Many years ago, my life as a physician was going in one direction. Recent events derailed it towards a very different practice. One where I serve the emergency rooms of the US.
Rem, You are the boss mate. How you juggle these two sides of your life is truly inspiring. Now the question is: Do you wear glasses like Clarke Kent when in ED or when on Substack?
As a patient who needs ED care / treatment (on average) about 4-5 a year (here at my hospital). I've been identified by the staff as a " frequent flyer." Notwithstanding this hospital's failing to live up to (in my opinion) it's self proclaimed status as a "TERTIARY" care facility, I know this professional anecdote to be spot on, so to say! I'm 76 years old with CAD, CKD, IBS (all Agent Orange related), with multiple orthopedic/vascular issue such as a L/ BK amputation, etc, etc, ad nauseum. I've, somehow, managed to survive the past 56 years, traveling the "knife edge" (no pun intended) of this Western Medical System. And as such, I've known some very special and caring medical "Specialists!" And this Doctor seems, so far, to fit that image! Thanks Doc, D.W. Hoppe.
And I REALLY enjoy seeing someone come back into a life of integrity, step-by-step. The idea to work in emergency care because it's the only time modern medicine has a positive impact - and where there are potentially less grey areas and integrity breaches you can walk into, since the people in there probably really DO want some kind of intervention if they're there - is a study in finding the positive, and I'm even more pleased the plan is to transition out of the system entirely. It's wonderful to see
Great story. I respect the pressures that ER physicians have to operate under.
Incidentally, this is the statement that stopped me in my tracks.
“Mercifully, covid happened…and woke me up to the mistake I was about to make.”
I don’t know that I’ve ever thought about it that way, but if I’m honest, I have to admit COVID is what ultimately wiped the last of the sleep crust from my eyes.
It warms my heart to know there are many others and that the Blob had no intentions of that happening.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time with the right skills, and the courage of conviction along with the desire to serve! The children of such a person are blessed by his very light.
I wonder, doc, if you could give me a possible idea what this might be. I have a localized very sore spot under my left ribcage. About three inchies left of belly button, about 2 inches up, about 2 inches under the tip of the rib cage. About 2 cm across, localized in the sense of the surrounding tissues are ok, and it feels pretty surface (though not skin related). Been there for a couple of months. Your diagram made me wonder if it could be gut related.
Speaking to our bodies letting us know when we are overloaded: I learned a few years ago that my body definitely speaks to me when I am taking on too much. I was going through a series of health issues, and finally started taking a day in bed one day a week. Literally, I spent a day in bed, just resting, once a week. That, coupled with scaling back my responsibilities, got me back on track. Now I take a day in bed when I need it, maybe once a month or less often. But I always go back to it when I feel that I am stretching myself thin. It is a good time to rest and reprioritize. I highly recommend it. I know that you have a newborn, so things are not geared toward ANY lazy days. But when you can, do something regularly to rest and reprioritize. :) It is hard for me, as a doer of things, to give myself permission to do literally nothing. But it has been a life changer.
Rem, You are the boss mate. How you juggle these two sides of your life is truly inspiring. Now the question is: Do you wear glasses like Clarke Kent when in ED or when on Substack?
As a patient who needs ED care / treatment (on average) about 4-5 a year (here at my hospital). I've been identified by the staff as a " frequent flyer." Notwithstanding this hospital's failing to live up to (in my opinion) it's self proclaimed status as a "TERTIARY" care facility, I know this professional anecdote to be spot on, so to say! I'm 76 years old with CAD, CKD, IBS (all Agent Orange related), with multiple orthopedic/vascular issue such as a L/ BK amputation, etc, etc, ad nauseum. I've, somehow, managed to survive the past 56 years, traveling the "knife edge" (no pun intended) of this Western Medical System. And as such, I've known some very special and caring medical "Specialists!" And this Doctor seems, so far, to fit that image! Thanks Doc, D.W. Hoppe.
I like the logo!
And I REALLY enjoy seeing someone come back into a life of integrity, step-by-step. The idea to work in emergency care because it's the only time modern medicine has a positive impact - and where there are potentially less grey areas and integrity breaches you can walk into, since the people in there probably really DO want some kind of intervention if they're there - is a study in finding the positive, and I'm even more pleased the plan is to transition out of the system entirely. It's wonderful to see
Great story. I respect the pressures that ER physicians have to operate under.
Incidentally, this is the statement that stopped me in my tracks.
“Mercifully, covid happened…and woke me up to the mistake I was about to make.”
I don’t know that I’ve ever thought about it that way, but if I’m honest, I have to admit COVID is what ultimately wiped the last of the sleep crust from my eyes.
It warms my heart to know there are many others and that the Blob had no intentions of that happening.
Good story. Thank you. And how on earth can you keep your mouth shut? I’m impressed 🤩
Thank you for sharing your part of life with us. I apprciate you.
Thank you for your support.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time with the right skills, and the courage of conviction along with the desire to serve! The children of such a person are blessed by his very light.
<3
Great story!
I wonder, doc, if you could give me a possible idea what this might be. I have a localized very sore spot under my left ribcage. About three inchies left of belly button, about 2 inches up, about 2 inches under the tip of the rib cage. About 2 cm across, localized in the sense of the surrounding tissues are ok, and it feels pretty surface (though not skin related). Been there for a couple of months. Your diagram made me wonder if it could be gut related.
Doc, thank you for sharing this story and practicing medicine.
Speaking to our bodies letting us know when we are overloaded: I learned a few years ago that my body definitely speaks to me when I am taking on too much. I was going through a series of health issues, and finally started taking a day in bed one day a week. Literally, I spent a day in bed, just resting, once a week. That, coupled with scaling back my responsibilities, got me back on track. Now I take a day in bed when I need it, maybe once a month or less often. But I always go back to it when I feel that I am stretching myself thin. It is a good time to rest and reprioritize. I highly recommend it. I know that you have a newborn, so things are not geared toward ANY lazy days. But when you can, do something regularly to rest and reprioritize. :) It is hard for me, as a doer of things, to give myself permission to do literally nothing. But it has been a life changer.
I definitely feel the same way.
The idea of taking a day to rest seems so crazy to me at the moment, but deep down I know I need it.
love this story