When I woke up at 8:30 this morning, my husband wasn't home.
Knowing that he hadn't slept well the day before, I hoped that the hospital hadn't asked him to stay over for a double, or even for a couple hours. Night shift is exhausting all by itself.
8 minutes later, he came through the door and I heard the distinctive rustle of what I thought was a grocery bag.
Except it was a biohazard bag.
(though he had gone to the grocery store, for color safe bleach)
We both know that healthcare can be an incredibly dangerous field. Especially with my compromised immune system for the next 6-7 months, we've been hyper aware of the dangers around every corner.
We say it like it's a joke, that "everyone has herpeghonnaclamidyaids".
But I stopped smiling, upon finding out that my husband had Hep C bled onto his scrubs and shoes last night. For patient confidentiality, I won't say anything other than they knew what risks they were exposing the staff to.
They knew.
But now my dryer is full of bleach and detergent and scrubs and shoes, and the incident has been reported to human resources, and my husband is safe in bed, asleep. Contamination risk is very low, and I know from my microbiology classes that the transmission rate of Hep C is very low without blood to blood contact. I still did a scratch check, to make sure the patient hadn't inflicted any wounds on him during their attention grubbing episode of self harm.
I'm not going to touch the laundry until it's been through 3 bleach and detergent cycles, and then we're going to run the washer empty with bleach water.
I've never seen my husband come home from work so upset.
I've never seen him give up on a patient before.
But I've also never seen the after effects of someone intentionally using themselves as a biological hazard to try to infect other people before.
Health care is dangerous.
The scare is always a good reminder. Wear your gloves. Wear the other indicated personal protection equipment.
You never know what a patient is going to do.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Before we tell you about Germany...we have some other news.
99.9% effective is apparently not all the protection it's cracked up to be.
And we kept it a secret for 10 weeks this time, so we're almost out of the danger zone.
Keep your fingers (buns?) crossed.
Backdated posts to follow
And we kept it a secret for 10 weeks this time, so we're almost out of the danger zone.
Keep your fingers (buns?) crossed.
Backdated posts to follow
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Medieval times
Though energy is down, and sucking wind is up, our trip to cochen castle was a ton of fun!
From the brown bread with lard to the wasser with gahs (bubblies) to the turkey leg that was the size of my forearm, it was a night that was surprisingly alright on the stomach. (also! First day I haven’t thrown up in Deutchland.)
My husband and I danced with the “Lords and Ladies”, saw two secret passageways, took pictures with the roses (cochen castle is suppose to be sleeping beauty’s castle- I had to get me some rose pictures), and had ice cream down in the town.
Ice cream always stays down. This kid is clearly related to me.
Today is the pig festival in wittlich (or something spelled equivalently) where villagers have been killing pigs out of spite for a very long time. And it’s raining, hurray! I can’t wait to get outside.
Being from the northwest USA, this much straight sunshine and 90 degrees has been weirding me out. Give me yo drizzle, sky!
From the brown bread with lard to the wasser with gahs (bubblies) to the turkey leg that was the size of my forearm, it was a night that was surprisingly alright on the stomach. (also! First day I haven’t thrown up in Deutchland.)
My husband and I danced with the “Lords and Ladies”, saw two secret passageways, took pictures with the roses (cochen castle is suppose to be sleeping beauty’s castle- I had to get me some rose pictures), and had ice cream down in the town.
Ice cream always stays down. This kid is clearly related to me.
Today is the pig festival in wittlich (or something spelled equivalently) where villagers have been killing pigs out of spite for a very long time. And it’s raining, hurray! I can’t wait to get outside.
Being from the northwest USA, this much straight sunshine and 90 degrees has been weirding me out. Give me yo drizzle, sky!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Schwangershaft und reisen
One car ride, two airplanes, and a shuttle ride later, we have arrived in Germany!
I told my husband that if he ever gets me knocked up a couple months before we travel to Europe again, we will have harsh words.
My stomach seems to be a bit shy of airport and airplane bathrooms, so instead of being nauseous, throwing up, and then feeling better for a couple hours before putting that cycle on repeat, I was miserable for pretty much the whole trip. Of course, airplane food doesn’t really help the situation. Nor did the devil child in the chair behind me, who kicked my seat for 8 hours while it’s father indulgently smiled at the little spawn.
Once we got to the in-laws house (which is absolutely gorgeous, btdubs) and I puked for a while, then took a nap, everything was much better.
I’ve even eaten meat (!!!)
We went out to dinner last night, and I had grechensnetzle or something equivalent, which turned out to be gyro meat (lamb) and french fries in a delicious goo. Totally stayed down.
Being able to carnivore it up makes me happy.
Speaking of which- 9 weeks along!
Baby’s got fingers (webbed) and is working on finishing those 4 heart chambers this week. Go, baby, go!
