Kissed You

I JUST REALIZED THAT I NEVER WROTE A BLOG POST WHEN GERMANY WON THE WORLD CUP THIS YEAR
HOW
WHY
I WATCHED THE ENTIRE WORLD CUP SO HOW DID I NOT- oh that's right. I was working.
(*cough*this revelation may/may not have come about because I may/may not have been going through my old posts and may/may not have stumbled upon one from Euro 2012*cough*)


Currently on my last few days of my annual leave.
Literally been doing nothing but sleeping, eating and watching Arrow.

I am a hermit. 

But you all knew that already. 

Actually itching to start work again just to have something to do with my life.
I will NOT be feeling this way next week once I actually have started work again. 

Like I mentioned, I've been watching Arrow - which is an awesome show and one that you should all be watching RIGHT. NOW.
NOW.
NO EXCUSES.
GO WATCH.
Normally I wouldddd try to explain the show and why I love it and yada yada before I start shamelessly spamming you guys with pictures of the lead (oh come on, you all know the real reasons I watch the shows that I watch) but it's been a really long day..

..and so : 

Stephen Amell!
(he plays Green Arrow in Arrow, in case you didn't get that from all the rambling above)

You're welcome.





Bonus : 

1. BECAUSE STEPHEN AMELL LOOKS REALLY FAMILIAR OKAY AND I THINK HE LOOKS LIKE CHESTER SEE BUT RACHEL DOESN'T AGREE AND IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS BECAUSE I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHO IT IS THAT HE LOOKS LIKE 
2. Also, I still really want to marry Chester See
3. This song is officially stuck in my head - nothing to do with the fact that I've had it on repeat for the past 2 hours obvs.
4. Chester See is the singer in that video
5. I feel an inexplicable need to point out the obvious tonight



Ahem.

Excuse me while I go watch the final episode of Arrow Season 1.
Goodnight!

 ~vid~

The Doctor in the House

The thing about us doctors is, we’re not superhuman. 

We don’t have magical healing powers on hand at all times. 

And most importantly (for us junior doctors, anyway) – outside of a hospital/clinic setting, we’re pretty much fish out of water. 


.


My mother went into anaphylactic shock today. 
Started out innocently enough... rashes, itching… but then the dizziness, palpitations started…then the difficulty breathing. 
Textbook stuff. 

And although I have about a year’s worth of experience in handling emergencies, nothing quite prepares you for having to deal with a loved one on the verge of cardiorespiratory collapse. 


I have never before fumbled at taking blood pressure, but today I did.
I have never blanked out while trying to check a patient’s blood sugar levels, but today I did. 

All the while my brain was screaming : Dxt stat! SpO2 monitoring! Cardiac monitoring stat! IV line! Bloods! 

And I was so…helpless. 
I had next to no equipment at home, no medical staff support whatsoever – just a clueless brother and sister-in-law who were looking to me to somehow make things right.

And naturally, naturally, my mother was refusing to go to a hospital.
She could barely stand, and she was just point blank refusing to seek medical treatment.

“I don’t need a hospital, you’re here”

Yes, I’m here, but nothing else is! 


Somehow, through sheer stubbornness, she managed to make it to the car (only after I’d picked up the phone to call an ambulance), and we ended up at the emergency department at the hospital.
Finally, somewhere with proper monitoring and intravenous medication and a nebulizer.
Finally, safer ground.
Finally.

I have never in my life felt so helpless and unsure before, as I did today.
All that my medical training helped with today was with recognizing an impending emergency.




Us doctors…we’re pretty much worthless without our nurses, and our teams and our nice fancy equipment. 
But sometimes, maybe all you need is a helpless young doctor telling you that you need to get better medical attention RIGHT. NOW. 



 . 




At the end of the day, when my mother turned to me and went “I didn’t think an allergic reaction would turn out so bad! I probably wouldn’t have gone to the hospital if you weren’t around. I’m so glad we have a doctor in the house”,
all I could think, was :
you know what, Ma, so am I.


So am I.



~vid~