I had a three-day work week (two in, one out) lined up, but one of the nurses that I usually cover for in eating disorders needed my help, and I couldn't say no. So now I have a four-day work week (two in, two out) liked up. No regrets though: unless there's an unforeseen crisis, it should be a smooth day and I'll be out by 1500 the latest. And four days is all it will stay: I'm keeping Monday free to relax, do some school work, and catch up on my knitting. The blanket for my nephew is long-overdue.
The ear infection has improved. The pain has decreased considerably and it's still draining. Now I wish full hearing would return to the ear...if I did rupture something, I wonder how long that takes to heal.
The pregnancy goes uneventfully: it's been pretty asymptomatic once the dizziness resolved. The nausea ended with the dizziness, and I've had no other issues. I'm grateful yet disconcerted. Both my prior pregnancies had minimal discomforts early on, so this is normal for me. Still, I occasionally wonder if all is well in there (my average is .500). My first appointment with ultrasound is on the 11th, so I guess I'll know then. Until then, I'll work on the premise that no news (or symptoms) is good news.
June 22, 2012
So that dizziness might have been an ear infection in the making.
The dizziness stopped a few days ago, to be replaced by a clogged ear. The pressure in the ear--as well as fluid being trapped in it--kept increasing until the other day, when the pain hit. So I called my doctor. He's out of town, but the doctor on call phoned in an antibiotic for me...which was quite the challenge for him to pick out, given that I'm both pregnant and allergic to penicillin and sulfa. But one was found and I started it along with Tylenol.
I'm not sure, but I think my ear is draining...or the trapped fluid/water is escaping. Still hurts like hell though. I hope nothing ruptured.
I had to work two days with the pain, so I decided to take Monday off and treat myself to a three-day weekend of rest...well, as much rest as I can get given I have three tests, one discussion question and two discussion responses to post. I'm nowhere near ready for any of it...I'm trying to accept the fact that this is the week I'm going to tank on everything, and that I'll have to make it up over the rest of the course.
My mini-vacation from inpatient work was nice. My work was missed by some of the staff, which is always a bit of a compliment.
When I returned, they put me in the psych ER but let me play with the LVNs in the back...so my day, while hectic, was much better compared to the day the nurses were having in triage. One patient was manic (I always get the manics...) and we kept having to redirect her to remain dressed. The sad part is that the meds didn't touch her...she finally paced herself into exhaustion. The other was mute and very disorganized...he took direction well and was cooperative, but didn't talk. He also radiated tension like a bomb about to go off, so I pretty much did what I had to do and let him be.
Meanwhile, the acuity in outpatient seems to have leaped drastically. I admitted a few patients whose psych (non-CD) issues were greater than their CD issues...and I don't just mean depression, anxiety or borderline personality disorder: I'm talking about paranoid schizophrenia, schizoaffective and thought disorders. So I needed to take quite the different tack during my assessments...how one talks to a high-functioning dual patient is rather different than one who is lower functioning and somewhat psychotic. But the admissions went well.
The dizziness stopped a few days ago, to be replaced by a clogged ear. The pressure in the ear--as well as fluid being trapped in it--kept increasing until the other day, when the pain hit. So I called my doctor. He's out of town, but the doctor on call phoned in an antibiotic for me...which was quite the challenge for him to pick out, given that I'm both pregnant and allergic to penicillin and sulfa. But one was found and I started it along with Tylenol.
I'm not sure, but I think my ear is draining...or the trapped fluid/water is escaping. Still hurts like hell though. I hope nothing ruptured.
I had to work two days with the pain, so I decided to take Monday off and treat myself to a three-day weekend of rest...well, as much rest as I can get given I have three tests, one discussion question and two discussion responses to post. I'm nowhere near ready for any of it...I'm trying to accept the fact that this is the week I'm going to tank on everything, and that I'll have to make it up over the rest of the course.
My mini-vacation from inpatient work was nice. My work was missed by some of the staff, which is always a bit of a compliment.
When I returned, they put me in the psych ER but let me play with the LVNs in the back...so my day, while hectic, was much better compared to the day the nurses were having in triage. One patient was manic (I always get the manics...) and we kept having to redirect her to remain dressed. The sad part is that the meds didn't touch her...she finally paced herself into exhaustion. The other was mute and very disorganized...he took direction well and was cooperative, but didn't talk. He also radiated tension like a bomb about to go off, so I pretty much did what I had to do and let him be.
