Reason #261 why path is a better residency choice

[yaah]

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I am on call for autopsies this weekend. And I didn't have to go in today because I just got paged that there are no cases today.

So my on call day (at least so far - still a chance that a new one shows up) can be spent watching football.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

You just jinxed yourself. It's like medicine call where the student announces that the day is most likely gonna be a no-hitter; a comment that is met by curses and a swift backhand to the face...then the drug-seeking candy addicts come out of the woodwork claiming they have anal pain.

Maybe autopsy is more predictable...if you get a page that says no autopsies, I suppose that is more reliable.

My top 5 favorite pages:
(1) Go home (or you can go sleep).
(2) Patient got discharged.
(3) Wanna get lunch? (i.e., wanna take a long break and hide?)
(4) We're at the bar, get your ass here STAT (j/k).
(5) Lecture is cancelled (but don't tell your resident that).

 

[yaah]

I don't believe in jinxes and other superstitious mumbo-jumbo.

If it is going to happen, it is going to happen, regardless of whether I post about it or not. Far be it from me to think that I have so much power that the gods of spite declare that, since I was so presumptuous, someone in the hospital has to die and need an autopsy just so that I regret making such an ill-timed statement.

People believe in jinxes because occasionally it does happen, and based on introductory psychology, this reinforces the belief. OMG, I KNEW it was going to be busy because the other student on my team said it was too quiet!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

If you eat a green Dot, followed by two yellow Dots, to have then eaten another green Dot, your Saturday shall be autopsy-free!

 

[deschutes]

I didn't have to go in today because I just got paged that there are no cases today.

That was very considerate of them.

Imagine what you gave up - the privilege of doing Medicine Teams, rounding on patients for 15 hours and eating MORE hospital food while on weekend call.

My stomach just gave a lurch.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

That was very considerate of them.

Imagine what you gave up - the privilege of doing Medicine Teams, rounding on patients for 15 hours and eating MORE hospital food while on weekend call.

My stomach just gave a lurch.

The staff in the autopsy room at Michigan are very cool. They paged me once when there was an autopsy which was nice. The diener said she paged me again regarding another case but the path research lab where I work when nothing is going on is surrounded by cement walls. It took me 2 weeks to suspect this as different people would repeatedly comment on the fact that I was not responding to any of the pages.

Finally ended up asking one of the lab members about this issue and her answer was, "Oh yeah, you didn't know that? Your pager won't work down here. Look at your cell phone; I bet it's not working either." Where am I going with this? Nowhere. I've got a headache and my stomach hurts.

 

[deschutes]

I've got a headache and my stomach hurts.

I wonder, is that different from saying you have a stomachache and your head hurts?
Or saying you have an ache in your head and stomach?
Or saying both your head and stomach hurt?

It must be the drinkie 😉

Why do people drink till they are sick? (I'm not saying you did.) What a waste of all that alcohol.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I wonder, is that different from saying you have a stomachache and your head hurts?
Or saying you have an ache in your head and stomach?
Or saying both your head and stomach hurt?

"Shut up, you."

It must be the drinkie 😉

Why do people drink till they are sick? (I'm not saying you did.) What a waste of all that alcohol.

The only alcohol that is wasted is the alcohol that is left on the pitcher or the cup.

And yes, it was the drinkie. Andy was a bad Andy but Andy din't do nothing stupid or piss anyone off 🙁

I do make the distinction between drinking until sick versus drinking until buzzed or even drunk. True, there is a fine line between drunk and sick and I made that transition overnight as I was sleeping.

Here's what I don't understand. Hangovers happen because one is dehydrated after getting wicked pissed. Sure but beer for example has 94-95% water (unless you go to Ann Arbor brew pub and order one of the triplebocks). And never in a day would I drink an equivalent volume of 100% water as I would drink beer. So after all that beer-guzzling where one ingests all that water, why does this happen? Clearly, it must have something to do with that 5-6% of that something else that is in the drink but just looking at the sheer numbers (95% vs. 100% water), this is confusing.

 

[deschutes]

If I remember the story right, there was a member of Mensa who in an idle moment calculated that the energy provided by the alcohol in a 2 oz. glass of Scotch on the rocks is less than what would be used up by a person sitting for half an hour.

