Who Else Feels Crappy?

[mommy2three]

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I am tired of spending three hours in my car a day
And my car just started making strange noises
I am tired of waking up at 4 am so I can be on the road by 6am


One word - traffic - Chicago traffic is seriously stinky

I am majorly stressed and tired and have a headache

I swear I failed the stupid PE - took it first week of April

Oh yeah and I have my daughters graduation from 8th grade and step 2 ck both within the next two months

I need a week on a beach with fruity drinks in umbrellas 🙁

 

[Gfliptastic]

Having been born and raised on the Southside w/ 30-some odd years of living in Chicago, I felt a traffic pang reading your post, and feel a lil crappy now too!

I'm NOT going back either. IL has some gnarly taxes, yet is one of the most bankrupt!? No thanks!!!

I'm a Chicago tourist now that's it!

 

[QofQuimica]

To continue this theme (I guess since you are a mod this is still on-topic lol), a relieving intern asked me about the code and whether I got to participate.

Well, it's a vent thread, so us venting about the crappiness of codes is entirely appropriate. Not to mention that I'm also the OP, and I say that this discussion falls under the purview of my intent for this thread.

Between the both of us (since you are not my resident...I don't think lol), I am probably going to be the slowest med student to a code. 🙂

Although it would be sheer awesomeness if I were your resident, alas, I'm not. I'm on vacation this week, so definitely wasn't me at your code. Even if I were your resident, while I don't fault you for your opinion (and obviously share it), I suggest keeping it to yourself. You're supposed to be enthusiastic about the fine procedure opportunities provided to you by a dying person. So don't go around telling people that you don't want to do chest compressions.

I've also heard patients' wishes for "a la carte" resuscitations. In light of this code talk, I am super duper duper relieved that basically everyone in my family I can think of is DNR. Seeing/participating in what would be done to my loved ones if they weren't DNR squashes any of my previous thoughts of personal protest against their wishes.

Before I was saddened by my mom's DNR...NOW I'm like DON'T YOU MANHANDLE MY POOR DYING MOTHER YOU BASTARDS!!! 😀

I tell anyone who will listen that I want to be DNR/DNI now, at age 38. I've spent enough time in ICUs to know that I want nothing to do with that scene, even if it means I'll die. Interestingly, no one I've spoken to about this wants to honor my request because of my age. I wonder how old I need to be before people will feel comfortable about letting me be DNR/DNI.

 

[wholeheartedly]

spent my entire shift trouble shooting one dang instrument after another...literally all of it...

if you all become docs and your lab tests are delayed its crap like that and being understaffed.

 

[Gfliptastic]

It's a mild paradigm shift to me. To think of a code blue as nothing more than a training exercise for the most part.

At 35, I find myself thinking about my wishes. I mean, before this, I am "young" of course save me. However, if you do believe in a Creator/deity/God, who's to say that if I need resuscitation at some point, that it isn't just my time. Seems rather humanistic to do codes on people, pseudo-philosophically speaking. I'm still on the fence about this.

And so much for patient autonomy, as far as your wishes, huh? Maybe a tattoo of your attorney's # on your xiphoid will suffice to show you are serious? A trinket necklace w/ the same info, in case someone needs to apply cricoid pressure, perhaps?

 

[JourneyAgent]

It's a mild paradigm shift to me. To think of a code blue as nothing more than a training exercise for the most part.

At 35, I find myself thinking about my wishes. I mean, before this, I am "young" of course save me. However, if you do believe in a Creator/deity/God, who's to say that if I need resuscitation at some point, that it isn't just my time. Seems rather humanistic to do codes on people, pseudo-philosophically speaking. I'm still on the fence about this.

And so much for patient autonomy, as far as your wishes, huh? Maybe a tattoo of your attorney's # on your xiphoid will suffice to show you are serious? A trinket necklace w/ the same info, in case someone needs to apply cricoid pressure, perhaps?

Yeah. I'm in the don't want any part of codes camp too. I was the muscle on enough chest compressions on the elderly to know I don't care to ever do it again. The amount of pressure you have to put on the chest to cause it to perfuse the tissues is way more than you think until you doing it yourself full WWF style and your attending say "harder!".

That's why Q says she feels satisfaction at getting the DNR ahead of time. That is the big problem with codes is not having the DNR and not knowing the DNR status. And then trying to communicate to family what a code means for their loved one in a culture where death and the brutality of Medicine never take place except when and where it does. I agree with Q, the medicine takes place in the palliative discussions with family. The rest is bloodsport.

We just have no language or philosophy or style to deal with death in our culture and so being the one running a code is about as enticing as getting eyeball surgery.

 

[CajunMedic]

Well, it's a vent thread, so us venting about the crappiness of codes is entirely appropriate. Not to mention that I'm also the OP, and I say that this discussion falls under the purview of my intent for this thread.


