Hi,
I often see a lot of unusual presenting problems on GP, and having watched a couple of those Channel 5 programmes "GPs: Behind Closed Doors" I can certainly say that there doesn't seem to be much exaggeration...
On Friday I had a very strange day. The roof was leaking a strange yellow coloured fluid quite heavily for the morning, and I couldn't be moved to another room as there were no others available. We are part of a multi story complex, so I was worried it might be urine, but I definitely hope it wasn't! It certainly didn't have the smell at least. Either way, trying to explain the hodgepodge of buckets I had created on the floor to try and collect as much of the (large) quantity of water which whooshed down every 5-10 minutes, and all the paper towels I was (unsuccessfully) trying to use to dam the errant fluid from the patient's shoes.
In this ridiculous situation I had to consult all morning until I got to move room (when one came free) in the afternoon. Among the other patients, I had a lady who was convinced that she had high blood pressure because every time she touched something after walking for a while at home she got a shock (feeling all the high pressure coming out of her body). It took all my persuasive powers to convince her that her new carpet (Sherlock Holmes right here!) and the phenomenon of static electricity was to blame. This consult was followed by a lady who was concerned as sometimes she woke up and her arm felt as though it was 'dead' and she was worried it would fall off. She had recently come to the UK from another country, so trying to explain that this was a normal phenomenon was complicated by trying to use a telephone translation service.
I was getting quite frustrated throughout the morning, mostly due to the roof leaking all over me and my patients rather than due to the patients coming in, and my final patient must have sensed this. After talking about their problems they asked me if I had ever considered Islam as a religion as I was a very good listener. I didn't really want to get into a religious discussion and tried to deflect the question, as I wanted to get off to lunch by this point. Stranger still, in the afternoon after dealing with another patient's issues (a ganglion of the wrist) she handed be a leaflet on Christianity and asked me if I had accepted Jesus into my life. Perhaps it was the weather, or the time of year, but you couldn't have written a better script for an absurd day!
Either way, I only have a few more days of GP life left, and then I am onto my next placement. I am looking forward to a change in scenery and pace!
In other news I have been offered a training post in Emergency Medicine for the next years, which is very exciting. This is what I think I want to do with my career in the future, and I am looking forward to getting back to the exciting hospital medicine!!!
I often see a lot of unusual presenting problems on GP, and having watched a couple of those Channel 5 programmes "GPs: Behind Closed Doors" I can certainly say that there doesn't seem to be much exaggeration...
On Friday I had a very strange day. The roof was leaking a strange yellow coloured fluid quite heavily for the morning, and I couldn't be moved to another room as there were no others available. We are part of a multi story complex, so I was worried it might be urine, but I definitely hope it wasn't! It certainly didn't have the smell at least. Either way, trying to explain the hodgepodge of buckets I had created on the floor to try and collect as much of the (large) quantity of water which whooshed down every 5-10 minutes, and all the paper towels I was (unsuccessfully) trying to use to dam the errant fluid from the patient's shoes.
In this ridiculous situation I had to consult all morning until I got to move room (when one came free) in the afternoon. Among the other patients, I had a lady who was convinced that she had high blood pressure because every time she touched something after walking for a while at home she got a shock (feeling all the high pressure coming out of her body). It took all my persuasive powers to convince her that her new carpet (Sherlock Holmes right here!) and the phenomenon of static electricity was to blame. This consult was followed by a lady who was concerned as sometimes she woke up and her arm felt as though it was 'dead' and she was worried it would fall off. She had recently come to the UK from another country, so trying to explain that this was a normal phenomenon was complicated by trying to use a telephone translation service.
I was getting quite frustrated throughout the morning, mostly due to the roof leaking all over me and my patients rather than due to the patients coming in, and my final patient must have sensed this. After talking about their problems they asked me if I had ever considered Islam as a religion as I was a very good listener. I didn't really want to get into a religious discussion and tried to deflect the question, as I wanted to get off to lunch by this point. Stranger still, in the afternoon after dealing with another patient's issues (a ganglion of the wrist) she handed be a leaflet on Christianity and asked me if I had accepted Jesus into my life. Perhaps it was the weather, or the time of year, but you couldn't have written a better script for an absurd day!
Either way, I only have a few more days of GP life left, and then I am onto my next placement. I am looking forward to a change in scenery and pace!
In other news I have been offered a training post in Emergency Medicine for the next years, which is very exciting. This is what I think I want to do with my career in the future, and I am looking forward to getting back to the exciting hospital medicine!!!
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Hahah, #GPLife. It's a bit like marmite, some love it, some hate it! I fall into the "love it" category though :p
ReplyDeleteOh dear, sounds like the day from hell. I'm not sure if I love or hate GP yet, I think its too early to tell... it seems to be placement dependent at the moment
ReplyDeletenice--post..............
ReplyDeletegreat post you are shared
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