Today was my first day back at work after my most recent surgery. Yes, that's right, I went back to work 4 days after abdominal surgery. Let's just hope my doctor is not a fan of my BLOG.
As I was working, slowly, today at the office, I realized how naive modern medicine can still be. I was exhibiting the perfect exam. I know in my head that I was going back to work to early, but I had patients to see and a job to do. So, what is the difference in a patient choosing to stop a medicine after I tell them to take it.
Most patients don't understand the biochemical and enzymatic issues affecting their cells. For that matter, most patients have more problems after starting certain medicines than before the doctor gave them the prescription. Case in point, the 40 year old man that has no symptoms what so ever from his hypertension (elevated blood pressure) but has depression and impotence after starting the beta blocker written by the doctor (a specific type of blood pressure medicine).
So, I know that my body is still healing and yet there I was at work. So, how can I presume to comp ell my patients to listen to me....
I found this an interesting ironic humor...
And laughing helped me make it through today
Showing posts with label Medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medicine. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Taking Time
Well, I have now made it through my fifth and hopefully final GYN surgery. I guess it is unusual to write about such personal type of surgery on the internet. But, these surgeries and dealing with my own human frailty has been a profound educational affect on my day to day outlook on life.
My Husband and I are both self employed and when one of us is sick there is significantly less income into our home. I have found that this economic crutch has had me going back to work sooner rather than latter. I, who starting again on Monday, will be telling patients to listen to the advice of doctors, will be going against my own MD's advice. I cannot seem to listen.
I have found that being sick is not the best thing I have ever done. I am so frustrated when I cannot lift a pot of water or pick up my three year old son. I hate hearing my kids talk about being easy with Mommy. But for the last year and a half, I have not had the best time. It seems like I am either getting surgery done or recovering from surgery.
I hope to be all better now, and am looking forward to better times. I am blessed to have been able to have my children before all my female troubles started.
I hope to have more interesting tales in the future.
My Husband and I are both self employed and when one of us is sick there is significantly less income into our home. I have found that this economic crutch has had me going back to work sooner rather than latter. I, who starting again on Monday, will be telling patients to listen to the advice of doctors, will be going against my own MD's advice. I cannot seem to listen.
I have found that being sick is not the best thing I have ever done. I am so frustrated when I cannot lift a pot of water or pick up my three year old son. I hate hearing my kids talk about being easy with Mommy. But for the last year and a half, I have not had the best time. It seems like I am either getting surgery done or recovering from surgery.
I hope to be all better now, and am looking forward to better times. I am blessed to have been able to have my children before all my female troubles started.
I hope to have more interesting tales in the future.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Change Happens...
Its been a very full new year for us here in upper Middle TN. Brian and I have had one meeting after another it seems, and when you add in the kid's events we haven't have five minutes to ourselves as the piles of "tax stuff" in my room can attest to.
I have just returned home from an overnight stay in Nashville, this one for doctor stuff. You might have been at the Capital too much if the Legislators and Lobbyist are starting to ask you if you are there doctoring or farming...
I got to interact with my elected officials at the hill today and watch several of my physician friends do the same. I was really struck by how some of the doctors approached the visits like a lecture with a rigid set of talking points, while I took a more laid back approach. Who knowns which way is better, but I liked mixing in talking points with asking about Mums and making it to state playoffs in Basketball. I admit that I have known my Legislators for a lot longer though.
People - most people - are so busy that they don't take time to get to know their officials and then they expect the legislator to automatically take their position for an issue if something ever does move them enough to call or write.
Our state legislators work long hours, sit through boring and often confrontational meetings to keep our Government going and I thank each and every one of them for it. While I know that I may not agree with every vote they cast, at least I know that my concerns represent a personal face and story to them when I call. I can be grown up enough to agree to disagree on issues as well. I think more people in America have forgotten that critical fact.
Here in America, we are rapidly forgetting that we exist in a government of the people and by the people, and when the people are more interested in their facebooking and texting maybe we the people should reevaluate what that says about us as a whole.
