Sick Enough

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.You might be surprised about some of the conditions that don't qualify a person to be hospitalized. In this episode, we discuss a few of these conditions. We also talk about some of the social issues that unnecessarily bring people to the hospital.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Ever wonder why antibiotics cause upset stomachs and diarrhea? We answer this question and more as we talk about a nasty bacteria called Clostridium Difficile. This pathogen causes horrific diarrhea and abdominal pain, and can prove lethal if left untreated. It's particularly common in the hospital setting.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Today we're talking about Medication Reconciliations. This is the process doctors go through to get you started on your usual medications when you're in the hospital and it's a LOT harder than you would think. Do yourself a favor and keep an updated copy of your medication list on your phone or in your wallet!Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Today we're talking about Diverticulitis. This is when diverticula (plural for diverticulum, a benign outpouching in the colon that we all get) get inflamed and possibly infected. Unsurprisingly this causes severe pain! We talk about what symptoms people get with this condition. We also talk about how we treat it, and we discuss some of the myths about prevention.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Today's episode is about inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is probably one of the most consistently painful conditions we encounter. In this episode we talk about what causes pancreatitis, and we talk about the way we go about treating it.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Today's episode is about liver cirrhosis. The liver can withstand a lot of damage, but after a certain point it loses it's ability to recover and regenerate. We talk about the role the liver plays, and the symptoms we see in patients with cirrhosis. We also talk about some of the common causes of cirrhosis.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.This episode is all about bleeding in the GI tract, which doctors call (shocker) a GI Bleed. In this episode we talk about the difference between upper and lower GI bleeds. We talk about the causes of GI bleeds. We also talk about what your doctor will do to treat it, and what you can expect if you're hospitalized for a GI bleed.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Have you ever heard of the duodenum? What's the difference between the colon and large intestine? Ever wondered what the appendix actually does? Have you ever wondered why you get hiccups? We're beginning a series on gastrointestinal topics (like GI bleeding), but before  we delve into how things go wrong in the GI tract, we wanted to briefly discuss how the GI tract normally works. We also review a little anatomy, and answer some frequent questions about the GI tract.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.If you had to call an ambulance right now, would you know what to take with you to the hospital? I personally think it's not a bad idea to keep a simple bag packed with a few essentials (like a cellphone charger) in case you urgently have to go to the hospital, or in case you are hospitalized and need to direct a friend or relative on where to find things to bring you. Tyler and I review a list of the stuff you will absolutely need and another list of the stuff that would be nice to have. Finally, we talk about some of the items you should leave at home, and we explain why.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Tyler has noticed a baffling trend: when some patients hear that their tests have come back negative, they're not relieved... they're upset! We talk about a few examples we've each experienced, and we discuss some of the possible reasons behind this strange phenomenon. Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.There's a group of doctors who only work at night called "nocturnists." Its a foreboding name, but they're actually some of the hospitals biggest superheroes. In this episode, we discuss the precarious schedule and difficulties of being a nocturnist. We discuss some of the reasons why people are willing to adopt this schedule. Finally, Tyler and I share some of our own stories when it was our turn to work the night shift.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.If you've ever read your doctor's notes, you may have seen the term "noncompliance" or "non-adherence" written in your chart. In this episode, we explain what these terms mean. We discuss some of the different ways patients can be noncompliant, the dangerous consequences of being noncompliant, and some of the common reasons why patients are noncompliant. We also discuss how to talk to your doctor if you're struggling to tolerate or afford your medication. Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Are you allergic to penicillin? Tyler bets that you aren't! There are a number of misconceptions about medication allergies, and patients can really limit their care when they claim an allergy (especially to antibiotics) that they don't have. In this episode, we discuss what constitutes a true allergy. We talk about the distinction between an allergy, an intolerance, and a side effect (or adverse effect).  Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected]://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/pediatrics/news/5-common-misperceptions-about-penicillin-allergies/mqc-20440491

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.What should you do if you wake up feeling sick? How would you go about getting tested for COVID? Should you call anyone? Should you get seen by your doctor? Should you go to the ER? What should you do if you test positive for COVID? Tyler and I have been answering these questions and more for family and friends throughout the pandemic. We answer these questions and more in this next segment to our COVID series.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected]://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-covid-19-tests

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.If you came down with COVID today, you would need to quarantine and stay at home, but do you have everything you need? Do you have enough acetaminophen and cold medicine? Do you have a thermometer or pulse oximeter? Do you have a way of testing yourself? Early on in the pandemic, I put together a small box of the things I would need if I had to quarantine in a room inside my home. Tyler and I review the contents of this kit, and discuss some other important things (even shelf-stable foods) that you could keep on hand in case you were to catch COVID.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Today's episode is about COVID. In this episode we discuss the COVID clinical syndrome. We talk about the typical and not-so-typical symptoms. We talk about who's at greatest risk, and share some tools you can use to assess your risk of having a bad outcome from COVID. We discuss the time course from exposure to developing the disease. We also talk about some of the treatments out there, and hospital treatments in particular. This episode is part of a series, so stay tuned for part 2 (what should you do if you're exposed, symptomatic, or test positive), and a bonus episode (the ultimate home COVID survival & preparedness kit). Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected] Hopkins Risk Calculator:covid19risktools.com

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.What happens when a pneumonia doesn't clear up with antibiotics? This episode is about a motley cluster of diseases known as interstitial lung diseases. These diseases are generally chronic lung diseases with a variety of causes from occupational exposures (like asbestosis) to idiopathic (which means "we don't know why you have it"). In this episode,  we talk about some common interstitial lung diseases. We talk about how these diseases are more thoroughly diagnosed, and what you should expect if you are being worked up for one.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected].

