The Lady Whose Mouth I Set on Fire: True Tales from the ER

by Dr. McAnonymous

The Lady Whose Mouth I Set on Fire: True Tales from the ER is a collection of amazing, bizarre, but factual stories revealing the world of the ER. They are first-hand accounts told by an old, tired physician who has survived three decades in this odd, but exciting world of life and death. They are heartwarming, heart-wrenching, hilarious or fascinating. This book is for anyone interested in the inner belly of the Human Being. There is much to be learned and felt here. Beware, this book is not for everyone, and you may begin laughing at inappropriate times—or even develop nightmares.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Humor, Memoir, Medical, Medicine, Health

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2021

Reviews

[India M. Clamp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a ribald journey given to us via a physician calling themselves Dr. McAnonymous. The introduction is worth devoting some time for this page flipping firestorm journey. Many stories bordering on "tall tales" are available within (verified to be true). The life of an ER physician is nothing most would classify as banal. In Dr. McAnonymous world, dark humor is the elixir keeping the adrenaline pumping. Stories are pedestrian and a tad outlandish. This read is suited for someone needing a cold, icy and dense drama fix.

I sent flowers to the funeral of the little girl and mother, but I did not go myself.
---Dr. McAnonymous

Many physicians have long and documented stories (usually told at Medical School Interviews) on why they decided to pursue medicine, yet Dr. McAnonymous was inspired by M*A*S*H and the character Hawkeye---played by Alan Alda. Though one may assume empathy is high on the traits of physicians, actually empathy finds a lackluster co-existence---as one cannot cry into the surgical site and expect this would go over well in the OR or any science based professions. Two tall stars awarded. Great for drama junkies. Do hormones help our health or compromise it?

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lady Whose Mouth I Set on Fire : True Tales from the ER
by Dr. McAnonymous

I want to first say Thanks for the Book because I was a Goodreads winner. I am also a retired RN that mostly worked ICU. I could related to many situations in the book.
I wish there had been humor in the book. A whole book of humorous experiences would have been great! I know I have seen my share. I really wasn't interested in the lawsuit section, thankfully I never had to experience this but it is something everyone in the health field fears.
Overall, some interesting cases but some lacked feelings or emotions, like I was reading a report. But at least I could read the doctor's writing!

[Stephanie Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ER nurse and have worked with Dr. McAnonymous. Loved this book. Not only because it’s a familiar tale but also because it’s refreshing and insightful. I recommend this for people who share my affinity for medical tales (good and bad). I also recommend this for non-medical folk. It is enlightening and may be eye-opening into the crazy world of emergency medicine.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want a book (non fiction) that is pretty graphic then this is for you. I enjoyed the way this author writes. He uses humor when he can which is fun. He writes about the difficulties he faces as an ER doctor but appreciates and is grateful for positive outcomes.

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you follow my reviews, you know I love me a good medical read.
butttttt I have mixed feelings about this one in general.. which is why it took me forever to finish.

pros; i liked that the author broke up the stories the way they did. it made it easier to read.
i liked the comical patient stories.
it seemed like the doctor was compassionate which is nice to see.

cons; at times, the book felt disorganized and cluttered.. like stories would abruptly start or abruptly end.
some of the stories weren't ... interesting.. but that happens.

overall, i'd read anotehr by the author either way.

[Adia · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining and somewhat serious, just what i wanted it to be.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compare with Letters from the Pit, another narrative of the ER experience. Cowboys. Adrenaline Junkies, Abusive patients, Drug Seekers. Ignorance is not bliss. Probably not for the fainthearted, as some stories are quite graphic. Any ER doctor or nurse can tell you similar ones.

[Dave Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk to any doctor, and they have interesting stories to share. Sometimes they are funny, while others can be scary. That summarizes “The Lady Whose Mouth I Set On Fire” by Dr. McAnonymous. In the book, we read a range of stories from a veteran ER doc. Some are hilarious others are just very interesting. The book is a quick but fun read and will likely give me more to think about the next time I find myself in the Emergency Room.

MEMORABLE QUOTES:
I try not to be the moody type. I believe that too much introspection is harmful. The past survives in our memories and we should put these memories to use, not let them impede the way forward. It is necessary to take steps to keep certain parts of the past from trapping us.

Medical Pearl: To check the airway, loudly ask the EMS, “Is this the man in the scooter accident?” If you do not hear the patient respond, “It was a motorcycle!”, you will likely need an advanced airway.

It’s a matter of Life and Death. Everything is. Always. For my part, I just accept that that is the way it is. I soothe my soul by reminding myself that as time marches on, she heals along the way. I remember the plane crash and the death and the thousands of other sadnesses, but I also remember the children at the school, and newborns and thousands of other joys.

