back to gynae wards - got to admit i'm relieved, i love obs but i feel more at home in gynae because it's so much easier!
more about my new ward in a bit when i'm more awake, had call last night and it was disastrous. patient expectations are rising higher and higher and we're just not able to deal with them.
i'm expected to drop everything and run to see premier patients for any minor problems, some of which are so utterly ridiculous!
eg. c/o pain but refuses to take painkillers
eg. c/o about the light in the room
eg. c/o about wind in abdomen but refuses meds
they just leave me with a really sour taste in my mouth when i'm expected to mollycoddle them. for goodness sakes!!!!
just yesterday on call, i had 2 cases from the same ward.
first:
lady post PFR/SSF, c/o severe pain "down there"
O/E: vulva not swollen, slightly tender to palpation. vaginal pack in situ
patient crying in pain and allergic to NSAIDS. so i order pethidine.
nurse runs around looking for the key to controlled drug cabinet.
meanwhile, husband comes out and shouts at me. reassure husband, run around looking for key too.
settle another patient, and am washing hands when husband comes out and shouts at me again because no one has seen patient in that 5 min.
hurry nurse up, finally gives jab 15 min after seeing patient.
spend next half hour holding patient's hand whilst she gaspes in pain and falls asleep from pethidine, all the while having to repeat explanation to family members who walk in and husband who shoots me pissed off/ suspicious looks.
demand to see attending who did surgery.
second:
patient post major op (cancer surgery), c/o pv bleeding 5 pads soaked POD 7.
speculum: copious HSF in vagina, evacuate as best as i can. no packing but placed on pad chart.
patient and husband appreciative
both cases left me with a great deal to think about:
1) post op pain is common. but we all have different pain thresholds. but you cannot expect meds to arrive STAT when you say there is pain!!!!!
if you want such wonderful service, pls go to a private doctor. i am but a mere cog in the wheels of the public hospitals, my dear patients.
shouting at me is not going to help hurry up the meds being served. also, you don't have to be so rude about it.
2) my dear patient, pls inform me earlier if you are having such a huge amount of discharge :( :( i was so worried!!!! thankfully it resolved.
3) i think we should treat all patients equally, subsidised or private. but i guess that's not possible
ok i'm not sure if i'm talking sense. had 1 hour of sleep last night, so been awake for about 36 hours other than that 1 hour of sleep. very tired.
more later (remind me about eye candy!!!!)
