sylvar: (mugshot)
sylvar ([personal profile] sylvar) wrote2003-11-12 11:26 am

(no subject)

My dad's cousin died this weekend because her doctor prescribed a diuretic that turned out to work a little too well. She called and said she'd been peeing every 5 minutes, and she'd lost 10 pounds in 2 days. The doctor said "Come see me first thing Monday morning at my office". But at that rate, she lost electrolytes so fast that she had a heart attack before the weekend was over. I guess the correct answer was "Meet me at the emergency room right now".

I'm relieved to know it was the doctor's mistake and not a congenital heart problem -- mainly because I don't like to think about my parents dying.

But I still want something very bad to happen to the doctor. It might -- her widower is a damned good lawyer.

Paula put guests instantly at ease in her home, which helped them digest the bounty of wonderful food she served. I ate Thanksgiving dinner at their home near [livejournal.com profile] cardinalximinez and [livejournal.com profile] fizzgig_bites's once, and it was probably the best vegetarian-friendly Thanksgiving spread I've ever seen. I know two of her children, dedicated activists for civil liberties, one of whom took Miami to court over curfews when he was a high school student, each of whom is a real mensch. I'm going to miss seeing her at my wedding.

The Herald death notice tells me that there are more children grieving than I remembered meeting, so I've altered the previous paragraph.
ximinez: (Default)

[personal profile] ximinez 2003-11-12 09:30 am (UTC)(link)
My sympathies.

[identity profile] fizzgig-bites.livejournal.com 2003-11-12 09:45 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry about the death in your family. The funeral is a few blocks from work.

She should have stopped taking the drug immediately and gone to the emergency room. When my doctor prescribed a similar drug she told me that if I started feeling weird, dizzy or peeing a lot, to call her immediately or go to the emergency room.

It saddens me to think a few words could have saved someone's life. I hope the husband sues. Who was the doctor (Gee, I hope it isn't mine)?

[identity profile] sylvar.livejournal.com 2003-11-12 10:00 am (UTC)(link)
If you offer condolences on my behalf, you can find out in person...

[identity profile] loucheroo.livejournal.com 2003-11-13 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
*hug* i'm sorry :(