Nobody, including the patient, was entirely sure when the last time was that she had been able to walk unassisted. Was it when she hit the 350 pound mark? Probably not after she reached 400. Now that she was just below the 500 mark, she knew and we knew, that it was no longer possible.

She came into the hospital with a list of medications that was 12 pages long. Much of the list was tranquilizers, anti-depressants and pain medications. The size of the dosages was enormous. But then dosages are often calculated on body weight. She was also on four different types of anti-diabetes meds — three of them various forms of insulin.

It took 4 staff members to move her from the gurney to the bed. After a few attempts, it became clear that starting a peripheral IV on her would be impossible. No needle was long enough to penetrate the fat and reach the vein below.  A PICC line (longer catheter placeed in a deeper vein) insertion, done by an interventional radiologist was scheduled.

The attending doctor ordered an 1800 calorie diabetic diet. The patient  ate it all and then ate another meal brought in to her by a “friend.” After all, there was always more insulin to “cover” the blood sugar elevation that would result, wasn’t there?

The doctor did deny her request for a Foley catheter, though. He felt that the small movement from the bed to the picnic-bench sized commode we placed in the room (since the toilet ten feet from the bed was too far  to walk) would be about the only exercise she would get, and she badly needed it.

The pain in her knees, hips and shoulders? Well, getting rid of the weight would have relieved a great deal of that. But instead she said: “Can’t you just give me enough pain meds so that I don’t feel it any more?”

About now, dear reader, you’re probably saying: “My, my, aren’t you the judgmental little witch!” And I answer: “I’m not a witch. I’m not any of the things you’ve heard. Because she is us.”

My patient is a human being with intrinsic value. And she is America — or at least a segment of America — at the moment.

She says: “Please — don’t ask me how I got this way. Please, don’t tell me I’m going to have to do anything hard to fix things. You don’t expect me to be patient for the years it will take to get back on track, do you? Surely there’s some brilliant person out there who will — any minute now — invent a pill that will fix all this.”

In the mean time — someone else has to do the heavy lifting. Someone else has to plan, to think ahead, to try to ward off the consequences of years of bad management.

The problem is, there are getting to be fewer and fewer of those “someone elses.” People who step in and rescue when things go haywire. People like Barack Obama.

And there are getting to be more and more “you-do-it” people…who think that paying taxes is for suckers, and siphoning money from the pockets of the working class into those of the idle rich is what capitalism is all about.

A nation can only support so many 500 pound Wall Street boys, Fox News commentators and Rush Limbaugh fans. People who want the goodies without the price tag attached. Beyond a certain point, when these guys push the call button — there won’t be anyone left to answer.

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PatsyT
Member

Kes, This is excellent!
First of all… Bravo! You have put together a powerful piece of work.
Your post got me thinking about the chain of addiction and how both of your subjects are victims of it.
Food -Drugs- Money- Greed- Power
They will always need more and more to support the habit.
We really need Richard Simmons!
httpsh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6724wPMhsE&feature=related

SueInCa
Member

Kes
What a great analogy. Do you mind if I use it in other blogs? It is really a great way to get people’s attention. You really should write more. I loved it!

Questinia
Member

I have so often used this same comparison, kes, when describing our country. You hit the nail on the head. I thoroughly agree with wts and the phenomenon of learned helplessness. The only people who aren’t in the thralls of LH are those who abuse and control. We know who they are.

whatsthatsound
Member

Great, Kesmarn! So true. What a powerful metaphor for the state our country is in. “Learned Helplessness”.

Kalima
Admin

Oh kes, this is just what the doctor ordered. A postively delightful take on the “double genre” filled with facts about the mind set of far too many of your countrymen and women today. The apathy is truly frustrating and confusing to me, and I believe that anyone who was too lazy to vote, has no right to complain, and those who voted GOP or TP out of “anger” deserve exactly what they get.

Wonderful post!

bito
Member

Calories In and In and In, and ignoring the facts make for an unhealthy body, eh!

Good post k’es!

I just read a piece on the plan That President Obama has dealing with the tax cuts and how they affect the deficits and the debt. His ideas, plan is quite good and sound, yet he is seen as the doctor attempting to control the diet, and made out to be an evil and nasty man, while some ignore the facts and smuggle in the pizza, ice cream and chocolates to the already obese.

Keep lower rates for rich on dividends, capital gains: A rewrite.

( and never mention atrial picc’s again please. OW! 🙂 )

AlphaBitch
Member
AlphaBitch

Great post, kesmarn!

AdLib
Admin

What a wonderfully brilliant piece, Kes!

You have artfully “embodied” the American psyche so simply and concisely!

And the “body” of our democracy as well, a victim of its own excesses, bloated, helpless, immobilized by how huge its grown.

Well done! This post needs to and deserves to be circulated around the web!