Although it would be sheer awesomeness if I were your resident, alas, I'm not. I'm on vacation this week, so definitely wasn't me at your code. Even if I were your resident, while I don't fault you for your opinion (and obviously share it), I suggest keeping it to yourself. You're supposed to be enthusiastic about the fine procedure opportunities provided to you by a dying person. So don't go around telling people that you don't want to do chest compressions.


I tell anyone who will listen that I want to be DNR/DNI now, at age 38. I've spent enough time in ICUs to know that I want nothing to do with that scene, even if it means I'll die. Interestingly, no one I've spoken to about this wants to honor my request because of my age. I wonder how old I need to be before people will feel comfortable about letting me be DNR/DNI.

Q, you've hit the nail on the head with your last few posts on this topic. When I was a sparkly new EMT-B, I lived to do chest compressions. One of my Field Training Officers informed me she never went lights and sirens while working a code and really preferred not to work them at all- I was horrified. Fast forward 10 years: now I'm the FTO, not wanting to work them, or run L/S to the ER. I've come to realize that 90 percent of them are futile for various reasons, and like you said, even if we get them back, what did we save, a corpse with a beating heart? I hated those calls when you got on scene and the whole fam damily is there screaming "Save Mama!!!!" But mama has been bed-bound and comatose from end-stage Alzheimer's for 3 years, is on HOSPICE, but doesn't have a DNR. What, pray tell, do you expect me to do?

I think that the public has an unrealistic expectation of what CPR is and what it can/can't do. Plus AHA only seems to focus on the positive outcomes instead of what really happens in their PR campaigns.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Not to derail the I feel crappy thread, but does anyone who has kids want to comment on the being DNR thing?

I don't really see myself wanting to have people go crazy trying to get me back, but I wonder if it's different if you're a parent.

When I worked in the blood bank my hospital did these hemipelvectomy/sacrectomy surgeries, and the patient would be in the OR all day and often get in the neighborhood of 120-140 units of various blood products. When we had a presentation on what exactly the surgery involved and then looked at the post-op survival time, it just didn't make sense why anyone would put themselves through such a horrendous procedure for such a seemingly small benefit. But then I read a story about a woman who had one done, and she talked a lot about her kids.

So just curious about how parents feel about this sort of thing.

 

[sindadel]

I'm a 35 year old mom and I want DNR tattooed on my chest. A month on CCU made my mind up definitively. The best outcome from resuscitation is a fellow who, though, pleasant enough, will likely never be able to live independently again, due to his anoxic brain damage. Maybe a group home, if he is very lucky. 🙁

 

[Gfliptastic]

Where to start!?!?

So my favorite-ist patient so far in 3 weeks of IM who I admitted from the ED for history of falls and altered cognition. Sweet 80 year old lady (and her sweet funny 81 year old husband). Our ED CT was inconclusive for subacute parenchymal bleed or mass. Either can explain her dysarthria. We (and her PCP) order up an MRI w/ gadolinium. And...YUP, it's a brain tumor.

The neuro doc and I discussed the results w/ her husband, and he cried. These are times when our "training" is necessary. I had some sort of something welling up I had to suppress.

As I walk out of the hospital from all that, my cousin calls me and tells me my godmother had a massive stroke. She can't talk and is quite weak on her entire right side.

I wish I was making this stuff up. I FEEL CRAPPY!!!!!!

 

[wholeheartedly]

🙁

 

[sindadel]

gflip, I am so sorry. 🙁

 

[QofQuimica]

Where to start!?!?

So my favorite-ist patient so far in 3 weeks of IM who I admitted from the ED for history of falls and altered cognition. Sweet 80 year old lady (and her sweet funny 81 year old husband). Our ED CT was inconclusive for subacute parenchymal bleed or mass. Either can explain her dysarthria. We (and her PCP) order up an MRI w/ gadolinium. And...YUP, it's a brain tumor.

The neuro doc and I discussed the results w/ her husband, and he cried. These are times when our "training" is necessary. I had some sort of something welling up I had to suppress.

As I walk out of the hospital from all that, my cousin calls me and tells me my godmother had a massive stroke. She can't talk and is quite weak on her entire right side.

I wish I was making this stuff up. I FEEL CRAPPY!!!!!!

Sorry about your grandmother. 🙁

FWIW, I don't think there is anything wrong with crying with your patients and their families about something as crappy as a newly discovered brain tumor. Obviously you can't get totally hysterical, because you won't be of any use to anyone like that. But if you get a little teary and cry a bit with a family you connected to, so what? In my experience, families actually appreciate seeing that their situation affects you in more than just a professional capacity.

