Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Scents and memories at the hospital (2019)

scopeblog.stanford.edu

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–26 of 26 posts

Re: Scents and memories at the hospital (2019)

#21

Post by zabzonk »

adolph wrote: post #13
zabzonk wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

actually, it was really easy to send in a simple to deal with. the NHS used a stool sample container that had a little spoon attached to the top (whole container is about 4 inches long and 1.5 wide, spoon about big enough to hold a pea) - procedure: - crap, but catch some on toilet paper - scoop some with little spoon - tests need almost nothing - send off to lab it was astounding how few samples we got, even from ho…

"catch some on toilet paper" Have you ever tried to catch something behind yourself, or under yourself in a high squatting position? Something your body has some deep learning about not touching? Seems like labs would get a better response with putting some used TP in a bag.

have you ever wiped your bum?

Re: Scents and memories at the hospital (2019)

#22

Post by gg1993 »

Zenzero wrote: post #18
gg1993 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you still have this knack of smell or did it develop into something else? I spent a lot of time in the hospital growing up because of my brothers being admitted and stuff so I used to people watch often and got pretty good at just being able to see someone and guesstimate what they have/needed to be treated for.

There are just distinct smells you start to pick up on as you treat a variety of illnesses. There is no superpower to it. Scents tend to form a long memory, so if you catch a good whiff of a suppurative exudate you'll never forget it. For many of us we probably pick up on some VOCs emitted by various bacteria and it can give us the strong intuition the poster above describes.

Yes, kinda assumed that a bit, since illness do give out a certain smell,,was just wondering what else blossomed from that. Maybe the only superpower is having awareness,,

Re: Scents and memories at the hospital (2019)

#23

Post by gg1993 »

QuarterReptile wrote: post #17
gg1993 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you still have this knack of smell or did it develop into something else? I spent a lot of time in the hospital growing up because of my brothers being admitted and stuff so I used to people watch often and got pretty good at just being able to see someone and guesstimate what they have/needed to be treated for.

He probably learned it. When I worked at one, I used to be able to smell what power a nuclear reactor had been operating at.

{{asking nicely}} do you credit this for something else that’s developed in your life? Just wondering if things like these help us do something else..{{not so serious}}

Re: Scents and memories at the hospital (2019)

#24

Post by kotaKat »

fuzzfactor wrote: post #10

This is from a doctor's point of view on the front lines. For the rest of us when we walk in the door, it's the bouquet of delicate notes above the isopropyl alcohol, sometimes with a very complex finish that can be impossible to forget.

Former frontline IT for the docs --

There's clean, then there's hospital clean. The sterile smell sure is something. In one way, it's a comforting "home" smell, even when I show up at one as a patient.

Re: Scents and memories at the hospital (2019)

#25

Post by QuarterReptile »

gg1993 wrote: post #23
QuarterReptile wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He probably learned it. When I worked at one, I used to be able to smell what power a nuclear reactor had been operating at.

{{asking nicely}} do you credit this for something else that’s developed in your life? Just wondering if things like these help us do something else..{{not so serious}}

No, not at all. I mean, I could think of reasons why I could smell it, but any application of it is probably noticing that stuff is about to catch on fire in an industrial setting..

I teach engineering undergrad now.

Re: Scents and memories at the hospital (2019)

#26

Post by vanc_cefepime »

gg1993 wrote: post #9
vanc_cefepime wrote: post #8

In primary care, I used to smell sinus infections/strep as a patient walked in the room for their “sick visit” and felt confident enough to diagnose without swabbing but I still swabbed anyway to avoid antibiotics for viral infections. I’ve long left primary care for hospital and concierge medicine so now c diff stool and melena get me usually. There was this one time in residency I had a tiny older lady from a very…

Do you still have this knack of smell or did it develop into something else? I spent a lot of time in the hospital growing up because of my brothers being admitted and stuff so I used to people watch often and got pretty good at just being able to see someone and guesstimate what they have/needed to be treated for.

Still got the knack of smell from years of seeing/smelling it in med school and residency. I don’t think it developed into anything else. It’s just repetition I suppose. Now a days, when people go see a provider for “sore throat” they automatically get a throat swab and wouldn’t be surprised if the provider doesn’t even look in your mouth. Pre-covid, I was always looking into people mouths and rarely wore a mask unless it was proven flu or RSV and I think that’s where I was able to hone my smelling skill. Now things like c diff and blood in stool doesn’t require any skill. You smell it once and you know.

Edit: sorry for delayed response. I hope this answers your question.

Post reply on HN