Hodgepodge

It seems that I've been amiss in keeping up with the blogging.

But, in all fairness, I've had the following superawesome and completely un-awesome events happen:

1. Gotten engaged! Woo!
   
2. Planning a wedding for July (more on that in a moment).
3. Gave notice at my job. That was actually bittersweet.
   
4. Summer term at school = fun times.
   

In case you can't tell, I'm that person that likes to make lists. It's soothing and, actually one of the things that the physician I work with has complimented me on, because he loves my (as he puts it) "meticulous-bordering-on-psychopathic organizational skills". But, I also know when to let go and make peace with things that aren't tidy. My doc is brilliant, moody and socially awkward; I'm the only person who enjoys working with him because I've adapted to his working style. Most of the other staff have become intimidated by him because he's gruff; I'm gruffer. He's already having separation anxiety about my replacement. I really will miss him and a cluster of my BFF coworkers because they get it and we can laugh about all the nonsense.

So, the soon-to-be Mr. Somnambulant proposed to me a few weeks ago in a really special and wonderful way. I'm not one for gushing, but we've been together for a long time and I'm extremely happy. It's been full on crazy ever since with visits to my parents, his parents and several phone calls regarding dresses, cakes and various bridal whatnot. I have been very firm about the fact that when I am in school, that is going to be the most important thing going down for the next 1.5 years and as such, was not in the least interested in planning a wedding during that time. So, in the wake of the realization that our parents wanted a big wedding in my hometown (my father is too ill to travel) and we wanted something small/intimate in a place that is special to us, combined with my school obligations plus a little bit of practicality (read: he will be my sole support and has rockin' health insurance through his employer), we've opted to compromise. On my short break from school, we, plus two friends will travel to said special place & get hitched (which is NOT Vegas, just in case you wondered). I'm pretty excited for this because we get the best of both worlds, with a lot of small touches that although our parents would never fully object to, I don't think is in their vision of a wedding. This way, the mister & I spend a lot less money, have a great long weekend, get back to the grind with silly grins on our faces. Then, after I graduate, we have this fancy fete where I wear a poofy dress, we have a lovely time with a bunch of family, friends and people our parents know and the whole nine of videographer, photographer & the like while I can still put a personal touch on things that everyone is happy with and our parents pay for the bash. Everyone wins. Still, even though the wedding for this summer is quite small, there is still a lot to do. Long-distance at that.


Needless to say, there is all of this (and more) going on right now. Luckily, there is a lot of good. I'm happy about that. I've been hearing a lot about how lucky I am right now. I don't know about luck, but I have an enormous amount of gratitude for how well everything is fitting into place right now. We've worked hard as a couple to be ready for marriage and I know that I'm marrying the person I'll spend my entire life with. I've worked exceptionally hard to get into my nursing program. I've pushed every day, and started pushing even harder once I was diagnosed with RA because I know how easy it can be to give in to pain. I'll keep pushing, because I don't see any other option.

Take a note, fibro whiners. Life is so much better this way.

Already be startin' somethin'

I don't think anyone is reading this yet and may not for some time (ever?). But, I'm about to say some things that someone will eventually get their knickers in a knot about.

As previously mentioned, I work in pain management. Let me level with you: I hate pain management. I love the office I work in and I especially love my coworkers. But, 70% of our patient population has a critical dx of waaahhitis secondary to mental instability or victim mentality. I work on the clinical team and as a surgical coordinator. I could diagram you the ways in which people annoy me, but Blogger doesn't have the space. So. I'm going to present a little list of bad touches that pain management patients inflict on our staff:

10. Stay off of your cell phone. I know that your 10/10 pain requires constant conversation despite signs everywhere that specifically state NO CELL PHONE USE, but even so, I will ask you politely once to hang up. If you don't comply in 10 seconds, I'm moving on with another patient and you will have to wait until I'm free. You will not cause other patients to needlessly wait nor will I waste my time watching you yammer.

