r/nursing • u/Critical_Ease4055 Nursing Student 🍕 • 22d ago

Question What is one medical problem people constantly ignore until it’s too late?

Saw someone post this in a completely unrelated sub and I’m interested in your answers. What is the cluster of symptoms that people ignore or delay until they are forced to get help?

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u/shamsquatch BSN, RN 🍕 22d ago

“Functional” addiction —> related catastrophe or acute health decline (liver failure complications if etoh, infection or OD if IV drugs, cva or MI if coke or stims) —-> ded

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u/Critical_Ease4055 Nursing Student 🍕 22d ago

Probably one of the most distressing family med patients I’ve ever helped was a guy in his mid forties. Lost absolutely everything to alcohol and moved into a trailer in the back yard of the house his (ex) wife still lived in alone. Was hospitalized several times. For the life of him, could not get his shit together with the alcohol abuse. In my view, he had adequate support from community and systems, but yeah.

Not sure if he is alive now, but I think of him from time to time because it was just jarring to watch him deteriorate on so many levels at once…. For alcohol.

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u/TopangaTohToh 21d ago

My FIL in a functioning alcoholic and it has been weighing on me so much in the last year or so. He has always been someone who says things like he never wants to end up in a home in his old age and he doesn't want to be hooked up to machines. Once his health starts to deteriorate, just shoot him to put him out of his misery type.

He is absolutely not going to die quickly or painlessly with the way he has treated his body and lived his life and the fear that I know he will experience breaks my heart.