Thursday, December 31, 2020

What Was the Most Viewed Post of 2020?

This has been a really strange year, just when I thought that I'd seen just about every thing, the Corona Virus pops up and attacks some of the most vulnerable members of our population. Dr. Slambow, my surgeon hero of yesteryear, always said it was the things you cannot see that should cause you the most worry. I suspect he was talking about lesions hiding out somewhere in the small bowel, weird anatomical variations, latent coagulopathies  or breaks in sterile technique. Viruses were not on the radar back then, but I thought of Dr. S. many times while the COVID19 mortality and morbidity numbers were flashed across my computer screen. He was right about hidden danger being the ultimate source of worry.

There has been a flight of ideas coursing  through the remnants of my nervous system about subjects to post;  the long tenure of ether screens (anything that lasts for over a century grabs my attention), questionable adjuncts to ventilator therapy (proning, the latest and greatest of these interventions prompted this idea), the demise of doctor's dining rooms, the disappearance of ortho beds with traction frames and a personal tale of TPN addiction.

It's sometimes a long road from an idea to typing up a new post. Declining eyesight and gnarly fingers from IP joint arthritic changes have put the brakes on my once upon a time nimble fingers. My latest status post encephalomyelitis MRI showed a loss of brain volume, so I best get cracking before my vintage memories evaporate in that looming cognitive abyss. Oh well there is always next year and I will strive to post more than once a month which was my 2020 goal.

The most viewed post of 2020 by a swarming plethora of views  was...drum roll please:oldfoolrn: March 2020. I was really taken off guard by the popularity of a post about such an unsavory topic. I think there is a post languishing in my unpublished drafts about every old nurse's favorite colonic, the 1...2...3... enema. Maybe some day I'll hold my nose and publish it, although I was never one for over rated enemas and their associated backside buffonery.

 My personal favorite was about the crude, but effective Wagensteen suction oldfoolrn: Wagensteen Suction - Elegantly Simple Without Electricity In this electonically complex world filled with flat screen monitors and assorted doodads, it's a delight to see a simple mechanical device do it's work. Just because we were ludites doesn't mean we were stupid or lacked creativity.

Happy New year and I appreciate your loyal readership of my never ending  foolishness. You give an old man a sense of deep rooted purpose.


7 comments:

  1. I cherish your writing and wit! It's always a joy to read something new (old??) from you, and I am eternally glad to know with each post that you're doing well.

    Happier new year ahead, hopefully!

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    1. Happy New Year to you and in the words of a most memorable patient, "Better days are coming!" He walked out of the hospital after the successful clamping and gluing of a basilar artery aneurysm, so in hard times I think of him and his unflagging optimism.

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  2. The popularity of your enemata post reflects the very "basic" sense of humour we nurses (both current and retired!) develop in order to cope with the job, OFRN! I sometimes fear I shock my friends who have not been a member of the nursing or medical professions!

    It's always a pleasure to see a new post from you, and I will echo the comment ahead of mine from Texas, that I too am always relieved to know you are OK over there.

    Looking forward to more posts from you in 2021! Warmest wishes from Sue

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement, Sue. For me one of the funniest things about enemas was the widespread belief among practitioners that they could cure just about anything. One old school neurosurgeon even inquired about a patient's bowel status before beginning his post op neuro status exam. "Squeeze my right hand. squeeze my left hand, look up look down, Have you had a bowel movement?" Hemiparesis was not so much of a concern as if the patient needed enematizing. Ooops time to quit. I think I just made an adverb out of a noun. My high school English teacher would have killed me!

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    2. Glad those days at least have gone OFRN - we got the enemata craze in hospitals, my parents'generation had the regular purging of children to cure all ills. I guess these things go in cycles.

      I never fail to be amazed by your ability at long term recall - and am looking forward to the happy prospect of more posts from you this year please!

      This time last year I was posting to you when we had the terrible bush fires here in Australia, and now it's Covid19 world wide - what a year it was, and this new one isn't starting any easier. I think some fun posts from you are definitely needed.

      Don't ever take down this blog, you are the sole keeper of that New Zealand nursing video, it seems to have vanished from the www. I pop by here occasionally just to enjoy the nostalgia trip it gives me! Take care, cheers from Sue

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  3. Happy New Year from one old man to another! At least our long term memories are still intact.

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    1. Happy New Year, Jono. Sometimes it seems like a failing short term memory augments long term recall.

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