A while back I was called to the hospital to see a guy with a stroke affecting his language cortex. He wasn't able to talk at all. He didn't have any weakness or other issues, just couldn't speak.
It was a pretty notable stroke on MRI. I spent some time talking to his wife, then went home.
The next day I was absolutely shocked when I was on rounds, and he got in the elevator with me! He looked great, was dressed in his street clothes, and I began talking to him. His speech was excellent. It was the most remarkable recovery I'd ever seen in such a a short time.
It was the patient's identical twin brother, coming to visit him.
I'm legendary for my stellar performances on rounds. This was another one.
It's ok, I talked to an 80 year-old guy this week about his 92 year-old wife....turns out it was his mother.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay, Did you tell the twin that maybe he should get a full physical exam, concentrate on cardio and blood pressure-and that maybe he should not wait too long before doing it -you know give him that reassurance .
ReplyDeleteFunny, but echo Packer, we had twins where i work both presenting with chronic kidney disease and their mother with a renal cyst.
ReplyDeleteClassic. Gave me a chuckle today.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE OF WHY I DID NOT GIVE UP "DR GRUMPY" FOR LENT THIS YEAR.....
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 1:13- Maybe you should consider giving up your "Caps Lock" key instead.
ReplyDeleteYou are a miracle worker!
ReplyDeleteGrumpy:
ReplyDeleteI'm with ANON...I'd never give you up for Lent. Wine, chocolate, yes...Grumpy, no.
I especially enjoy this twin story since I have one.
Love the comments I've gotten. Oh, you have a sister. When's her birthday? Wow, on the same day as yours? How old is she? The same age...wow! (I actually had this convo with a nurse I worked with on nights).
Thank goodness it was the end of the shift, and yes, I made sure she administered the Diet Coke before getting on the road.
It's an understandable mistake.
ReplyDeleteI once ran into a former patient at the grocery--a patient who'd had a right BKA. I was amazed to see him walking so well, since it had only been a few weeks since he'd been discharged. Turns out it wasn't Sal, it was his identical twin, Hal. Miraculous recovery? Not so much. (to my credit, he was wearing baggy sweats just like the ones my patient wore, with hardly any shoe showing, so it WAS a possibility!)
ReplyDelete--Christie