This idea that you have to be detached and disinterested in order to be a good physician is stupid. It makes you a less effective physician, not a more effective one. I know what it feels like to lose a family member or friend, and I've long given up on trying to pretend that I'm not affected by someone else's loss. When discussing end of life issues, I do say to families something along the lines of that if this were *my* mother or father or sister or spouse, I would do X, Y or Z. It's still their decision to make, but don't underestimate the power of showing some human side when you talk to people about emotional situations. In fact, I'd argue that part of your job as a physician working with patients at the end of their lives is to help their families bear the burden of letting go of someone they love. Sometimes I almost feel like I'm giving people "permission" to do what they know is "right" for the patient. I say that because people can carry a lot of guilt about not "doing everything" for their dying family member, even when it's futile.

 

[Gfliptastic]

We had kind of a "granola" psychologist who taught a psych lecture or two and he told us the detached doctor is kind of "old school". Like you posted, patient's do better appreciate "genuine" emotions from their doctors.

But it's endemic. When I delivered that dead fetus awhile back, I reverted to my "mask" even tho I wanted to just hug the couple and cry w/ them. IDK, maybe I can "undo" what was created. I mean, my dad died when I was 18. I actually went to therapy a decade later to "learn" how to be open to my emotions. It's counter-productive to squash them I suppose. Considering I spent a pretty penny on 8 months of therapy learning how to "free" them.

Another good post, Q!!

To add to my previous post, in the ridiculous irony of being in med school, a man in his 60's w/ a stroke became one of my new patients in the ward.

Am I in an episode of Scrubs or something?? lol

 

[Carrie Bradshaw]

Just got fired. After 3 days of working lol. Oh well. Guess filling in wrong orders wouldn't last long.

 

[wholeheartedly]

This isn't at all on par with some of the more serious crappiness issues some of you are dealing with but....


.............WTH is up with the blizzarding in MAY!!! ugh.

 

[Elewynne]

Scored way below my AAMC test average on my actual MCAT, not sure I'm going to apply this cycle now. Worked SO DAMN HARD for that test, but got incredibly sick on the couple days leading up to it. Ugh.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Sorry to hear that Elewynne, that sucks. Probably TMI but I got my first bladder infection ever 2 days before my GRE exam. That literally was a painful exam to sit through.

Speaking of sick, I currently am. well still sick, been sick for almost two weeks now... but the sore throat came back and I can't hear out of my right ear.

The good news is I can't hear the lab analyzers alarming at me very well so it's much less annoying than usual, lol.

 

[Gfliptastic]

Sorry to hear about your pre-MCAT illness too.

SO MUCH to be said about damn cortisol and it's immunosupressing MOA. Something pre-meds can do in preparation for med school is relaxation techniques at the very least. Mindful meditation is probably the "easiest" to learn but hardest to accomplish.

I got super sick 2x in basic sciences/pre-clinical which I don't think is bad in 2 years. Thanks to learning mindful meditation. Of course, I will point out that it didn't stop me from dragging my flu-y butt to the library and doing some "light studying" to the tune of ONLY 6 hrs/day until I got better.

Boooo cortisol, making everyone feel crappy!!!

 

[JourneyAgent]

Sorry to hear about your pre-MCAT illness too.

SO MUCH to be said about damn cortisol and it's immunosupressing MOA. Something pre-meds can do in preparation for med school is relaxation techniques at the very least. Mindful meditation is probably the "easiest" to learn but hardest to accomplish.

I got super sick 2x in basic sciences/pre-clinical which I don't think is bad in 2 years. Thanks to learning mindful meditation. Of course, I will point out that it didn't stop me from dragging my flu-y butt to the library and doing some "light studying" to the tune of ONLY 6 hrs/day until I got better.

Boooo cortisol, making everyone feel crappy!!!

Very true.

Now. If there is one among us who can mindfully meditate their way through the germ infested minefield of a pediatric ward. Then they are no longer trapped in the circle of reincarnation. And only walk among us out of compassion.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Very true.

Now. If there is one among us who can mindfully meditate their way through the germ infested minefield of a pediatric ward. Then they are no longer trapped in the circle of reincarnation. And only walk among us out of compassion.

 

[QofQuimica]

You *will* get sick on a peds rotation, but it will be the little coughing, snotty outpatients that give you their crud, not the neutropenic getting chemo/sickler infarcting their spleen/CFer waiting for a lung transplant that will do it. Fortunately, kids usually aren't all that sick. But when they are, they really are.

I've had a rash of patients with newly discovered cancers lately, all late stage bad ones. Yesterday it was pancreatic head, already metastasized and complete with significant pulmonary embolism. The one before that was stage 4 lung cancer. Guy was still smoking, of course.

Those of you who are med students, pay attention to how your mentors break bad news to patients. The day when it will be you doing it comes sooner than you realize.

 

[Gfliptastic]

Very true.

Now. If there is one among us who can mindfully meditate their way through the germ infested minefield of a pediatric ward. Then they are no longer trapped in the circle of reincarnation. And only walk among us out of compassion.

W3RD!

One of those lil bug-factories got me. Not sure which one, since my suspected encounter was a mom who brought in 3 kids of differing ages w/ the same symptoms. Work hazard for sure.