So theoretically people should be able to sit around drinking Scotch all day and losing weight.

As we know, this is not so.

Intelligence occasionally gets in the way of common sense, in my experience...

 

[yaah]

The staff in the autopsy room at Michigan are very cool. They paged me once when there was an autopsy which was nice. The diener said she paged me again regarding another case but the path research lab where I work when nothing is going on is surrounded by cement walls. It took me 2 weeks to suspect this as different people would repeatedly comment on the fact that I was not responding to any of the pages.

Finally ended up asking one of the lab members about this issue and her answer was, "Oh yeah, you didn't know that? Your pager won't work down here. Look at your cell phone; I bet it's not working either." Where am I going with this? Nowhere. I've got a headache and my stomach hurts.

Well the morgue is surrounded by cee-ment walls and I get pages in there. Must be a dead zone of some sort. I remember I tried to page you once too and no response.

I did have to go in today - because there is no staff help on sundays - have to check everyone's autopsy status and remove waste if necessary. Had to remove the waste on a l'il baby which was sad. But I was just happy the parents refused the autopsy because the terms "multiple congenital anomalies" and "multiple operations" were in the chart more than a few times and I would have been there ALL day and since I have a mild URI that would have been unpleasant. Especially because the diener on call is new and relatively inexperienced and I might have had to do lots of their work.

Deschutes - in my experience scotch drinkers are often not that fat.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Well the morgue is surrounded by cee-ment walls and I get pages in there. Must be a dead zone of some sort. I remember I tried to page you once too and no response.

Hmm...can't explain it. The ironic thing is that the morgue seems more shielded and sheltered compared to G's lab. You tried to page me too? Was this during autopsy? Damnit Jim! That's two cases I missed.

 

[yaah]

No I actually paged you about placentas because the diener said you might be interested. 😕 😕 😕

Too bad you weren't there the day we had the 5 cases. You might have been able to do one yourself and no one would have complained or noticed.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

No I actually paged you about placentas because the diener said you might be interested. 😕 😕 😕

Too bad you weren't there the day we had the 5 cases. You might have been able to do one yourself and no one would have complained or noticed.

Thanks for rubbing it in 🙂
I spent the last week of path back in the frozen room...saw some good cases...even found a good case to present during the last day of the rotation (I ended up switching topics cuz my initial topic was kind of a bore).

Oh well I figure I now have 8 months to do whatever I want now and I was thinking of doing random path stuff on random days. However, I felt that may not be a hot idea considering that other students are rotating in future months. Don't feel like stealin their piece of pie.

I guess for now, I'll stick with the post-doc'ing.

 

[deschutes]

Deschutes - in my experience scotch drinkers are often not that fat.

Since you probably have some years' experience on me when it comes to observing scotch drinkers, I defer to your opinion.

I still don't think it's the most efficient way of losing weight, though.

This URTI... is it everywhere!? The last I heard from friends in Malaysia they were sick as well.

~
Reason #262 why path is a better residency choice - we were miraculously (!) passed by DJPJ69Camaro bomb-posting his "Internal Medicine Prelim Year" query (take a look at the Graduate Medical Forums main screen and you'll see what I mean - as of 5:50pm Mountain Time anyway)

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Reason #262 why path is a better residency choice - we were miraculously (!) passed by DJPJ69Camaro bomb-posting his "Internal Medicine Prelim Year" query (take a look at the Graduate Medical Forums main screen and you'll see what I mean - as of 5:50pm Mountain Time anyway)

Well if I was KJPJ58camaro and went to a forum that had a thread called "Official Anti-Clinical Medicine Thread", I'd pass it too.

Uh oh, that thread is gonna need a bump soon 🙂

 

[yaah]

I am having a weekend completely free of all call responsibilities. And you know what? This happens three weekends this month.

Poor clinicians.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I am having a weekend completely free of all call responsibilities. And you know what? This happens three weekends this month.

Poor clinicians.

I hope you slept in. 😀

 

[deschutes]

Somehow, I doubt it 😀

Hey, you pathologists are clinicians too.... it's just that you aren't on the floors.

