What a funny conversation–and I thought I was a bad patient sometimes! I can’t see them, but I can hear them clearly–where most patients whisper to the nurses and doctors, for privacy reasons, this patient’s voice is booming–

This patient near me (an older man) in the pre-op area at the surgical center, answered the routine question by the nurse ‘have you had anything to eat or drink?’

“Well, I was friggen thirsty. I needed a drink. So I drank a little.”

The nurse jumped. “Exactly how much??”

“I just had some water. But then I thought I needed some electrolytes, so I drank some Gatorade too. But it was orange colored.”

“You’re *not* supposed to eat or drink anything!!”

“But I was reeeallly thirsty! What did you expect me to do. I needed a drink.”

“Hold on a second!!”

Then the nurse stomps off, and a few seconds later a doctor came out and ripped him a new one..

“Exactly how MUCH did you have to eat or drink??”

The man started to quiver more under the threat of the doctor…and back track his story a little! “Not too much…just a sip.”

“Didn’t you read my instructions??”

“It was just a sip!”

“This is NOT up for debate. We might have to cancel today and reschedule. Didn’t you read my instructions??”

“Well, ya, of course I read the instructions. I just didn’t read that part.”

The doctor audibly snorted. “It’s going to be up to the anastheist whether or not we continue with this surgery.”

And stormed off…

Wow. His later answers were pretty funny too. Frustrating for the nurse, but very entertaining for me to listen to 🙂