I can feel my skin starting to stretch out on my abdomen. It’s weird, it feels like I’m perpetually at the level of stretch that I’d normally have during a total backbend. Mother-in-law gave me a bottle of cream that helped her, and I started using that last night. So thoughtful! I had no inkling of bringing skin care stuff like that. I’m glad that Moms and Mominlaws know what ya need, cuz I’m so clueless.
All the clinical embryology in the world doesn’t actually give you any common sense.
Now, for a lovely day of German bread, chocolate, and walking in beautiful old streets!
I told my husband that if he ever gets me knocked up a couple months before we travel to Europe again, we will have harsh words.
My stomach seems to be a bit shy of airport and airplane bathrooms, so instead of being nauseous, throwing up, and then feeling better for a couple hours before putting that cycle on repeat, I was miserable for pretty much the whole trip. Of course, airplane food doesn’t really help the situation. Nor did the devil child in the chair behind me, who kicked my seat for 8 hours while it’s father indulgently smiled at the little spawn.
Once we got to the in-laws house (which is absolutely gorgeous, btdubs) and I puked for a while, then took a nap, everything was much better.
I’ve even eaten meat (!!!)
We went out to dinner last night, and I had grechensnetzle or something equivalent, which turned out to be gyro meat (lamb) and french fries in a delicious goo. Totally stayed down.
Being able to carnivore it up makes me happy.
Speaking of which- 9 weeks along!
Baby’s got fingers (webbed) and is working on finishing those 4 heart chambers this week. Go, baby, go!
I can feel my skin starting to stretch out on my abdomen. It’s weird, it feels like I’m perpetually at the level of stretch that I’d normally have during a total backbend. Mother-in-law gave me a bottle of cream that helped her, and I started using that last night. So thoughtful! I had no inkling of bringing skin care stuff like that. I’m glad that Moms and Mominlaws know what ya need, cuz I’m so clueless.
All the clinical embryology in the world doesn’t actually give you any common sense.
Now, for a lovely day of German bread, chocolate, and walking in beautiful old streets!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Germany.
The bank's been called, the laundry done, the shopping completed.
Not the packing, though.
Despite the fact that my husband and I have traveled together many times, and the fact that we've never been able to make it more than 4 days with all of our things packed in the same bag, he seems to think that his things will fit in my suitcase.
Which they might.
If I wasn't using it as a carryon, with the second compartment all sealed down to half an inch thick.
I mentioned this weeks ago, but now it's mere hours before we leave the house, and I'm still trying to find the bag he normally uses when we fly somewhere.
He's busy sleeping, of course. He pulled 5 shifts in the last 3 days, which is pretty incredible. The overtime will pay off some medical bills that popped up recently.
But I'm thinking his packing is going to have to wait until he wakes up. I can't find his bag, and the safe for the passports is on the top shelf, well out of my reach. Oh, the last minutes before vacation, how frantic they can be.
Not the packing, though.
Despite the fact that my husband and I have traveled together many times, and the fact that we've never been able to make it more than 4 days with all of our things packed in the same bag, he seems to think that his things will fit in my suitcase.
Which they might.
If I wasn't using it as a carryon, with the second compartment all sealed down to half an inch thick.
I mentioned this weeks ago, but now it's mere hours before we leave the house, and I'm still trying to find the bag he normally uses when we fly somewhere.
He's busy sleeping, of course. He pulled 5 shifts in the last 3 days, which is pretty incredible. The overtime will pay off some medical bills that popped up recently.
But I'm thinking his packing is going to have to wait until he wakes up. I can't find his bag, and the safe for the passports is on the top shelf, well out of my reach. Oh, the last minutes before vacation, how frantic they can be.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
I am not the only one.
The country is pretty much spiraling into a shit hole these days, and plenty of the populace agrees.
And apparently, either a secessionist from Texas or a theist advocating an end to freedom of religion are the top choices for the upcoming elections.
Well, screw that noise.
I refuse to let a party who made tea parties into dirty, shameful affairs take control of my country. The party that refused to tax the insanely wealthy, choosing instead to raise the amount I have to pay on my student loans. (Cuz, you know, medical students. That's where the cash is AT.) The party that advocates constant war with no clear objective. This party currently thinks they've got a shot. And let's face it, there are plenty of racist, wealthy, and/or ignorant people across the country who are supporting these goals.
So, as this dear man says, let's put a party within the left party that's just as crazy as the tea party whackjobs. There are plenty of left wing extremists out there to balance the insanity-scales. We could call it the "Whole Grain Party", and bring a fresh view to the political stage.
Or better yet, maybe we could have a government that could cooperate and compromise within itself. Seriously, all of the debate participants rejecting a $10 in cuts for every $1 in tax raises compromise? That's a more than generous deal, especially considering that the wealthy are currently being taxed at a rate similar to the rates in place for our great grandparents, and the median household wealth has fallen about 50%. (more inequality figures). It's time to wake up and smell the rank, fetid odor of government- the issues at hand aren't really so much of a personal failing of President Obama as they are indicative of the petty squabbling and money grubbing of every single person in higher government.