In respect to what Q is talking about I definitely need to be more pro-active. I missed a few palliative med consults last week I should have asked to be a participant, but I found myself working up other patients or checking labs instead of broaching that subject w/ my intern & attending.

Palliative med consults are about 1x/week w/ me. I need to go to as many as I can.

 

[QofQuimica]

In respect to what Q is talking about I definitely need to be more pro-active. I missed a few palliative med consults last week I should have asked to be a participant, but I found myself working up other patients or checking labs instead of broaching that subject w/ my intern & attending.

Palliative med consults are about 1x/week w/ me. I need to go to as many as I can.

You really should. It's almost more instructive to see how people make a mess of it than it is to see how they do it well.

 

[phys2med]

Ended up with a B in orgo 2. So I won't be applying with a 4.0 sgpa. Oh well im more upset about the time I took out of my mcat studying for the final in an attempt to make an A. Two grueling weeks left of all day studying for a test that seems to destroy most people. Hard to stay positive at times just for a chance to apply.

 

[Gfliptastic]

IM totally blows! Not only do you have to pre-round. There's AM rounds. Then Grand Rounds. Then afternoon rounds. M&M happens occasionally. And if your team is fortunate enough you have to do ED admits. And sometimes there's "long call" which puts you on admissions 4pm-9pm. For the grand sum of 7am-9pm.

On top of it all, I have to study for the shelf. Which I find myself NOT doing!! After 5pm my desire to study drops to 0.18%

I've had 9-5's, and it's NOT really work per se if I compare it to those jobs. Rounds is standing/sitting around thinking. Working up patients isn't arduous. I absolutely luv it!! If I ever find myself breathing heavy after an "intense" focused physical exam, I'll switch places w/ the patient. It's not tough. If I ever break a sweat in the hospital it's because I decided to run up 3-4 flights of stairs.

However, a 10 or 12 hr day is just as exhausting!!

I think I'm just old?!???!!!! IDK.

 

[mommy2three]

And the guinea pig passed away last night

I seriously need a vacation

 

[wholeheartedly]

Shy polite blonde female + high mileage sorento + car salesman = attempted screwjob on the trade-in and no deal


😡

I just want to ditch this lemon before my trip home. Any assertive SDN males want to volunteer to get me a good deal? I'll gladly pay you 200 bux if you can get me a better trade in price 😛

 

[DrZed]

Shy polite blonde female + high mileage sorento + car salesman = attempted screwjob on the trade-in and no deal


😡

I just want to ditch this lemon before my trip home. Any assertive SDN males want to volunteer to get me a good deal? I'll gladly pay you 200 bux if you can get me a better trade in price 😛

As someone who's recently bought a car, I would say check what your car's current trade-in value is via kbb or just google it. Also check the price of whatever you're interested in. When you come in, it's good to be shy. Let the salesman talk. Don't give them any info. Be vague. Once he gives you the price + trade in, leave to "think about it."

That's my experience.

 

[Jlaw]

Shy polite blonde female + high mileage sorento + car salesman = attempted screwjob on the trade-in and no deal


😡

I just want to ditch this lemon before my trip home. Any assertive SDN males want to volunteer to get me a good deal? I'll gladly pay you 200 bux if you can get me a better trade in price 😛

Never show your full hand when buying a car, keep the car purchase and trade in separate until the last moment otherwise they will just play the two prices off of each other...i.e. good deal on car but bad trade in, or good trade in and bad deal on the car.

First decide what you are buying and what its worth. If its a new car the max you should pay is dealer invoice. Make them give it to you or go find it online. If its used you should be getting a bit of a discount from listed Blue Book.

Once you have the price points go to the dealer and tell him what car you want, let him talk, price it out etc, and then counteroffer with your research. If he agrees then get it in writing and then bring up the trade in. If he doesn't agree then casually mention the trade, i.e. ask "do you guys do trade ins? Maybe if I could sell my old car it would make it a bit easier". If they say yes then say "actually on second thought I want to keep this a cash sale", take it off the table before they make you an offer. Push them on the price a bit more, say you are ready to buy today, etc etc. Leave and go home for a day or two to think about it if necessary. Eventually they will give you the price you want or close to it, at this point once the deal is all set to be written up bring up the trade in. At this stage the salesman is already mentally spending his commission and the manager is all prepared for him to close, you've given them a taste and they will be more aggressive to get the sale, your job is to use this to get them more and more desperate to the point that they start making offers that they would never normally agree to. Tell them you changed your mind and want to do the trade in, then just casually say "well all I need is blue book and I'm all set". When they push back you need to push harder and tell them you simply won't take anything less than blue book, if you have set the hook deep enough they will cave and you'll get the best price and the best trade in.

