The First 2 Weeks and my 5 Survival Tips (for what they’re worth!)

May 5, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

So we’ve survived the first 2 weeks of our daughter’s life!

My husband and I are getting 6 hours of broken sleep per night (with the occasional horror night), we still manage a hug and laugh amongst our new duties, and we are completely besotted with this little soul who has literally flipped our life upside down. Our dining table downstairs has a changing station- gone are the candelabras that used to stand with pride as the centrepiece– hello wipes, Huggies and Sudo Cream! If someone comes to visit no effort is made to hide the rattles or the myriad of parenting books my husband has bought to ensure we raise a strong and independent girl! Hello new life!

If you have children you probably understand when I say I’ve learnt an incredible amount in the last 2 weeks – more than I ever have in my entire life (and I thought the first 2 weeks of internship were a steep learning curve!). I’ve learnt that being a mother is the hardest thing I’ve done and that being intelligent and determined means jack all to a newborn. Where my type A personality has helped me succeed in most other aspects of my life – studying hard, making sure everything is as perfect as it can be – it just doesn’t apply here. And no matter how many books or articles you read at 2am about cluster feeding or self-settling babies – what will be will be!

So all the children I’ve seen as a doctor counted for nothing when it came to my turn. I’ve reassured so many mother’s that the sleeping does improve, that providing some sort of routine does pay off and that breast feeding can get easier – but now I actually get it!

So I thought if I can survive the first 2 weeks I better share my very few pearls – so here are my top 5 survival tips for what they’re worth!

Zipped suits are PURE GOLD! Bonds do a Wonder Suit that has a zip that opens from the top and bottom and let me tell you when you are changing nappies post every feed you want easy access especially at night! We use the Wonder Suit as pyjamas for Miss S and it is a godsend – dealing with 20 buttons in dim light at 2am in the morning is a great way to go completely mad!
Engorged breasts hurt!!! Avent do a gel pad, which can be cooled, or heated (which you can use pre feed to assist milk flow) and let me tell you these babies straight from the freezer (in their cloth bag) on the breast soothe the pain beautifully! As GP’s we also recommend cold or frozen cabbage leaves for relief of engorgement and I would honestly use these if I hadn’t used all the cabbage to make a stir-fry with my mum!
Sleep hygiene is VITAL for a baby and your sanity! Our obstetrician on day 3 post birth told us the rules for the first 6 weeks was that there were no rules – and I must say this was advice I very much needed to hear! But the only loose rule we have is trying to introduce some sleep routine consistency and it feels like it’s paying off – naps in the day occur in light, whereas nighttime is all dim light or darkness. A bedtime routine is being introduced (with some reluctance from Miss S) which involves a bath then changing into pyjamas and feeding in dim light. Most sleep gurus will suggest some sort of sleep routine and so we are giving it a go!
LET GO – I was soooooo reluctant initially to leave Miss S with anyone to even have a nap. I would sit there watching my mum, aunt or husband with her – just subtly giving tips (when in reality I had no idea what I was doing either I now realize!). But I swallowed all my pride/type A-ness and accepted help and boy oh boy did life get better. I had naps, allowed my family to cook all the meals and now the freezer is full of healthy meals! And most importantly my husband and I have had moments here and there to have a hug, debrief and an odd tear! So swallow all pride and say yes to all help is my big tip!
A walk a day keeps the mind and body sane. This I swear by – I was slow to get back to my walks post the emergency C section but now we are out that door every day. Miss S is rugged up, I have my sneakers on and we hit the pavement (gently) for 30 minutes at least once a day … and if things are going well we stop for a chai latte at the local café… I see the sunlight (so does she), we have fresh air, we smile at people who walk past us (and invariably someone stops for a chat when they see a new baby) and when we come home we are both new ladies!

So there it is – 2 weeks in and I still know next to nothing… but I sure know a hell of a lot more than I did! Imagine how much I’ll know in another 2 weeks – I’ll be some sort of epic baby whisperer by then (I wish!).

What 39-weeks and Christmas have in common

April 14, 2016April 14, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

I’m the first to admit I’ve gone a touch weird in the last 48 hours.

