The surgical week is winding down...I think last night was the last big night and today we are sending everyone home. I get to go with the group to Antigua (a little more tourist type city here) to do some sightseeing on Friday and Saturday, so I'm excited about that!
The week went really well without any major complications. We did have a little old 75 yr old lady have an asthma attack last night. The reporting of past medical history doesn't really exist here, so none of us knew she had a past medical hx of asthma. After the Guatemalan staff helped her take a shower, I looked over at her and she was sitting in tripod position and coughing a lot. After listening to her and putting a pulse ox probe on her, she was 83% (normal >93%) on room air and wheezing terribly. We had to put her on 4L nasal canula O2 to get her sats >90% before I went and got the doctors for an albuterol treatment. But, she is much better this morning....just a little snag last night....very late last night! The 3-11 shift has turned into the 1-12p shift these last few days! But in all I think we did at least 120 surgeries because there were 3 teams of surgeons and I know one alone said they did 69 surgeries.
I hung out in the men's ward last night taking care of them. They were all so funny. I think there were about 10 of them I was taking care of, and it took me 2 hours to make my rounds on vital signs and pain meds because they all wanted me to stop and talk for an hour! One little old man told me that I was sweet like sugar as he was getting discharged this morning.....I couldn't help but laugh because he also had on his glasses that magnified his eyes like 10x as he was telling me.
Oh, but the main reason I am writing on here is to let you guys know that I can't access my email. One web page after another keeps getting inaccessible to me! First facebook now yahoo. Its taking like 30min to load my email, so sorry to mom, dad, whoever else may have written me this week. I can't get it. Maybe next week I will ask one of the sisters to walk me to the internet cafe. There may be a way to call/email in Antigua so I will take the time if I see it. But everything is fine here, nice and safe with the group. Love you all and talk to you soon.
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2 comments:
Hey Katie,
Facebook has been very slow lately here too; there may be network problems elsewhere causing your problem.
What would that lady have done normally? Is there some other asthma treatment she would've used.
Take pictures of Antiqua if you go and have fun.
Hi Sweet Pea,
Sounds like you have had a great but tiring week. The number of surgeries that were performed is incredible. I feel bad that the patients only had over the counter pain relief. You should have gone in our cabinet before you left and got all my meds. Might of helped! I know you can't do that so you don't need to lecture me on sharing prescriptions.
I am happy that you get to go on a little retreat the next couple of days. That will be fun.
So do you know when you might be returning home? I have kept the candles burning!
Well, better get some dinner before it's time for breakfast.
Take care. Love you.
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