Moments of Permanence - So, apparently, progress does exist

From: lady_ganesh Date: May 23rd, 2009 02:01 pm (UTC) (Link)

when they ask you when you last had a tetanus shot, and your answer starts with "Uh..." you are getting a tetanus shot; when that's followed by, "I definitely had one in 1988," you're really truly not getting away without either a tetanus shot or a good reason not to have one

Hahah, yes. My PCP harrassed me about one even without an injury until a pertussis scare came around and we all got the New Shiny DPT.

::hugs::

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From: sami Date: May 24th, 2009 03:36 am (UTC) (Link)

Yeah. Even in conversation about this with my mother, the closest she could recall is that I *might* have had the compulsory one in year 8.

I know I'm good on MMR, which is the Important One in terms of social responsibility, because my first year at uni, there were stalls all over campus handing out MMR boosters. With great success, because if you got one, they gave you a lollipop, and uni students can be curiously susceptible to being offered sugary bribes.

It's entirely possible my own immune system has a tetanus or sepsis immunity developed, because when I was seven, I had something very like it, but which I'm having trouble finding a description of online.

After a very dirty object went through my foot, the wound got an odd infection I was told was blood poisoning. The major symptom was a red line on my skin, gradually crawling upwards towards ever-more-major arteries. I got antibiotics, a new, severe wound care regimen (involving soaking my foot in antibacterial solution so strong my skin peeled), a tetanus booster, etc.

Anyway, since then, I've had any number of injuries from non-sterile, sometimes distinctly very dirty sources (up to and including a road) and had no trouble with tetanus or sepsis.

I don't think I've had DPT, but I know immunisation for pertussis is widespread here. (Probably when I next see my regular doctor, I should talk about my immunisation status, mind you...)

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From: lady_ganesh Date: May 24th, 2009 03:43 am (UTC) (Link)

I have all my records...in lots of different places, which makes it a pain.

I was too old for the boosters-- they basically started realizing the stuff wore off after I graduated. Alas, no lollipop for me (but dude, what a brilliant idea).

Aaaaaaaagh that foot thing sounds awful! Especially at seven. Kids are very busy at that age!

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From: keeva Date: May 23rd, 2009 04:33 pm (UTC) (Link)

*hug* Sorry to read about the need for the visit, but I am glad you did get the medical attention.

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From: sami Date: May 24th, 2009 04:43 am (UTC) (Link)

Thanks. I only mentioned the reasoning in because "... so I was at Emergency..." without explanation can cause people worry. Things are... under control, at least.

It's possible I tend to seem like I have it more together, online, than is in fact the case, but really, stuff is going to work out.

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From: nonethefewer Date: May 23rd, 2009 08:00 pm (UTC) (Link)

The person at the ER nearest me asked for a contact name, and then asked for the person's relationship to me.  I am v. pleased by progressive places like that.

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From: sami Date: May 24th, 2009 04:46 am (UTC) (Link)

Me too.

Thing is, by being listed as my next of kin, Dean has authority, there, to make decisions for me, to do all the next-of-kin stuff. Just because I said I wanted her to. And even though we're both women and not related, instead of just defaulting to "friend", getting offered spouse as an option ruled so hard.

Later, when Chas - her fiance, my friend I refer to as brother-out-law because he's very much like a brother to me, and loves me like a sister, but who is also not related to me in any technical sense? When the hospital came to tell me he was outside, wanting to come into the ward to join me, they referred to him as a "family member".

Apparently the hospital is open to people defining their families as they choose. Rock on.

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From: susanreads Date: May 24th, 2009 01:55 pm (UTC) family members (Link)

Yes, I like the people at your hospital!

I remember when my Mum was in hospital, for what turned out to be the last time, I phoned up before going there (long journey) and told them "her friend [name]" would be coming to see her; which was a bit cowardly of me, because she was actually her S.O., but I'd heard about people in unofficial and specifically gay relationships not being recognised as family members. That was over 20 years ago; I haven't had occasion to find out what it's like hereabouts now. So (i) Yay, progress (ii) People still notice being asked, so not universal progress.

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