I’m incredibly restless and sleep is hard to come by. You know that feeling where you want to nap but can’t stop moving/thinking/scratching your hair – well that’s how I feel constantly. I’m exhausted but get sudden energy bursts and want to fold literally every piece of clothing in the house so it’s neat – and then I’m back on the couch re-watching Gossip Girl (and it is just as good the second time round FYI!).

I am huge. When I go for my daily walk I feel like a bowling ball is about to fall out. I can’t roll in bed without grunting and whispering into the darkness, “Will, you gotta help me!” And don’t even get me started on my feet. They’re not puffy – they are just somehow bigger – and I am telling the universe right now that if I don’t fit into my beautiful boots after this pregnancy is over… there’ll be trouble.

And then there’s the bathroom – I wee all night – at least 6 times. Yes that likely means this baby’s head is low and things should be happening – but how low can you go? Seriously!

I knew my hormones were slightly erratic this week but when the car seat was fitted and I had a small cry I knew that perhaps things had escalated. Yes, I cried. I felt overwhelmed, tired and irritated – “why are you still in there baby? Come out, we want to meet you- we have a seat for you now!!” But also a pang of – “crap so you drive around with this precious bundle in the car? Do I need to get a special license for this?”

I think the overwhelming emotion is utter excitement – “I could explode” kind of excitement. My husband summed it up perfectly when he said “It’s like someone saying – Christmas could be any time in the next 2 weeks – you wake every morning thinking – is today the day?” Perfectly said honey! Every twinge I feel I hear my brain scream – “is this Christmas?” – but nope – still no damn presents under the tree!

So hello to 39-weeks!

I’ve started questioning the universe – are the last 3 weeks of pregnancy really necessary? I recall having said to my patients before – “this is the good time when the brain develops – just stick with it” – oh sweet innocent Preeya – you had no idea! No idea at all!

So back to the couch I go – to patiently wait, catch up on the Upper East Side and wait for Santa!!

What You Need to Know About Common Over the Counter Medications

April 1, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

It’s so easy to grab a packet of Panadol or Nurofen from the Chemist or supermarket.

For some reason if you can grab a medicine over the counter people assume it “must be safe.”

Golly gosh – anti inflammatories like Ibuprofen (brand name Nurofen) are some of my most feared drugs and in the wrong hands (or should I say body) can cause serious damage!

So here’s what you need to know about 2 of the most commonly used medications – and why you might want to rethink popping the packet!

Drug Name: Paracetamol (Commonly known as brand name Panadol)

Most people have taken paracetamol at some point for a headache, period pain or backache. 2 tablets here and there are fine, but are you reaching out for the stuff more often? And do you know how much is safe to take?

Too much paracetamol can cause liver failure –which can lead to death.

The recommended dose is no more than 4 grams per day, which is a total of 8 tablets. But there are so many times a patient will come into a consult and tell me they have tried 10 to 12 tablets to get rid of their headache or belly pain – which subsequently gives me a headache from anxiety.

There are people who try to overdose on this stuff and its availability everywhere from a 7/11 to a service station often has me worried. How can something potentially so dangerous be so easy to get?

In the recommended dose it’s fine (so long as you don’t have underlying liver problems) but chugging it down by the truckload (just because its on your supermarket shelf) isn’t necessarily safe.

Drug Name: Ibuprofen (Brand name: Nurofen)

We doctors call anti inflammatories NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) but you would know them as Nurofen or Voltaren.
These babies work a charm for muscular pain and inflammation. Sore ankle after netball training, period pain, neck ache or backache – this stuff can work a miracle!

BUT – they aren’t all the goodness you might think they are.

Take them on an empty stomach for a prolonged period of time and you are potentially facing gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining causing pain, blood loss and even ulcers.

They can also cause kidney troubles as they reduce the amount of waste products filtered through the kidney. In the elderly especially we get VERY worried about causing kidney failure with these drugs.

So between ulcers and shutting the kidneys down – these medications aren’t as safe as you think. And look at how easily you can buy the stuff!

