Patient

in


Usually i'm writing about the recalcitrant patient but today was one of those increasingly rare moments when I really, really liked the patient. but then she was extraordinary. First thing I do when i pick up a chart is to look at the date of birth, she was only 48 or 49- usually one of my favorites, no real problems other than needs reading glasses. When she got up from her chair in the waiting room and started walking towards me, I knew she had had a stroke. While taking the medical history she confirmed this. As I did the exam i sensed her wonderful spirit and liked her immediately.

Then she asked me, " do you like your job?". hmm. how should i answer that question this time. sensing i could trust her, I just plain said, "No." She laughed.


or what about when they say "you're so patient"- if they only knew what i'm thinking.

10 comments:

Lee said...

Honest!

Anonymous said...

I say be honest, too.

Also, I can't wait for this season's first episode of House! I love that show.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

Oh if they only knew.
Isn't it great though, when you connect with someone unexpectedly.
Where ya been? Kayaking?

rdl said...

musing- House is one of my "shows", i used to only have 1 a season; but i got hooked on Gray's Anatomy too ( I always was a sucker for a good soap).
Yo Mare - no kayaking for this girl lately - back to school stuff. when ya comin by?

Lorna said...

when I read this post, i thought right away of "Bloodletting and Other Miraculous Cures". Have you read it?

rdl said...

No Lorna i haven't - but sounds like i should, who's it by?

Lorna said...

try this: http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/702-2258544-9904037?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Bloodletting+and+other+miraculous+cures&Go.x=16&Go.y=9

The auther is David Lam, an ER doctor

ipanema said...

good you don't show it. but i am so sensitive that i know if the person in front of me is hiding something. :)

rdl said...

Ipanema- iknow i just don't have it in me to be warm & fuzzy all of the time; I know in all fairness(to my self and the patients) i should probably find other employment but i'm kinda stuck now after 20+ years. believe me i would love to start over in something creative. Tho i have enjoyed medicine and helping people, i find the work repitive and grueling, which is the fault of the practice for not doing something to prevent burn-out(especially for those of us who have worked there so long). I fortunately only work pt. time and has only been 14 yrs but some have been 20-30 full time. Unfortunately the bottom line is all that seems to matter. c'est la vie.

Patry Francis said...

I miss the work world for exactly that reason--those rare connections.

(Meanwhile, I'm so thrilled. Blogger--or my computer--or whatever it is that's sabotaging me--is letting me wander wherever I want to tonight.)