If you call me at 1:19 am complaining of nausea and vomiting, and I assume that you will follow my instructions to go to L&D.
Fail on Patient #1.
I assume most patients would show up for her surgery.
Patient #2 also fails.
Patient #1 calls at 3:30 pm, complaining of nausea and vomiting. Shelly, working phones, didn't know that I had talked to her earlier and told her to go to L&D.
"Oh, that's what the doc said this morning when I called, but I didn't feel like going."
***FACEPALM****
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
A compliment, I think
When the OR staff, in the middle of a bitch of a laparoscopic case involving a woman with a BMI significantly north of 60 tell me:
We'd rather be here than in the general surgeon's or ortho's room.
This is even with frequent cussing coming from my mouth. My assist was cussing too, and he rarely swears.
We'd rather be here than in the general surgeon's or ortho's room.
This is even with frequent cussing coming from my mouth. My assist was cussing too, and he rarely swears.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Grace
I was waiting for a delivery the other day so I wandered over to the hospital library to read some journals while waiting. I grabbed a recent issue of Medical Economics and read.
For those not in medicine, MedEc is a journal that is a mixture of business articles and essays reassuring us that we have chosen a noble field. Well, one essay was an internist talking about how to handle difficult patients (a subject which is of interest to every field within medicine...except pathology). And she ended it as saying these patients present us with the chance to show some grace.
In my current position, I have plenty of opportunities to show grace. Last weekend, I got multiple phone calls from this one patient. I finally told her Sunday to call first thing today and we'd get her in. She called 3 minutes after the phone lines opened and I saw her this morning.
Not an easy patient. Multiple psych issues on top of multiple medical issues. But she likes me and hasn't done some of the stunts that she has for other docs (hence, the reason why she has been booted out of many docs' practices).
And she's not my only one like that. I haven't figured out why, but the difficult and crazy people like me. Maybe like seeks out like. ;)
For those not in medicine, MedEc is a journal that is a mixture of business articles and essays reassuring us that we have chosen a noble field. Well, one essay was an internist talking about how to handle difficult patients (a subject which is of interest to every field within medicine...except pathology). And she ended it as saying these patients present us with the chance to show some grace.
In my current position, I have plenty of opportunities to show grace. Last weekend, I got multiple phone calls from this one patient. I finally told her Sunday to call first thing today and we'd get her in. She called 3 minutes after the phone lines opened and I saw her this morning.
Not an easy patient. Multiple psych issues on top of multiple medical issues. But she likes me and hasn't done some of the stunts that she has for other docs (hence, the reason why she has been booted out of many docs' practices).
And she's not my only one like that. I haven't figured out why, but the difficult and crazy people like me. Maybe like seeks out like. ;)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
11:19 pm on a Saturday night...
I am asleep, like many people.
My phone rings. It's the call center. Patch me through please.
It's a patient's family member. Who wants me to admit the patient to the hospital (and is calling from the ER's lobby) because she doesn't shower.
I'm trying to explain that not showering is not a valid reason for hospital admission. I'm pretty sure I'm not getting through.
Shift work sounds pretty nice right about now...
My phone rings. It's the call center. Patch me through please.
It's a patient's family member. Who wants me to admit the patient to the hospital (and is calling from the ER's lobby) because she doesn't shower.
I'm trying to explain that not showering is not a valid reason for hospital admission. I'm pretty sure I'm not getting through.
Shift work sounds pretty nice right about now...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Embrace your geekhood
Weird Al is coming soon to a venue nearby. I saw ads today on TV.
Told DH. We both knew that we had to take the kids to their first concert. They LOVE Weird Al...which may have something to do with the fact that their parents play his CDs frequently.
Gawd, I am such a geek!
Told DH. We both knew that we had to take the kids to their first concert. They LOVE Weird Al...which may have something to do with the fact that their parents play his CDs frequently.
Gawd, I am such a geek!
Things can still amaze me...
