Emergency medicine can be exhausting. Here ’s what this doctor does to unwind.

So I’ve finished up at one job and moved on to another. I was a director for a year, and it was a learning experience. Right now I’m nearing the final approach after working a long run. Last week I had five nights, 12 hours duration each. I stayed in a hotel near the hospital. Then, after two days off at home, I started a run of five days, of 12 hours duration. I have two to go. I’m working out of town. Not locums, as I’m employed and working in the same place; it’s just a couple hours away, so I stay here. A few observations: It’s hard to turn around from nights to days in 48 hours. I find myself reading a novel at 1:00 am when I’m getting up at 4. I find myself drifting to sleep at the keyboard at 1 p.m. I find that caffeine is nice, but sometimes doesn’t help a lot. When I’m tired, I eat. I started my long run intending to diet and eat well. To limit my carbs and drink lots of water. I was going to do pushups and squats in the room. I was planning to resist temptation! Vade retro satana! And it worked. In my mind. The longer I went, the more I craved food. Sure, for energy. Not entirely untrue. I was focusing on vegetables and protein, unsweetened green tea and water, apples and low-calorie pre-packaged food. At first. Fast forward to today: I had a breakfast burrito from Sonic, a reasonably healthy hospital lunch and part of a candy bar. (Leave me alone, it’s dark chocolate!) I did have an apple, so take that! Tonight I had half a Pizza Hut Supreme. (W...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Emergency Medicine Hospital-Based Medicine Source Type: blogs