It's always amazing to me to see how quickly people feel better when they are admitted to the hospital. When I say this, I am not marvelling at the wonderful effects of pharmaceuticals or at the great quality of care we give as Nurses. Oh no. I only wish our touch were so effective. I am talking of those folks who are admitted to our Labor and Delivery Unit for "nausea and vomiting."
Now, first of all, do you really call your Doctor or go to the Emergency Room because you feel nauseated or because you have vomited when you are pregnant? Isn't that kind of an expected side effect of pregnancy? But let's say you do. Personally, I would expect that the vomiting would be so bad that by the time you call the Doctor, that you have been throwing up for days and days and are desperately, dangerously dehydrated. I would expect that you have not been able to keep food down several days straight, and you would certainly be holding a vomit bucket.
I admitted a patient the other day with "nausea and vomiting." She wasn't even close to the above scenario. She was about 30 weeks and had throw up once. Seriously?! SERIOUSLY?! Usually when someone is admitted with such a diagnosis, I try to move quickly so that I can get them comfortable with IV fluids and an anti-emetic at least. Upon learning about this patient's one vomiting episode, I'll admit, I didn't move so fast. As I went through the admission process, asking the required questions, the Patient interupts me to ask: "Can I have something to eat?"
Why on God's green Earth would you show up to the hospital with complaints of nausea and vomiting and ask for FOOD?! Are you freaking kidding me?! My theory is this: if you are so sick that you need to be admitted to the hospital for nausea and vomiting, the last thing you need to be doing is eating! I've been nauseated before and I've thrown up before. I know that if it's real, you have no desire to be downing food! Let be real. Besides, I don't like cleaning up vomit!
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