Open ended questions
“And what are your thoughts about that?” I hear myself ask. Awake, often. And now even in my dreams. Week 5 of psych and I try to be open ended. I ask, as I’d like to know how you construct reality, How neurons, transmitters intersect with personality, world. How your thoughts take form, How you […]
On Call Poetry #1
I’ve challenged myself to write a poem (not necessarily about medicine) every evening I’m on call for the foreseeable future. Here’s the first offering. Pillow Talk I never wanted you to know how I wake up in bliss your name, a pearl dropping from my tongue to cold pillows I reach out curl in stop how the […]
If someone were to ask me.
If someone were to ask me how I’m doing right now. I’d have to pause. I’d have to take a moment to go looking for phone books. The old school ones with white and yellow, and maybe pink? – It’s been so long. I don’t even know if they still make them anymore. Or maybe […]
It is.
“It is stage 4” is too difficult to say. His blue eyes look yearningly into those of his patient. “I can’t really help you”, he is trying to say. But not; his words speak of probability, outcomes, options. Indirect, vague. Struggle. The pelvic MRI: mashed potatoes. The cancer in our patient’s rectum reaching into bladder, […]
Thoughts on my surgery rotation
Surgery. We talk about livers, gallbladders, IV fluids and PE’s. What ever happened to that acronym FIFE*? I wonder. Is it purposeful, This lack of reference to life? I’ve gotten good at rounding. Vitals. The 5 essentials: Pain, pooping, farting, eating, walking? Good. A poke here, poke there. Next. I’ve become not a bad assist. […]
The Inspiration behind AAA: Blue Bloater
Here’s the poem which injected my life with an interest in reflecting through art to cope with some of the intensity of clerkship… They’ve told us about blue bloaters before. They are managed with SABAs, anticholinergics, steroids and antimicrobials. Other prescriptions include nutrition, exercise and chest physiotherapy. Oxygen? Well, let’s give ‘er a try. But […]
Toe Nails
Elephantitis of the legs, Lymphostatic ballooning. Your protein filled, fluid logged limbs Are too heavy for your frame, Too massive for a guy. Early 30’s. The pain in those legs, Doppler’s don’t begin to explain. Rule out DVT, sure. But to cancel the shame, the guilt, A therapeutic dose would be nice. Revealing your feet, […]
Our ISUMS
They say medicine is politics on a grand scale. They say medicine is science seeped in the social. It’s about humanity, say the voices. But I wonder where the voices have gone. When you little ones sleep at night, Bundled tighter than the other babies cuddled next door, Sniffling, sneezing, sleeping. We call you the […]
Day 1
“Shit, bang and away we go.” Would be Papa’s words. If he were still here, of course. Beyond spirit, wool sweaters, handkerchiefs. Which is the bell, and which is the diaphragm, again? Castell, Ortolani, Babinski: remind me please. Again, again. It’s time to put to practice years of book-ness. Be responsible, stand up straight, know […]