Some think rubbing Nurofen or Voltaren gel on their ankle or back is ‘safer’ – I’ve heard this arugment from patients many times! Not necessarily – firstly, you shouldn’t be using the gel and tablet form of the same drug (it’s essentially over dosing on the stuff) and secondly, the gel should only be used for the shortest term possible too. Just because you’re rubbing it on doesn’t mean it’s safer – it still ends up in the blood stream!

If you need these tablets – use them with food and for the shortest duration possible. If you find yourself using them a lot – its time to see your GP to work out what’s causing your pain and what else can be done!

As you can see just because the tablets are sitting on the shelf (with no prescription or discussion with the pharmacist needed) does not mean they are 100% safe. I am seriously scared of anti inflammatories (after having seen patient’s end up on dialysis with kidney failure and with ulcers in their stomach!), and you should be wary too.

So before you pop that foil packet today – do you need the drug? Have you got food in your belly before you swallow an anti-inflammatory? Are you taking over the recommended dose for the day?

And most importantly, have I made you think twice about popping another pill today?

The Reality Post Baby Shower

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

This baby has been showered with love/champagne/ridiculously cute presents and cupcakes – and suddenly it all feels incredibly real – more real than it ever did before. We have a draw of nappies and baby wipes dammit – it’s really happening. It’s not just soft toys and onesies anymore.

I am 85% bursting with pure excitement and anticipation at meeting this little being of ours.

I am 10% nervous about the significant life change we are about to go through – we are a spontaneous, social couple and I know we are going to have to adapt when this baby comes along, which is fine.

And I am 5% completely (and utterly) terrified of the birth– so much so that most nights I will lie there just imagining the birth and all the things that could potentially occur.

I’m scared about my waters breaking in a public place – will I be at the counter in shop about to pay an overly posh saleswoman for my scented candle when boom – I’ve wet myself?

I’m scared that when I go into labor my husband will be stuck in the operating theatre and I’ll struggle to get hold of him furiously trying to explain to the nurses who pick up his phone (between contractions) that I’m about to have his child and could someone calmly communicate this to the man operating on another human?

And I can make myself absolutely petrified if I relive my obstetrics rotation years ago and think of all the things I saw (which I now wish I hadn’t) – gosh the memories are VIVID!

BUT… our obstetrician, who is a calm guru (thank goodness) and very apt at dealing with 2 pedantic doctors who ask the weirdest most intricate questions – has put my mind at peace. And keeps reminding me that there are lots of factors at play here and I certainly can’t control all of them.

And that’s the truth isn’t it? I have very little control over this whole ‘birthing’ process – the baby’s position, when I go into labour, where my waters will break, how the baby will descend, how my body will take the whole process– all out of my control. And honestly, that gives me some peace knowing that I’ll do my bit (with my husband’s support), the baby will do his/her’s and the obstetrician will nail it.

For a woman who normally likes TOTAL control with an intricately planned path I’ve had to accept on this one I just can’t have it my way. It’s been a struggle but I think I’m officially at the point of “what will be will be” with just a touch of “but if there are things I can control (like my music playlist and the drugs I receive in labour) then I will dammit” -and I think that’s the perfect mix for now!!

So You’ve Asked Dr Google…

March 10, 2016March 10, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

When a consultation opens with a patient saying, “so I know I shouldn’t have but I went on Google and…” I very gently and subtly clutch the corner of my table. I wait for the ridiculous diagnosis (or list of diagnoses!) the machine has spat at you.

You type in “cough, fever, nasal congestion and sore throat” and get told you have pneumonia. But I’m thinking you have the common cold and will survive this with some rest and fluids.

You type in “lump on bottom, painful” and get told, with no warning mind you, that you likely have bowel cancer. But I know that at 25 you most likely have a haemmoroid – and when I examine you thats what I find, something that this “Dr Google” never does.

I used to find it slightly insulting when a patient came to me with their list of diagnoses form the internet. I’d be thinking “gees so the 6 years I did at medical school, the gruelling internship and training on top of that to be a GP counts for nothing???” – But now, I realise that it’s just a way for you to be involved in your healthcare and perhaps it’s giving you some control when your freaking out about something you’ve found on your body.

