***************
I did the better part of a vaginal hysterectomy this week. It was spectacular. Some of the things I really like gyn surgery: it is fascinating to work in the pelvis - getting a uterus out without messing up the bladder, the ureters, the rectum or the clitoris is a technical challenge that requires solid technique and knowledge of anatomy. At the same time, it is not all consuming - there are surgeries that general & other specialist surgeons do that last many many hours. Most of our cases are a couple of hours long. I have no desire to test the limits of my physical endurance by operating for 5 or 6 hours in a row if I can ever help it.
***************
I have 2 and a half days off in a row this weekend - half day b/c I spent most of today taking an annual Ob/Gyn resident exam, 2 because I also get MLK Jr day off! We take turns getting these bank holidays off (also 4th of July, Labor day, Memorial day). Four residents in each class, four bank holidays. I’m really grateful to get a couple days where I get to sleep in to the limits of my distorted circadian rhythm. I’ll be up early by most standards, but the peace & quiet of a cup of tea and no place to be is just as restorative for me now as sleeping until noon used to be. (Edit: I ended up sleeping until nearly 11 am and both kids were up before me! So much for peace and quiet, but it felt good!)
***************
There are a number of things that I think about during the day and think “I should write about that” and then when I get home I have forgotten that there was minutia in my day that I wanted to explore. I need to make some sort of notes about it but I always think, “Naw, I’ll remember! This is really interesting!” (Edit: still haven't worked out a system yet)
***************
I had occasion to be on Peds this week, just meeting a co-worker who was seeing a patient there, not seeing someone myself. But it was the first time I’ve been on that unit since my son was a patient there. It was hard and I had to do some work to shove it down and move on with my day and then some more work to dig it back out again and look at it. Things are better now, but they were pretty scary that weekend.
***************
I am at the phase in my rehab that the exercises are working, my knee feels better and then I do something really nutty like putter around the house for a half a day and then it hurts more the next day. I hate this phase. I’m actually a pretty good PT patient. I do my exercises, I don’t over do it, I don’t try to get back to working out too soon. But I’m really bad at remembering that I can’t do basic life things. Yesterday I hung pictures, I put away clothes & did laundry, I spiffied up my room a little - fixed a broken picture frame, got rid of some junk. Unfortunately, I have a multiple story home and I went up and down stairs and I walked around Target & the grocery stores. Today was a day of rest - the most vigorous thing I did was go to a movie with D (we saw Glass - it was good, which you never know given M. Night Shyamalan’s track record, still haven’t forgiven him for The Last Airbender). I’m hoping that some RICE treatment will make tomorrow a better day but we’ll see. And now my room looks nice & D has some pictures up so there’s that.
***************
I seem to have done something spasm-y to my back. Throughout today on the left very low it has been painful and tight, to the point of taking my breath away and making me nauseated. I spent many hours with a heating pad on it. That seems to help. I am not used to back problems. It makes me feel helpless and old and decrepit and irritated. I want to help my mental and physical health by working out and I can’t even effing stand or walk.
***************
Nothing like working nearly every weekend, being sleep deprived, isolated, exhausted and injured to really cheer you up. Calgon take me away!
***************
I have used all the advice I could muster and managed to minimize a rather debilitating back spasm in less than a week. I’m still a little sore but feeling better enough that I almost forget to do the stretches that are helping. I was a bit worried about how my 24 on Friday night would impact my back but other than some stiffness from sitting to do notes for too long, I think being awake and moving all night (no napping this time unfortunately) actually kept it from getting too stiff.
***************
I really want a hobby but I am having a hard time mustering energy for anything. I have yarn, hooks and patterns for crocheting amigurumi, a simple DIY embroidery project kit I bought and have completed about 25% of, coloring books, markers & pencils, and of course I still have roving and felting supplies. I have a couple great books, a cool graphic novel and some around the house things I want to do. I’m not depressed, I want to be clear. I don’t have anhedonia, I have exhaustion. It is very boring.
No comments:
Post a Comment