i almost questioned the dose. what can 0.1 mg do?

appparently, a lot.

he was way too sleepy for most of the day. when i came in, he opened his eyes and murmured his name for about 3 seconds, and then he was out. again.

other than the really slow and weird breathing, at first, there was really nothing to worry about. but, because he was not given any narcotic, everything seemed pretty blurry. the only glaring fact in front of us was that he was too sleepy, he was at the point of sleeping for good. which of course, was bad.

so, the narcan. the doctor wanted me to call him when i give the med. but he took forever, i did not wait. like the good drug handbook follower that i am, i gave it ultra slow, 0.1 mg for 15 seconds.

man, it was the closest i could get to witnessing a really dramatic resurrection. the once dead acting patient who lied there looking lifeless, all of a sudden reached out for his ears and said: “I LOST MY HEARING AID!” i thought it was funny that it was the first thing he said, but i was too ecstatic to see him move i just kept saying “B, B, are you okay?” like i was a stupid moron.

he may be hearing impaired, but he was not blind. he obviously saw me grinning like a little kid, and, clueless as to why i looked so elated, he said “CAN YOU GIVE ME A BLANKET, IT’S TOO COLD IN HERE.” i didn’t mind that he didn’t say please. i can give a little slack to a man who just came back from the dead. i can do that.

anyway, it reminded me of my cousin who was unable to speak for the first 9 years of his life. one day, he was accidently shot. the bullet went through one of his legs. it might have been the pain, the shock, the fear, or maybe, it was just the time for him to finally speak, who knows? well, the moment he realized he was shot, he screamed “COMMMMMMMMODE!”. why he chose that word, no one knows. but it sure was a memorable word to everyone who witnessed the event, which of course, everybody then called a miracle. i guess there was no other appropriate word anyway. actually, there still isn’t.

i digressed. sorry.

anyway, as i was saying, it was quite an amazing experience. it felt like it was me who did it. like i had the superpower. and you know, it was exhilirating to have that power. to push that very little amount of drug and see somebody literally (well, almost!) come back to life. it’s like magic! only, more adult and no tricks. i know this will make me sound so childish, but really, it felt great. and amazing.

i know. there’s still a long way to go. we still have to find out why my patient was so zonked like that. since there was no narcotic to blame, it will be a wild ride of guessing games, or i mean tests, before we’ll know the culprit.

an hour after he woke up, he started breathing weird again. he was eventually transferred to ICU for probable intubation, but still, he woke up at the perfect time. what can i say, it made my tiring night more rewarding. i didn’t find the missing hearing aid, but at least i brought my patient “back to life”.

or narcan did. i heart you narcan!