A doctor often doesn’t want to know what Google said because it can shape our diagnostic opinion – either make us firm on refusing to agree with the internet or think about things that clearly do not need to be considered. Please know that 99% of the time a human doctor who listens to you, examines you and has a thinking mind is going to be better than a computer. And if you do use the internet take it all with a grain of salt- don’t lose sleep over the cancer diagnosis it spat out at you and please don’t say to me “but Google said…” when I tell you my opinion.

Dr Google may be open at all hours and hear your concerns at 3 in the morning when you’ve noticed a lump. But Dr Google won’t pat you on the shoulder and reassure you it’s not cancer or give you a hug when it is… Just a thought…

My 32 Week Pregnancy Itch

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

So I’m officially just over 32 weeks pregnant. Yay right? Yes absolutely, but also a touch of nervousness/panic/“oh my goodness there’s so much to do before this baby arrives” – I think this must be the “32 week itch”. I’ve never actually heard the term being used but I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like this (feel free to reassure me people!).

At around 1130pm every night this week I will whisper to my husband Will, “hey you awake?” “Yeah babe – what’s going on?” is the sleepy response. “Can you believe in less than 8 weeks there will be A BABY in a bassinet in THIS room?” I am not joking – every night it’s the same realisation I have as I drift to sleep. Time is running out and I am so incredibly excited to meet this being – but I also can’t believe how quickly the time goes and how unprepared you feel just before it all happens!

Loads of my patients and friends will say to me, “it must be so easy for you being a doctor – you know exactly what to expect.” Um no – I really really don’t. Sure I know about reflux, feeding issues, sleep problems for infants and about the medicine. But – how many sets of cot sheets do we need? Do we really need mattress protectors for the bassinet and the cot? Am I supposed to know where to go to buy maternity bras? Are we meant to invest in an expresser now before I know whether I will successfully breast feed? And hello, do babies prefer the long suits with their toes covered or the footless ones? I think I would like my feet out because they get hot and I don’t want our baby having hot feet, but does anyone know what babies like!?!

There’s SO much I don’t know. Thanks to mums, girlfriends and helpful patients I’m slowly getting these questions answered but hey – its a seriously steep learning curve.

Doesn’t help we’ve had our birthing skill classes recently. Unfortunately my husband is also a doctor – cue 2 parties in this birthing team who have the wonderful ability to horrifically over think everything medical. I wish I could delete my obstetrics rotation from my brain, forget all the things I saw on the paediatrics ward and start afresh – but I can’t – and dealing with those fears and having no expectations at all is a skill in itself. And with only 8 weeks to go this is something I am working on (hard!) with relaxation techniques and reading some calming books.

So – despite my utter excitement (and trust me I cannot wait for us to hold this baby and see his or her face for the first time) – I am also nervous. And I’ve accepted that’s OK, because the nervousness is just my brain getting me ready for a huge life change. So if there’s 8 weeks left – wonderful, and if we don’t have that much time then that’s fine too – I just need to get the hubby to finish setting up the nursery furniture and figure out how many of those damn cot sheets we need sooner rather than later!

My Top 5 Tips for Healthy Weight Loss

February 17, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

We all want to talk about this don’t we? A great friend of mine recently picked my brains about weight loss and asked me to dish some tips out on the blog. With my rubber arm I started typing this blog BUT I have just 1 proviso – we are beautiful creatures inside and out and I’m talking weight loss/management for health benefits (to reduce risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol). I am not talking weight loss so you can fit into a size 6 dress for a party or attain this ridiculous goal of a thigh gap. So if you feel you body mass index (BMI) is on the higher side or you are worried you might be gaining unhealthy weight then this is for you:

Reduce your portion sizes

If you eat too much of anything – you won’t lose weight. In Australia (mainly thanks to food availability) we eat too much and portion size control is how most of my patients will lose weight.

Put your hands in a circle and slightly separate your fingers – you should not be eating more than this per meal. Hello, most people’s steak or piece of chicken is that big not their entire meal. I’ve had patients come up with all sorts of excuses “I’ll die – that’s not enough food” and a lovely man who on his follow up appointment admitted he had been stacking his food UP to fit in the circle – which I thought was highly intelligent and innovative but NOT successful for weight loss (I now specify no stacking up to all my patients thanks to him!!).