[Raquel Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the few medical books Ive read even if it started off traumatic. This really shows the human component to the medical field.

[Grace]

This felt a lot like a family dinner to me, as my sister and brother in law are both currently in their ER residencies. I enjoyed this quite a bit, both the wild stories and the sense of humor.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious medical mshaps

If I hadn't worked in a big city ED, I might not have believed these stories....but yep, that's what its really like!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good, and definitely worth reading, but I’m guessing it’s self published (?). The writing is a little disjointed.

[Anna Fuentes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to be a nurse (most likely in the ER) and I loved reading this book. He gave so many funny, heartbreaking, and interesting anecdotes to life in the ER and I really enjoyed reading it. Very quick book to go through and captivated my attention. Loved it! Wish there could’ve been more stories to read

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Katydid for my Goodreads Giveaway copy.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get through this one. I was really looking forward to reading this because I have several family members as well as myself that work in the medical field but my role is not clinical so I think I expected a lot of really bizarre, really odd and funny stories from the ER and there were some but not like I had thought. It's not necessarily a bad book, it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I will say this, if you are planning to go into the medical field or at the start of your medical career then this may be of interest to you. After weeks of trying to finish it, I made it 31% of the way and finally today, I thought why am I doing this? I kind of felt like Dr. McAnonymous was a professor at a medical university sharing his insights to a class full of med students - maybe that was the intent? I think he would make a great professor because he has good stories to tell, you just have to be the right audience for it.

[Lydia Timpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several of these types of Medical casebook and I have to say that this is one of my favourites. The writing style is light but contemplative and the stories are not burdened down with lots of medical jargon designed to make you feel small and unintelligent.
There also isn't a huge swathe of information about the author cutting into the telling of these stories.
We get enough information to develop a kinship with the author but not enough that it detracts from the case files.
I really appreciated that there were solemn stories added in with the more lighthearted ones as it gave you a wonderful overview of the sorts of things that ER staff come in contact with.
Better than most of the autobiographical Doctor's books out now. Highly recommend.

[Kathleen Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. Some great stories from a doctor's point of view. It also gives a doctor's point of view in reference to a patient's sometimes unreasonable thinking. It was very nice to hear a doctor who has the utmost respect for the nurses in an emergency department, as well as other support staff that a doctor depends on to keep all emergency procedures running smoothly and quickly.

[KR Pendergrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful view into the medical world

Reading this as female paramedic with 20 years under my belt, I would personally like to thank this anonymous doctor for saying what we would all like to.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay nice to read into the minds of medical staff in the emergency room. Sometimes I laughed sometimes I was teary eyed.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a stream of consciousness, slipping and sliding from one topic to the next while occasionally ruefully referencing the outline. In spite of, or perhaps because of that, it is compelling. Often irreverant and frequently poignant, Dr. M takes the reader through a series of cases from the Emergency Department. Some cases with happy endings, some without, but all in the author's clear, capable voice. "Pearls" of wisdom are dispensed throughout, but for me, the true value of the book lies in the last chapter, which is titled Souls. The author's thoughts on finding meaning and preserving one's sense of self were profound and brought on some introspection. In some ways, reading this book is like listening to the advice of a dear mentor over a cup of coffee.

[Sharon Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Thought out Medical Tales

It seems like most of these medical tale books have some new stories , but, many of them contain the same old stories with little or no attempts to change them. I'm disappointed when my "new book is way too recognizable. This anonymous doctor has primary tales that are new to his or her
Readers.

[Momo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 out of 5 stars

This was a dnf a few months ago, I just couldn't get through it and haven't picked it back up since.

I won a kindle edition of this in a giveaway but this is still my honest review and unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a LPN for 45 years I could see and relate the humor and the reality of these stories
I won this book through Goodreads’ giveaway.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and sometimes shocking stories from a retired ER physician. I listened to the audio version of this book and feel like the somewhat monotone voice of the narrator enhanced the snarky sarcasm (where it was intended).

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

Great read!!! Very funny and heartbreaking... You see through the authors eyes about life and death in the emergency room

[Hung Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mình chưa đọc nhiều sách thể loại này lắm. Nó vừa hài hước, vừa nghiêm túc và triết lý, tuy đôi khi tác giả hơi lan man. Nhiều đoạn mô tả chấn thương khá là "sống động". Nhìn chung là một trải nghiệm thú vị. 4⭐

[Collette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining.

[Eleanor With Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. (With the occasional horrifying medical story.)

I have accidentally sold this book to two medical professionals by describing the three pages of insect-in-ear stories.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG, so much fun to read what an ER doctor really thinks of his patients. Spoiler alert: He's an intelligent human who sees us for who we really are.

[Kimberly Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read!

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was neither amusing, interesting or humorous. Just boring. Now I can't even remember how or why it was on my to-read list?