Meanwhile, the acuity in outpatient seems to have leaped drastically. I admitted a few patients whose psych (non-CD) issues were greater than their CD issues...and I don't just mean depression, anxiety or borderline personality disorder: I'm talking about paranoid schizophrenia, schizoaffective and thought disorders. So I needed to take quite the different tack during my assessments...how one talks to a high-functioning dual patient is rather different than one who is lower functioning and somewhat psychotic. But the admissions went well.
June 20, 2012
Bah
My school's Blackboard server is going down at 1800 on Friday. This means that I don't have until my usual 2100 to get work in...and since I'm working on Friday, I pretty much have to do it all by Thursday. So I rearranged my schedule, including taking a day off from work this week, in order to get my assignments done on time.
I get a message from one of my instructors: because of the outage, the deadline for the Friday assignments have been moved to Saturday. As the other class requires assignments due at 1500, I don't expect any extension from them.
I should be happy, right? Actually, I'm rather miffed. Irrational, I know...but I am.
I'm still going to try to wrap all up I can by Thursday, so I can have the weekend to study for the three tests that I need to take on Sunday.
I don't regret the day off though. I did get a lot of schoolwork done, and the little one and I were able to enjoy a lunch date. I felt bad about calling out at the agency though, until I remember that this was the exact reason why I work at the agency: so I can dictate my schedule.
I get a message from one of my instructors: because of the outage, the deadline for the Friday assignments have been moved to Saturday. As the other class requires assignments due at 1500, I don't expect any extension from them.
I should be happy, right? Actually, I'm rather miffed. Irrational, I know...but I am.
I'm still going to try to wrap all up I can by Thursday, so I can have the weekend to study for the three tests that I need to take on Sunday.
I don't regret the day off though. I did get a lot of schoolwork done, and the little one and I were able to enjoy a lunch date. I felt bad about calling out at the agency though, until I remember that this was the exact reason why I work at the agency: so I can dictate my schedule.
June 17, 2012
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there...if you consider yourself a father in any way, shape or form, this day is for you!
Hindsight being 20/20, I suppose I could have waited the few days to tell the other half about the pregnancy, and did it today in some cutesy way...but I guess I was too stunned to think that one through. And to be honest, historically the other half isn't good about picking up on clues on these things. I told him about the first pregnancy by ordering him a Dallas Cowboys onesie. He thought it was for the cat...I kid you not. So for the second pregnancy I made it very clear to him by giving him a book called, "What to Expect When Your Wife is Expanding." He got the message faster this time but it did require a little explaining. I figured this time, it'd be safest if I just told him outright.
Trying to get my Texas History test wrapped up early today so I can relax. This is going to be a really rough week since there's only one week until the second Texas test, plus I have discussion questions, discussion question responses and project feedback due. AND I have the usual two tests and two learning projects from the politics class. In addition, the school's servers are going down for maintenance on Friday so I have until 1559 instead of 2159...translation: since I'm working Friday, it's all due Thursday.
My work schedule has be split between inpatient and outpatient, which is nice since I'll have some breathing room--as well as opportunities to do some studying during the outpatient job when things are slow.
I think I'm getting a little burned out from the inpatient job. Yesterday was a bad day and I didn't handle it well as I usually do...well, no one could have found fault in my performance (except the disgruntled parties involved but then again, they were biased), but I wasn't happy with it. I think it's time for some time away from inpatient. In a happy coincidence, there's been an increased demand for my services in outpatient through mid-July, so I signed on for a lot of days. So that means only two agency days this week, none next week unless I decide to work on July 4th and/or pick up a day on that weekend, and only two days max the following week. By then I should be ready to return to the inpatient ring more often.
The flirting nurse--who by the way I learned is married--has ceased flirting. While I'm mostly relieved, a tiny part of me is also irrationally miffed that apparently I'm "no longer good enough". Ah, the joys of pregnancy hormones :)
Hindsight being 20/20, I suppose I could have waited the few days to tell the other half about the pregnancy, and did it today in some cutesy way...but I guess I was too stunned to think that one through. And to be honest, historically the other half isn't good about picking up on clues on these things. I told him about the first pregnancy by ordering him a Dallas Cowboys onesie. He thought it was for the cat...I kid you not. So for the second pregnancy I made it very clear to him by giving him a book called, "What to Expect When Your Wife is Expanding." He got the message faster this time but it did require a little explaining. I figured this time, it'd be safest if I just told him outright.
Trying to get my Texas History test wrapped up early today so I can relax. This is going to be a really rough week since there's only one week until the second Texas test, plus I have discussion questions, discussion question responses and project feedback due. AND I have the usual two tests and two learning projects from the politics class. In addition, the school's servers are going down for maintenance on Friday so I have until 1559 instead of 2159...translation: since I'm working Friday, it's all due Thursday.
