Family Medicine

So as usual, it's been a while since I've written anything. I am currently in my Family Medicine rotation, which lasts 6 weeks. Family is your typical primary care physician. They see patients in all walks of life, from newborns to the elderly. I've already completed 3 weeks and have 3 to go. It's not as exciting as ob/gyn was, but there is always something more to learn...so I'm taking each day as a new adventure and trying to learn as much as I can along the way. I see a lot of patients with chronic problems, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. We also see a lot of mentally handicapped patients. Here are a few of the interesting patients I remember from the last three weeks:
--10 year old that had swallowed a game coin from Chuck E Cheese - he was quite proud of himself might I add
--Anterior shoulder dislocation due to raking leaves (see Mom...I always knew yard work was no good) :)
--a lot of Cerebral Palsy patients, who I'm learning are some of the strongest, both physically and in their will, and also some of the sweetest patients
--a poor man came in with an O2 sat of 84 when he got to us, shaking, freezing. We put him on O2 immediately, but his body wouldn't hold it, so we call for an ambulance. He was in the hospital for a little while, but unfortunately did not make it. He was elderly and had been battling pneumonia at home for days before coming to our office
--a lot of patients getting B12 injections for weight loss
--a 2 day old newborn there for her newborn exam...she was so tiny, even wrapped in her infant snuggie

Also cool, my doc is starting an allergy program in his office. As part of the training for the nurses, I got a free allergy test. Turns out I'm allergic to more than just pet dander like I thought. The pet panel lit up immediately, with positive readings in dog, cat, horse, and apparently guinea pig...who knew! I'm also allergic to bahia, kentucky blue, and fescue grasses, pecan and hickory trees, house dust, and one of the two types of dust mites. Always better to be educated about yourself I say, so at least I know now :)

Three more weeks...then I'm off for 2 weeks of vacation. Bring it on!