When I approached a fifty-year old woman and asked her why she was had come to the emergency department, she handed me this note:
abdomen very swollen
intense pain lower left abdomen below belly button
area sensitive to touch
low grade fever usually it runs btw 95.4 to 96.8, highest reading 100.08
occasional nauseasness
every bone, hair, fingernail and all other parts of body in pain, moving is painful and slow
sharp shooting pains in random places on body, back, elbow knuckles toes, knee, etc.
severe cramps from gas and burps
starving but can’t eat
severe headache
disgusting taste in mouth and brushing isn’t helping
tounge all white and I brushed twice
chills
hot flashes
no medications taken other than occasional vitamins and asprin rarely
no smoking
no drugs
drink about a bottle or 2 of wine a month and/or 1-5 mixed drinks
avoid processed foods but not a perfect diet
drink 1-5 sodas per month and mostly as a mixer
do you have a good old fashioned manual thermometer I could have, just broke mine!
What was the prognosis?
Yes, don’t keep us in suspense.
We’ve been waiting on your prognosis for a while on this one, Tad. Ante up.
Sorry to disappoint you but there is no more to the story than that. It just points out how strange people are and what kind of strange situations I have to face from time to time. What knows what was wrong with her, if anything.