The redheaded old man coughed bruskly.  “I feel fine, when can I go home, doc?” “Well, you look good, but a heart rate of 140 with walking isn’t normal,” I replied. Maybe it’s his pneumonia.  No, I said that two days ago.  Maybe he’s still  recovering.  No, I said that yesterday. Hunch. “We need to [...]

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Early morning in the hospital, I got paged.   Old man on comfort care just “expired.”  Myeloma in his blood and blood in his brain.  I put my whitecoat on and do my thing.  White is such an odd color for this kind of thing. His glassy eyes are open for the first time that week.  [...]

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[note: picture has nothing to do with this entry] Heard in the E.R. today: “Stick around, there’s bound to be some hand injuries.” “No kidding, people just don’t get it — don’t hold onto a lit firecracker.” “Last year, some guy blew his throat out with a mortar.” “No way.” “Yeah.  It didn’t go off, [...]

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“The cardiac enzymes tell us that you had a small heart attack again and that it’s not completely over yet, “I tell the old lady. I read the cards (cardiology) consultation which basically said, “Call us back if she changes her mind.” “I read that you still don’t want any invasive treatments – no heart [...]

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At work. ME (on phone):  “Hey, did you page me?” AMY:  “Yeah.  When I was walking into the clinic this morning, I saw — hehehe — I saw this young guy, with a big black eye.” ME:  “Uh huh….” AMY:  “And he was going to the Pain Clinic.  HAHAHOOHOOHEHE!” ME:  “… And then what?” AMY:  [...]

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