Liquid Sludge Power

Although I have already recounted the story of the worst smell ever (Rotten Vagina Flower), there are still other smells that singe the nose hairs of even the crustiest nurse.

Take the GI Bleed.

The patient with GastroIntestinal Bleeding experiences bleeding from the lining of their esophagus, stomach or intestines. If this blood sits around in the digestive tract for any period of time, it gets digested and looks like coffee grounds.

And the smell is unique: blood has a sticky-sweet smell, and after being processed by the intestines, it has a distinct sweet/shit odor.

A few months ago my patient had a Rectal GI bleed. About 3 times an hour, he would hobble over to the bedside commode and empty about 1 Quart (1 Liter) of black, tarry Liquid Sludge from his bowels. The stench of old, digested blood and feces mixed, penetrating everything in the room, overpowering people in the hallway.

The aid drenched a washcloth with cinnamon mouthwash and put it next to the fan, allowing the air currents of cinnamon-freshness to mingle with the power of the Liquid Sludge.

I slathered my upper lip with Vic's Vap-O-Rub and ate Altoids Mints like jellybeans.

And then I asked the nice housekeeping people to bring up another carton of toilet paper.