Elegy

For one of the forgotten ones.

A body was found yesterday morning here in town. I heard this morning who the supposed victim was, police confirmed her identity today according to the online version of our local paper.

I work with the forgotten ones. The ones people gloss over. MR/DD. Drug-addicted. Dirt-poor...and the cycle of poverty continues generation after generation. She was one of these. Her family had been in town for generations...and for generations had been known as "them."

But she did not deserve what the word on the street said happened to her (lets just say I have insider info...one of my last appointments today was her cousin).

Sometimes, looking at the hot blue hair, the poor dentition (a common P.E. finding on my H&Ps for surgery), we have to remember that behind it is a gal...not too different from myself.

There but by the grace of God...

Things this OB-Gyn hates

In no particular order:

1. HELLP syndrome

2. Stage 4 endometriosis during hysterectomies.

3. Repeat c-sections

4. Abruptions

5. C-sections under general

6. IUFDs.

7. Cancer

8. Floppy, grey babies

9. Shoulder dystocia.

10. Severe post-partum hemorrhage, where you end up in the OR after a vaginal delivery.

11. Severe pelvic adhesions while trying to do a surgery.

I've done all of these in the last couple of weeks. Some more than once. Some patients combined several of these into one craptastic case.

Dear OR Gods

Thank you for the awesome day! My favorite assists, interesting cases, ABBA in the background...

I left my first case with a BIG grin on my face and a real sense of accomplishment. This is what surgery at its best is - healing with steel. It wasn't an easy case, but it was a fun one, challenging in the right way. And my patient will feel better than before.

A win for all involved. The two assists (vag hyst) were both saying that is what they love.

Dear Patients,

When I ask you in the pre-operative consult if there are any medical problems that I should be aware of, your bleeding disorder is included in that.

Please don't tell me as I am leaving the room "By the way, a doctor tells me I have a bleeding problem."

And then when I ask if you know the name: "No."

And then when I ask if you bleed too much or clot too much "I don't know."

For some reason, as a surgeon, I CARE ABOUT THAT!!!!!!!!!

Fortunately, you knew the name of the blood doctor and I could get a letter from him.

*facepalm*

Yes, this has happened to me recently.

Spring is HERE!

March madness is on the TV (YEAH BUCKS!). Crocuses are flowering. Daffodils are starting to poke up through the ground. We were able to fire up the grill yesterday for the first time this year. And the boy has (finally) mastered riding a bike without training wheels.

YEAH!!!!!

NO!, part 2

Dear Idiot ER Doctor in smaller hospital next county over:

Yes, I understand that the gal in your ER sees my partner, Dr. Johnson. But you are telling me that she is orthostatic, hypotensive, and blood is pouring out her vagina. I will NOT accept an unstable patient from a 45 minute drive away, so please call Dr. Smith at your hospital. She has GYN privileges at your hospital. And yes, I completely understand that she sees my partner. She could possible DIE in transit. Call Smith.

I needed to repeat that multiple times before he understood no means no.

sigh.

The OR Gods

Are just as pissed at me as the call gods.

:(

Every few months, I operate on someone with a BMI significantly north of 50. I always hate myself in the middle of the case and the next day when my back is killing me. So WHY do I get temporary amnesia a few months later when another shows up needing something? And I then agree to do the case?

I'm nuts.