My work schedule has be split between inpatient and outpatient, which is nice since I'll have some breathing room--as well as opportunities to do some studying during the outpatient job when things are slow.
I think I'm getting a little burned out from the inpatient job. Yesterday was a bad day and I didn't handle it well as I usually do...well, no one could have found fault in my performance (except the disgruntled parties involved but then again, they were biased), but I wasn't happy with it. I think it's time for some time away from inpatient. In a happy coincidence, there's been an increased demand for my services in outpatient through mid-July, so I signed on for a lot of days. So that means only two agency days this week, none next week unless I decide to work on July 4th and/or pick up a day on that weekend, and only two days max the following week. By then I should be ready to return to the inpatient ring more often.
The flirting nurse--who by the way I learned is married--has ceased flirting. While I'm mostly relieved, a tiny part of me is also irrationally miffed that apparently I'm "no longer good enough". Ah, the joys of pregnancy hormones :)
June 15, 2012
It's Giant Brazilian Killer Moths!
The little one is watching Fireman Sam...that's where the subject line came from.
Doctor's appointment went well. Blood pressure is lower than it usually is (104/76) which is good considering I was prehypertensive for a while. But according to my PCP, that's probably not what's causing the dizziness: the pregnancy itself if the culprit. They don't know why it does it but it does it...and I have to take care of myself and just ride it out.
The politics classes continue on. I've already had four tests in the US class, with an average of 90. The first Texas test is Sunday...it's worth 10-12% of the final grade. I have to work tomorrow so I finished all of the other class' work today, then plan to spend tomorrow evening and all Sunday studying. Since it's the first test, I have no idea what to expect.
I've also decided that I don't need a 4.0 this time around. I'm still going to try my best--and at least in this program I only need a 90 for an A--but I've decided that I'll be OK with a couple of Bs here and here.
Doctor's appointment went well. Blood pressure is lower than it usually is (104/76) which is good considering I was prehypertensive for a while. But according to my PCP, that's probably not what's causing the dizziness: the pregnancy itself if the culprit. They don't know why it does it but it does it...and I have to take care of myself and just ride it out.
The politics classes continue on. I've already had four tests in the US class, with an average of 90. The first Texas test is Sunday...it's worth 10-12% of the final grade. I have to work tomorrow so I finished all of the other class' work today, then plan to spend tomorrow evening and all Sunday studying. Since it's the first test, I have no idea what to expect.
I've also decided that I don't need a 4.0 this time around. I'm still going to try my best--and at least in this program I only need a 90 for an A--but I've decided that I'll be OK with a couple of Bs here and here.
June 14, 2012
What a day
It was one of those days in the psych ER best described as someone opening the gates of Hell. High acuity AND volume meant that I had no lunch and I left an hour late. Met way too many law enforcement officers...and had to explain the rights of psych patients to way too many law enforcement officers.
Everyone was short-tempered, even the nurses' unofficial favorite doctor (reason: he talks TO patients and staff, not AT them). Plus the evening shift was short-staffed, so they were asking for volunteers, especially RNs, if they'd do a double. I declined due to too much homework to do, as well as not having any food on me: I can't do 16 hours on an empty stomach.
Still, no one died and no codes were called so it was a good day. We came rather close to having a couple of codes though.
I was dizzy during the early part of the morning, but it resolved by my second patient. It returned at home. Nausea went away...though honestly, I think I'd rather have the nausea over the dizziness.
I go to the doctor tomorrow...yeah, I said I'd wait until I was a week late, but thanks to the bureaucracy that is my healthcare insurance, I have to go to my PCP to get referred for OB care, and that process can take forever. So I figured I'd get it started now.
June 13, 2012
In which Meriwhen kills the rabbit
I was nauseous on Saturday morning: I chalked it up to eating cereal instead of my usual egg sandwich for breakfast. I was nauseous on Sunday morning; I chalked it up to being up until 0300. I was nauseous on Monday morning; I chalked it up to the drive to work (I have a bad history of motion sickness). I was nauseous yesterday morning; I chalked it up to the car drive again...until I realized that the reason I always choose to drive in the car is that it's the only way I avoid being carsick.
Two prior pregnancies (one kid, one loss), and I never had morning sickness before...well, I had it for all of 8 hours one day in the first trimester: the rest of the little one's pregnancy was a non-stop cheese binge. So now I'm wondering.
Got through work. Got nauseous several times at work; I chalked it up to dealing with some pretty funky patients and their urine. It didn't help that this week's theme seems to be "need to shower the patients."