You may feel hungry for the first 2 days but your body adapts I promise. And if you feel peckish post meal -my rule to patients is drink 2 glasses of water and wait 40 minutes before you even THINK about putting more food in your belly. Most people will be full if they just let the food settle.

Envision your dinner plate from last night – did you eat outside the circle? If you are serious about weight loss – you need to start here.

Make smart choices

You’re dairy should be low fat.

You’re meat should be lean – with fat trimmed off.

The drink of choice is water as opposed to cordials/fruit juices and god forbid energy drinks, which are loaded with sugar!

Alcohol = calories – so if you’re serious about weight loss – you need to cut this too.

Take away like Maccas or HJ’s is crazy when you are talking serious weight loss. If you need a break – make smart choices like sushi, a Vietnamese pho or grilled fish.

Snacks – celery, carrots and hummus should replace all biscuits/cakes/chocolate/other horrendous things we crave to snack on.

Exercise, exercise, exercise!

You NEED to be active not just to lose weight but for your heart health – remember 30 minutes every day is what the Heart Foundation guidelines recommend. To lose weight you likely need 4-5 hours a week – so get moving and shaking and as I highlight in the blog “Can Exercise Adapt to You?” – find an option that works for you!!

No eating after 8pm

That bikkie you have at 10pm or the paddle pop you sneak out of the freezer (hello pregnancy cravings!) does you no good! No eating after 8pm is the key – put your body into fat burning mode so the next meal you eat after dinner is breakfast the next morning. Tell yourself “my body is now burning the fat I don’t want” to drive you, that will usually stop you reaching for a treat! Drink water if you feel hungry and if you MUST eat something – celery, carrot, some nuts – NOT the fat filled treat!

Have realistic expectations

My patient’s will often claim they are going to lose 20 kilograms by the end of the year or fit into a size 8 (from a 16) in 3 months. No, no, no – you will crash and burn with goals like that. Be realistic – set small goals – 5 kilograms in 6 months is do-able, reasonable and SUSTAINABLE. This is not a diet – this is you kick starting a whole lifestyle change to improve your health.

Don’t weigh yourself every day – do it weekly or fortnightly at the same time (ideally first thing in the morning after a wee) OR my rule with patients is they only weigh themselves in my room – to prevent obsessive scale watching. Be kind to yourself- the changes in your body will come and not always with the numbers on the scale first but in how you feel, how your t-shirt fits around your arms and how your jeans start to feel a bit looser on the belly.

I hope that helps and gives you some tools for your journey! And to my friend who picked my brains – I’ll be checking in with you in 2 weeks!! For the rest of you – feel free to share your journey with me on Facebook or Instagram (I’d love to see it!!). But don’t forget why you are doing this – for the health benefits – and let that motivation drive the journey!!

Good luck!!

10 Things that Shocked Me About Pregnancy

February 9, 2016February 9, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

Despite treating women throughout their pregnancy and having done obstetrics as a medical student where I delivered babies there are still some things I am shocked by in this glorious debacle called pregnancy.

I honestly thought either “that symptom wont happen to me” or “it can’t be that bad” – but hello empathy – I get it now and no exposure to my patients, stories from friends or literature in the books could have prepared me!

The top 10 things I’ve been shocked by in pregnancy so far:

