paeds week 1

Hello,

apologies for lack of posts all week. I've been staying at a hospital about an hour from my home. I thought I'd get internet access in my room (because some of the rooms get it at this hospital), but I actually got a room in the old horrible part of the hospital accommodation...so no internet access for me (except in the library)! (along with no internet access comes no shower...just a plain bath-tub! How is anyone supposed to wash themselves in just a bath-tub? I have nothing against baths, but the thought of having a bath in a public bath-tub used by people I don't know is not appealing!! Needless to say, I am going to buy a shower attachment for the bath-tub taps so I can shower properly. I feel it's a good investment for my 6 weeks at this hospital!) Also, my room STUNK of cigarette smoke. It was sooo yucky. Old stale cigarette smoke. eugh. I had the window open for 3 days (day & night) to try and get some air in to get rid of the smell. By the time I left today my room only faintly smelt of smoke!

aaaah, the joys of living in hospital acommodation!

These are the sorts of things I can only really cope with because I'm a student! Living out of a suitcase in a hospital room is not something I ever want to do again once I've graduated!

But otherwise paediatrics is going well.
It's quite cute and refreshing to be seeing so many little children! The average age of the patients in hospital is about 3 years, so there are lots of little babies to play with!

There was one sad case we reviewed today; a 5 week old little girl who now weighs 500 grams LESS than she did at birth!!!
She has lost so much weight in fact that the skin on her legs is, literally, hanging off her.
The doctors think there may be some question of whether she is being fed properly (mother is 17), but lots of tests need to be done first to make sure there is nothing else wrong with the baby. (this is actually the 2nd time the baby has been in hospital since she was born due to weight loss. The first time she came in they managed to increase her weight by about 300grams and so sent her home...but now she has lost it all again).

I've always wanted to do paediatrics, so I'm excited to see how I find the next 6 weeks and how much I enjoy it. One doctor said to me "Paediatrics would be great if it wasn't for the parents!". hehehe!! Apparently lots of time is spent treating the parents' worries and anxieties, as opposed to anything serious in the child. Although on the other hand, better that the parents are a bit too over-involved, rather than being neglectful.

Next week I am doing community paediatrics, which I think will be going out to schools and stuff, to see children 'in the community' as opposed to in the hospital, which I am really looking forward too. I think it'll be lots of schools with special needs children, which is an area I have always had a special fondness for, and something I would seriously consider doing as a future job, so I'm keen to see what it's actually like.

So anyway, I came home this evening at about 5:10pm, went straight to stations of the cross at 5:30pm, went straight from there to do some shopping, came home, cooked dinner, ate dinner, did some revision, wrote this, and so now at 23:49pm...I am going to get ready for bed, say the rosary, say all the rest of my prayers...and go to sleep!
Ready for rowing tomorrow morning & then an exceptionally busy afternoon/evening (will explain more on Sunday!!!!! tis very exciting!!!)


anyway, hope you are all well!

God Bless
xxxxx