I had done a couple consultations on my own this last week (and I struggle through them), but none of those consults had admitted to the hospital (at least while not while on my own). That all changed this last weekend. I had the Day Shift on Sabbath and I was really nervous about it. Like most of our patients that we’ve admitted, this young lady had malaria. She came in complaining of a headache, fever and just being tired. With my little cheat sheet I went through the different questions of, ‘When did this start?’, ‘Have you taken any medicine?’, ‘Is there anything that has helped?’, and then going through the long list of symptoms. Once I got to the part of the physical exam to get her temp, I stuck the thermometer in her armpit and waited for the little beep. She had felt warm, but I wasn’t really prepared for the temp I saw. It read 41 Celsius (105 Fahrenheit) and at that point she started shivering, which made me more nervous! I took the rest of her information and headed down to Trixy’s house to show her what information I had received. Normally we need to start a drip on our malaria patients, but I wasn’t sure if there was more because of the high temp. I was right about getting the drip started as soon as possible, so that’s the next thing I did. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the needle into her veins without blowing it (3 times), so I finally had Moriah come do the IV drip and she did it wonderfully! At this point we had another patient come in needing attention. This little boy had been coming in since Tuesday for a malaria injection. So, I ended up doing that, meaning that I have made another little child hate white people. I honestly think that all the little children in Buea will be afraid of white people after they’ve seen me. I have made every kid cry that’s come into the clinic, even when I’m just checking their pulse.
I have come to a realization this last week. I LOVE BREAD… Moriah and I go through about two loaves a week and we could do a lot more if we really wanted to spend the money on it! Also I’ve made chappatis for just about every meal. Actually I think I just like food in general. I’m always starving, even after my meals, and I eat large amounts of food. As I was writing this down it hit me that it could be related to my stress... don’t like that idea… I was hoping to blame it on a growth spurt, though I think I’ve grown to my limit.
The idea of food has got me on a new life goal: I want to try as many different types of food here as possible. On Sabbath while on duty the 6 ½ month old girl’s mother, gave me a dish of food to try. Earlier she had bought me a bag of boiled granit (sp?)(peanuts) and had told me that I needed to eat it because I wasn’t fat enough. Anyways, I had been enjoying it alright, but there was something odd tasting in it, similar to formaldehyde mixed with fish oil (I thought it best not to ask just what was in it!) I was half way through eating it when the mother told me the ingredients: Corn, beans, maggie’s seasoning, ‘some other seasonings’, and a little shell fish… Gulp… that’s the weird taste I had been having. So, other then the taste of formaldehyde it was pretty good. I even shared some with Moriah, so that she wouldn’t feel too left out.
I have night duty again. Today I went up to the radio station and met Lady B and basically listened as Bill and Lady B discussed cholera on the air. I was introduced, but I didn’t say too much. Every Monday there’s a broadcasting of health issues, whether it has to do with epidemics, sanitation, or disease it’s always different. And something I’ve learned; speaking is not my forte, I get so tongue-tied it’s pretty bad!
No comments:
Post a Comment