If there's such a thing as 'compassion fatigue', I'm having it right now.

[Aristus]

As posted on Friday in lieu of a drinking thread, I'm on call this weekend. Actually until next Friday morning.

Yesterday, I got a call from a patient (not one of mine) who stated that he was having suicidal thoughts, and wanted help. He said his wife had just left him, and he was also taking a medication that was making him feel suicidal. I took a look at his chart, and he had definitely been prescribed a medication for which suicidal ideation is a potential side effect.

I told him I would call the crisis response team based out of a local hospital, and that they would be contacting him right away. I got off the phone with him and called the crisis response team. The dispatcher took the patient's information, and forwarded me to the team leader.

The team leader told me: "Oh yeah, this guy. He calls every weekend declaring that he is going to kill himself. But by the time one of us is able to get him on the phone, he says he feels fine, and there's nothing to worry about." I thanked her for the information, noting that this was my first experience with this patient. She said she would do due diligence and call him. I thanked her and said goodbye.

Got another call from him today, stating that no one from the crisis response team had either visited him at his home or called him. Same thing: I told him I would call them back and find out what happened. I was put in touch with the same team leader, (I guess this is her weekend in the barrel, too) who laughed and confirmed that she had called the patient yesterday, and that he was just up to his usual tricks. She clarified that he had no wife to leave him in the first place. Once again, I thanked her, and told her how much I respected her patience and good humor.

The call service called a third time about an hour ago, with a call holding from the same patient. This time, the call-service guy advised me to have a note placed on this patient's account that he is a frequent-flyer. I agreed, and asked him to add the number for the crisis response team, so he can call them directly, thereby avoiding wasting the time of at least two different service organizations in the process.

There are so many people out there who are in genuine pain and experiencing actual suicidal thoughts, that it's an outrage that this guy is continually pulling this crap, wasting the time of people who sincerely want to help those in need.

When next Friday rolls around and I'm off call, I'm going to have an extra drink for every time this hammerhead calls me for the rest of my call shift...

[justhanginon]

1. With the patience you have you are certainly in the right vocation.

Thank you.

[Aristus]

2. Thanks.

It looks less like patience if you see it in real life. Because you could see me saying: "Oh SHIT! Not this again!"

[3catwoman3]

4. Those of us in diirect patient/parent care all have...

...few families whose names make us shiver when they show up on the schedule. I just recently, after 41 years of doing this, made an adjustment to how I ask the review of systems section of the history. There is one mom who answers "yes" to pretty much EVERYTHING, no matter what the stated reason for the visit might be. Example - sore throat for 48 hours. "Any rash or itching? "Well, 6 months ago, he had this dry spot on his left knee." Any nosebleeds?" "3 years ago, he had them all the time." Etc, etc.

So, now, I very specifically say, "Related to this illness/visit, is there any..." Cuts back on what I call the Pandora's Box syndrome.

Also, when I am on call, we check in with our answering service every hour during normal waking hours. Parents can leave voicemail messages for questions that do not need an "instant" call back. Our service message asks people to please leave a brief message. Many people ramble on and on and on, and then finally leave the contact phone number at the end of their message, and speak so fast that I can't catch the number and have to listen to the whole damn message again. A good message would be, "My child has a high fever. I need advice on what to do." The shorter the message, the sooner I can call back.

[Skittles]

3. that guy sounds like someone who seriously DOES need help

I would advise you visit his home and have a long talk to find out what is REALLY going on

[Aristus]

5. Couldn't I just send you instead?

You could kick his ass...

[irisblue]

6. That might be bringing a bazooka to a squirt gun fight

[Aristus]

7. Oh, I know.

Napoleon once said: "God favors the big battalions."

[Skittles]

16. heh

see, that may be the ultimate finding

[vercetti2021]

8. This makes me feel sad

I was feeling suicidal the other night myself, but I went to the ER because I felt they could help. I always reach out because I hate feeling this way. The pain hurts so bad where you feel you can't take it and the only way out is suicide. Suicide is permanent to a temporary issue. I think of those I'd effect if I took my life, especially my mother. It would kill her.

Taking up time like this is shit. This guy sounds like he is trying to get attention more than anything.

[Aristus]

9. I'm glad you did reach out.

And I hope I was at least a little help.

Thank God for crisis response teams. I'm sure you had a good one looking after you.

[vercetti2021]

10. You did along with several others here

I'm still sad, but God its better than suicidal. That pain is way too much to bear.

[Aristus]

11. If you ever feel comfortable giving me details,

you can PM them to me.

I only have a little formal training in suicide issues. But my practical experience with them since I started in clinical practice might prove useful.

Sometimes, just bending an ear can help.

And I'm glad other DU-ers offered their help to you.

[In_The_Wind]

12. Sounds like a whole lot of drinking!

Sorry I sent you a pm crying on your shoulder before I noticed this thread or I would have found something happier to discuss.

[Aristus]

13. Nothing to apologize for.

It's always a pleasure...



Hope to see you on Friday for my drinking thread. I expect it will be legendary...

[In_The_Wind]

14. Maybe I'll be awake without my late night woe filled wake up call.

[Aristus]

15. Then your first drink will be on me...