I'm back!

I work in a clinic where we do Occupational Medicine, which means sick and injured at work folks. Nobody's dying in our clinic. It's a different line of work for me. We examine the patient and give them medication or whatever. I stumbled around a bit at first because I had to learn to downshift the care that I'm used to giving.
 Tonight, just when I was going to bed, a mass causalty came in to the Army hospital. We got a page, "need extra hands." (excitement coursed my veins) I don't want to be glad about others pain, but medically speaking- hurray!!! This is what I came for. It was Afghani's in a car accident and I am so sorry to say that one is dying from incredible head trauma. He will be sent to lie in wait with his loved ones at his side. (I'm so sorry for him and for his family) No visitors here. This is a very secured facility.
I was able to finally put my talents to work. I was not fumbling Maria in the ER. I did what I do best! I got to cut off clothes in record time and it was even remarked on. I heard some soldier say, how'd she do that? I said, practice, lots of practice (wink). I was able to calm a patient as they worked on him. This is a talent that the Lord gave me like no other and I will boost in his glory because I can! And I still have my IV skills. It's just like riding a bike. No one could get this one kid and I was feeling around without a tournique and blocking with my hand and I asked if I could give it a try...BAM! First try! The Michigan medic at her best. (The crowd roared! Ok it was all in my head, but I still got it.) Actually, I would have strung up the rope myself and jumped if I had missed or hid myself under a huge rock for the rest of my contract if I had embarassed myself. Please don't tell me that I can get bilateral lines in minutes in a rocking, bumpy, going 80mph ambulance and I can't get a line on a patient lying in a bed. We do have days when we miss and I thank the good Lord today was not one of those days. The stuff I saw was really amazing. I equate it to watching Nascar as they change the tires in seconds, so did the team work on these patients as one unit and they were generous to make room for the new girl. They performed exams, X rays, IV's, wound care and bandaging, put bones back in place, so many things and I just hopped right in and grabbed stuff and assisted and knew what was needed next. For a change, I was in my element. I watched while a man's acetabulum was set back in place or (in plain english), his thigh was out of the hip socket and it was popped back in place back by 2 doctors and a nurse, not an easy feat. The pop as it went back in was like a champagne cork. I saw some amazing stitching and so intricate and quick. This emergency room is just that; ER, surgery, (stabilization at it's best), and then the patients go elsewhere to other hospitals for further care and recuperate. We were done with 5-6 critical patients in an hour and out they went. Amazing. It's just what I needed to get my groove back. Can I scream out Thank you Jesus just one more time!

Give me a hand

My first patient from FOB "The little city that could" has been a nail biter. He came in with pain to his little finger, possible joint pain, after enduring it for 3-4 days. (#1. Why don't people seek treatment day  one?)  At first, it looked to be a strain. Maybe he bent his finger back and then slept on it, and then did it for 3 more days. (It could happen!) He had no breaks in his skin, so it couldn't be an infection- right? I looked through different magnifying glasses on different days looking for something that would give me a clue to what is happening to his hand. He kept coming back day after day...swelling increased, more pain...

Right in the middle of my storytelling electrical comes in and states they will be shutting off the power city wide....Stay tuned! With the power off, I type in the dark. See how dedicated I am to my task!

To continue, we are lucky here with Military resources. What great guys! We should not take advantage of their kindness, but occasionally they will have mercy on us and do an X- ray on our patients. So it was. We had my patient X-rayed. No breaks, nothing showing up and nothing like a dislocation. So I treat him according to what I see, muscle strain. I spoke with the patient and it seems as if he wants to go home. Sometimes that happens that the workers will come in for a fake complaint to go home. So go home! No one is keeping anyone against their will. It may be an issue of saving face- I don't know. Please just leave. We get paid here. We are not in chains. This patient has a little baby and a youngster at home and has been home once already and hasn't been here that long. But he is not faking an illness.  Still I view his hand and it's now swollen and turned black. (WTH?) We again truck over to the military for a second opinion and that Dr. is perplexed as well. The recommendation is to try him on antibiotics for an internal infection of unknown origin. The doc here approves that. This is keeping me up nights. I have done so much research and studying of different diseases. I worry for the poor patient, eventhough I can't be sure what his angle is and he tells me that I have 2 days to fix him. (Yeah, OK...). Today, we are finally making headway. His hand looks better. Yeah! Only in Afghanistan... My success is short lived...  Another patient walks in with discoloration to his hand. Maybe it's something else. What is this crap? Disease is rampant here in Afghanistan and you just never know what you will find...Unbelieveable!