Word of warning: To make this work you need to shop around and find a dealer who is willing to haggle and a bit dumb. I have been asked to leave a few dealerships before so you might want to give them a bit more wiggle room than I do- i.e. agree to $200 over invoice on the car, or a few percent under blue book for the trade in. You will still be getting a much better deal than most people. Good luck!

 

[wholeheartedly]

Thanks for the input. The problem is my credit union loan officer was giving me advice and checked a black book price and told me to stay between 15800 and 14800, which seemed high to me given the mileage on my car and my quick blue book check without knowing my exact trim style & options. Dealer came in at 10,600, so that really threw me a bit. I walked. I'm searching online and KBB doesn't have all the ability to select all of the options in my trim level and the convenience package, and is giving me around 12220 for excellent and 11,870 for very good condition trade-in. Edmund's lets me select a few more options and is coming in around 14000. With NADA I can't even select the right stuff.

so tl;dr : I'm having trouble even figuring out how much the trade-in is worth to push for due to varying info.

 

[DrZed]

Llike Jlaw said, they can honestly mess around with the trade-in value as much as they want. They could give you 1 dollar for it or 20,000. It's up to them. If they know right away they have the trade-in, they will adjust the price of the new car to match.

Ex) 20,000 car. Cash as is out the door price is 18,000. You do a trade in, they could keep the car at 20,000 and give you a (4,000 trade in) then with taxes and fees it comes back out to 18,000. That's why it's better to see the price of the car first, then add the trade in and see how low it goes.

The buyer's best weapon = walking away.

The only time these rules don't apply is if your current car is on death's door. In which case you need a new car asap and you just get the fastest deal you can.

 

[Jlaw]

Thanks for the input. The problem is my credit union loan officer was giving me advice and checked a black book price and told me to stay between 15800 and 14800, which seemed high to me given the mileage on my car and my quick blue book check without knowing my exact trim style & options. Dealer came in at 10,600, so that really threw me a bit. I walked. I'm searching online and KBB doesn't have all the ability to select all of the options in my trim level and the convenience package, and is giving me around 12220 for excellent and 11,870 for very good condition trade-in. Edmund's lets me select a few more options and is coming in around 14000. With NADA I can't even select the right stuff.

so tl;dr : I'm having trouble even figuring out how much the trade-in is worth to push for due to varying info.

Ok it sounds like your loan officer may be a bit high since your own blue book search showed basically 12-14k. I'm assuming the real value is somewhere between what the dealer offered and the 14k. So a "fair" price would probably be something in the middle. Regardless of what the true value is you are obviously being screwed at 10,600 because 2 out of 3 estimates you've gotten have some back way over that.

Search your car online and look for the same car or similar for sale and see what they are going for because that is probably what the dealer will be reselling it for at the end of the day. Then when you go back and the trade in subject comes up just be scientific about it- this is what I want, here is the kelly blue book value, here is the edmunds value, and here is what other dealers and private sellers are selling this same car for. They will try to tell you they need to replace tires, or detail it, etc and it is costing them money but honestly they can detail the care for about $25 and as a dealer even a whole new set of tires probably only costs a couple hundred so there is no reason they shouldn't at least meet you in the middle.

Remember you have the power, you have the money and you decide how much they get to make.

 

[Jlaw]

Oh I forgot to add, try shopping around too, get the best prices from each dealer then play them off each other. i.e. if one place gives you a great price and crap trade in, and the other gives you a great trade in and a crappy price then selectively share that info with the other dealers when you are negotiating...i.e. show the best of each and tell them thats what they have to beat.

Buying a car is a big smoke and mirrors show, but its serious money, most car dealerships will happily let the meek pay thousands more than the customers who know how to negotiate but at the end of the day all a dealer wants to do is move cars, volume is what matters to them because it will get the attention of the factory and will earn them all kinds of discounts and kickbacks which let them make alot more money.

 

[beBrave]

Life can be rough, you just have to keep moving forward.

 

[DrZed]

Life can be rough, you just have to keep moving forward.

"Life's a dirty game, you gotta play dirty to win it." - Harris

 

[kayak30]

I feel crappy today...this pre-med process is so stressful, I'm having a difficult time making a decision about a possible MS since the post-bac went, well, downward. My practice MCAT passages in BK PS are super low...my best friends dad's 1 year suicide anniversary is today, still no luck shadowing a DO, and another one of my pets is ill...first it was the dog's pericardial effusion, now it's the birds egg laying infection issues...

 

[kayak30]

Life can be rough, you just have to keep moving forward.

thanks for reminding us all 👍

 

[Gfliptastic]

Double reason for feeling crappy.