Got flirted with by one patient and three (!) doctors. Patient was manic so I wasn't too surprised. The other three, I was mostly surprised. Began to wonder if I'm radiating something, especially since I told one doctor to go away because he was bugging me, and the other that the next time I see his manic patient (said flirting patient), I'm making him come along so he can get to see the sights I had to see when I did his safety search. Didn't put any of them off. And no, the other doctor who told me all the details about his dating difficulties wasn't one of them.
Got home. Had cheese and cookies to quell the nausea. Didn't work. Had dinner. Didn't work. Decided I may want to try that pregnancy test that I have. Requiem for a Rabbit.
Well we were kind of trying...still, I'm rather stunned. Good stun though.
I told the other half, and he's happy. He also told me I can quit working tomorrow, at least quit the agency job. I told him that my sitting at home for 9 months will not do me any favors, but that I will follow whatever advice my doctor gives me and scale back as I go along. I reassured him that psych nursing isn't really as bad as it is shown to be in the movies...and that if they knew I was pregnant, they would not make me go to the really dangerous codes.
And based on past history, I'm not quitting work until my health or labor makes me.
Slept late today (outpatient today). Homework this morning. Dizziness when I shift positions. I'm also trying not to throw up on the keyboard.
We didn't tell the little one yet. Nor are we planning to tell him, or the family--or anyone really, for that matter--until the end of the first trimester. Reason 1: I miscarried before. Reason 2: it's going to be a high-risk pregnancy so let's just get past week 13 first. Reason 3: because of our ages, we're going to have CVS done and should (God forbid) there turn out to be problems, we don't want to have to explain or justify anything to anyone. Heck, no one knew we were even trying!
OK, y'all know. Need to be able to talk about it somewhere. I don't do pregnancy boards because I find they go to ridiculous extremes about their pregnancy...must be the hormones in the posters.
Next week I'm going to make the appointment to see the doctor...figured that I should wait until I'm officially a week late before I do that. I know a lot of pregnancies end before they're even known--the period comes on time or a little late. I happened to have a really good pregnancy test on hand so I got to know 3 days early. But I know there's a good chance this could end...so we just have to wait and see.
Going to (attempt to) do some politics homework.
Two prior pregnancies (one kid, one loss), and I never had morning sickness before...well, I had it for all of 8 hours one day in the first trimester: the rest of the little one's pregnancy was a non-stop cheese binge. So now I'm wondering.
Got through work. Got nauseous several times at work; I chalked it up to dealing with some pretty funky patients and their urine. It didn't help that this week's theme seems to be "need to shower the patients."
Got flirted with by one patient and three (!) doctors. Patient was manic so I wasn't too surprised. The other three, I was mostly surprised. Began to wonder if I'm radiating something, especially since I told one doctor to go away because he was bugging me, and the other that the next time I see his manic patient (said flirting patient), I'm making him come along so he can get to see the sights I had to see when I did his safety search. Didn't put any of them off. And no, the other doctor who told me all the details about his dating difficulties wasn't one of them.
Got home. Had cheese and cookies to quell the nausea. Didn't work. Had dinner. Didn't work. Decided I may want to try that pregnancy test that I have. Requiem for a Rabbit.
Well we were kind of trying...still, I'm rather stunned. Good stun though.
I told the other half, and he's happy. He also told me I can quit working tomorrow, at least quit the agency job. I told him that my sitting at home for 9 months will not do me any favors, but that I will follow whatever advice my doctor gives me and scale back as I go along. I reassured him that psych nursing isn't really as bad as it is shown to be in the movies...and that if they knew I was pregnant, they would not make me go to the really dangerous codes.
And based on past history, I'm not quitting work until my health or labor makes me.
Slept late today (outpatient today). Homework this morning. Dizziness when I shift positions. I'm also trying not to throw up on the keyboard.
We didn't tell the little one yet. Nor are we planning to tell him, or the family--or anyone really, for that matter--until the end of the first trimester. Reason 1: I miscarried before. Reason 2: it's going to be a high-risk pregnancy so let's just get past week 13 first. Reason 3: because of our ages, we're going to have CVS done and should (God forbid) there turn out to be problems, we don't want to have to explain or justify anything to anyone. Heck, no one knew we were even trying!
OK, y'all know. Need to be able to talk about it somewhere. I don't do pregnancy boards because I find they go to ridiculous extremes about their pregnancy...must be the hormones in the posters.
Next week I'm going to make the appointment to see the doctor...figured that I should wait until I'm officially a week late before I do that. I know a lot of pregnancies end before they're even known--the period comes on time or a little late. I happened to have a really good pregnancy test on hand so I got to know 3 days early. But I know there's a good chance this could end...so we just have to wait and see.
Going to (attempt to) do some politics homework.
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