Hello Geri's :)

I like Geriatrics so far, i like the doctors, my group, talking to seniors, it is like gen med but at a slower pace allowing us to actually absorb what is happening and talk to our doctors. But of course we have a greater emphasis of geriatric issues such as incontinence, falls, osteoporosis, functional ability and independence.

Our first day was a little orientation around the Geriatric unit in C block of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, we met our registrar, intern and consultant who are lovely and even on the first day super keen to teach us!! We followed on a rather long ward round and met most of the patients. Our stamina for staying on our legs all morning had worn off since our last rotation so with sore feet and backs at the end of day 1 we need to get that back!! It has been an interesting and rather full first week, we talked to a lovely lady who had rheumatic fever and brady-tachy syndrome and just had a pacemaker put in. Kyle did a good cardio examination on her and we all had a listen to her heart. It was a little difficult to hear and detect with her arrhythmia and our student ears but she had a systolic and an unusual diastolic murmur. We sat in on a multi-disciplinary meeting, this is the first rotation where you can really see how closely the allied health and doctors work together especially the occupational therapist!! It is really good to see and much needed in geriatrics.

There were a few tutorials - how to assess the geriatric patient and a delirium tutorial. Wednesday was a big day on a morning falls clinic and afternoon incontinence clinic. Emma and i sat in with Dr Brendon Foo who i recognised from Gen med and he was a great teacher. He had his arm in a sling and emma and i did all the physical examinations!! we felt like junior doctors :) (which we pretty much are :P) but the 2 patients got a thorough cardio, respiratory, GIT, cranial nerve, upper limb neuro and lower limb neuro examination. It was a great way for us to practice and build up our confidence reporting to the Dr and him checking. Both patients had peripheral neuropathy, one was rather unkept and had a few fungal feet infections and rash over his body which wasn't the nicest in examinations but we are non-judgmental. The incontinence clinic was great to know that there are doctors looking at the intricacies of going to the toilet (if you can make it). You don't realise how much of an impact it could have on your life when your ability to go to the bathroom deteriorates!! I only got to see a quick patient but learnt lots from the doctor afterwards. I realised how many patients need to make lifestyle changes which can fix their incontinence if only they would follow them!

There was a good radiography meeting (with a yummy free lunch with fresh sandwiches!) which may have been a little more helpful if the person in charge wasn't whizzing through each x-ray and CT at lightning speed... if he slowed down i might have known what organ we were looking at :P Friday our PBL was a debate on whether those aged 78 should have their drivers license taken off them due to increased risks on the road with pathology of aging. I was on the for team saying they should, really i believe it is all individual and know my grandpa at 87 still drives fine and takes the caravan up North for holidays which they love and a 98 year old family friend who didn't give in her license until she was 90!! That was self handed in too when she judged she no longer felt competent herself. I don't like debates in general and was happy when it was over no matter how bad i did. Our team won in the end but there was lots of preparation done in our favour.

I am hoping to get some more bedside teaching next week with our team and have a chance to talk to some of our patients after this busy week with clinics and tutorials. I look forward to going on a home visit on Tuesday and another memory clinic and see what the week brings.

The Prophet Lebanese
- Albany Highway

On a different note it was a week of going out over the past few days, Monday night we went to The Prophet Lebanese restaurant along Albany Highway for Rosie's 22nd birthday with a few friends and had a nice time :) Wednesday night Lexi finished her exams (yay!) and we celebrated by heading out to Wagamama's in Subiaco for a lovely meal. I hadn't been there before but heard lots about it and had a lovely teriyaki salmon - yum!! we also tried chicken dumplings :) I'm so happy she can have a break now and hopefully relax after a busy time of uni and studies!! Friday night i also went out for a 2011 RA reunion, we went to TQR just near Trinity which was Vietnamese and had a lovely menu! The company was great and it was so strange but really good to see the old group together again (minus 3) and good to catch up with everyone. I had a nice Vegetarian tofu green curry and hope to go back and try the chicken and vegetable stirfry!! I was feeling a little under the weather and didn't feel like i was the best of company but it was still a nice night. 

TQR Stirling Highway

 

Wagamama Subiaco

I am sitting in my room after finally giving in and turning my heater on in the hope i can feel my toes again (winter is certainly here!) and on my second cup of tea in the past hour... am i turning into a geri?? ;) Tonight Sarah flies off to Europe with a close friend for 4 weeks, i would love to be joining her. Mum, dad and pop fly out on Monday coming too, they are excited and just ready to go now! If we had the mid year break i would be no doubt heading off with them but I'll get to Europe again one day. I would love a break now, i feel like the week off we had wasn't really a week off and although nice to be home not the break i needed. I would of loved to have spent some time with Kyle too! I sometimes even find myself envious of those who live with him, especially last rotation when they would have seen him more than me, but at least we are in the same rotation for 4 weeks :) 7 more weeks until our next week off, i need to pick my energy up so i can enjoy the days more and not be counting down until the next break, there seems to be all these little things building up getting me down lately, but i will find a way to pick up... :)