The one thing I continue to LOVE about family medicine is the variety - you never know what you're going to get.
This afternoon, I was a Psychiatrist. I extensively counselled several people with depression - restarted meds on one lady who stopped taking them for religious reasons after explaining how depression is truly a disease, much like high blood pressure...explained the role of serotonin, and if treatments exist, I believe there is no sin in taking them especially since in her case it had worked well before. I handed another patient kleenex as she talked about her hardships. I diagnosed one with Panic Disorder after ruling out other causes of her spells.
Yesterday I was a Pediatrician. I saw rashes, ear infections, URIs, kiddo with a boil, I even got to take a GIANT wad of paper out of a 4 year old's nose!
Earlier this week, I was a Gynecologist. Pap smears, breast exams, diagnosing BV, STDs, setting up Mammograms, discussed Breast Care (which ran out of funding for the year BTW), etc. I even had a case where a 15 year old and her mom came in - the girl with dysuria and noticing blood when she wiped. The Urinalysis did not look like infection, but I explained that I'd send it for culture and treat until the culture came back and see if anything needed to be changed. I just had this feeling, so I tacked on a gonorrhea and chlamydia lab to her urine. Sadly enough, the chlamydia was positive. Had to counsel her today...
Anyhow, I still love it. Family Practice is like a box of chocolates. Each day, you never know what you're gonna get.
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2 comments:
Well put Mamacita. You make me miss practicing Family Med. Of course, ER is nearly as mixed a bag, but you don't really get to know your patients like Family Med. Good for you! I shall be rejoining your ranks as soon as I can.
Wow. Did you counsel with 15 year old with or without her mother present?
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