Skip to main content

ER Diaries : Being a Zombie doc!

Hey people!

I talk about Emergency medicine and my life around it much, and that’s on purpose. Here’s why:

 My life is wonderful. I really love it. Is it perfect? No. Is anyone’s life perfect? Definitely not. I would never wish to portray my life in a negative fashion and certainly not to wish for sympathy. I would talk about it in an informative way, but even doing that, to be comprehensive, you must hit the low points because all careers have them, and again, just doing that can come off as complaining.







I always end up thinking. I’m exhausted physically. All I have had to eat is a protein bar on my one washroom break in the middle of a 12hour shift .and sometimes not even that. And sometimes partied like crazy. The concoction of being hungry like a pauper or partying like a king makes it all worth living! I haven’t had quality sleep in days, and I feel like no matter what time I leave the hospital, I have left work undone. I miss feeling normal. No matter what I do, I’m behind at home, and I’m behind at work.

I laugh because I know the truth. That while most of my friends have slowly climbed the financial ladder over the course of the last few years , I have remained a very steady straight line. I know eventually that will change or might not. 

It’s just that no one quite understands the schedule, frustrations, sometimes seriously sweet perks like conferences with free biryani! 

My mom is so fed up that she asks one word questions these days. Morning? Afternoon? Night? A night owl by lifestyle I didn’t really have difficulty in fitting in! The most difficult shifts are morning shifts!

I have the opportunity to brag , I tell my friends and family how I feel leading a pack . Attacking a sick person about to die . Trying every possible drug to make him feel better. Celebrating together his wellness. Happiness when shared in a team of about half a dozen people just multiplies.

The Emergency medicine is not a job, it's a lifestyle. The needs of the ER always come first. So try to look on the bright side and see the positives of this lifestyle. 

Life, especially in Emergency Medicine , is all about perspective. So make the best of it and enjoy the adventure.

Once again I repeat 

The moments matter because, comprehensively, these are what we will look back and remember as “the residency years.” I hope you, as well as I, will remember them well!


So far so much
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Experience Based Co Design : BCT Series XXIX

  "Experience-Based Co-Design" we have all witnessed its essence unknowingly . My family home is the example I can reflect on .Growing up I didn't like how my house was designed. We (the whole extended family) wanted my dad to sell the house . Dad let his architect friend design our house and would not sell his house (for obvious reasons!). Mum had to balance out the situation so she decided to make small changes. So, it was one change idea each year .She would talk to us individually and listen to our perspective and review her sphere of influence and the impact /utility the idea had.For my siblings the colors were not welcoming while I pointed the flooring. Mum wanted the stairs to be personalised. My grandparents wanted certain conveniences around the toilets. It took her about 4-5 years to make the house a home that was acceptable . From color preferences to spatial arrangements, each family member contributed insights. The lovely thing about it was , the keystakehold...
6 comments
Read more

Parallel Universe : BCT Series XXX

  Two moments in the ED this week made me realize that I come from a parallel universe. One involved a teenage patient who had applied bronzer that I found while cleaning her skin for a IV cannula which left me surprised as I come from a part of the world where teenagers paint their skin with whitening agents to look more attractive. The second moment was during my teaching session on Organophosphorous poisoning, where I wondered if my accent was causing disengagement . However, I learned that it was simply a rare presentation of organophosphorous poisoning in this part of the world. It felt like I was narrating my adventures from a tropical trek! Have you ever had a moment where your cultural background clashed with your environment ?
Post a Comment
Read more

Lifesupport Courses : BCT Series XXXI

   I  struggled to a complete my ALS bit more than ACLS. ALS and ACLS are advanced lifesupport courses. "ACLS was a cakewalk , why are you struggling here? "Voice in my head kept playing.My mind was a bit more confused . I wondered why my flow was not smooth. We were allotted mentors during the session , they took some time out to practice with me separately where I realised I was mixing subtle things from ACLS with ALS. The defibrillation steps, some of the management. The defibrillator we used back in India was different and the safety issues there were different. Despite having cleared MRCEM OSCE where you do ALS , this was different.Probably because it was appropriate in that setting and the machinery there was familiar. Reflecting from it I realised that my mind was UNLEARNING and RELEARNING. There were times where there was a shortcircuit and fireworks. There is no perfect way of doing things, its what works as per your situation and setting.
Post a Comment
Read more