For the Love of Call

Call nights are 30 hours spent in the hospital with very little sleep...often times, none. I do this every 4th night on this rotation. Needless to say, I am a bit lethargic and have a hard time finding my way home afterwards some times. Anyway, here are a few things that happened this last call:

There is a call room for med students to sleep in. I knew I had a couple of hours, so I went to go to sleep. This is a room that cannot lock, and is opened by a code on the door. Well, I opened the door and there was someone I didn't know sleeping in there and he/she (I am not sure) had his/her scrubs off, laying on the chair. Who takes their clothes off in a room that anyone can enter? I presume this was a 3rd year med student because otherwise this person would have known that was a bit weird and if he/she got paged to something important, they would be late! Just a little odd. Anyway, although I was slightly amused, I was annoyed because then I had to go find a floor to sleep on for a few hours...what a punk!

The frustrating and not-entertaining-at-all moment that I experienced was right at the end of call. The 30-hour mark for the shift is at noon, and we are supposed to be out of there. Well, I have a patient who is a kidney transplant patient, so I had to wait, and wait, for the nephrology team to come round on him. Well, here I am, a med student who has forgotten all of the kidney diseases I learned in my first licensing exam, and so tired I can barely remember my own name and address. The attending doctor walked up with his team (all males: Fellow, 2 residents and a med student), and they all stood around me while he asked me questions about the kidney that I couldn't remember (this is what we call 'pimping' in medical lingo :-) )...for ten minutes! I know that most of the questions I probably could have answered if I was halfway awake, and I know that I didn't know a few things about my patient that I should have, but I was disgusted because here was this man who was keeping me from my bed and feeling the need to make me look and feel dumb in front of his whole team who actually knows what they're talking about. I am still angry about it, so maybe I will feel better now that I have written this down. Ah...the joys of being a med student on call! :-)

News Media

This post has nothing to do with medicine, but I felt the need to write something about it. No matter where your political beliefs lie, I think we all know that media outlets are skewed towards one side or another. Yes, I got angry at many of the news outlets during this past election who seemed to have sold out to our current president, but I know that there are now many who are, for some reason, so angry at Fox News. Case in point, this article http://www.slate.com/id/2232563/ . I don't understand why a party who has a president in place from their party and control of both houses feels the need to attack one news channel who doesn't agree with them. You are welcome to explain to me why this is such a big deal.

Anyway, today I was very impressed with the media from both sides when they refused to not address Foxnews as an established news channel (as suggested to them by certain members of our President's cabinet). I am open to all of your opinions...I guess I just don't understand what the purpose of this attack is when there are much more important things to focus on.

Why use your talents for good when you can use your talents for AWESOME!

Many of you know that I have struggled living in Utah. I have started reading this blog, Seriously So Blessed (you can see the link under 'Other People's Blogs'). It is a member of the church who made a mock blog at first, but it has become a hit. I think it is absolutely hilarious, and I am so glad that there is someone else who thinks the culture here is a little peculiar. The title of this entry, "Why use your talents for good when you can use your talents for AWESOME?" was one of the comments made after a blog entry about the author learning how to make rolls (while in a super cute apron and heels, of course). Anyway, let me know what you think!

Tip of the Day

So, from my time spent on trauma, I realized that when people come in from car accidents or other trauma and are unconcious, sometimes that only thing that is found with people is his/her cell phone. We had to have a social worker skim through one patient's cell phone to try to figure out who emergency contacts might be. So, if I may suggest, make sure you have a contact that is listed as Mom/Dad/Husband, etc just in case you are ever found unconcious.

"Sexually Active"

This post may be a bit vulgar, but I find the humor in medicine. Reading my friend Lara's blog reminded me that I wanted to ask everyone that reads this blog what it would mean if I asked you if you were "sexually active." I have learned that this is not always clear to people what this means. In fact, a woman recently said no until I clarified and said, "So, you're not having sex?" She replied, "Not really." I said, "Okay, so when did you last have sex?" "Last week." Okay. Maybe I wasn't clear. Another illustration of the fact that being "sexually active" is not clear came from a resident. "Are you sexually active?" Woman responds, "No." "Okay, well you have evidence of genital warts so you must be sexually active." Woman, "No. We just get naked and he just rubs against me." I never would have thought to ask about this scenario. So, what does "sexually active" mean to you?

How to Be the Perfect Woman

Oh, I knew I would get your attention with that title. Admit it, everyone of us as women want to be perfect. We set unrealistic expectations for how we should look, what our accomplishments should be, how our families should interact and that we should always somehow feel incredibly excited and happy about everything. I think it is time we all get over it. We are so busy being frustrated about the fact that we aren't that woman we think we should be, that we don't realize how amazing we all are. I look at all of you who are my friends...wait, I guess people who aren't my friends probably don't read this blog. Anyway, I look at all of my friends and family members and I am amazed by each of you. However, all too often, we are our own worst enemies, and we think we don't measure up (Who is setting these stupid unrealistic expectations anyway?).

I guess the reason for this blog is because I saw a friend who I thought was so much better than me in every way (gorgeous, fun, smart...you know the type ;-) ), and I found out that she was really struggling and in a deep depression. So, I guess that point I am trying to make is to realize how amazing you are...because I know you are amazing, and everyone around you knows how amazing you are, so get with the program. :-)

That is all.

You're Just Getting OLD!

So, after spending a few days in the emergency room, I can give you several "illnesses" that do not require an emergency room. Or, as one of the gastroenterologists put it when I called to ask about a patient, "These are the people who are costing the system millions! Tell the patient that!" I didn't feel like giving the patient a lesson about economics, so I am telling you about it instead.

1. Old woman who is "just not hungry." Her daughter was freaking out wanting her mother admitted. I'm sorry, but all labs were completely normal. What can I say? She's OLD! And, it's not an emergency! Go to your primary care doc in the morning.

2. Wanting to get a test that she missed the appointment for. Sorry, you will have to reschedule the colonoscopy. We can't have it performed at 10:00 at night just because you showed up at the emergency department.

3. Urinary tract infection. Well, maybe this could become an emergency. Not very likely in a young woman, though. And, the main reason the girl came to the emergency room was because she didn't have insurance. (This is a whole different topic)

These are just a few examples. However, I have also seen plenty of people who did need to be there including the guy I got to suture up who had fallen 20 feet...COOL. Oh yeah...he was okay. (just in case you thought I was being insensitive)

However, if your mom is getting old and it is making you sad, that is DEFINITELY not a good reason to take her to the emergency room.