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.This episode is about DVTs (deep vein clots), and PEs (pulmonary emboli- clots in the arteries of the lungs). These deadly clots are something that hospitalists encounter on practically a daily basis. In this episode, we why these clots happen; how they're diagnosed; how we treat them; and what you should look look out for if you are diagnosed with one of these. We also talk about things you can do to reduce your risk of catching one. As always, we share a few of our experiences when we've encountered these.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected]. "Lethal Thrombus" would make for an excellent band name, so email if you're interested in the naming rights!

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease that we commonly encounter in the hospital, and it's usually a consequence of tobacco abuse, though age and genetic factors can also play a role. In this episode, we discuss what COPD is, and how it can suddenly cause severe breathing problems.Please email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Have you ever seen a rule posted at a store or pool and thought, "I'll bet there's a story behind that policy!" Well, today's episode is all about some rules you ought to follow in the hospital, whether you're a patient or a visitor. We'll talk about why it's important to be in your doctor and nurse's good graces. Above all, we tell more than a few good stories to help illustrate the importance of these guidelines.We would love to do a follow-up episode from this one from a patient perspective: what etiquette should doctors have when seeing patients in the hospital? So please email us with your own wild hospital stories, or with other questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter. Today's episode is all about patients who have to come to the hospital for psychiatric problems. We talk about some of the psychiatric conditions we commonly encounter, and we share a few stories about past experiences treating these patients.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.You would think that anyone being admitted to a hospital would be considered an inpatient, but that would be incorrect. Medicare and insurance companies have created a special status called "Observation Status" that has some big implications for anyone seeking hospital care. In this episode we discuss why observation status matters; the impact it may have on your medical bills; and our honest feelings about this distinction. We also review some of the questions you as a consumer should ask when enrolling in a healthcare insurance plan, or when being admitted to the hospital. We generally keep these clean, but we drop a few expletives in this one.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.The kidneys are one of the unsung heroes of the body. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering out waste, excess fluid, and unnecessary electrolytes and other chemicals from your blood stream. They maintain a delicate balance in your body that allows the chemistry of life to take place. Unfortunately, a number of things can harm them and when they fail it can cause big problems. In this episode we discuss kidney failure and acute kidney injuries.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.In this episode, we delve into some of the reasons why medications can be so expensive, and we discuss the drug development and testing process. Most importantly, we discuss several things you can do to lower your own prescription drug costs.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.This episode is all about the Emergency Room. We discuss the role and function that the Emergency Room plays at the hospital, and we discuss the differences between ER doctors and Hospitalists.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Most everyone has heard the term pneumonia, but we often find that people have little understanding of what a pneumonia actually is (spoiler: you don't catch it by going outside without a warm coat). In this episode, we define what a pneumonia is, and we discuss how we go about diagnosing and treating pneumonias. We talk about some of the more common causes of pneumonia, and what you should expect when or if you catch it.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.What would you do if your spouse or parent suddenly couldn't talk, or move one side of the body?  (Spoiler alert: you call emergency services!)In this episode, we talk about what happens to the body and the brain when someone has a stroke. We talk about the interventions that can stop or even reverse a stroke. And we talk about the tests doctors do to evaluate a stroke, so they can figure out what caused it to happen (and hopefully prevent another one from happening.)Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Have you ever gotten lightheaded when you stood up? Have you ever fainted? These things probably happen to all of us at some point in our lives. In this episode we'll talk about what happens in the body when someone passes out. We also talk about some of the disease processes that can cause this, and the testing we do in the hospital to rule out the scary stuff.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Many people don't know it, but the heart has it's own electrical system that sends electrical impulses from the top to the bottom of the heart, helping all the muscle in your heart squeeze in sync to keep it pumping. When this electrical system fails, bad things can happen and you can get an arrhythmia. In this episode we talk about some common arrhythmias, including Atrial Fibrillation (one of the most common arrhythmias).Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

In our last episode, we talked about what happens when you have a heart attack. This episode is on a related subject, chest pain. While heart trouble is a common cause of chest pain, there are a number of other conditions that can cause your chest to hurt, some more worrisome than others.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital doctors, hospital issues, and the health conditions we commonly encounter.Chest pain is a very common reason to come to the hospital, and one of the most common problems for which you may see a hospitalist. You may have heard terms like myocardial infarction (or just MI), STEMI, NSTEMI, and angina on TV, but what do these terms actually mean? In this episode, we will discuss what actually happens to the heart when someone has a heart attack. We'll talk about the testing and interventions that we do, both in the ER and in the hospital.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]

Welcome to Sick Enough, the podcast about hospital medicine!If you are ever admitted to a hospital, chances are good you will meet a type of doctor called a hospitalist. Hospitalists are an essential part of hospital care, but strangely enough, many people have never heard of us! In this episode, we explain what a hospitalist is, and the role we play in caring for you or your loved one.Email us with questions or comments at [email protected]