The Wicked Doctor

42: Analgesia (Revised)

Analgesia, loss of of that results from an interruption in the pathway between sense organ and . Different forms of sensation (e.g., touch, temperature, and pain) stimulating an area of skin travel to the by different fibers in the same nerve bundle. Therefore, any injury or affecting the nerve would abolish all forms of sensation in the area supplied by it. When sensory nerves reach the spinal cord, however, their fibers separate and follow different courses to the brain. Thus, it is possible for certain forms of sensation to be lost, while others are preserved, in diseases that affect only certain areas of the spinal cord. Because pain and temperature sensations often travel the same path, both may be lost together. Diseases of the spinal cord that may cause analgesia without loss of the sensation of touch are tabes dorsalis, syringomyelia , and tumors of the cord. The term is also used for pain relief induced by the action of such medications as aspirin, codeine and morphine.

_______________________________________

"How about the pain meds, doc?"

"IV Toradol stat 30 mg for now then 15 mg for the next doses every 6 hours but you need to notify me after the fourth 15 mg dose. Monitor the pain and the drainage. I'll enter all the orders in the system. Just monitor him closely."

I am so damn tired. Dapat kanina pa ako nakauwi pero dahil sa emergency surgery na 'to hindi na nga ako nakapananghalian hindi pa ako makakapagdinner on time.

"Emily, who's the on call internist? I need them to check on our patient. This one's hypertensive and borderline hyperglycemic. Can you phone the doc and pass it to me? Thanks, love." Ganyan ako sa kanila makipag-usap na parang mga kabarkada ko lang silang lahat.

Naupo ako sa swivel chair at sinimulang i-encode sa system ang orders ko. Nagsimula na ring sumakit ang ulo ko pati ang tiyan ko marahil na rin dahil sa gutom. I was supposed to home at 2 pm but here I am, still working even if it's already 4:30 pm. Hindi na ako nakapaglunch dahil busy ang emergency room at ipinatawag ako para tumulong dahil sa trauma cases gawa ng nagkabanggaang dalawang bus tapos may kailangan pang operahan kaya scrub in ako for an emergency surgery.

"I'm hungry..." Mahina kong sambit habang nakapikit na nakasandal sa upuan. Iniwan ko na rin sa mesa ang salamin ko at minasahe ang sentido kong nagsisimula nang kumirot.

Pagmulat ko ng mata ko ay may tumambad sa aking fruit platter na sa tingin ko ay galing sa cafeteria at disposable fork na nabalutan ng tissue. May laman itong strawberry, kiwi at grapes kaya takam na takam ako dahil na rin sa sobrang gutom.

I muttered my thanks and opened the pack hurriedly, earning a chuckle from Emily.

"Good evening Dr. Neilsen. Are you available right now? Dr. Kaneda is here and she wants to refer a patient." Ipinasa ni Emily ang telepono sa akin. Napatigil ako sa pagkain ng prutas at hinawakan ang handset. I referred the patient through the phone with all the formalities. Ewan ko kung ano ang mararamdaman ko.

Maiirita ba ako o ano? Sa dami ba naman ng doktor sa ospital na ito yung babaeng yun pa talaga ang on call ngayon kung kailan ko kailangang magrefer ng pasyente.

Ibinaba ko ang phone at itinuloy ang pagkain ng prutas. Tahimik lang akong ngumunguya habang binabasa ang updates sa lab results ng mga pasyente ko at nagpapahinga sa station nang dumating ang bruhang asawa ni Terrence.

"Good evening Dr. Kaneda, how's your patient?"

"He's stable, Dr. Neilsen but I need a consult on his case because he's hypertensive and hyperglycemic. I may need to change the medications after this consult", I answered.

"Dr. Kaneda, please refrain from eating at the station. And it's Dr. Laine now." 

Alam ko naman eh. Talagang gutom lang ako at sobrang pagod, BRUHA! At the back of my mind gusto ko na siyang sabunutan pero may kasalanan din naman ako dahil dito nga ako sa station kumain instead of going to the staff lounge.