1) I caved to the sentiments of the other younger IM rotation students who convinced me that since some of us are getting an uber rare 2 day weekend (we go in for a 12 hr shift tomorrow) - we should go get s****y-wasted and tear up Baltimore. So I gave into peer pressure, which is weird because YES they are my peers, but they are all like a decade younger than me. It's a strange dichotomy we all deal w/ right?? lol

2) I participated in every pre-game drinking game they offered up. Flip cup, baseball, beer pong. Proud to say my long dormant liver obliged. However, by the time we even made it out to the bars, I was so full of liquor and beer, I ordered one beer, walked to the dance floor, did the whole "grind on some random gal" deal, and my body told me "NO SIR, it's 2:00am, time to go or I will use vomitus to make you leave"

Thankfully I was able to sleep out my hangover. I'm fine now, but for those first few hours of sleeping I was a mess. I had the liquor vice-grips on my temple.

I partied like a 25 year old.

^^^^^
Post of shame.

 

[JourneyAgent]

Double reason for feeling crappy.

1) I caved to the sentiments of the other younger IM rotation students who convinced me that since some of us are getting an uber rare 2 day weekend (we go in for a 12 hr shift tomorrow) - we should go get s****y-wasted and tear up Baltimore. So I gave into peer pressure, which is weird because YES they are my peers, but they are all like a decade younger than me. It's a strange dichotomy we all deal w/ right?? lol

2) I participated in every pre-game drinking game they offered up. Flip cup, baseball, beer pong. Proud to say my long dormant liver obliged. However, by the time we even made it out to the bars, I was so full of liquor and beer, I ordered one beer, walked to the dance floor, did the whole "grind on some random gal" deal, and my body told me "NO SIR, it's 2:00am, time to go or I will use vomitus to make you leave"

Thankfully I was able to sleep out my hangover. I'm fine now, but for those first few hours of sleeping I was a mess. I had the liquor vice-grips on my temple.

I partied like a 25 year old.

^^^^^
Post of shame.

Nice. I had some out of retirement and off the bench performances myself this year. I've since ducked the temptation a few times. I can't do hangovers like I used to. I tapped out at the same time you did--pre-puke barely.

 

[Gfliptastic]

Nice. I had some out of retirement and off the bench performances myself this year. I've since ducked the temptation a few times. I can't do hangovers like I used to. I tapped out at the same time you did--pre-puke barely.

I don't feel crappy physically I'd say. Mentally, yes. I've been a slug all day. I even managed to bust off a mini nap while on the couch watching a very good French Open match.

It's college all over again!

'cept my grades don't really count so the fact I haven't studied for my end of IM shelf isn't really pushing me or giving me anxiety.

Oh well. I have 7am-7pm tomorrow. If I fall asleep in front of the tv again, that's not a bad thing.

 

[Gauss44]

I had a disgusting experience and was wondering what you would do in a similar situation?

When I was volunteering in the emergency room, a patient with an unknown illness walked right up behind me without my knowing. I was going to say something so I just as I turned around I opened my mouth and took a deep breath. While doing so, that patient started coughing right at me (big nasty deep, etc.), and it nailed me in the mouth, I inhaled it too, and her spit went all over my face (from the cough). I was so so so grossed out.

For the sake of caution, I wished I had brought along some listerine. I didn't. So I walked to the nearest, somewhat private drinking water machine and rinsed out my mouth, and took an alcohol wipe and wiped off the area around my mouth. It was really a messy cough. Still very grossed out.

For other reasons, I've almost gone for 48 hours without any sleep. Landlord's been making a lot of noise. He literally knocked down the other side of the same wall I sleep next to without notifying me. And now wants to rewire my apartment on Monday at 9am (notice my late night schedule). I feel his disruptions have taken a toll on my MCAT studying and my performance at work. I will call a lawyer to see if there's anything I should do to stand up for myself. Problem #1 is that that takes time too, away from my studying.

(And the other problem is, back in December landlord said he wants to replace my floor as well. Last time that took 3 months, which is about all the time left this year for MCAT. I fear that if I bring it up, he'll want to do it right away. Getting on his radar or bad side might trigger that to.... :-( This leaves me in a very unpleasant corner.

I'm feeling royally grouchy right now.😡

 

[wholeheartedly]

(And the other problem is, back in December landlord said he wants to replace my floor as well. Last time that took 3 months, which is about all the time left this year for MCAT. I fear that if I bring it up, he'll want to do it right away. Getting on his radar or bad side might trigger that to.... :-( This leaves me in a very unpleasant corner.

I'm feeling royally grouchy right now.😡

Sorry about the gross-out and landlord issues. Despite all of the headaches my house has given me, and it's given me more than a few and I definitely don't recommend owning one to most people, that's one thing I like about owning my own space and being the master of my own domain.

On the first day of my vacation I spent some time hanging out at the urgent care, where I was subsequently hooked up with the following 1) codeine cough syrup (2) an inhaler (3) Tusselon Perles and (4) antibiotics to take if I tested positive for Pertussis which is apparently making rounds in adults around here who have been vaccinated as adults.

