Aristus
Aristus's Journal
Talk to me.
I'm officially past the point of "don't-give-a-shit", Talk to me...
I love you all...
These hotel glasses have little cushion-y slipcovers on their bases.
Lots of granite-top surfaces in here. I presume they've had glasses-casualties in the past.
When one considers I'm getting slowly plowed here in this room, lots of cushions make good sense...
What's everybody drinking this evening?
I've started with a Columbia Valley Cabernet.
But I'll be switching to Absolut vodka as the evening progresses.
I realize it's a Wednesday night, and not everyone can tie one on. But life has been sufficently bleh lately that I'm going to celebrate an out-of-town trip by getting plowed and staying up late...
I got some bad news in my patient reports yesterday in clinic.
One of my patients died in hospice last week.
She was one of my mainstream patients, not one of my homeless patients. And when I say 'my' patient, I really only visited with her once. She was a regular of my supervising physician. I visited with her at the beginning of August when she came in for a medication refill. She was on some pretty heavy narcotics, because she had been diagnosed with metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. I always refill narcotic med requests without hesitation for patients with terminal diseases.
She was very sweet; I liked her a lot. She looked hearty and healthy, too. Not like someone in her condition might be presumed to look. Very cheerful, too. At the end of our visit, she said she wanted to switch primary care over to me, instead of my supervising physician. She called me "down to Earth" I'm sure she was just being nice, but I appreciated it.
A couple of weeks ago, I received a notice that she had been admitted to hospice. I was surprised because she still seemed so strong. But it can happen quickly.
When my Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a number of years ago, he seemed as awesomely vital as he always had. My brother took him on a "farewell tour" to visit with family members out of state, and say goodbye. When he arrived home, he deteriorated very quickly, and was dead within a week.
I regret not being able to get to know this woman better...
And if that weren't enough, one of my heroin users is pregnant. As soon as she got the news, she decided to go into treatment. Good for her. But in the same pile of reports that informed me of the patient above, I received notice that my heroin abuser had left treatment against medical advice. So I don't know what's going to happen with her baby.
Rough day. Let's just say I'm glad to have a few days off for some continuing education. Clinic is burning me out a little...
I drove through a vast windfarm on my way to Spokane.
It seemed a little surreal. It was like journeying through a strange forest. If one has Don Quixote in mind, one could imagine the windmills as giants with huge, long, flailing arms. I thought of them as benign giants, though, because of their purpose.
Sure beats the hell out of oil derricks griming up the landscape...
After an exhausting couple of months in clinic, only two work-days this week!
On Wednesday, I'm going to the state's PA conference for some continuing medical education. 3 days' worth. Only have clinic today and tomorrow. Although CME is an important part of maintaining my medical license, it can often be viewed as a little mini-vacation.
I'll be staying in a nice hotel at company expense. And I'll be able to meet up with some classmates from PA School.
So I'm happy and completely relaxed for the first time in quite a while...
I'm so exhausted, I feel numb.
I even feel like I'm vibrating a little.
The administration's increase in provider production goals at work is taking its toll... 
I'm hanging out at DU because doing almost anything else would involve movement...
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Gender: MaleHometown: Puyallup, Washington
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 66,349
