House "The Softer Side" OAD 2/23/09

[Graymalkin]

Just one question:

Can methadone really do that? Eliminate the pain?

[nirisahn]

I think it can. When my mother finally decided not to have any more treatments for her cancer, they changed her to methadone. It controlled her pain much better with a lot less medication than anything she'd been on before. For some reason I never understood, they couldn't give her the methadone while she was still undergoing cancer treatments. But the difference in pain control was amazing. It also had a lot less side effects. The other meds made her foggy headed and messed with her ability to think. The methadone wasn't nearly as debilitating in that respect.

I'm guessing it's a method of last resort just because if it's not handled properly, it can kill you. But then again, so could the other class 3 narcotics she'd been taking before the methadone.

[ElJay]

I enjoyed this episode quite a bit. Wilson and Cuddy were hilarious. I was slightly disappointed that "Methadone House" didn't turn into at least a small story arc. This show seems to be devolving into a CBS-like formula in that regard.

[That Don Guy]

Question for anybody who watched it on HD and does not have Comcast: did the screen freeze up for a few seconds right when House was explaining what was causing all of the kid's problems?

(Speaking of the ending, this is pretty much what I got: "We gave the kid an MRI <pause> the differential wasn't filtered out and kept circulating, which caused all of the problems." Why would dehydration cause the differential not to be filtered out - and did the energy drinks have anything to do with it?)

-- Don

[Jonathan_S]

(Speaking of the ending, this is pretty much what I got: "We gave the kid an MRI <pause> the differential wasn't filtered out and kept circulating, which caused all of the problems." Why would dehydration cause the differential not to be filtered out - and did the energy drinks have anything to do with it?)

-- DonAccording to a quick google search, when the body is dehydrated the kidneys try to preseve water by stopping urine creation. That (I think) means that they also stop filtering the blood because without urine creation they've got no place to put the 'bad stuff' they filter out.

The energy drinks, if I understood the show correctly, just added more 'bad stuff' to filter than the equivilent amount of pure water would. So he wasn't getting enough liquid, and the liquid he was getting wasn't as helpful as it could have been.

Of course once the MRI contrast material was injected (and not filtered) I'm sure that stopping/counteracting his testosterone treatment didn't help (since they later claimed the testosterone boosted kidney function)

[rgr]

I enjoyed this episode quite a bit. Wilson and Cuddy were hilarious. I was slightly disappointed that "Methadone House" didn't turn into at least a small story arc. This show seems to be devolving into a CBS-like formula in that regard.Heroin? Or Not?

This is a case for Tritter!

[dtle]

Is a hooker really cheaper than a nurse? How much does a nurse cost per night?

[rgr]

Is a hooker really cheaper than a nurse? How much does a nurse cost per night?So we can assume you already know how much a hooker is per night? :D

[Hunter Green]

The licensing and education required for nurses is a lot higher, and they're in more demand, so it's sure they cost more.

Of course, if you stop breathing, a nurse might be better to have on hand than a hooker, in terms of knowing what it'll take to get you started again.

[dilbert27]

Of course, if you stop breathing, a nurse might be better to have on hand than a hooker, in terms of knowing what it'll take to get you started again.

Yes but if your going go at least with a hooker it is possible that you had a Happy Ending to your life. :D

[LoadStar]

I too was thinking that the methadone subplot would have been well served with at least a two or three episode mini-arc. It would've been refreshing to see a happier House for a while, before we go back to the same old grumpy House.

[dtle]

So we can assume you already know how much a hooker is per night? :D

Doesn't everybody?

[Hunter Green]

I suspect we haven't heard the last of the methadone issue, but I also was surprised at House to drop it so fast because of one missed incident on a single case.

[rondotcom]

Of course, if you stop breathing, a nurse might be better to have on hand than a hooker, in terms of knowing what it'll take to get you started again.


Or maybe the hooker will have the better plan "to get you started"

[newsposter]

Just one question:

Can methadone really do that? Eliminate the pain?

ketamine can as i know someone that had it done and 100% of their pain went away.

Was fun seeing house walk..but you had to know they would undo that by the end

[Hunter Green]

ketamine can as i know someone that had it done and 100% of their pain went away.

Was fun seeing house walk..but you had to know they would undo that by the end
When he did the ketamine thing in a previous season they really had us all thinking that they wouldn't undo it. There were interviews and rumors -- engineered, no doubt -- that Hugh Laurie had asked the writers to come up with a way to get rid of the cane and the limp because it was hurting or annoying him to do it. Then we had the ketamine thing and he was walking normally, even jogging, for a good run of episodes. We all thought the limp was gone. Then it came back and it was clear we'd all been taken.

After that, I wouldn't put anything past them this time.

[newsposter]

When he did the ketamine thing in a previous season they really had us all thinking that they wouldn't undo it. .

oh i only started watching this year, never knew about the ketamine last year. Maybe i should dig up that ep

[DevdogAZ]

I suspect we haven't heard the last of the methadone issue, but I also was surprised at House to drop it so fast because of one missed incident on a single case.
I think it simply showed that despite what an ass he is, he's extremely committed to diagnosing and treating patients, to the point that he's willing to endure an incredible amount of physical pain if it means his mind stays clear to figure out the diagnosis.

But I agree with others that this would have worked better had it been spread out over several episodes.

[Hunter Green]

I think it simply showed that despite what an ass he is, he's extremely committed to diagnosing and treating patients, to the point that he's willing to endure an incredible amount of physical pain if it means his mind stays clear to figure out the diagnosis.
I have no doubt about that: that's definitive House. The thing is, I don't think he's someone who would give up on the whole methadone approach this quickly: he'd work on finding a way to have its advantages and still be able to be as good a doctor as he can be with it, as he did in the past with the ketamine and other things.

[DevdogAZ]

I have no doubt about that: that's definitive House. The thing is, I don't think he's someone who would give up on the whole methadone approach this quickly: he'd work on finding a way to have its advantages and still be able to be as good a doctor as he can be with it, as he did in the past with the ketamine and other things.
I agree with that. He's so determined to solve other puzzles, that it was out of character for him to simply discard this puzzle before attempting to find out if there was a satisfactory solution.