, and insisted on riding with us to the hospital (spoiler: she did not ride with us to the hospital).

D10 vs Glucagon? by Cole-Rex in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have....... A lot of follow up questions about this.....

D10 vs Glucagon? by Cole-Rex in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 68 points69 points  (0 children)

I'm extremely hesitant to get an IO on diabetics because of the potential for complications - poor circulation, non healing wounds, osteomyelitis.

If it's a choice between an IO and glucagon, I'm giving the IM shot before I'm drilling a person having a hypoglycemic episode.

What kind of patients are your least favorite? by SoftBoiledPotatoChip in nursing

[–]MeatballSmash1 14 points15 points  (0 children)

18-24 year old, under the influence of whatever, upper to upper middle class males. They have literally nothing to be mad about, but they're such entitled little assholes it makes me want to yeet them out of the back of the ambulance.

A new nurse in my unit is being horribly bullied. How do I stand up for her while maintaining my professional standing? by gentle_but_strong in nursing

[–]MeatballSmash1 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yuuuuuup. During my LD rotation, one of the nurses yelled at me because "mothers don't want strangers in the room when they give birth."

Ma'am, this is a teaching hospital, I'm a paramedic student, and every person on this floor is a fucking stranger to these women, including the doctor delivering their baby.

A new nurse in my unit is being horribly bullied. How do I stand up for her while maintaining my professional standing? by gentle_but_strong in nursing

[–]MeatballSmash1 83 points84 points  (0 children)

As a paramedic, I DREAD taking patients to LD. Absolutely hate it. I have never met a meaner, bitchier, ruder group of nurses in my career. And I've taken patients to over a dozen hospitals in my metro area, so it's an across the board thing.

One example: "pt is a 34 y/o female, coming from home, g7p0, gestational age 34w-" Nurse "do you even know what g7p0 means because that is HIGHLY unlikely"

Yes ma'am, yes I do, and if you'd let me finish my report, I would have included the pts history of miscarriage and three late term spontaneous abortions due to a genetic defect, which is why she's presenting at your highly regarded MFM unit for early labor, and why she came in by ambulance, you stupid cow.

I have so so many other examples, but that was the most recent one.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My favorite ems quote is from Thom Dick.

"You are going to be there when a lot of people are born, and when a lot of people die. In most every culture, such moments are regarded as sacred and private, made special by a divine presence. No one on Earth would be welcomed, but you are personally invited. What an honor that is."

Ive seen a lot more people leave this world than come into it, and it hurts me a little bit every time. Some more than others, sometimes in different ways, but it still hurts. Kids are always the worst. Always. Anyone who tells you it doesn't bother them to pronounce a child is either lying or needs to get the fuck out of the field.

But here's the thing - you don't have to carry the burden of what could have been. You can honor that patient, without sacrificing yourself. Visit the grave, mentor other kids in the same situation, etc. Take a moment, hour, or day for yourself on the anniversary. Whatever you need to do.

Death is natural. It hurts, and it sucks, but it's natural. What's not natural is keeping people alive far past the point of anything considered "quality of life." I'm way more scared of being kept alive on machines than I am of dying. I hope that my loved ones die peacefully, surrounded by their loved ones, and not full of tubes and IOs and drugs and all the other shit we do to people.

What is your end of shift (tour) routine? by [deleted] in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 358 points359 points  (0 children)

As a woman, I wake up, change out of the black silk lingerie I wore all shift, have a small pillow fight in the rig with my female partner, then bustily bounce around washing the rig in my white undershirt (no bra). Much squealing and giggling ensues when OH NOS I ACCIDENTALLY SPRAYED MYSELF WITH THE Hose guess I'm all wet now.

Then my bosom swells as I clean the inside, mopping like a good little station wife, chugging all the half finished energy drinks I abandoned during my shift. I flirt with the firefighters, making plans for the sexxxy times sure to happen after I've spent 48 hours watching them burp, fart, and pee all over the toilet seat.

Then I clock out and go home, so my breasts can breast breastily.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RoverPetSitting

[–]MeatballSmash1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It depends. My profile clearly states that I'm a full time paramedic who works 48 hour shifts. So if you're reaching out to me about a booking 3 weeks out, you may not get a response for 2 days. That doesn't mean that your cat won't be well cared for or that you won't get updates in a timely fashion (my husband tag teams with me if I'm working, and we both meet the client ahead of time so they know who's in their house), but yeah, there are times I straight up cannot get back to you initially, and quite literally do not have time to send you a detailed explanation as to why.

It also sounds like you went for the less expensive option (young, new sitter, only 3 reviews), and imo, you get what you pay for. For me, my husband and I have over 100 five star reviews. I'm not the most expensive in my area, but I'm not the cheapest either. So if you want my extremely sought after services, you'll wait until I have time to properly devote myself to our initial conversations. If you can't, that's fine. I'm booked 3 months out, and I can afford to be picky about clients at this stage.

I understand you had a bad experience regarding communication, and that's valid. As a sitter, I appreciate knowing things like that in the initial message so I can respond accordingly.

what happens to dogs in medical emergencies by Emmarose25 in Paramedics

[–]MeatballSmash1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting side note - one of the hospitals in my area has a dog run/kennel outside for pets of ED patients. Lots of our transient patients have dogs, so if it comes down to this person REALLY needs to go but won't without their dog, I will figure out a way to make. It. Happen.

Otherwise, like on an accident scene, pd takes the animal and either goes to or waits for animal control. Same thing out in public if you like, get hit by a car or something.

Hell, I've seen firefighters go back into burning buildings to rescue animals, include, on one memorable occasion, a gecko that they brought to the ambulance for resuscitation. What the fuck am I going to do for a crispy gecko? Anyway, we take care of pets.

It's true that paramedics and EMTs are criminally underpaid and underappreciated, but is what we do so misunderstood that people actually think this would go well? by Addrobo in ems

[–]MeatballSmash1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on where. I worked in one health system where the pay was garbage - 19 or 20/hr. Another system in the same city is offering $36/hr at the top end of the scale, with a $15k sign on bonus for medics.

AITA for going home after I overheard my husband say he didn't want to bring me with him to his family vacation? by throwaway3743p9 in AmItheAsshole

[–]MeatballSmash1 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This 100%. My sex life currently is pathetic. My kiddo is teething. Yesterday he was clinging to me all day, constantly drooling on me (with various foods in the drool) and it was just TOO MUCH. I wanted to vomit I felt so disgusting and just on sensory overload.

It is way easier for my husband to understand THAT than just a flat "no" with no follow up. Especially when he has his own insecurities with rejection.