Comments on Fingers And Tubes In Every Orifice: Generation Gap

My grandfather had his hip replaced, and they forg...

2007-11-13T17:07:00.000-08:00

My grandfather had his hip replaced, and they forgot to hook up the morphine drip once he went to recovery. He didn't complain once.

I dunno...two fractures to my arm didn't even make...

2007-11-10T22:46:00.000-08:00

I dunno...two fractures to my arm didn't even make me reflexively tear up (and I'm not even 20). Both bones were broken, and both were displaced. I didn't refuse the pain meds that were offered, but I didn't ask for them either.

Although I tend to agree the younger generation(s) are whiney, we don't /all/ moan and groan at every little thing.

Great post though. I really enjoy reading your blog, you have a great sense of humor and the way you write really puts the reader in the moment. :)

I do agree that I'd need HEAVY medication if there...

2007-04-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

I do agree that I'd need HEAVY medication if there were a... (well, even typing the word makes me vaguely nauseated, but you know what I mean) in my ear.

EEEEYYYYWWWWHHHH.

probably a tweaker (meth addict) they are hypersen...

2007-04-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

probably a tweaker (meth addict) they are hypersensitive to the slightest pain

I don't know ... I'm 40 and have dislocated a hip,...

2007-04-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

I don't know ... I'm 40 and have dislocated a hip, fractured the ball in a bicycle racing accident and have had ear problems. I stopped taking the pain drugs for the hip after being home about 2 days, but the ear pain is always bad (drive you nuts).

Let us not forget that middle class parental anxie...

2007-04-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Let us not forget that middle class parental anxiety the last couple of decades or so have also been treated by "give the kid some tylenol" for every minor pain the child might experience. The generation that grew up under "no tolerance" policies for any discomfort expect all discomfort to be treated medically.

Back in the old folks' time, there was no such thi...

2007-04-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Back in the old folks' time, there was no such thing as "health insurance". That's a relatively new concept. Medicine was on an as-needed basis only and you were expected to pay for it with your hard-earned cash, so your pain would've had to have been quite acute for something like morphine. Like, you-just-had-surgery or you've-just-been-shot-in-battle type pain. Not this "oh, I woke up this morning and my back hurt a little"-pain.

I have to say that people in my generation (I'm 27) who make their first-ever trip to the ER for something and have severe pain usually need the narcotics though. Appy/broken leg etc. Drug seeking may be a generational thing, but it's mostly a "culture of entitlement" thing. Welfare+"free" narcotics+ability to get along just fine living off the government (no need to avoid drugs for employment reasons, ability to spend a significant time in ERs, etc)+ JCAHO pain management regulations+being accustomed to instant gratification (ie none of this 'wait it out' for back pain or minor aches and pains) =culture of drug seeking.

I really do think that people in a few decades will look back at us and shake their heads at how many drug addictions we've perpetuated and/or created as healthcare practitioners.

It sounds like his pain was purely emotional. My g...

2007-04-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

It sounds like his pain was purely emotional. My guess is that he knew exactly what pain med he wanted.

How much you want to bet she PUT the damn cockraoc...

2007-04-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

How much you want to bet she PUT the damn cockraoch in there as an effort to get some narcotics?

Dude is completely FOS. I hope you kicked his sor...

2007-04-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

Dude is completely FOS. I hope you kicked his sorry ass out of the ER.

I too lament the passing of the older generation (I mean the folks who lived through the Depression; not the 59 year olds who LOOK 92).

Sounds like a drug addict to me. Were they asking...

2007-04-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a drug addict to me. Were they asking for morphine, or what?

I think I would be @ the psych ward if a BUG got in my ear, though. Pass the Valium, please.

It's something I've noticed, too, over the years: ...

2007-04-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's something I've noticed, too, over the years: old folk, especially LOLs seem to handle pain in a much more matter-of-fact manner than younger people. I've thought it's because they've been around long enough to have perspective on what's a big deal and what isn't, but I don't know. Seems true, however.