Quotable Quotes

A man comes in with un-controllable nose bleeding [epistaxis]
"do you have HTN?"
"Yes"
"do you take medication for it?"
"No, I havent taken anything for over a year"
"why?"
"because i have felt fine..."


3 AM on a Tuesday morning working Triage
"I have worms, these worms are eating my nerves. My legs hurt so bad. They are numb. I cant sit for very long because I have no circulation. Oh my god it hurts so bad."
[man then proceeds to lay on the floor in the middle of the triage cubicle]


Recently, we had a 20 something year old girl come in with a fork hanging from the base of her tongue. Apparently she had the stomach flu and couldnt eat for 2 days. After feeling better, she starting eating so ravenously because she was so hungry and somehow stabbed herself very hard with the fork. She couldnt get it out and came to the ER.

4th of July Shenanigans

Worked overnight in the emergency department in Pod D. Along with all the other normal cases, this is where the jail checks come [people who are being arrested and need medical clearance]. This is also where the suicide attempts and mental health patients come. Needless to say, it was pretty busy overnight.  Saw a good amount of motor vehicle accidents and other traumas. Everyone pitched in $5 and at midnight we had a BBQ outside in the trauma bay. It was a fun shift.

Some highlights:

Man comes in with huge black eye, blood in his ear, and lip split open needing stitches
"what happened?"
"i tripped and fell on a step"
"Wow, that must have been a pretty bad fall to get your ear, eye and mouth all at once?"
"yeah,  it must have been the alcohol. I just missed a step"


A prisoner comes in for ingesting a bunch of pills, has 2 security gaurds with him
"I hate white people. And I especially hate blue eyes"
"Well shoot, I guess I should find you another doctor"
[after seeing my name tag]
"Well shit, my grandmothers name was Dot so we ain't gonna have a problem at all"
"wonderful"

First week of the rest of my career

abdominal pains, 3 year olds with arm fractures, IV lines, lacerations, chest pain, casts, splints, traumas, helicopters, suturing, incision and drainage of abscesses, motor vehicle accidents, ultrasounds, jail patients, suicidal teenagers, teenagers being brought in by cops for medical clearance before they go to jail...and so much more. This is just a portion of what the first 3 shifts in the emergency department have been. Add this to the amazing people, practical jokes, pandora playing on the computers in the background, staff willing to help with anything, and fun down to earth residents...it has been a great rotation. I have only worked 3 12 hour shifts and the staff is already starting to recognize me and call me by name, I have made a great impression on some residents, met the program director, and have had a blast with all of this. I could not be happier and I am so glad I have found something i enjoy so much.

At the beginning of my shift today there was a huge accident on the freeway and the entire freeway was closed to clean up the mess.  While driving by, I wondered if I would see any patients in the ED when I got to work. Sure enough, the driver who caused it was in our pod.

PS At the end of my shift, I shook the hand of the doctor who pronounced Rodney King dead. Thats right. Hes practically famous.

Feelin good!

Week of vacation over. 

4th year rotations have begun. 

First up, my first emergency med rotation. SO FREAKIN EXCITED! My first shift isnt until tomorrow so I went in this morning for orientation and was home by 11am. Been studying and gonna start practicing my sutures on some pigs feet [thanks Dad].

tomorrow I start in Pod B...high acuity patients and TRAUMA :) 

Nostalgia?

This week was our last didactic week. Our last OSCEs. Our last shelf exams. Our last time on campus really. I wish I could say I was sad, or that I was nostalgic about it. But no, the only thing that mad me upset was knowing that my friends and I would be splitting up for 4th year....everyone going their separate ways to different hospitals and as much as facebook can keep us in touch, we will be apart.

Today, Thursday June 14, 2012, was the last time i had to sit in that lecture hall. I hope. Unless i failed something...or unless they bring us back for something stupid during 4th year. but otherwise, next time our class will all be in one room is graduation on Friday morning, May 17, 2013. When we get the title 'Doctor.'

studying...

"Welp, at least we can say we will probably be the tannest people at shelf exams tomorrow. Bahahahahaha"
-Nicole to LJ


Update: they were

"There is no such thing as a prescription for marijuana. Yes there is in LA, no there is not in real life"

-Dr White