9. There are two crucial pre-procedure instructions that clearly state no NSAIDs 5 days before a procedure and no ABX one week beforehand. Should you oopsie on either and neglect to call to inform, you will be canceled when you sashay your little self into the office. The rules DO apply to you, snowflake, and no matter how long Dr. X has treated you or that you were patient #1 when his office had one exam room (amazing how many of you there are), you will still be canceled and told to reschedule when you are smart enough to treat.

8. We use this handy thing called EMR. Aside from notes, it keeps track of how many times you have "lost" your prescriptions, had them stolen, what drug stores you use and various other fuckery you employ to gain our sympathies and try to outwit the system. Chances are you won't win. And if you do, it's temporary. You will be caught, discharged and turned over the the appropriate authorities who we all know quite well.

7. Yes, you have to piddle in a cup for the tox screen. Again, snowflake, rules. 20% of our patients abuse their meds or someone else's. No pee, no Rx. Nothing personal.

6. If you schedule a surgery, regardless of how minor, keep the appointment. Despite what you may think, it requires clinical staffing, anesthesia and time alloted just for you. And your last minute cancellation could have been a procedure done sooner on a little old lady who cringes at the thought of tramadol. I love them. BTdubs, if you could stop salivating over the thought of the narcotic buffet long enough after you got the referral to our office to read the mission statement, we're therapy-driven, not medication. Just, um, something to consider.

5. If you are 23 and on the highest dose of Duragesic possible, use breakthrough narcotics, a muscle relaxer, two antidepressants, Lyrica, anti-anxiety meds AND have a spinal cord stimulator, but you feel like nothing is working, give up the ghost, sister. We can't help you any longer.

4. No matter how many names you sweet talk us with, it's not going to get anything done more quickly. Your crocodile tears intermingled with agonized cries of how abandoned you've been really do nothing to help your situation. I don't know where the idea started that childish foot stomping greases the wheel, but asking for something reasonably is pretty much all I need.

3. "I wish you could be in the amount of pain I'm in everyday!". This has quickly become an old chestnut. In my office, there are 3 breast cancer survivors (one just recently in remission), an Iraq vet with shrapnel in his body and daily pain, and many who have daily achy backs (and hell, probably as much DDD as any patient) from lifting patients who are pushing three bills and wonder why they have low back pain. I have rheumatoid arthritis controlled nicely by non-narcotic therapy. So, we know pain, and as a bonus, wake up every day to be productive members of society. Don't make assumptions. You kind of look like an asshole in the end.

2. If you are: laughing/talking on your cell phone/talking to anyone about anything other than pain/not crying/not begging to be put out of your misery and have normal vitals, please hear this: YOUR PAIN IS NOT A 10/10. Listen, people. I know pain is subjective. But, there are certain facts that belie the amount of pain stated vs. patient appearance. Ugh. This makes my brain hurt at 10/10.

1. For those who will tell me I lack compassion, you're so far from correct, you're just living in Wrongland. I have all the compassion in the world for people who suffer with pain and are in need. Like those with cord injuries, MS or the kids with CP that we treat for spasticity. I'm there and I love it. But, for those of you draining the system and my will to live at times, you get the perfunctory civility and not a whole hell of a lot more. That's how I roll.

This has been a Somnabulant, future-BSN PSA.

Somnambulant: beginning

Main Entry:

som·nam·bu·lant

Pronunciation:

\säm-ˈnam-byə-lənt\

Function:

adjective

Date:

1866

1 : walking or having the habit of walking while asleep 2 : resembling or having the characteristics of a sleepwalker : sluggish

I am a student nurse about to enter fundamentals in the Fall semester (hence the above descriptior). I am pretty excited about this, but also somewhat realistic given my 6+ years in healthcare.

In the meantime, I have spent the last 2+ years working in pain management. I could scrawl a diatribe here and now about my daily travails, but then what else would I tell you about later when my fury is at fever pitch? I do so love telling stories about work.

So. Hi.