The Nurse
Rachel had been sick for quite a while and I had a bad feeling about it. On Sunday we took her to the E.R. to have an ultrasound which confirmed appendicitis. By the time Mark got to the hospital she was being transported to the O.R for surgery, in hopes that we would get it before it ruptured. Dr.Lawson and and Dr. Meyers were the only two on call for surgery. Lawson is a resident and Meyers is an intern. I changed into scrubs and put my name on the board to operate.
Mark came up to the O.R and we spoke momentarily before I scrubbed in and began the procedure. Dr. Lawson assisted and everything was going as planned, unfortunately we didn't get to the Appy in time and we had to deal with a rupture. It was far more invasive and took longer than expected, I heard Robert came in so I had him paged up to the O.R to get his opinion on leaving a tube for draining any excess fluid. He came up and agreed, after we closed Robert left and Dr.Lawson and a nurse took Rachel to Post OP Recovery.
I spoke with Mark and by this time Jenn had arrived and attacked me with a majority of questions. What caused the abrupt rupture was taking medicine for her flu, which I think was pending appy waiting to happen. Although her symptoms weren't very clear since appy doesn't usually come with high fever as Rachel had. She has spent the last few days recovering at the hospital. I was on call Sunday night to Monday and was with her when she woke up and she asked if I performed the surgery and I told her I did, she seemed to like that. The first 2 days were a bit rough but today she was feeling much better and I took her to walk the halls this afternoon, she went to visit David and was able to eat something. If all continues to go well she might come home as soon as Friday, pending how well draining is going and making sure there isn't an infection.
Monday morning Robert and I had the certification which is terrible. We completed our demonstration and passed with flying colors and afterwards the professor informed us that we only had to show up on lecture days (Mondays) to go over new material on how to use the tools. Because this is a medical school we're sitting in an 4 hour class learning procedures we've performed hundreds of times. It's become visibly boring, now we get to spend 2 hours a week in lecture and the other 6 of our week in the hospital working. Lovely news to hear on a 16 hour shift.
Jenn was going to stay at our house while Rachel recovered in the hospital but instead she opted to stay at a hotel. I picked Ella up from school today and she came to the hospital to see Rachel, she brought her a flower that she picked at school. They were in Rachel's room for about 4 hours watching a show together and looking at magazines. Ella brought Rachel her nintendo ds with The Sims and her iPod so she could listen to it while in bed. I have to hand it to Ella, she's been amazing through all of this. Her school pictures were today thankfully Ella doesn't destroy her hair and hopefully they turned out nice.
I have to get my blood drawn tomorrow due to a chemical exposure that Abby, Carter, Kerry, Robert, Mark, and I were exposed to while on call. I think it could be my mind but they say it starts with a small red rash on your hands/forearms.
My mother called and has informed me she is coming into town on Friday, I can't say that I'm excited. Reilly is going through this swing love phase, he loves being in his swing vs. any other bouncer, playpen, carseat, high chair, crib. It's dreadful! I'm also going to Rachel's school tomorrow to get the work she's missed over the last week and to talk to her teachers.
Mark came up to the O.R and we spoke momentarily before I scrubbed in and began the procedure. Dr. Lawson assisted and everything was going as planned, unfortunately we didn't get to the Appy in time and we had to deal with a rupture. It was far more invasive and took longer than expected, I heard Robert came in so I had him paged up to the O.R to get his opinion on leaving a tube for draining any excess fluid. He came up and agreed, after we closed Robert left and Dr.Lawson and a nurse took Rachel to Post OP Recovery.
I spoke with Mark and by this time Jenn had arrived and attacked me with a majority of questions. What caused the abrupt rupture was taking medicine for her flu, which I think was pending appy waiting to happen. Although her symptoms weren't very clear since appy doesn't usually come with high fever as Rachel had. She has spent the last few days recovering at the hospital. I was on call Sunday night to Monday and was with her when she woke up and she asked if I performed the surgery and I told her I did, she seemed to like that. The first 2 days were a bit rough but today she was feeling much better and I took her to walk the halls this afternoon, she went to visit David and was able to eat something. If all continues to go well she might come home as soon as Friday, pending how well draining is going and making sure there isn't an infection.
Monday morning Robert and I had the certification which is terrible. We completed our demonstration and passed with flying colors and afterwards the professor informed us that we only had to show up on lecture days (Mondays) to go over new material on how to use the tools. Because this is a medical school we're sitting in an 4 hour class learning procedures we've performed hundreds of times. It's become visibly boring, now we get to spend 2 hours a week in lecture and the other 6 of our week in the hospital working. Lovely news to hear on a 16 hour shift.
Jenn was going to stay at our house while Rachel recovered in the hospital but instead she opted to stay at a hotel. I picked Ella up from school today and she came to the hospital to see Rachel, she brought her a flower that she picked at school. They were in Rachel's room for about 4 hours watching a show together and looking at magazines. Ella brought Rachel her nintendo ds with The Sims and her iPod so she could listen to it while in bed. I have to hand it to Ella, she's been amazing through all of this. Her school pictures were today thankfully Ella doesn't destroy her hair and hopefully they turned out nice.
I have to get my blood drawn tomorrow due to a chemical exposure that Abby, Carter, Kerry, Robert, Mark, and I were exposed to while on call. I think it could be my mind but they say it starts with a small red rash on your hands/forearms.
My mother called and has informed me she is coming into town on Friday, I can't say that I'm excited. Reilly is going through this swing love phase, he loves being in his swing vs. any other bouncer, playpen, carseat, high chair, crib. It's dreadful! I'm also going to Rachel's school tomorrow to get the work she's missed over the last week and to talk to her teachers.
posted by Elizabeth Corday at 9.3.06
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