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“And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone”- Lyrics to “Rocket Man” by Elton John
No words. I’m tired and post-call. Please enjoy this “trashy” pic taken on my walk to the hospital.
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“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
― John Lennon
The psychiatry consultation liaison service has been kicking my butt as of late. I have not the time to do much else. My life has become dominated by psychiatry. I have meetings and clinics and lectures and endless plans. I feel like I barely have time to catch my breath. Don’t misunderstand, I do love me some psychiatry. But I hear that there is also a whole other world out there, and I’m fantasizing about joining it again. It’s a good thing that I don’t have to concentrate on living to be alive (an obsession one of my patients has). But luckily, life has been filling in all the cracks in the woodwork.
This rambling was brought to you by my I-only-ate-a-cookie-and-a-banana-today brain. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming….
Photo: Taken on my walk home from work. Awesomeness.
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“Thank you for the days, those endless days
Those sacred days you gave me
I’m thinking of the days
I won’t forget a single day believe me”- Lyrics to “Days” by The Kinks
Yesterday was my birthday. It was a fabulous day. My fellow “psychos” were so sweet and wonderful to take me out to a fabu dinner last night. A huge shout out to Daniel, who arranged the whole event and gave me a fantabulous ring as a birthday present. Life would not be as sweet without all of you!
I was incredibly tired today since I stayed out a bit late last night for birfday celemabrations. However, I wanted to run after work. Had a conversation today about how the runs where you have the least motivation and energy turn out to be the best ones, because you feel like you surmounted something big. Today’s run was no exception. I ran through the falling snow. It was simply magical.
However, now I am a bit over-pooped. I have things, which I need to catch up on, but my bed is calling me. I’m hoping to catch up on my readings for class tomorrow. But first, I must feed my food-starved belly.
Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes! It is good to feel loved!
Photo: “Deflowered” taken on my walk home from the hospital today in the falling snow.
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“I’m so happy ’cause today
I found my friends
They’re in my headI’m so lonely, that’s ok
I shaved my head
And I’m not sad”- Lyrics to “Lithium” by Nirvana
Life has been pretty good lately. No complaints. Of course, as my profession has me constantly analyzing myself and my life and my happiness, I have observed that there are a few components which seem to contribute to making me happier. I’ve stated them all a million times before, but here we go again:
1. Walking to and from work. I just can’t emphasize this enough. It is probably the single most important part of my life. Walking in boiling heat, pouring rain and frigid cold allows me to think. It makes me stronger. It provides me with wonderful photo ops. It’s simply the dog’s bark.
2. Having a job where I am busy, challenged, and needed. This is incredibly critical. I need these things in my life. They make me happy.
3. Interacting with people. I need to say hello to the man who drives the hospital shuttle bus. I need to say hello to the janitors and nurses and other ancillary staff. I need to talk to my patients. I need to teach my medical students. I need to learn from my attendings. I need to have lively debates with my fellow residents. This all makes me feel alive.
Today was a great day. It was our dedicated didactics day. Our lectures were on: supportive psychotherapy, forensic psychiatry, advanced psychopharmacology and ethics. Great topics. Great discussions. Fun learning.
Anyway, time to knock a few items off my “to do” list and have some dinner. Until next time!
Photo: “s/p Miss Piggy?” Taken on my walk to the hospital yesterday.
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“You start a conversation you can’t even finish it.
You’re talkin’ a lot, but you’re not sayin’ anything.
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed.
Say something once, why say it again?Psycho Killer,
Qu’est-ce que c’est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away
Psycho Killer
Qu’est-ce que c’est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away”- Lyrics to “Psycho Killer” by the Talking Heads
Today was an epic day. I mean, really great. I just got home from the hospital. It was a 15-hour day. Was on call. Not horrible. Speaking in short sentences because that works with my brain.
My day went something like this. Walked to the hospital. Got sign out. Had a philosophical conversation with my attending about achieving one’s purpose in life and subatomic particles and such. Saw an interesting consult where I really connected with the patient. Did some other things. Went to an residency applicant lunch where I got to answer some questions. Went to a great Grand Rounds on the subject of violence in first break psychosis (hence the quote above). Followed up on some patients. Consoled a family and obtained information from them. Did some teaching in between. Went on call. Saw another interesting case and possibly even did some good. Was asked by my patient if I could be her out-patient doc. Taught a medical student. Took a strange phone call. Made a strange phone call. Did some faxing. Did some follow ups. Walked home.
Yes, I’m talking a lot but not saying much.
I’m sorry, but all the good stuff is in between the lines.
Time to eat!
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Today was my first day on my consultation liaison psychiatry rotation. What the heck is that, you ask? Here is a quick and dirty description from Wikipedia:
Liaison psychiatry, also known as consultative psychiatry or consultation-liaison psychiatry is the branch of psychiatry that specialises in the interface between medicine and psychiatry, usually taking place in a hospital or medical setting. Liaison psychiatry has areas of overlap with other distinct disciplines including psychosomatic medicine, health psychology and neuropsychiatry. The role of the consultation-liaison psychiatrist is to see patients currently admitted as general medical inpatients at the request of the treating medical or surgical consultant or team. This is known as a ‘consult’ and constitutes the consultation facet of the role.