On day two of my vacation I spent the day in a drug induced stupor. Did I mention that I spent the previous 3 months completely rearranging all of my various schedules so that I could sneak home to surprise my grandma with a visit on her 90th b-day? She'd been disappointed that I couldn't make it home for her party in July but I managed to work things so I could get home on her actual b-day. Instead I spent the day home sick in bed unable to make the 14 hour drive.

Not sure when I'm going to be able to get back and see my family. Damn homesick too. 🙁

edited to add* Also my dang bed broke... and not even doing anything fun....

 

[QofQuimica]

I had a disgusting experience and was wondering what you would do in a similar situation?

When I was volunteering in the emergency room, a patient with an unknown illness walked right up behind me without my knowing. I was going to say something so I just as I turned around I opened my mouth and took a deep breath. While doing so, that patient started coughing right at me (big nasty deep, etc.), and it nailed me in the mouth, I inhaled it too, and her spit went all over my face (from the cough). I was so so so grossed out.

For the sake of caution, I wished I had brought along some listerine. I didn't. So I walked to the nearest, somewhat private drinking water machine and rinsed out my mouth, and took an alcohol wipe and wiped off the area around my mouth. It was really a messy cough. Still very grossed out.

First and most important thing you do any time you're exposed to body fluids on the job is to file a report with the Employee Health Center (or whatever organization handles employee exposures at your hospital). They will help guide you through the rest of the process, like finding out what if anything you were exposed to, getting any necessary prophylaxis, etc. You also should file the report because if you wind up needing medical treatment, you won't get it covered by the hospital if they don't have that report on file. So do it, asap.

For other reasons, I've almost gone for 48 hours without any sleep. Landlord's been making a lot of noise. He literally knocked down the other side of the same wall I sleep next to without notifying me. And now wants to rewire my apartment on Monday at 9am (notice my late night schedule). I feel his disruptions have taken a toll on my MCAT studying and my performance at work. I will call a lawyer to see if there's anything I should do to stand up for myself. Problem #1 is that that takes time too, away from my studying.

(And the other problem is, back in December landlord said he wants to replace my floor as well. Last time that took 3 months, which is about all the time left this year for MCAT. I fear that if I bring it up, he'll want to do it right away. Getting on his radar or bad side might trigger that to.... :-( This leaves me in a very unpleasant corner.

Can you move? It sounds like this housing is more trouble than it's worth. Though moving is a royal PITA too....

 

[Gauss44]

First and most important thing you do any time you're exposed to body fluids on the job is to file a report with the Employee Health Center (or whatever organization handles employee exposures at your hospital). They will help guide you through the rest of the process, like finding out what if anything you were exposed to, getting any necessary prophylaxis, etc. You also should file the report because if you wind up needing medical treatment, you won't get it covered by the hospital if they don't have that report on file. So do it, asap.


Can you move? It sounds like this housing is more trouble than it's worth. Though moving is a royal PITA too....

I wonder what the likelihood is of catching something from exposure like that after I rinsed out my mouth? Percentage wise, how many emergency patients would you guess have something serious and contagious from (what I described)? I kind of don't want my department to know I filed a report over getting coughed on, even though it was the ultimate of nastiness (explained above). If this story changed a little by word of mouth it might be "funny" enough to spread into my references and lors. And since this is the non traditional forum, I admit that I don't want my age broadcasted either which is sure to accompany medical records.

I'll sum up real estate around here like this (picture to follow):

And you'll pay at least $1000 a month for most studios. I think NYC, sf, and Boston share all that.

 

[Gfliptastic]

I was going to gripe about how in order to get a "golden weekend" off, the chief decided to schedule Fri & Mon long-call "book ends". But reading this most recent crappy situation of bad living sitch and getting coughed on w/ your mouth opens doesn't really compare.

If you would like some reassurance, you can PM me and I can go over a long elaborate pathophysiological explanation of how you are most likely safe, thanks to our wonderfully set up oropharyngeal-pulmonary-alimentary protective system.

And maybe that doesn't matter. It might be the physical act of getting coughed into that is worse than the remote possibility.

 

[Shjanzey]

I took the MCAT again. I felt absolutely horrible afterwards and was an emotional wreck. Objectively I know I did better, but emotionally I keep wanting to pick apart every question in my mind while convincing myself I bombed it in the process.

 

[Amygdarya]

A non-trad applying to medical schools this cycle... can I please join you in whining?

