Two very different patients

The patient that I sow this week was a 48year old female who had the last stage of bronchiectasis and was admitted to the hospital due to exacerbation of the COPD. Tis week the doctors told her that there was nothing more they could do in terms of her treatment, as they couldn’t get rid of the bacteria that had invaded her lungs even with the strongest antibiotics.

I was so impressed with her mental strength and her attitude towards life, because if it was me in her situation I don’t think I would cope as well as she does. Every time I would come to her room to do the treatment she would always have a smile on her face and positive attitude towards her intervention. I wish all the patients were like her. Unfortunately is not the case. I have got another patient who is completely opposite to the lady I have just described. He doesn’t want to do anything he just lies in bed and sleeps for hours. Every time I would ask him to get out of bed and go for a walk, he claims is too tired and that I would come back later. Once I managed to get him to show me how he does sit to stand, he claimed that he couldn’t do it. Anyway I had to give him nearly max assist to stand him up. Funny thing was, later that day I was passing his room, when I sow him getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom. He looked that he had no problem in achieving the task. No wonder why hospitals have shortage of beds, because the patients like this man who doesn’t want to help himself to get better and getting discharged sooner.

It’s just amazing how different the patients can be, one who is dying and still trying anything possible to prolong the life and another who is just lazy and lack of motivation to do anything to help himself. As a physio is so frustrating having a patient like this man, when you know you could help him to get better, but without his input its not possible.