 

[Mindy]

I AM at the hospital today. Plasmapheresis for daily TTP all long weekend. My patient keeps getting allergic and bronchospastic and hypocalcemic, so I have been staying literally at her bedside, and actually saying things like "give her 40mg of solumedrol IV now please." And "do we have the epi ready?" ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH! Talk about remembering why I went into pathology.

Also, re: alcohol. I do not think the hang-over is simply a phenomenon of dehydration. I think the metabolites of ethanol (i.e. acetaldehyde) are at least as responsible for the ill effects of a heavy night out. Also I also have heard the theory that weight gain in alcoholics is a function of all of the uninhibited eating (think buffalo wings) that accompanies drinking rather than the alcohol itself. Someone who ONLY drank scotch would lose weight. Uh oh, all these days on call and I wish I could have a night out!

Mindy

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Also, re: alcohol. I do not think the hang-over is simply a phenomenon of dehydration. I think the metabolites of ethanol (i.e. acetaldehyde) are at least as responsible for the ill effects of a heavy night out. Also I also have heard the theory that weight gain in alcoholics is a function of all of the uninhibited eating (think buffalo wings) that accompanies drinking rather than the alcohol itself. Someone who ONLY drank scotch would lose weight. Uh oh, all these days on call and I wish I could have a night out!

I agree with all of that. Beer doesn't have all that many calories. I was even surprised to find out in those Guinness commercials that a bottle of Guinness only has like 120 calories or something? And plus, true Guinness drinkers get the Guinness draught in a can damnit! 🙂

The weight gain is truly from the dietary indiscretions that result from the "drunk munchies." People who drink only scotch may drink so much of it that they just get wasted really quick and simply pass out before they can eat

 

[deschutes]

Epiphany: Apart from that renal biopsy I saw 2 weeks ago, I really haven't looked at any slides since June.

No wonder I'm stressed out and eating so much chocolate.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

well if it makes you feel better, i just got a 6-pack.

 

[deschutes]

well if it makes you feel better, i just got a 6-pack.

Sweetie, you're now a lab rat and enjoying it. You don't have an excuse!

Oh wait, I had forgotten the Step 2.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Sweetie, you're now a lab rat and enjoying it. You don't have an excuse!

Oh wait, I had forgotten the Step 2.

Ha! not today oh witty deschutes! Andy took the day off! Andy didn't even feed his cells today!

Plus, I have to write a best man speech...and I decided to do it today. What better way to do it than with a beer in hand!?!

 

[deschutes]

Y'know, Canadian Thanksgiving only lasted one day.

I suppose the game was a special occasion.

Poor cells. I'm assuming you don't mean your neurons, nor feeding them Crush.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Y'know, Canadian Thanksgiving only lasted one day.

I suppose the game was a special occasion.

Poor cells. I'm assuming you don't mean your neurons, nor feeding them Crush.

no no deschutes, not my neurons.

Crush is an awesome drink...one of my favorite orange flavored sodas. I haven't had that in a long time...hmm...maybe put that on my grocery list. Now that you mention it, Crush would make my neurons very happy.

 

[yaah]

I winged my best man speech. Turned out better that way.

And by six pack, I assume you mean liquor and not washboard abs?

Deschutes when I am stressed I can't eat and only want ginger ale or Fresca. Not even Twinkies interest me.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I winged my best man speech. Turned out better that way.

And by six pack, I assume you mean liquor and not washboard abs?

Deschutes when I am stressed I can't eat and only want ginger ale or Fresca. Not even Twinkies interest me.

Yeah, I just wrote some funny stuff I know about the groom. Funny stuff about our childhood past. Ain't gonna write out verbatim what I'm gonna say so in that sense, I may be just wingin' it too.

Regarding the question, I'm not gonna answer it. You've met me and you certainly know the answer to this [rhetorical] question.

 

[deschutes]

Crush is an awesome drink...one of my favorite orange flavored sodas.

It is also, extremely ORANGE.

Have you ever stood in front of a wall of orange juice/juice blends/concentrate/beverages at the supermegastores? The shades of orange are all different. I find that somewhat disturbing.

Actually, the "Crush" I had in mind was Crush Step 2, hence "feed thy neurons" 😛

I was told that when women get stressed (excited?) they eat less, and when men get excited they eat MORE.