You've heard me go off on the healthcare practices of this country, and why so many of them are horrible. You may have even heard me bitch about how, despite the fact that I make around $122 a month, I can't get food stamps because my husband's gross income (not the income we get to keep at all) is too high.
I, like many of you, have been lazy.
I'm a medical student, twentysomething, poor as can be, and felt powerless.
But you know what?
I'm not. And neither are you.
Let's use social media to create a riot. Not a break-into-london-stores-and-put-even-more-poor-people-on-the-street-because-now-they've-not-got-homes-or-jobs kind of riot, but a riot of non-compliance. We, the people, are fully capable of stopping the tea party, and the secessionists, and these fat cat billionaires and corporations who don't want to pull their full weight.
We, the people, are this country.
Refuse to elect any of these people who can't be bothered to compromise. Who won't listen to anything but their own logic. Don't vote them into congress. Don't vote them into the senate. Don't let them be governors, legislators, or even a page, running messages in the hall.
If we all speak at once, and show the country what is unacceptable, we cannot be overruled.
You may say I'm a dreamer...but I am not the only one.
There are millions of us.
Let's stand together.
And apparently, either a secessionist from Texas or a theist advocating an end to freedom of religion are the top choices for the upcoming elections.
Well, screw that noise.
I refuse to let a party who made tea parties into dirty, shameful affairs take control of my country. The party that refused to tax the insanely wealthy, choosing instead to raise the amount I have to pay on my student loans. (Cuz, you know, medical students. That's where the cash is AT.) The party that advocates constant war with no clear objective. This party currently thinks they've got a shot. And let's face it, there are plenty of racist, wealthy, and/or ignorant people across the country who are supporting these goals.
So, as this dear man says, let's put a party within the left party that's just as crazy as the tea party whackjobs. There are plenty of left wing extremists out there to balance the insanity-scales. We could call it the "Whole Grain Party", and bring a fresh view to the political stage.
Or better yet, maybe we could have a government that could cooperate and compromise within itself. Seriously, all of the debate participants rejecting a $10 in cuts for every $1 in tax raises compromise? That's a more than generous deal, especially considering that the wealthy are currently being taxed at a rate similar to the rates in place for our great grandparents, and the median household wealth has fallen about 50%. (more inequality figures). It's time to wake up and smell the rank, fetid odor of government- the issues at hand aren't really so much of a personal failing of President Obama as they are indicative of the petty squabbling and money grubbing of every single person in higher government.
You've heard me go off on the healthcare practices of this country, and why so many of them are horrible. You may have even heard me bitch about how, despite the fact that I make around $122 a month, I can't get food stamps because my husband's gross income (not the income we get to keep at all) is too high.
I, like many of you, have been lazy.
I'm a medical student, twentysomething, poor as can be, and felt powerless.
But you know what?
I'm not. And neither are you.
Let's use social media to create a riot. Not a break-into-london-stores-and-put-even-more-poor-people-on-the-street-because-now-they've-not-got-homes-or-jobs kind of riot, but a riot of non-compliance. We, the people, are fully capable of stopping the tea party, and the secessionists, and these fat cat billionaires and corporations who don't want to pull their full weight.
We, the people, are this country.
Refuse to elect any of these people who can't be bothered to compromise. Who won't listen to anything but their own logic. Don't vote them into congress. Don't vote them into the senate. Don't let them be governors, legislators, or even a page, running messages in the hall.
If we all speak at once, and show the country what is unacceptable, we cannot be overruled.
You may say I'm a dreamer...but I am not the only one.
There are millions of us.
Let's stand together.
Out at dinner
K: Here, try this beer!
Me: No thanks, I'm not drinking tonight.
K: ...*questioning, suspicious eyebrow raise*
E: ...*quizzical suspecting glance*
Me: Ok, fine, yeah. I got knocked up again.
K: Squeee!
E: I thought your boobs looked really perky.
This is why secret pregnancies with medical school friends don't work out. I turn down one glass of alcohol, gain three pounds, and they're all busy going...."Hmmm...not drinking, weight gain, not staying out as late, eating a salad instead of chicken wings...YOU'RE PREGGERS!"
I'm clearly going to have to tell people after we get back from Germany.
Me: No thanks, I'm not drinking tonight.
K: ...*questioning, suspicious eyebrow raise*
E: ...*quizzical suspecting glance*
Me: Ok, fine, yeah. I got knocked up again.
K: Squeee!
E: I thought your boobs looked really perky.
This is why secret pregnancies with medical school friends don't work out. I turn down one glass of alcohol, gain three pounds, and they're all busy going...."Hmmm...not drinking, weight gain, not staying out as late, eating a salad instead of chicken wings...YOU'RE PREGGERS!"
I'm clearly going to have to tell people after we get back from Germany.
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