I’ve worked on the “CL” service as it’s known while on call, but this is my first time working during regular hours. It was an interesting day. However, I am very tired for some not entirely known reason. Perhaps it’s the frigid weather and limited amount of daylight.
Anyway, more to come. Promise.
In the meantime, please enjoy the “trashy” photos in this post. All taken on my walk to the hospital.
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“It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.”
– Benjamin Franklin
I am home, post-call from the hospital. Christmas is over. I missed my family, but at least got to hang out with some good friends on Christmas Eve. However, on that same day I went for what was going to be a yummy 12-mile run. But less than half way into it, I had a spill and badly inverted my foot. I thought it might be broken so today I ordered an x-ray for myself. When I went to radiology to have the x-ray performed, the technician said, “where is the patient, doc?” And I smiled and said, “I am the patient!” Anyway, after encouraging the radiologist to read my x-ray in a hurry, he discovered that I actually had an old, healing fracture, but no new fracture related to my injury. Likely just a bad sprain. But it has certainly put a rain on my parade. And I will have to suck it up, be a good girl, and not run for a bit while it heals.
I was reminded today how good work is for the soul. I had gotten a touch of the blues from not working and missing my family. And then I had an awesomely busy day today. It again reminded me how much I love to work. And I had some fascinating cases, including a patient with severe PTSD with psychosis.
It is good to be needed and to work.
I just treated myself by ordering sushi delivery (hey, I have a sprained ankle, I deserve it!)
Time to eat and be grateful for my job.
Photo: “Couch Surfin” Taken on my hobble to the hospital this morning. Part of My “Trash Talkin” Photo Series
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“I’m interplanetary, my insect movements vary
It’s kinky if it’s hair, G, where I’m from
The firehoses blow, it’s purple wind and snow
I do a hit and go, SPLIT
It’s hip, what’s hip? When hip is just the norm
Cause Planets pledge allegiance to the funk in all it’s forms”- Lyrics to “Where I’m From” by Digable Planets
Today was a good day. On my walk to the hospital, I ran into a man who works as a “peer counselor” at my hospital and we had a nice conversation. When I stopped in a bodega on the way home, I ran into the man who recycles my trash and had a nice conversation. When I was walking my dogs in the park after work, I ran into two other folks who I know from the neighborhood. They both said, “hey doc, what’s up?” even though I never told either one of them that I was a doctor. It’s fascinating to me how they may have discovered this fact, and subsequently refer to me as “doc.”
The point of all this is that I love becoming a part of my community. I love that I know the folks who live in my neighborhood, and it brings me joy to know that I have friends interspersed throughout.
Was a busy but awesome day at the hospital today. Tomorrow is the big, yearly psychiatry residency exam. Time to eat and study!
Enjoy the photos with this post, both taken on my walk to the hospital today.
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“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
- Benjamin Franklin
I just arrived home from another marathon day at the hospital on the inpatient adolescent boys psychiatric unit. I have every reason not to be typing right now, yet the comfort and release I attain from blogging is not rivaled by much else, so here we are.
I did not eat today, save for a banana stuffed into my face for “breakfast.” There simply was no time for it. Every moment of my day is occupied by my patients.
I was originally supposed to switch to the inpatient adolescent girls unit next month. However, as there will be no resident to replace me next month on the boys unit, and because the boys unit has been entirely busier than the girls, I received a request to stick it out and continue on the boys unit next month.
I have a million reasons not to do so. The paramount one being that I currently have no life outside of the hospital and I potentially would have one if I transferred to the girls unit.
However, I feel somewhat compelled to continue caring for my “boys.” In addition, I am familiar/get along with all of the staff on this unit. I am so tired that learning a brand new routine and set of staff seems like a huge task at this point.
I would have opportunities to work with girls in the future, if I so desired. (This is me convincing myself.)
Anyway, I will make the official decision by Friday. We shall see how it works out…
I have not eaten real food in over 24 hours, and I can’t begin to describe my hunger right now, so it’s time to Grubhub some sushi and wash the sweat from my fatigued body.
I hope you enjoy the photos with this post, all taken on my walk to the hospital yesterday. My obsession with “trash” aka discarded items continues….
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“They usually call death row the Last Mile, but we called ours the Green Mile, because the floor was the color of faded limes. We had the electric chair then. Old Sparky, we called it. I’ve lived a lot of years, Ellie, but 1935 takes the prize. That was the year I had the worst urinary infection of my life. That was also the year of John Coffey and the two dead girls.”
- Quote by Paul Edgecomb, from “The Green Mile”
I am tired. In lieu of words, please enjoy this photo taken on my walk to the hospital today and the accompanying quote.