Diary of a Psychiatrist...A Day in the Life

Letter from Iowa:

6:45 am:

Phone call to SCU to check on patient who overdosed along with a case of beer. Is she in alcoholic DT's? Excellent night nurse, thorough, professional, great reporting, says no.

8:20 am:

Email fiance, wishing him well. And smiling to hear he is happy and involved in his project.

8:25 am:

Dr. B comes in, discuss plans for Open House at my house on Election night, with TV's on in every room, food and fun. He will check to see what others are doing.

8:30 am:

Report from weekend, Sunday night, at another Area Hospital. Seems my next door neighbor was there in ER and became tired of waiting, began shouting "Just let me die!" went outside, flung herself in bushes, screaming, crying, tearing grass up until police were called, who instructed her quite firmly to sit herself down in the ER chair and wait patiently until she could be seen by the ER doctor. When seen, patient explained that "Dr. D..... hates me." She further explained, "She won't give me any pain pills, even though she knows I am addicted to them." Patient was sent back home, next door to her nemesis... Dr. D.

8:45 am:

In SCU, checking on patient who overdosed. Sobbing, very depressed, going through tissues, husband standing next to her, hand on shoulder, wiping tears though they flow ceaselessly. Patient's son shot himself with a gun to his head, age 16. Was in intensive care on life support...until patient finally made decision to pull the plug. Heartbreaking, her only child. Listening to others talk about their kids' graduations, jobs, families, grandkids is the worst part. Co-worker/friend's son hung himself 2 weeks ago, patient says, and it all came back. "I just wanted the pain to end," she states.

Time is ticking. Another patient waiting...do I interrupt her and say gotta go? Do I stay and listen another minute? Two more patients waiting now... better go. We talk some more. Life, death, transitions, purpose, meaning... I leave her feeling better, encouraged, hopeful.

Walk fast back to clinic. Next patient ready and waiting, someone
new...

..to be continued.....