Over the last year, there has been a ton of information put out about Health Care Reform... but after taking some time and thinking long and hard about it, I really think we need patient reform. Americans have forgotten that without an investment from them in the relationship with their doctor there will never be good medicine. And Doctors need to take time to listen to the patients complaints. But that means that patients need to come in focused and not with a laundry list of complaints and forms to fill out. Patients, especially those on government subsidized health care need to be made more accountable for their treatment, and tort reform should have been the basis of health care reform from the start.
How do you fix a broken system that is forced to order 20% of all MRIs in "defensive medicine"?
So even though as I sit here typing with a massive headache, I am glad for my fast paced life and for the work I do for my passions - agriculture and medicine. I fear that today's generation - my generation - is one that thinks someone else is going to take care of the issues and I can just live my life.
I have to counter that with something my Grandfather told me, "If you did not do any work for it, don't complain about it."
Hoping for brighter tomorrows... I have three here at home that need them.
I have just returned home from an overnight stay in Nashville, this one for doctor stuff. You might have been at the Capital too much if the Legislators and Lobbyist are starting to ask you if you are there doctoring or farming...
I got to interact with my elected officials at the hill today and watch several of my physician friends do the same. I was really struck by how some of the doctors approached the visits like a lecture with a rigid set of talking points, while I took a more laid back approach. Who knowns which way is better, but I liked mixing in talking points with asking about Mums and making it to state playoffs in Basketball. I admit that I have known my Legislators for a lot longer though.
People - most people - are so busy that they don't take time to get to know their officials and then they expect the legislator to automatically take their position for an issue if something ever does move them enough to call or write.
Our state legislators work long hours, sit through boring and often confrontational meetings to keep our Government going and I thank each and every one of them for it. While I know that I may not agree with every vote they cast, at least I know that my concerns represent a personal face and story to them when I call. I can be grown up enough to agree to disagree on issues as well. I think more people in America have forgotten that critical fact.
Here in America, we are rapidly forgetting that we exist in a government of the people and by the people, and when the people are more interested in their facebooking and texting maybe we the people should reevaluate what that says about us as a whole.
Over the last year, there has been a ton of information put out about Health Care Reform... but after taking some time and thinking long and hard about it, I really think we need patient reform. Americans have forgotten that without an investment from them in the relationship with their doctor there will never be good medicine. And Doctors need to take time to listen to the patients complaints. But that means that patients need to come in focused and not with a laundry list of complaints and forms to fill out. Patients, especially those on government subsidized health care need to be made more accountable for their treatment, and tort reform should have been the basis of health care reform from the start.
How do you fix a broken system that is forced to order 20% of all MRIs in "defensive medicine"?
So even though as I sit here typing with a massive headache, I am glad for my fast paced life and for the work I do for my passions - agriculture and medicine. I fear that today's generation - my generation - is one that thinks someone else is going to take care of the issues and I can just live my life.
I have to counter that with something my Grandfather told me, "If you did not do any work for it, don't complain about it."
Hoping for brighter tomorrows... I have three here at home that need them.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Learning a bit for YF&R Discussion meet
That's right, as if I don't have enough to do this week. In between getting two girl scouts ready for a Christmas parade, one with a fever no less. Potty training a stubborn two and a half year old, delivering the fruit that the Kindergartner sold for a school project, the 7 am Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee meeting today along with rounds before work and the 7 AM Medical Executive Board Meeting on Friday... I thought It would be fun to fit in a little friendly competition in the Outstanding young women's and the discussion meet.
I admit I love the discussion meet. It was what drew me into my husband's world of agriculture and may me become so passionate about the issues that face the American Farmer. Before my first competition, I honestly thought that "organic" was the only way to eat - never thinking about the environmental impact of that type of farming for large scale production. I never thought about government food regulations, or water regulations. I never realized that most Americans are 4-5 generations removed from a family farm.
I found a great website tonight about maintaining your and my food choices in this country. I have Followed them on Twitter and Liked them on Facebook and hope you will do the same. We as Americans may not like or understand each others food choices - I still don't get veggie burgers - but the great abiding joy of being an America is that I don't have to get it... We have the choice to eat what we like how we like... so Choose2Choose America...
I admit I love the discussion meet. It was what drew me into my husband's world of agriculture and may me become so passionate about the issues that face the American Farmer. Before my first competition, I honestly thought that "organic" was the only way to eat - never thinking about the environmental impact of that type of farming for large scale production. I never thought about government food regulations, or water regulations. I never realized that most Americans are 4-5 generations removed from a family farm.
