Thread: who?

who is the restless eye?
is he in vinnies or in grenada?

Originally Posted by TheFooBar

When I did peds here the clerkship director had us submit written responses to questions at the end of the clerkship. Here is one question and my response. You don't have to kiss butt, fake interest, or even experience inner joy what you do to impress your attendings. It's possible to get honors on the rotation at the same time you explain in vivid detail why you'd never ever want to do this specialty ever and pretty much hated the last 6 weeks.

I would pay real money to see what FD wrote in response to this question

(Someone a while back commented they wanted to get to know the real me. Here it is. Enjoy)

What was your most difficult experience on the clerkship?


It is interesting that you pose this question, as after having a very difficult day I wrote about my experience. Here, with some minor edits, is what I wrote on that day:

(I realize you probably didn’t intend for such length of response. I apologize for that up front)

I realized that I don't have what it takes to become a pediatrician.

There's one element in pediatrics that sticks with me: a lot of the kids are absolutely terrified of doctors. They were brought against their will to the clinic or hospital, sometimes quite literally kicking and screaming. Then we go in the room and the kid is terrified like he's about to get mauled by a dog. Only this time he's afraid he's going to get shots. Or gagged with the tongue blade. Or have another person use the otoscope in his ears to look at the exquisitely painful TM. I've lost track of the number of times parents have told me that normally their child is very talkative and the fact that they are hiding under mom's chair and pale enough to pass for someone with a hemoglobin of 5 is very unusual. They're terrorized and I'm the terrorist.

This became all too clear when I went to examine one of my patients this morning. He's never liked me. I try not to take it personally as I know he's in a lot of pain that may not be well controlled. He has a brutal disease and the attending isn't a fan of using narcotics on toddlers. He's also a foster kid and the foster family can't stay with him 24/7 making the situation even sadder. When I went in today he was in his high chair eating his French Toast. I didn't know that the attending had just performed a very through exam from head to toe trying to find a source for the new fever. The patient was still angry and mad. I was unaware. I bent down near his high chair to say hello and good morning. Without any warning he took his fork and went straight for my eye. Fortunately he missed and the fork landed on the floor. He immediately looked disappointed, but I don't know if that was because he missed or now wasn't sure how he would eat the remaining French toast. The message was undeniable - I hate you.

I don't fault or judge them for hating me. When I was that age and in hospitals and clinics against my will I was consumed with similar hate. I sometimes joke with nurses and doctors about how horrible of a patient I was at that age, but it's very true. It would take 4 people, one for each extremity, to restrain me to give me a single injection. Fortunately for everybody involved there were far fewer vaccines than now.

It's beyond my emotional capacity to have patients who hate and fear me. Having patients look at me as someone they fear isn't something I can do for the rest of my career. It's easier with the really young or older kids who either have no clue who you are or you can talk with them and develop some rapport. I try to be cute, playful, and gentle with them but it isn't always enough, especially with the toddlers.

After the near miss with the fork that same day I had another patient who I needed to examine her ears. She has a history of ear infections and despises having her ears examined. She has to be restrained by her foster mother. No amount of rapport will change the pain she's experienced and understandably associated with the otoscope. From the moment I touch her ears she start yelling in a rhythmic chant, "ALL DONE NOW ALL DONE NOW ALL DONE NOW ALL DONE NOW ALL DONE NOW" waiting for me to say those exact words to let her know it's over.

I can't wait to say "ALL DONE NOW" for your ear exam. I also can't wait for someone to say to me "ALL DONE NOW" for the rotation to be over so someone else can be the focus of your anger and fear. There's simply no way I could do this for the rest of my life. I hope all the toddlers understand.

I was "that someone" who made the request! It was me, Fooboo boo ! Thank you! =) This is way better than the usual highschool fluff going on around here. I know you like to write, & you love me for being your audience. You LOVE it.
Your biggest fan,
Earthling

house hunters international on HGTV is in grenada!!

they want a 3 bdrm house for 1100/month...even when i was there that was a bit of a stretch...

Originally Posted by rokshana

house hunters international on HGTV is in grenada!!

It's a rerun.

Man, I hate reality shows but I got sucked into that episode, and was rooting for House 3. Hooray for fiscal responsibility.

yaaawwwwnnnnnn

Originally Posted by rokshana

they want a 3 bdrm house for 1100/month...even when i was there that was a bit of a stretch...

Depends on where you look. Up to a year ago you could get a very nice 3+ bedroom for that price, you just had to be willing to be farther from campus.

Originally Posted by Phrenetic

Depends on where you look. Up to a year ago you could get a very nice 3+ bedroom for that price, you just had to be willing to be farther from campus.

This was LAE....

Originally Posted by Earthling

I was "that someone" who made the request! It was me, Fooboo boo ! Thank you! =) This is way better than the usual highschool fluff going on around here. I know you like to write, & you love me for being your audience. You LOVE it.
Your biggest fan,
Earthling

As someone ... many years out of high school I can confirm this is true.

Bowling For Soup - High School Never Ends - YouTube

Originally Posted by Phrenetic

Depends on where you look. Up to a year ago you could get a very nice 3+ bedroom for that price, you just had to be willing to be farther from campus.

Florida is a bit far for most people.