Saturday, November 26, 2005

Squeam

My blogdad accidentally reminded me of an important bit.

The post below, *Bougie Bite,* may not be for the squeamish. If medical stuff - including graphic pix - grosses you out, I advise you to avert your eyes.

I understand. I really do. I never think less of anyone for squeamishness. It's human nature. I see no point in offending anyone needlessly and this stuff sometimes does. But since it's *my* blog and I shall post how and what I want, post it I will.

It's incumbent on the reader to guard their happiness by not looking at the icky bits. Our happiness is our own responsibility, every one of us.

Ok? Don't say I didn't warn you.

10 comments:

Desert Cat said...

It's a purely visceral reaction, and it has taken me by surprise on numerous occasions where I very suddenly develop tunnel vision and ringing ears for little apparent reason.

I'm getting better as I age. My first experience of this was when I got my tonsils out at age 5. They drew a vial of blood from my arm, and I passed out so fast, my last memory was literally watching the blood fill the syringe--BOOM! I woke elsewhere sometime later.

I tried giving plasma once in college. I was doing fine as they drew a sample for typing my blood. I was fine as I waited on a stool at the counter. Then I casually examined the pinprick in my finger and *whoosh*--I woke up in a back office with someone taking my pulse and blood pressure. I was with a group of friends, and my friend Bob, who was sitting next to me at the counter, said that I passed out so hard, the vortex almost sucked him down too. He had to fight hard to stay conscious. Heh!

Post away. I'll cope. Or go lie down for a moment. :)

k said...

Goodness! I had no idea it could hit you so hard. I'm so glad you told me. I have some really, REALLY horrible ones getting ready to go up. I will be VERY sure to do the advance warning the right way this time.

Actually, I was thinking of some folks at the Fossil Farm when I did that little disclaimer. You just reminded me that I'd neglected to throw it in. I've planned it since, like, forever.

Oh my. I want to do this just right for the Adventures of Poor Mr. Foot. He may actually be on that next CD I'm picking up tomorrow. Now THAT stuff could give just about anyone the willies.

Desert Cat said...

Oddly enough, the last time I had significant quantities of blood drawn I was completely unaffected. It's unpredictable.

k said...

Huh. It looks like a purely physical reaction, as opposed to how some folks get offended. I wonder why it's so off and on like that. A curious thing.

Does this mean Miss Daisycat has to take care before regaling you with any gory story bits from work? Or is the subject best simply avoided?

Walter gets grossed out, but no syncope. He does a very fine *mittel european outrage* at icky body-function commercials during dinner. Or medical discussions.

Me, I'm with LMA on that front. I never even notice.

Desert Cat said...

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, she rarely deals with blood and guts and whatnot anymore. But in her LPN days, she worked for a General Practicioner in an outpatient clinic. She actually had to leave the room sometimes when the doc was busy in the midst of blood and needles and the like. Probably a good sign she wasn't cut out to be a nurse.

Yes, it seems to me it is purely physical. At least it is beyond the reach of my frontal lobe to affect the reaction.* At best I've been able to make a concerted effort to affect detachment, to prevent my "lizard brain" and/or brainstem from becoming aware of what is transpiring.

*"Scotty! What's going on?!"
"She's up to Warp 6 Cap'n, an' still acceleratin'! She cain' take it!"
"Shut 'er down Scotty! Shut 'er down!!"
"I cain't do it Cap'n! She's got a mind of 'er own! Some other program has control...warp 11...warp 12...she cain' take it! She's breakin' up! She's breakin' up!!"

k said...

Ah, that precious disconnect! It can sure come in handy sometimes.

Desert Cat said...

Speaking of this topic, I just gashed my hand open while working on a project. It is inadvisable for a utility knife to contact the meaty part of the palm at high speed.

It cut clear through the skin for about 1/2 inch, but didn't appear to have gotten into the muscle tissue. I nearly fainted at the sink tending it, and it's happening again as I recount it, so...heh. Well more later. Maybe...

Attila Girl said...

This sounds like my claustrophobia: sometimes I'm fine, and sometimes it kicks my ass. (Though I must admit that Prozac is an INCREDIBLE help in that regard.)

I have noticed that when I'm behind on sleep I'm far more suceptible to panic attacks in enclosed spaces.

k said...

I've noticed that sleep thing, too. With me, the panic attacks are often triggered by bridges. Bridges, it seems, are a very common trigger. I've even heard of a few bridges where it happens so often, they have police stationed there to help escort drivers off the bridge after they pull over, unable to keep driving. Even experienced truckers fall prey to it.

Prozac helps that with me, too. Hugely. So does Xanax. So does the talk therapy that taught me good methods of dealing with it with my mind. I'm glad to use everything I need to combat it, glad of a good arsenal.

BTW, LMA - How in the world did you get a black eye?

k said...

You're doing GREAT!

Walter had that same pill thing for a long time. It would make him gag. Finally something changed in him - probably just watching me swalow my handfuls of med and vitamins all day. Now he eats 'em up like a pro.

I was so nervous doing my first comment I couldn't breathe.