I found a great website tonight about maintaining your and my food choices in this country. I have Followed them on Twitter and Liked them on Facebook and hope you will do the same. We as Americans may not like or understand each others food choices - I still don't get veggie burgers - but the great abiding joy of being an America is that I don't have to get it... We have the choice to eat what we like how we like... so Choose2Choose America...
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Needing to find my motivation...
Been a while again - this has been a rough year for me and my crew... I have had two surgeries this spring, then Ella had her tonsils removed, then my partner was hurt in a motorcycle accident and the other partner had to go to China to adopt his daughter ( who is too cute ) but that left me and one other doc to fill in for two, and then once all is returning to normal my 2 year old Cord had to have his tonsils out - I raise cute kids with major ENT issues and we are currently putting our ENTs kids through school - Ha ha!!! But somewhere in all that I forgot to sit down and take the time to write out my feelings...
It is good to be taking some time for me again.
As I sit here listening to "I love rock and roll" I am realizing that I should be doing something else much more productive like working out or sleeping but this is more fun.
I am not much happier with health care reform than I was and even less happy with the Presidents "economic Recovery Plan" that is not recovering anything in the part of the Country. People in Washington DC are SO disconnected from the rest of this country. And seem to be only worried with getting reelected. Why can't they all have term limits - you may have heard that POWER CORRUPTS - I am wondering if they have...
I am also still concerned with the fate of animal agriculture and agriculture in general in these modern times when most people are 5 generations removed from a farm. I find it terrifying that people are being mislead with buzzwords like Locovore and sustainable production and that people really and truly feel free range eggs make so much difference to chicken but these same people want the farmer to provide said eggs at the same cost with a markedly increased production cost. People just don't understand that the American Farmer buys all their supplies at retail cost then sells our products at wholesale - not the best business model.
I also spend my days wondering now how much good it does to call politicians - I wore the phones out this spring and summer when I was faced with a 24% pay cut from Medicare (they are already paying me at 1994-1996 rates and they wanted to cut that) and when the wonderful stupid health care bill was being railroaded through the house and senate. And no one seemed to care or to listen to the American People - I thought that they were elected to serve "We the People..."
And now on top of everything else I am juggling - Mom, MD, Physician Leadership student, Farmers Wife, my girls came home tonight with my Mom from a Girl Scout meeting and now they want me to be a girl scout Daisy troop leader - I need a CLONE.
Oh well, I guess I am Standing in deep water and bailing myself out with a straw - yup for you musical folk my droid has now moved on to Jewel....
Night from middle TN. Sweet Dreams...
It is good to be taking some time for me again.
As I sit here listening to "I love rock and roll" I am realizing that I should be doing something else much more productive like working out or sleeping but this is more fun.
I am not much happier with health care reform than I was and even less happy with the Presidents "economic Recovery Plan" that is not recovering anything in the part of the Country. People in Washington DC are SO disconnected from the rest of this country. And seem to be only worried with getting reelected. Why can't they all have term limits - you may have heard that POWER CORRUPTS - I am wondering if they have...
I am also still concerned with the fate of animal agriculture and agriculture in general in these modern times when most people are 5 generations removed from a farm. I find it terrifying that people are being mislead with buzzwords like Locovore and sustainable production and that people really and truly feel free range eggs make so much difference to chicken but these same people want the farmer to provide said eggs at the same cost with a markedly increased production cost. People just don't understand that the American Farmer buys all their supplies at retail cost then sells our products at wholesale - not the best business model.
I also spend my days wondering now how much good it does to call politicians - I wore the phones out this spring and summer when I was faced with a 24% pay cut from Medicare (they are already paying me at 1994-1996 rates and they wanted to cut that) and when the wonderful stupid health care bill was being railroaded through the house and senate. And no one seemed to care or to listen to the American People - I thought that they were elected to serve "We the People..."
And now on top of everything else I am juggling - Mom, MD, Physician Leadership student, Farmers Wife, my girls came home tonight with my Mom from a Girl Scout meeting and now they want me to be a girl scout Daisy troop leader - I need a CLONE.
