Human Hairball

Today, while doing staff relief, I was extremely lucky to get to see the pictures from a patient's endoscopy that showed his sweet bezoar. In case you didn't know, bezoars are like hairballs for people. Frequently caused by medications, hair, or persimmons. Are found in less than 0.4% of endoscopies. Also, in case you didn't know, bezoars are actually magical. I have to figure out what they do: if/how they remove the bezoar and afterwards, who gets to keep it. (If it really is magic, I'd like to be in on the bidding- it's about the size of my thumb!). It looks like a sea urchin with spiny processes that attach it to the wall of the stomach. SO COOL! Maybe I can get a copy of these pics.
I also did a tricky tube feeding recommendation today with an oncology patient who just received a PEG... The chart indicated the patient didn't have home health care, and I was unsure if the MD wanted me to order bolus feeds or continuous feeds, so I called our oncology RD to ask what I should do. She told me that if I order continuous tube feeds, it makes it more likely for insurance to cover home health care, and eventually the home health agency's RD can change the patient to bolus feeds. I ordered continuous and the insurance and home health was set up within a couple of hours. I considered that my major success of the day - only slightly behind actually knowing what a bezoar was before utilizing google.
I saw another patient (84y F) who fell in the parking lot on her way home from church and apparently nothing broke her fall except her face. She looks like she got jumped in an alley. She can't talk or chew because of her multiple facial fractures and extreme swelling and bruising. She could talk long enough to tell me she won't eat eggs because of her Parkinson's medications. Like that should be concerning her at all right now- I just want you to eat some HBV protein, lady!
FINALLY, after a very long day seeing patients, I had the pleasure of setting up and serving food for a Cancer Survivor dinner where they learned about eating antioxidants. After the presentation (by our oncology RD), one 70y+ lady stood up to tell everyone in the audience that she became a vegan 2 years ago and now doesn't eat "anything that had a mother". Since becoming vegan, she says her hair turned from bright white to dark gray. (I'm still very unsure whether or not that is a good sign or bad sign...) Besides the stirring testimony, I don't think she convinced anyone to turn to her side- especially in Gastonia.