Volleyball

Hey reader,

the kidney biopsy was pretty cool. Well-organized and radiologist, pathologist and internist working together smoothly in the same cramped room. It was astounding to see.

Afterwards, surprise-surprise, now that the attending was gone, there was another consult. It was the cardiac ICU calling who had received a new patient. Yesterday, his glucose was 136, his potassium 4.0, his bicarbonate 24 and his creatinine 1.1. Today, he was rushed to the ICU unresponsive with a glucose of 11, a potassium of 6.1, a bicarbonate of 5 and a creatinine of 2.6; pH 7.1, base excess of -25 and lactate at 19.5. This is going to be one heck of a case for the electrolyte conference next monday.

After spending about an hour from 2:30 till 3:30 getting informed about him, Jenn got him started on CVVH, after which we went to a nephrology conference, taking a look at his urine on the way. Somehow I got the rotation upside down - these days I have someone with me most of the time - this would have been a better way to start off the rotation. But it'll change again tomorrow. Justin is coming off the service and the new guy has clinic tomorrow morning. So it'll just be Jenn and me - plus a new attending who is apparently more thorough.

Anyway, what I wanted to tell you about: Jenn dragged another attending to see this patient with the whacky labs. When we actually went in to see him a family member was there. After they had discussed a bit, the attending asked her whether she had any more questions. She denied and left. And then the attending did something strange - he turned to me and asked "do YOU have any more questions?". Does that ever happen in Germany?

After finishing up with that guy it was 5:30pm, not quite the short day it had set out to be. In spite of that I did go to the gym again today, adding some more to the blisters on my feet - this time there were actually people playing volleyball. There were only five of them, so again, I asked whether they'd let me play while they were warming up. They said they're actually just a few members of the team that are going to compete in some national thing over the weekend, the other ones didn't show today, they'd just be "goofing off". Ah yes. But they let me goof off with them and it was a fun game, even though I missed my kneepads dearly.

For the daring ones among you, here's a picture of my foot afterwards. Be warned .. GRAPHIC CONTENT. NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN, QUEASY GIRLS OR PEOPLE WITH ANY KIND OF HEART CONDITION. Click AT YOUR OWN RISK.