The shock of bright red hair on a newborn.
The similarity between the appearance of the brain and the ovary.
How tall my daughter is.
How much BLOOD can come out of an arteriole that is less than a millimeter in diameter. ("Where the hell's all of that bleeding coming from?")
How much fun being the first one to cut into an abdomen. Fresh tissue...it is a beautiful thing.
How sweet babies smell.
How can that patient fit into size 2 jeans when she is recently postpartum? (Bitch!)
The similarity between the appearance of the brain and the ovary.
How tall my daughter is.
How much BLOOD can come out of an arteriole that is less than a millimeter in diameter. ("Where the hell's all of that bleeding coming from?")
How much fun being the first one to cut into an abdomen. Fresh tissue...it is a beautiful thing.
How sweet babies smell.
How can that patient fit into size 2 jeans when she is recently postpartum? (Bitch!)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Vacation
Was a much needed escape from daily life.
Went on a romantic getaway with my hubby...only to explore multiple historical Civil War battle sites. ;) It made him happy, so it made me happy. My knee, OTOH, is screaming at me. I might have over done it. The 356 steps at one of the sites was NOT a good idea. Still not sure how I managed that site...
Went on a mother-son bowling outing tonight with the PTA. Evidently, I suck, since all three 6 year olds at my lane beat me. The boy came home crowing about the fact that he knocked over more pins than me. (it wasn't hard to beat me...I'm REALLY bad) Oh, and bowling isn't a good idea with a bum knee.
Caught up on sleep. Took a nap every single day thus far.
Going on a mommy-daughter date this weekend. More Indian food.
Trying to figure out how to retire in 10 years...I could get used to this life of leisure. ;)
Went on a romantic getaway with my hubby...only to explore multiple historical Civil War battle sites. ;) It made him happy, so it made me happy. My knee, OTOH, is screaming at me. I might have over done it. The 356 steps at one of the sites was NOT a good idea. Still not sure how I managed that site...
Went on a mother-son bowling outing tonight with the PTA. Evidently, I suck, since all three 6 year olds at my lane beat me. The boy came home crowing about the fact that he knocked over more pins than me. (it wasn't hard to beat me...I'm REALLY bad) Oh, and bowling isn't a good idea with a bum knee.
Caught up on sleep. Took a nap every single day thus far.
Going on a mommy-daughter date this weekend. More Indian food.
Trying to figure out how to retire in 10 years...I could get used to this life of leisure. ;)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
My hands
I was looking at my hands the other day. I'm ambidexterous, but use mainly my right hand, as most things in this world are designed for righties.
They are surgeon's hands. Nails short. Unpolished. Multiple callouses - for the right hand, one on the lateral side of my thumb, medial middle finger, and on the web of skin between the third and fourth fingers (where the instrument hits when I palm them). My right middle finger has thickened skin at the tip, which is the finger I use to push knots down, especially in vaginal surgery (it is, after all, the longest finger!)
My left thumb has a mirror callous to its twin. My left index finger has one on the medial edge - right where pickups rub.
My wedding set is currently on the window sill in our kitchen. Haven't worn it in a week. Can't remember the last time I wore a bracelet or a watch.
My hands are relatively small, I wear a size 6, but they can hold so much within them...
They are surgeon's hands. Nails short. Unpolished. Multiple callouses - for the right hand, one on the lateral side of my thumb, medial middle finger, and on the web of skin between the third and fourth fingers (where the instrument hits when I palm them). My right middle finger has thickened skin at the tip, which is the finger I use to push knots down, especially in vaginal surgery (it is, after all, the longest finger!)
My left thumb has a mirror callous to its twin. My left index finger has one on the medial edge - right where pickups rub.
My wedding set is currently on the window sill in our kitchen. Haven't worn it in a week. Can't remember the last time I wore a bracelet or a watch.
My hands are relatively small, I wear a size 6, but they can hold so much within them...
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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