Oh well, I guess I am Standing in deep water and bailing myself out with a straw - yup for you musical folk my droid has now moved on to Jewel....
Night from middle TN. Sweet Dreams...
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Reflections of the Past
Yesterday was a great day for me. It wasn't anything terribly special, but I made time to see some old friends and former teachers. I went to my Family Medicine's Programs Graduation for their 10th year of graduates last night and got to see some people that I have truly missed having in my life. These were the teachers of my hot headed youth who along with my husband have helped me to realize that taking time to "think before you act or speak" is a good thing, living up to your commitments is required (even when you don't feel like it), and that being a good doctor is worth everything that I gave up to get here.
In today's modern world, you here a lot about what is wrong with medicine, but last night, I spent it with people - young energetic people - who reminded me what is right with medicine.
Drs. Mody were there - they took the time to bring Ella into this world. Even though I was a practicing resident at the time - she listened to my concerns and alleviated my fears through two miscarriages and finally through the birth of Ella and then was there through the terrible fears of Will (my Nephew's) birth. She showed me compassion and grace in all her actions.
Dr. Wright, Dr. Bale, and of course Dr. Clouse was there too. I have worked under their care and training and learned the why and how of modern medical practices from each, although I admit that if I never get up to round at three in the morning again it will be too soon. Dr. V. Reddy taught me about the human heart and how to be concerned about cardiological concerns. And all my teachers in Glasgow never tired of taking TIME to teach a sometimes hot headed young doctor about life, medicine, and patience.
The other best thing about my visit last night was to see the unsung teachers of my youth and to get to hug and thank them for their patience and friendship. The nurses and staff of the TJ Sampson Family Medicine Residency Program are the finest support staff that I have ever had the privilege to work with. Kim, Faye, Angela, Nancy, Beverly, Leigh Ann, and all the other girls that I had the honor to work with on a daily basis taught me so much about being a practing MD. The nurses taught me what to expect from a nurse and from myself. When to work and when to have fun. They expected the best from me and I tried to not disappoint them. In order to be a good doctor, in my opinion, you need to take the time and patience to learn from your nurses and front office staff. They will make you a better doctor.
The other thing I learned in Glasgow, I learned from John Asriel, MD, a teacher who was not there last night and whom I missed. I know that the program will go on, but I feel for the loss of the other residents to not have know him. I remember as I graduated he ask me what I was going to do to stay current in private practice in my hometown in TN... I would like to think that my work in implementing ICU protocols for our hospital, teaching continuing education for the nurses, being in the TMA Physician Leadership College, being a AAFP Key Contact to Congress, Chairing the Pharmacy/Therapeutics committee, and my working the Agricultural world would make him and my other teachers proud of the life that Brian and I made at home.
You are never who you want to be, you are only who you are... looking back I can see the mistakes that I made in Glasgow and in Medical School for that matter. Some were small and some weren't. I can say that I would not be the person that I am today without all of the support that I received in my residency program, so for those people in medical school who think they would like Family Medicine - GO FOR IT... its a great life. I am still proud of my Residency memories and keep my wooden memento box on my desk at work - I cannot keep up with my keys otherwise (a neat desk is a sign of an ill mind someone once told me - so trust me at least my mind is safe). I remember the joking award that I got for seeing the most patients out of my graduating class - I am still proud of that - cause that is what I do every day, see and care for patients.
The sad facts are less than 2% of the graduating classes from medical school choose family medicine and fewer of those choose rural family medicine. The hours are long, sometimes I have little privacy (i.e. getting ask to look at a boil in the grocery store or calling in a prescription right after church), and my financial burden is high with low compensation when compared to medical specialist. Then to hear even friends say - "Oh, so your not a specialist..." Yes I am!!! And proud of it, I am specialist in knowing my patients and knowing many diseases and when and to whom to reffer my patients, I care about prevention and families, and I care about my community. Some of these cares were born in me growing up in a small rural town in Tennessee with little access to health care and wanting to make it a better place and became a resolve when as I went through my medical training each specialty group tried to break my resolve to be "just a family doctor in a small town".
I want you read my blog and live my life and see my world and still say that I am nothing but a Family Doctor. I advocate for medicine and for agriculture, I am a full time working Mom, and I care about my patients and my community.
