Yesterday was fun (but long!). Jared and I went crabbing with my grandfather at the last minute- we left the house at 4 am, and got on the water by 5:30. The weather was a lot balmier than last time, and the crabs were hitting! We got 2.5 bushels (roughly 180 crabs) and 150 peelers, which, compared to the last couple of weeks as well as what DNR said the other crabbers on the water were getting (one only had 12 crabs), was awesome.
Late Tuesday night Doc had called me for an emergency colic, but I had missed the call and by the time I called back it was too late for him to get me (the call was .5 hours+ away). This was the same horse that we had gone out for a suspected colic last week (or the week before), and the horse was fine. This time it was not. Yesterday I went up for a 4 o'clock call at a farm not too far from home and Doc showed me the ultrasounds, which displayed extremely thickened walls in the small and large intestine. He said that as of yesterday morning, the horse was not passing bowels by itself, but he thought it would be okay due to whatever veterinary intuition/knowledge that he has. He had done a rectal palpation, given it mineral oils, and done the ultrasound (at the least).
Now about the call yesterday... Getting one vet to be on time is almost unheard-of- to get two to be on time is a miracle. Well yesterday was not, of course, a day for a miracle. The case was a horse that ate everything under the sun, had a lot of digestive problems, and that Doc had diagnosed as Colitis after an ultrasound. This would be, naturally, an inflammation of the colon (part of the large intestine). A digestive specialist who was in the area (she is from New York) was scheduled to meet us at the barn at 4 pm. I had a crab feast at 5:30, which my entire family was coming to (very rare to actually get everyone together), and to which I really wanted to make it. So I drove myself and met Doc at the barn. Doc for once was on time, and I started with high hopes... and then the other vet said she would be an hour late. Doc still had to vaccinate and take blood for coggins on EIGHT horses after this appointment, so he groaned a little to hear this. As did I, for it was a half-hour drive to get there. So I called my family and said I would be late. And waited. And waited.
At 5:40 we still had no sign of the other vet, and I was getting anxious to get home. I really, really wanted to see what they were going to do ( a video endoscopy) and meet the specialist, but I also know that I will have the rest of my life to miss family dinners, birthdays, funerals, anniversaries and every other occasion that is important... right now I don't have to. Plus my grandfather is getting really old, and I'm honestly not sure how long he will be able to continue doing this sort of thing. Every second with my family is precious to me. So needless to say, I left. Feeling really bad about myself, really wanting to stay, but also really wanting to go home (and really freaking tired from getting up at 3!), I headed home.
I saw Doc later in the evening (have I mentioned he is practically my neighbor?), and he had cancelled the other horses that evening and rescheduled (for the other vet hadn't gotten there until six at the least) and he did not get finished until ten till eight. He said it was really awesome though! He also invited me on another colic call he had just gotten, but by that time I was already in my pajamas standing in the front yard talking to him, my eyelids sagging and my face pallid (he compared me to a zombie), and we both decided it was for the best that I just went to sleep. Hopefully in the next couple of days he will get an emergency I can actually go on!!! I feel terrible for having turned down two- the only two he has invited me on all Summer. Am hoping he isn't too upset with me for not going out with him on them- I don't want him to think I am not committed to vet med. It was just bad timing and a little bit of selfishness on my part.
Anyway, I am going out with him at noon today for some calls.
On a related subject, I have been scheduling, making phone calls and sending emails out for the pre-vet club, and it looks like things are working out pretty well! I am really excited to meet the incoming first years, and I hope that we get a lot of people who want to be involved this year. Among every organization and club there is a similar problem of getting people motivated, coming to meetings and sharing their ideas. I don't quite understand it, as when I join something I go to EVERYTHING (and talk loudly). Maybe because of my thirst for knowledge, maybe because I like the companionship. So I am crossing my fingers that what I have planned for this year will help everyone to get to know each other a little better, form some bonds and friendships, and keep them interested. I guess we shall see! We also had an officer resign so we get to start the semester with a search for a new Senate Rep. That is always fun.
~Melissa
No comments:
Post a Comment