Posted by Shy_Girl on May 21, 2005, at 0:02:30
I'm just very curious about some things, maybe those more familar with medicine can help me out. I've been thinking about these questions since Feb. and so far no doctors have answered them. They all seem to think that it's strange of me to ask these questions. (I guess it does kind of seem like I was experimenting on myself or something.) It's driving me crazy though. I would appreciate any answers to any of my questions.
Anyways as some already know, I took an ASA OD in Feb. I'm pretty sure the ER docs didn't give me gastric lavage because 1.) too much time had passed 2.) it was a non-lethal amount. I think activated charcoal was not given (even though it usually is given) also because too much time had passed since ingestion. Ok, I'm also pretty sure the sodium bicarbonate IV was given to alkalinize urine in order to facilitate excretion of more salicylate. Would it also have been given to correct metatbolic acidosis?
Hmmmm...but lets see, I was also hyperventilating for several hours, that would lead to some respiratory alkalosis. So, I would have been in a mixed respiratory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis state right? Hmmm...so would they cancel each other out?
Also, my heart rate was about twice what's normal for several hours? Why is that?
Also, I was given some KCl IV probably because of hypokalemia because of the respiratory alkalosis? Hmmmm...and I was probably given a bolus of sugar water because of hypglycemia from increased metabolic activity?
Also, I experienced ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and some asymmetric hearing loss (mostly right ear). Does anyone know of the mechanism by which ASA causes reversible ototoxicity? Also, any theories as to why the hearing loss was asymmetric?
They also had to check for pulmonary edema. I've still got to look through my animal physiology (too bad I dropped that course and I don't have a human physiology textbook) textbooks to find possible mechanisms for this to occur. Can anyone summarize them for me?
Lets see, oh yes, why was it necesary to have my vitals checked every single hour!?...even when I was feeling much better the next day? (I felt pretty silly, the elderly lady in the room with me was in pretty bad shape...she had a feeding tube, yet the nurses weren't checking on her vitals every single hour! I was walking about, happy as could be and the nurse would have to chase me down to get my vitals every hour!...it was kind of funny. :-)
Ok, one last question. I was ok and the sodium bicarb was finally stopped...at this time one of my IV thingies (you know, the little needle with the tube thingie) was taken out, but this other one I had on my hand was still kept in...the doc said it should be left in cuz it might be needed after my transfer to the psych ward. Now, why on Earth would I need an IV in the pscyh ward?...I was Ok at this point. Well, thankfully they did take it out as I couldn't sleep with it on and they had mercy on me.
Ahhhh...those questions where on my mind for some time, I really needed to get that out. Any answers?
poster:Shy_Girl
thread:500635
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20050411/msgs/500635.html