Think about how proud I am to thank these people that have shaped who I am and think about what you want from your life. America is in a time of change and maybe agriculture and medicine aren't your cup of tea, but I encourage each of you to know who to be thankful too, to know what is worth fighting for, and to be proud about your beliefs...
In today's modern world, you here a lot about what is wrong with medicine, but last night, I spent it with people - young energetic people - who reminded me what is right with medicine.
Drs. Mody were there - they took the time to bring Ella into this world. Even though I was a practicing resident at the time - she listened to my concerns and alleviated my fears through two miscarriages and finally through the birth of Ella and then was there through the terrible fears of Will (my Nephew's) birth. She showed me compassion and grace in all her actions.
Dr. Wright, Dr. Bale, and of course Dr. Clouse was there too. I have worked under their care and training and learned the why and how of modern medical practices from each, although I admit that if I never get up to round at three in the morning again it will be too soon. Dr. V. Reddy taught me about the human heart and how to be concerned about cardiological concerns. And all my teachers in Glasgow never tired of taking TIME to teach a sometimes hot headed young doctor about life, medicine, and patience.
The other best thing about my visit last night was to see the unsung teachers of my youth and to get to hug and thank them for their patience and friendship. The nurses and staff of the TJ Sampson Family Medicine Residency Program are the finest support staff that I have ever had the privilege to work with. Kim, Faye, Angela, Nancy, Beverly, Leigh Ann, and all the other girls that I had the honor to work with on a daily basis taught me so much about being a practing MD. The nurses taught me what to expect from a nurse and from myself. When to work and when to have fun. They expected the best from me and I tried to not disappoint them. In order to be a good doctor, in my opinion, you need to take the time and patience to learn from your nurses and front office staff. They will make you a better doctor.
The other thing I learned in Glasgow, I learned from John Asriel, MD, a teacher who was not there last night and whom I missed. I know that the program will go on, but I feel for the loss of the other residents to not have know him. I remember as I graduated he ask me what I was going to do to stay current in private practice in my hometown in TN... I would like to think that my work in implementing ICU protocols for our hospital, teaching continuing education for the nurses, being in the TMA Physician Leadership College, being a AAFP Key Contact to Congress, Chairing the Pharmacy/Therapeutics committee, and my working the Agricultural world would make him and my other teachers proud of the life that Brian and I made at home.
You are never who you want to be, you are only who you are... looking back I can see the mistakes that I made in Glasgow and in Medical School for that matter. Some were small and some weren't. I can say that I would not be the person that I am today without all of the support that I received in my residency program, so for those people in medical school who think they would like Family Medicine - GO FOR IT... its a great life. I am still proud of my Residency memories and keep my wooden memento box on my desk at work - I cannot keep up with my keys otherwise (a neat desk is a sign of an ill mind someone once told me - so trust me at least my mind is safe). I remember the joking award that I got for seeing the most patients out of my graduating class - I am still proud of that - cause that is what I do every day, see and care for patients.
The sad facts are less than 2% of the graduating classes from medical school choose family medicine and fewer of those choose rural family medicine. The hours are long, sometimes I have little privacy (i.e. getting ask to look at a boil in the grocery store or calling in a prescription right after church), and my financial burden is high with low compensation when compared to medical specialist. Then to hear even friends say - "Oh, so your not a specialist..." Yes I am!!! And proud of it, I am specialist in knowing my patients and knowing many diseases and when and to whom to reffer my patients, I care about prevention and families, and I care about my community. Some of these cares were born in me growing up in a small rural town in Tennessee with little access to health care and wanting to make it a better place and became a resolve when as I went through my medical training each specialty group tried to break my resolve to be "just a family doctor in a small town".
I want you read my blog and live my life and see my world and still say that I am nothing but a Family Doctor. I advocate for medicine and for agriculture, I am a full time working Mom, and I care about my patients and my community.
Think about how proud I am to thank these people that have shaped who I am and think about what you want from your life. America is in a time of change and maybe agriculture and medicine aren't your cup of tea, but I encourage each of you to know who to be thankful too, to know what is worth fighting for, and to be proud about your beliefs...
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