Diagnosing my first patient!

So not too much has been happening this week beside working on my paper and putting the final touches on my presentation. Since that's pretty much what everyone is doing I won't bore everyone with such things.

Luckily for all of us exciting things are happening at Dr. Chua's office. There were quite a few trauma emergency patients this week, which although I'm not allowed to see them in the hospital I still get to hear everything about. On Monday Dr. Chua got called in at 2a.m. to do emergency surgery on a lady who had a brain hemorrhage, he got it out and then she started squirting blood! He got it all under control even though she coded three times and 24hours after surgery she was beginning to wake up.

We're also starting to see patients who I recognize. Most people don't just sign up for surgery, they like to think about it more tests are generally done and then they come back to further discuss their options. On Friday an 82 year old woman with a pituitary tumor came back. Her vision in her left eye is being affected because the tumor is pushing on her optical nerve, but with the vision test they also had a much more focused MRI scan.

Dr. Chua, his P.A. Lisa and Dr. Scully all looked over her scan because she has quite the tumor. Your pituitary gland is roughly the size of a pea and this tumor is the size of a strawberry. Dr. Scully turned to me and asked how I would treat her. Needless to say I was very taken aback at first, but then I just answered which shocked him. I thought she shouldn't have surgery because of her age, other health problems, and medication list. Also pituitary tumors are very slow growing, so at her age it most likely won't change her life that much. And I was right!!! I correctly diagnosed my first patient. Dr. Chua was very proud and Scully and Lisa were impressed.

All in all it was a GREAT week!