Ugh, do I hate retaking prerequisite classes!
I have an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from a foreign school (one of the top schools in a country that has a good reputation for its higher math and science education - but who cares, right?), which means plenty of hardcore chemistry, physics and math. I have a PhD in Microbiology from a US medical school and years of both basic science and clinical research in infectious disease (conferences, publications, yada yada; I got my permanent residency aka green card based on my research work). But. I still had to retake every prerequisite course because, even though I had already taken their advanced versions, I had to take them at an *undergraduate* *US* school. And I did. I took my undergrad US prerequisites, including undergraduate freaking biology. And, while I was at it, I took a bunch of other classes and earned more than 90 credits with 4.0 GPA in 2 years while working full time (and research is not a 9 to 5 job) and doing a bunch of other stuff adults do - fellow non-trads, you know what I mean. But guess what? I still haven't (re)taken O-Chem (that is, I did take it back in my home country, but it doesn't count). And that's because I can't find a class that will work with my... ahem, work schedule. This Spring semester only 2 people registered for the late night O-Chem class (including myself), and the class got cancelled. So I registered for the intensive summer O-Chem - 2 months of O-Chem 5 nights a week. Guess what? One of my co-workers just quit, and it just so happens that I have to continue her work - which means I have to stay later at work. Which means I'll be late for my class - which would be OK if I were late for the lecture, but no, in their ultimate wisdom my instructors switched the lecture and the lab, so that now every day starts with a lab, and every lab starts with a quiz which is 10% of the grade, and the instructor doesn't allow anyone take it if they're late. I had to withdraw from the class, because I know I'll be late because of my work, and there is no way in hell I can get an A this way.
Ugh. So frustrated. I have taken so many classes already, completed all the other prereqs, but not O-Chem... Going into the application cycle without the appropriate O-Chem credits under my belt. Will try to register for it this Fall... but ugh, and to think that I already took it before!

(oops, sorry for the long rant)

 

[wholeheartedly]

.....

On the one hand, I can understand with the great variability in schools around the world why they would want to see performance at a US school.... on the other hand... wow! that royally sucks. 🙁

But I imagine that with those credentials and stats, once you get everything done, you're probably good to get in, but that really sucks.

 

[Gauss44]

"When it rains, it pours."

I received a written notice that my apartment was going to be rewired on Monday at 9am. So, I called Occupational Health on Monday morning while waiting for the electrician to show up. Occupational Health said that they don't treat volunteers or make reports. I called the Volunteer Office which told me to contact my primary care provider. A few problems: My pcp moved to another city 2 weeks ago. I ran out of insurance the day before my last shift. And so I called the hospital where my pcp worked. A recorded message said, "press 5 for medical emergencies," so I did. A person answered with a strong accent and she couldn't understand what I was saying. I repeated myself several times and called back. I got someone a little better who could understand me. But her job was to take messages. And when I asked her to repeat my message back to me, it was all wrong, again and again. So finally, I asked her to write down my message verbatim which worked. (Grossness warning: I explained that a patient standing very close to me had coughed directly into my mouth. I inhaled it, and got her mucus in my mouth.) Then someone called me back with the message, "We received your message. If you would like to make an appointment call..." Not helpful.

So I continued to wait for the electrician. At 10:30am he called and told me he was running late. At 11:30, I had to leave home for the day. (I wasn't asked to wait for the electrician anyway. The notice only, inaccurately, said that he would be coming over at 9am.)

Monday night, I got a voice message from the electrician. He said that he couldn't get into my apartment. I'm guessing he didn't have a key. Then I checked my email and found a "reminder" saying I had jury duty the next morning at 8am on Tuesday. (It's a good thing I got an email "reminder" since nothing came in the mail.) So I made 2 quick calls that evening: One to the electrician so he knows he can come over any time the next day. And the next morning (on Tuesday) I called building management to give permission for him to use my key. I proceeded to the courthouse where out of about 50, I was chosen as a member of an 8 person jury. The judge eventually called a recess until the day. So I went home and someone had been in my apartment doing work on the vent, but it didn't look like electrician work. So, I left the same message for the electrician (okay to do work anytime Wednesday/tomorrow since I'll be on a jury again). And the next morning, I called management to give permission for him to use my key and... Surprise, an angry landlord picked up the phone and raised his voice. The landlord told me that the electrician couldn't make it into my apartment and that he paid a lot of money... "You better look for another place!" Me: "I have a huge test coming up, that's life changing (MCAT). Can I look in the fall?" LL: "You better start sooner." In other words, I'm getting evicted unless he changes his mind. So, I went to jury duty, came home, and wrote the landlord a letter. I also looked for a place to move too. It seems that rent now starts at nearly $1500 a month for a studio in Boston.

I've been exhausted. The trial I was on finally ended on Thursday. Now it's Friday and it's been pouring rain all day long. I went into Dunkin Donuts to try to get some work done. I grabbed some napkins to wipe water off my shoes. I didn't want to get a chair wet, so I bent all the way over. I forgot that I had new pants on, and accidentally mooned the front counter. It was terrible timing because there was a door to the backroom right behind me swung open and employees started coming out after a meeting or something to see my bare butt. When I went to order my large iced tea, the cashier asked, "Would you like a free donut?" I said, "Why?" It was National Donut Day. Great, just my luck. I mooned Dunkin Donuts on National Donut Day. I won't be going back there for a while.

Healthwise, I'm still feeling fine. Thanks to everyone who responded or PMed.

Update: I filed an incident report today in the ED just to be safe.