The young man arrived in the hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound to the chest, the bullet had struck the defibrillator that had been placed underneath the skin to save his life in case of another cardiac event, and now the defibrillator was firing randomly with no cardiologist in sight.
While doctors tried to assess the situation and keep him comfortable, nurses and other doctors scrambled searching for a cardiologist or the device required to shut off the defibrillator, all the while the loud whine of the defibrillator charging was evident just before the young man began to shake violently while another shock was delivered.
The shocks continued to come closer and closer together, and it appeared no one knew what to do, a specialist couldn't be found so the hero of the ER took matters into his own hands.
With the help of his nurse they held down the young man, while the doctor made a slice into his neck with a scalpel, the nurse held a pair of scissors in her hand waiting in vain for her chance to cut the main wire from the defibrillator, all while the shocks were coming more quickly and violently.
She finally went in and made the cut, the whine of the defibrillator was building just as she clipped the wire, the shock was delivered and she was instantly thrown backwards from the bed, the nurse was pulled up from the floor back to her feet and everyone gathered around the bed happy the shocks had been stopped, but now the young man was dead.
My cardiologist was actually laughing out loud while I described the late night medical drama Cindy had been watching on TV the night before my own defibrillator/pacemaker was to be implanted, and now needless to say I had a lot of concerns.
I was awake during the procedure and he answered all my questions and laughed while I described this late night drama, he assured me that all of this was simply "made for TV" and that I had nothing to worry about, my defibrillator in simple terms is like driving your car with a safety belt, it is there to save your life, he then pointed out that if they were going to go through all of that, they should have at least saved the guy.
In other words I asked, if my defibrillator goes off I could actually not notice it, he grinned and said, you will notice it for sure, it will feel like a mule kicking you in the chest, but it will save your life, Thanks Doc, you know I love this guy, he is truthful but not overdramatic, and I am proud of my safety belt.
What do you think of medical TV drama as opposed to real life?
THere is much on TV where I say "That is BS, but for the sake of the plot I'll just accept it. Glad however, tht your doc set you straight.
ReplyDeleteWithout the defibrillator, wouldn't the bullet have killed him?
Hey Joe, I agree there is a lot of BS on TV now days, you do have to smile and nod your head on most.
DeleteWithout the defibrillator he would have been a goner for sure, but I'm hoping with mine being all titanium and such if I take a bullet hopefully it won't malfunction ha ha
I'm amazed you were awake during a procedure like that!
ReplyDeleteHey Bijoux, I went in thinking I would be out for the procedure but learned different very quickly, actually it wasn't too bad, all I felt was a lot of tugging and pressure on my chest in the area, but it didn't hurt. My cardiologist is great and it was actually fun joking with him while this was going on, he made it a lot easier in my opinion.
DeleteHow dramatic was that? Thank the good Lord you didn't/won't have such an experience. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Valerie, I was thinking the same thing when we were watching, I suppose it makes for good TV.
DeleteA good day to you too lady
Just popped over from Abby's blog to check out yours and I see a lot of friendly faces here that I recognise!
ReplyDeleteI'm too much of a wuz to watch medical TV dramas.
Welcome aboard Joe, glad to have you join us, between the medical dramas and the cop shows not sure which is the most dramatic.
DeleteWell of course TV is full of BS. Otherwise it wouldn't be interesting!
ReplyDeleteI, too, am amazed that you were awake while your surgeon installed your pacemaker. Nothing like friendly chatting and joking to make you feel more relaxed!
I thought the timing strange on this one as it was the night before having mine implanted, I knew it was all exaggerated but still...you know
DeleteYes being able to talk and joke sure made it much easier.
Jimmy, as Bijoux shared, I am shocked that you were AWAKE during that procedure, WOW! Although I will say, a year and a half ago when I had my left lung drained in the hospital, I too was awake and didn't feel a thing.
ReplyDeleteLove the way you wrote this because I was on the edge of my seat reading; thinking that it was some you were witnessing yourself.
Have a great rest of your week, buddy!
Isn't it amazing what they can do now Ron, like you having your lung drained I felt very little, and he even ran a wire and connected it on the inside of my heart wall, technology blows my mind.
DeleteThank you buddy, a great week to you also.
The "made for TV" scenarios usually kill it for me, but I can usually manage the medical ones because I'm not learned enough to know the difference.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your implant, let's hope that mule stays in the barn!
Hey Abby, I'm not much for most of the things on TV anyway, I suppose you have to remember these types are just TV and not real life.
DeleteThank you so much, I agree with you on keeping the mule in the barn, I told my cardiologist that I appreciated the top of the line unit but really hope that I never need it to kick in.
Phew! I also thought that you witnessed this event.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch medical dramas either. To keep it interesting, they make every event is some crazy emergency. I'm glad you didn't have to go through this, or even witness it.
Thank you sir, yes they have to go over the top to keep it interesting I suppose, but had Cindy not been watching this one I would have never known about it ha ha.
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