It was a weird day, but then, has anyone had a normal one lately? Often, when I share notes from my real life practice, it has a point. I’m not sure it does tonight. Here’s what my day as a #covid19 doc looked like:
It starts early. 4 y.o. T. has a meltdown about #coronavirus. He’s had it with no preschool, no nanas, no playground, no pool, no “exploring”… in fairness, hands up who doesn’t agree with him? I suggest that DH try some amateur play therapy with salt dough or paints and make a coronavirus to focus emotions. Toddler C. shoves “ballallas” (bananas) in my workbag by the door. Donating his snack food of choice unasked may be the purest act of love I’ve seen.
By 9am, I am at my desk. Alone. I spent years of my career in groups, never alone. #socialdistancing means working apart from colleagues where possible. No camaraderie. No small talk. No teaching. And patients. I make patient calls. I realise how much I miss the real human connection of the doctor patient relationship. Telemedicine is so difficult on both sides.
11am: I finish boxing 1700 records from first 1700 community patients in our cohort. It just seems inadequate that that much misery is simply boxed. They will be moved to make more room in my office.
11:30 Drove to another hospital where I’ll be joining research with another team. Hate driving in Dublin. I have to wait 45 minutes. The team I’m meeting for orientation has their phones off because they are on the inpatient Covid ward and 2 patients have become very unwell. Not unexpected. Have a seat on bench outside hospital and think I’ll idly scroll through #medtwitter to waste time.
11.01 despair for humanity to see anti-vaccination movement still falsely announcing death of a very-much-alive microbiologist in UK. She is first recipient last week of Oxford trial of a coronavirus vaccine. As fake news and conspiracy theories go, even the most extreme should have dropped it when she appeared alive on BBC to debunk it.
11.02 my US colleagues confirm my no hope for humanity as they continue to post on their efforts debunk POTUS theory you can inject or consume disinfectant to cure Covid19.
11.03 turn off social media after seeing reactions to a pair of seriously questionable US doctors who posted fraudulent “research” that was thoroughly and promptly debunked and though they find themselves subject of professional enquiry -quite rightly – their crazy continues to circulate…
12.45 Drive back to hospital. Really hate driving in Dublin but not taking usual public transport because #socialdistancing. Stop on empty road to take a photo of barges in Dublin Bay from car for T.
1pm Back at office. Lunch alone. More telemedicine. Virtual follow up with covid patients. Stories of recovery are too often bumpy, slow, and long. Whatever reassurance or advice I can give seems inadequate to their experience.
2pm – WhatsApp photo from home of T. hammering a salt dough coronavirus. I highly recommend this. And more telemedicine. Quick literature review.
4pm Leave office. Trying to keep onsite time flexible on the days where possible. Can do more at home later. Toddler C. seems keenly aware that my work load has increased in last weeks.
4:15 listen to absolute eegit on radio rail on about how we need to start to balance economy against human life. I suspect, though, he wouldn’t so quickly offer up his or a family member for the Exchequer… he moves on to screaming about police state tyranny before I switch radio station in interest of my mental health
4:30 Tailback at #operationfanacht checkpoint. Long wait. I thank the garda for his service. News report that 31 people have spat at gardaí recently. The mind boggles. His job makes mine so much easier.
5:30 The meat I bought for dinner has gone off. Its in date. The thought of braving a shop again this week too much so I get creative. T. and C. sense my weakness and beg extra screen time while I’m distracted making dinner. DH is video calling work. I enjoy 20 minutes of hearing Moana sing about the water…again.
6pm Dinner. DH does hand washing with boys to a rendition of “Baby Shark”. We let them pick their 20 second song. In retrospect, should have seen this happening.
7:30pm. Catch up on CMO briefing and today’s numbers.
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