No time to post

I know it's been awhile since I've posted. Sorry. But I am in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) this month and I am on-call 11 nights. That translates into 308-330 HOURS that I am physically in the hospital when on call. 28-30 hrs per call * 11 calls = 308-330 hours. And that doesn't take into account the 6-8 hours a day that I am in the hospital the day before I go on call. For a bit of perspective, if you have a "normal" 8-5 job and work 40 hours a week, then in one month's time, you work 160 hours. Needless to say, Beth said to me 2 weeks ago, see you in November (which has TEN GLORIOUS DAYS OF VACATION!!!). I have not gone more than 2 days (and only twice have I gotten 2 days in a row) in a row without having to go to work.

I'm not complaining, I'm just telling you why I haven't blogged in awhile. This month is MUCH different from last month at LBJ. The MICU has patients who are REALLY REALLY sick. Sick enough, that at any moment they can take a drastic turn, either good or bad. It's too early to say if it's going to be a good month. There are several factors that will need to be blogged about when I am not here and the potential for people who need to be blogged about are not around. (I'm fairly certain the previous sentence is a run on, and those of you who have degrees in English will anguish at reading it).

I was on-call the first day, Oct. 1, and I was MISERABLE! I had NO IDEA what I was doing. Luckily for me, the nurses here in MICU are OUTSTANDING! I have learned quickly these past 13 days and my confidence level is leaps and bounds higher than it was when I left here on day 2 after a 30 hour stent on-call. As an intern, most of the medicine I've learned in medical school is theoretical. They teach us about insulin, where it's produced, what it does, and how the body can mess that up. What they DON'T teach us is the Mr. X is a brittle diabetic and even the smallest amount of insulin makes him hypoglycemic and unresponsive. Other patients, who give them MASSIVE amounts of insulin and their sugars are still SKY HIGH. That's what I mean by theoretical. We talk about mechanical ventilation and breathing for patients, but we don't talk about the machines and the 45 different ways you can accomplish the same task, inhilation and expiration. It's just not as simple as "in and out" when the vent is involved.

And so I learn. I try to read. And I learn some more. I ask TONS of questions. And I learn. I have had to tell a family that it's time to say good-bye to their loved one and then write the order to turn off the vent. I've seen lab values that are incompatible with life and have the patient tell me where they are. People are amazing. Medicine is amazing. I wouldn't have it any other way.

On a much different note. Beth and I had the pleasure of Rachel's (a link to her blog, "The Wonder Years" can be found to the right) company at our house last night. She was in town for work and came over for coffee and brownies. We had a GREAT time. I've know her since...6th? 7th? grade. Her husband, too. I have yet to meet Buddy, but hopefully that can happen in the near future. Rachel spent about 2 hours with us and we laughed and talked about work and high school (she's a college recruiter) and had a nice time. I'm glad she came and hopefully she will come again should work bring her back to our neck of the woods. Rachel and I decided that we need to have Becky come to D/FW and we can have a mini-reunion with Eric and Christina since neither Becky nor I got to attend Eric's wedding. There was this hurricane that kept me from getting to Eric's wedding. I'm still a little sad about that. I've known Eric since 1986. 19 YEARS and counting. I've been friends with him longer than anyone outside of family. I hated not being there. Sorry, Eric. Life happens.

Well, I better get back to work. There are labs to check and orders to write.

One more comment. Texas Tech beats u.t. and ends their hopes for a national title.

Sorry, Becky, you are still required to love me and call me your friend. But you heard it here first.