Poo.... lots and lots of poo

We've all read the blogs and "about my job" stories from medics how we've all been vomited on, poo-ed on, spit on, bled on, etc. And everyone also knows... one time is one time too many. We got dispatched to a call for seizures. We get in the truck thinking its most likely either hypoglycemic or epileptic seizures. Enroute the computer updated us that the patient was now combative, running through the house and defecated everywhere. The patient had family there who was trying to help but also stay out of the patients way while they were combative.

Leads me to think hypoglycemic. We arrive on scene and are glad there is a fresh restock of BSI gowns in the cabinet. Its a dark home. The kind of home where there is one shade-less lamp in the corner of each room. The patient is supine and postictal on the bed (thank goodness) in a back bedroom. A bedroom where the headboard is wedged behind the door so that we only have a 12-15" clearance to get in... and get him out. Quickly find he is not hypoglycemic so we throw on some O2 and cocoon him in some sheets to get him out. He becomes very combative so that the only way to get him out is to grab ankles and wrists and drag. Not a pretty situation, but one with little to no alternatives. I administer some Versed to stop the new seizure activity and restrain him to the stretcher. Poo is still everywhere and growing. We get him into the rescue and head off to the ER. He has stopped seizing but is still very combative. Finally we get the pearl of information we've been needing. He is in stage 5 kidney failure. Ding. Ding. Ding. At least we have a most probable cause. He is so acidotic that his system is not compensating at all. After turning him over to the ER, they run his blood and get him stabilized. I see a long dialysis future for him.

It was a long and *very* detailed decon of our rescue, our equipment,... and ourselves. I don't think our rescue has been cleaner since it was delivered to us. Probably cleaner. After a good shower and some dinner (although I wasn't really hungry by now)... we were back in service to wait for the next one..... Stay safe out there.