I apologize for not posting in over a week! I have been so busy with a new Spanish class and my internship. Nothing too interesting has happened, except my time yesterday (Monday, 2/10/2014) at the clinic. It was my first time shadowing in minor surgery and I was really excited for it! However, I suppose I wasn't really ready to see what was actually going to happen because I ended up passing out! Let me explain. Disclaimer: for those of you with weak stomachs, I recommend skipping the next paragraph!
The first surgery of the afternoon was a guy who had a really bad ingrown toenail, so the doctor wanted to remove it. He gave the patient two shots of a local anesthetic in his toe/foot area and grabbed this scissor-like tool (it was shaped like a pair of scissors but it had like flat ends on it to pull things with). The doctor put the one end of the tool behind the toenail and just pulled the whole toenail off of the foot and the nail bed started bleeding. I'm not sure if the anesthetic was completely absorbed because the patient was writhing around in pain as the doctor did that procedure.
That whole surgery was fine for me to watch and everything was okay, but when the next woman came in (she was getting some skin tags removed), I kept thinking back to the first surgery and I couldn't get it out of my mind. I started feeling really hot and sweaty, as well as getting dizzy. I also noticed that I started feeling nauseous, and I thought it was because the room was really warm or something. I asked the nurse where the bathroom was, and he asked me if I was okay. I said I was fine, but needed to know where the bathroom was. I think he knew that I wasn't okay, because at this point I felt like I was going to collapse and the room was turning blue and rotating. Also, when I talked, I couldn't hear myself because it felt like there were thick cotton balls in my ears. I staggered backwards and felt myself slipping away, but the nurse grabbed me and told me to lay down on the table (the patients were gone at this point). I had to lay down for 20minutes with my legs elevated while the nurse monitored my pulse and blood pressure. He told me that my blood pressure dropped really low and my skin was white and clammy.
It was a really crazy but scary experience! I have never passed out before and the feelings I had during the event were awful. I don't think I have ever felt so nauseous or clammy before in my life! I am glad that the nurse was there to help me and to reassure me that things were going to be okay. I was really embarrassed by the whole situation because it was my first time in there and I made a scene! But the nurse explained to me that it was normal for that to happen to people who aren't expecting to see what really happens, or if it's their first time. That reassured me a little bit! Other than that, I enjoyed my time in minor surgery, but I wouldn't complain if they sent me to other parts of the clinic for awhile to observe other doctors!
I have to go back to the clinic tomorrow and Friday, so hopefully everyone has forgotten about my little episode. Nonetheless, I am excited to see what tomorrow has in store for me!
The first surgery of the afternoon was a guy who had a really bad ingrown toenail, so the doctor wanted to remove it. He gave the patient two shots of a local anesthetic in his toe/foot area and grabbed this scissor-like tool (it was shaped like a pair of scissors but it had like flat ends on it to pull things with). The doctor put the one end of the tool behind the toenail and just pulled the whole toenail off of the foot and the nail bed started bleeding. I'm not sure if the anesthetic was completely absorbed because the patient was writhing around in pain as the doctor did that procedure.
That whole surgery was fine for me to watch and everything was okay, but when the next woman came in (she was getting some skin tags removed), I kept thinking back to the first surgery and I couldn't get it out of my mind. I started feeling really hot and sweaty, as well as getting dizzy. I also noticed that I started feeling nauseous, and I thought it was because the room was really warm or something. I asked the nurse where the bathroom was, and he asked me if I was okay. I said I was fine, but needed to know where the bathroom was. I think he knew that I wasn't okay, because at this point I felt like I was going to collapse and the room was turning blue and rotating. Also, when I talked, I couldn't hear myself because it felt like there were thick cotton balls in my ears. I staggered backwards and felt myself slipping away, but the nurse grabbed me and told me to lay down on the table (the patients were gone at this point). I had to lay down for 20minutes with my legs elevated while the nurse monitored my pulse and blood pressure. He told me that my blood pressure dropped really low and my skin was white and clammy.
It was a really crazy but scary experience! I have never passed out before and the feelings I had during the event were awful. I don't think I have ever felt so nauseous or clammy before in my life! I am glad that the nurse was there to help me and to reassure me that things were going to be okay. I was really embarrassed by the whole situation because it was my first time in there and I made a scene! But the nurse explained to me that it was normal for that to happen to people who aren't expecting to see what really happens, or if it's their first time. That reassured me a little bit! Other than that, I enjoyed my time in minor surgery, but I wouldn't complain if they sent me to other parts of the clinic for awhile to observe other doctors!
I have to go back to the clinic tomorrow and Friday, so hopefully everyone has forgotten about my little episode. Nonetheless, I am excited to see what tomorrow has in store for me!