ticktockman

This week's much loathed OB clinical was great, and for all the wrong reasons.

First, my poor patient, about 22 hours postpartum, had a seizure. She has a history of them, sporadically, but hadn't had one since January. Transport had just shown up to take her for a tubal ligation she'd been waiting all day for (without eating), and Grand Mal she goes. I felt awful for her, but it was still really cool and will serve as the topic for an assignment.

Second, I was hoping to see the tubal ligation done. Surgery = fun, and at least it gets me off the floor for awhile, but the instructor had told me she didn't have students see them. Tubals are done in the regular OR instead of the maternity OR, and she didn't have the connections. But a doctor overheard her talking about all this and was cool with another student and I watching. Even better, when we got to the OR she let me place the catheter (which I hadn't done save on a mannequin) and let us scrub in and assist in the procedure, holding retractors and so on. Entirely against the rules, and the doctor knew it. With a wink we made a pact of silence on the matter.

Third, I had to watch a delivery, and while C-sections are fine I am no fan of vaginal birth. Revolting! Yet there I was, holding my patient's leg as she screamed out her latest (mind you, I liked the patient and her husband, but birth...ew). I then had to write a couple paragraphs of my "thoughts and emotions as I watched the birthing experience." I think I captured my impressions well (reprinted below the Spoiler), albeit dressed up and dramatized. I like to give these more free form assignments my own particular voice. This led to a 45 minute one-on-one chat with my instructor, who simply could not figure out how to deal with me.

"I have to write your mid-term eval, and I don't even know where to start." "This [the paper] makes me afraid to have you with patients." And so on. Hilarious!

And over that 45 minutes I think we came to some sort of understanding. She'd clearly misinterpreted a few things I'd said, and while I'm actually quite good with patients, she hasn't been around me enough to notice the interactions (and tends to take over when she is). So it all went very well, though the clinical itself still blows.

For your amusement, vaginal birth impressions:

Not much else happening outside of school. The ladyfriend's ex just went on a mini-rampage and had to be arrested. She'll get a restraining order but is really stressed and understandably not much in the mood for socializing. It's 70 out. Time for a run. Cheers,

-TTm