I didn't think I'd like it

I finished my first week of general surgery in Victoria and am home for the Easter weekend. Luckily, the Surgical Associates that I am working with observe this Good Friday as a HOLY-day. (It's amazing to me that more people don't...this is the day we observe our Lord dying for our sins ya know....isn't that important????)

Anywho, I really didn't think I would enjoy surgery. I had scrubbed into a few during my OBGYN rotation (hysterectomies, c-sections, tubals, etc), and really didn't have that great of experiences...although the c-sections were pretty amazing. I think those not so good experiences where b/c most of the residents during OBGYN were so stressed out with their own learning, that many times that had no patience for us PA & Med students and could be down right mean at times. I never let them break me and tried to be sympathetic since I knew they were stressed, but some of their grumpiness was not necessary. ANYWHO, I had a GREAT week in surgery this week. I worked with a different surgeon each day, and although some were nicer than others, they were all pretty good at teaching and most were pretty patient with me as I get used to being in the OR. I have to get used to sterile procedures and as the first assist to the surgeon, you have to learn to anticipate their next moves (retracting, wiping/suctioning, helping with suturing/stapling...which I hope to learn to suture this month...etc) Most of them said I was doing a good job (esp for my first week in gen surg). One of them was even suggesting that maybe I should consider a surgery career. Yesterday, one of the procedures was pretty gross...I won't explain....and the surgeon says to me, "If you start to feel sick, please let us know and step away." I said, "Yes, sir." But I was a trooper and was right in the scene the whole time, and never got sick. At the end he said I handled it very well...he almost seemed surprised. I asked him if he thought I wouldn't do well, and he replied with "I didn't know...but you did very well....what was your background before this?" Anyway, I assume he was impressed, and that made me feel pretty darn good.

I saw about 20 surgeries this week. It ranged from putting ports in for patients needing chemo, benign fibroid removal from a breast, gall bladder removal (cholecystectomy), spleenectomy, hemrrhoidectomies, appendectomies, colon resection, etc. I think the one that was most sad was a colon resection and liver biopsy on a 38 yr old woman who had metastatic colon cancer. That is not common in that age group. I got to see the HUGE tumor that was in the part of her colon, and some of the mets. Her 5 year survival rate is like less than 10%. That is really sad. A young mother of 2. :( Her surgery was considered palliative, not curative.....meaning, only to ease her pain and bowel problems.

But on a brighter note, these surgeries were good things that really help these people. I had a fun week being right in the action. Most surgeries were exciting, sometimes with unexpected findings. Watching/helping the surgeon trouble-shoot through some of it was really fun. It was stressful at times, and VERY exhausting and sometimes long days, but FUN! I really enjoyed it! hmm....so do I need to consider surgery now????? I guess we shall see......

One more silly note.............

There's nothing like holding some guys colon while the doc has to answer a cellphone call as the nurse holds it to his ear.

Can you picture me doing that???? (or maybe you don't want to).


Hope this didn't gross you out too much. ;p