Doctor Psychobabble

It’s Friday night at 10:00 p.m. I just got home from being on call today in neurology. I’m tired and hungry, as always, but incredibly happy and satisfied, not as always.

There are two good reasons for my current state of bliss. The first one being that I have what I named a “platinum weekend” starting tomorrow. In medicine, having both Saturday and Sunday off is a rare occurrence. Us med folks term this wonderful event a “golden weekend.” I’m happy to announce that I not only have Saturday and Sunday off this weekend, but I also have Monday off, as it’s a holiday and I’m not on call. I have decided to call this most pleasurable of events “platinum.” I seriously could not be happier.

The second reason for my joy is that I realized today that I really like being a doctor. While physicianhood and residency are intensely challenging and endless sources of stress, being able to care for my patients is a privilege, which I cherish.

I broke the news to a family today that their mother had a massive stroke, which she would likely not recover from. I was called to sedate a demented patient who was attacking their one to one. But I ended up using words, not meds, to calm him. I pushed two amps of D50. I used phone translation services to clear my patient for an MRI. I consulted gastroenterology for a PEG placement. I convinced the MRI tech to perform an emergent full spinal MRI on my patient.

I did a lot of doctor stuff.

I actually really enjoy doing doctor stuff.

Last night, I went to the pre-opening of an exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, which my partner Micah works for. I wore an awesome dress and heels. I drank free wine and mingled with artsy fartsy folks. I never used the words “NPO” or “bowel preparation.” I had a blast.

I really enjoy doing non-doctor stuff.

I am actually looking forward to cleaning my apartment, doing laundry, going for a long run, and all kinds of other stuff this weekend.

And I might just even sleep in.

Life is good. Very good.

Photo: My arm from last night. Hopefully I will have more photos to upload later. (Come on Vanity Fair photographer!)