No offence intended, Andy, but even at this distance I can't imagine you having washboard abs.... 😀

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Actually, the "Crush" I had in mind was Crush Step 2, hence "feed thy neurons"

👎

No offence intended, Andy, but even at this distance I can't imagine you having washboard abs....

👎 👎 Boo to you.

Speaking of ppl who don't have washboard abs, this guy is my hero!

"THEY TOOK THE BAR! THE WHOLE F***'IN BAR!"

 

[yaah]

Speaking of ppl who don't have washboard abs, this guy is my hero!

"I owe it all to Little Chocolate Donuts." - Belushi

I thought stressed women tended to eat more? That's the myth I have heard. "Comfort foods" and all that business. There was an episode of Saved By The Bell where Jessie talked about being really hungry when she was stressing over a test.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

"I owe it all to Little Chocolate Donuts." - Belushi

I thought stressed women tended to eat more? That's the myth I have heard. "Comfort foods" and all that business. There was an episode of Saved By The Bell where Jessie talked about being really hungry when she was stressing over a test.

Speaking of Saved by the Bell, I heard that Peter Engel is coming to Michigan to give a lecture at the Business school here. Just an FYI. You can meet him and tell him how much you loved the show 😀

 

[yaah]

I wouldn't say I loved the show. It amused me somewhat, but it also irritated the heck out of me. I would show up with a sign reading: THERE IS NO WAY ZACK COULD HAVE GOTTEN A 1502 ON HIS SAT'S. SUCH A SCORE DOES NOT EXIST.

and also: WHY WAS THAT TABLE AT THE MAX ALWAYS FREE?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I wouldn't say I loved the show. It amused me somewhat, but it also irritated the heck out of me. I would show up with a sign reading: THERE IS NO WAY ZACK COULD HAVE GOTTEN A 1502 ON HIS SAT'S. SUCH A SCORE DOES NOT EXIST.

and also: WHY WAS THAT TABLE AT THE MAX ALWAYS FREE?

Maybe he really got a 1520 but suffered from dyslexia.

 

[deschutes]

"I owe it all to Little Chocolate Donuts." - Belushi

I have had too many doughnuts today. Somebody found a Tim Horton's and brought in a dozen. I didn't know there was a Tim's in this town.

It's now 5 to 5, and this entire afternoon it's just been me, a student nurse and a real nurse handling the main hospital/ER/walk-in/inpatients. All the real doctors are over at the clinic seeing patients. The X-ray tech even took my order before I confirmed it over the phone with staff. Unbelievable.

I thought stressed women tended to eat more? That's the myth I have heard. "Comfort foods" and all that business.

I was thinking of the reverse I guess - when they were excited instead of stressed. Happy stress versus dystress.

On the other hand, I STILL recommend med school for anyone who wants to lose weight.

 

[yaah]

Yeah I think I lost a bit of weight during surgery - the problem would come when I was on call, we would generally get dinner but then nothing the rest of the night, and the following day either lunch or dinner would get left out, depending on the sleep schedule, and wouldn't be that hungry anyway due to fatigue.

Regardless, many things make me lose my appetite. Autopsies are definitely not one of them.

 

[deschutes]

Reason #1261 why path is a better residency choice: A bunch of you saunter down to noon-time CPC rounds early - and the food's not all gone.

 

[yaah]

Reason #1261 why path is a better residency choice: A bunch of you saunter down to noon-time CPC rounds early - and the food's not all gone.

Ha! I have to give CPC rounds tomorrow - well, not really CPC rounds. Just presenting autopsies to the medicine house staff. I managed to work Beethoven into the equation, because his autopsy results and my patient's autopsy results were the same. I will probably get there early too!!

 

[deschutes]

"Hey, let's eat all the lunch before the Internal Med people get here!!"

 

[yaah]

"Hey, let's eat all the lunch before the Internal Med people get here!!"

I was the first one there today and got my choice of lunch. Unfortunately, that choice was

1) Ham and Cheese pita
2) Turkey pita
3) Veggie Pita
4) "Greek" pita

I went for #1. No dessert either.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

All 4 options suck. I feel for ya.