The fatigue – are you kidding me? The first trimester is crap and “they” say it get’s better – who is “they”? Are they lying so you have a false sense of hope? Are they men who haven’t done this? It doesn’t get better people – the need to constantly nap or shut your eyes for a second at your desk doesn’t really improve.
Nausea in the first trimester –NOT OK. I don’t want to talk about it too much because it makes me all emotional and ratty – but feeling like you’re on a shoddy boat constantly with a churning gut is not a pleasant experience. You have a constant hangover without the excellent stories and dance floor antics from the night before. I treat a ridiculous amount of women with this issue but the persistence of the symptom shocked me! And to the poor man who I gagged in front of because I suddenly realised I could not handle blood or wounds (and still can’t which is really practical for a GP – NOT!) – please know it was the nausea not me who made that awful dry retching sound in your face when you showed me your sliced fingers.
The aches and pains – hello back and pelvis ache after I climb the 2 bloody stairs at work.
The shortness of breath has killed me. From day dot I’ve been panting when I walk the dogs and try to chew my husband’s ear off (he’s enjoyed the pregnancy immensely so far!). But seriously – I knew about it but now actually understand it.
The breast changes – I knew all about this – but when you look down and see these huge things growing with darkening areolas and enlarging nipples its completely crazy! For a lady who didn’t wear bras all the time- this has been a huge lifestyle change!
The belly touching – old man on the train no you cannot touch me without asking. You may not feel the baby kick, but I’m a great kick if you don’t take your hand off. I thought the t-shirts women wore saying “don’t touch” or “hands off” were full on before – but ladies, I get it. What’s with the invasion of personal space by strangers?
The kicks – when I’m trying to do a pap smear and have a repeated kick in my right pelvis like someone’s trying to burst out of me it’s kind of distracting. But the kicking (especially at night in bed) is such a phenomenal feeling that nothing I’d heard from pregnant women prepared me for it – and I absolutely love it!
The sex drive – I know it can go up or down. But when they say up– they mean up. And that’s all I’m going to say. Total shock.
I’m utterly shocked by the smells and flavours I love at the moment. Artificial banana flavor (Nesquick, banana paddle pop, banana lollies) is my hero. And I love going to the underground supermarket car park for the smell of rubber/oil/I don’t know what – but even writing about it makes me crave it – is that weird?
The love you feel for something you haven’t seen, met, held or touched yet. I have this full heart for a being that I have only dreamt of and seen on a screen and I feel like my heart could explode at any moment – that’s shocked me most of all! The sudden desire to not go 1KM over the speed limit or change lanes too many times on the freeway because now I’m keeping our baby safe too – that sudden “I’m a fierce mama bear” attitude comes very quickly!!

So there are surprises galore throughout this journey. Despite knowing about the body changes and kicking and fatigue as a doctor – until it happened to me I realised I lacked some serious empathy before. So when I see pregnant women now and they say how tired they are as opposed to thinking “gosh it can’t be that bad – soldier on lady,” I’m saying “I hear you – do you need time off? Do you need a bed? Shall we take a nap together right now?” – ahhh good old empathy (and a cheeky lunch time nap- Seriously!!).

Why I Don’t Believe in Diets

February 4, 2016February 4, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

Oh I’ve heard and seen them all.

The Atkins diet – no carbohydrates – EVER.

The Dukan Diet – high in protein; eat so much meat you nearly cark it from constipation.

The Raw Food Diet – if it’s cooked it’s deadly and could kill you.

If you come in for a consult and ask me my opinion on certain diets you will get the same response– “I just don’t believe in them”. And I can’t advocate for a diet if has no medical evidence supporting it.

I don’t believe in you making a huge investment of time, energy and money into a ‘program’ or structured eating plan because I know that 1. you can’t be on this diet forever (it’s not humanely possible) and 2. WHEN you come off the diet you will likely rebound and gain the weight again.

That’s the reason most of the weight loss companies make millions of dollars– they feed you these beautifully packaged meals for 6 or 12 weeks – you lose the weight, you feel great, then you stop – and boom, hello rebound weight. And then in 6 months you join again to kick start the weight loss and the same thing happens. Explains why the companies are rolling in money doesn’t it?

The problem – they don’t teach you the fundamental building blocks. They don’t explain WHY you will lose weight on their plan, how to manage portion sizes yourself and measure your intake. They don’t tell you the sneaky swaps they do – replacing white potato with sweet potato as it has a lower glycemic index and will keep you fuller for longer.

And these restriction diets where you don’t eat carbohydrates or protein or whatever else they choose is the devil – are not sustainable and like I keep saying everything is OK – in moderation.

So there you have it – I don’t believe in diets.

I believe in lifestyle change- in slow sustainable weight loss that comes through rigorous work over months. I believe in building exercise into your every day life – I don’t expect you to start with 4 hours of running per week. 30 minutes a week is just fine to start with and we can build it up from there. I have reasonable expectations I promise!

I believe in seriously reviewing your diet, your pantry, your fridge and food shopping habits and overhauling them so that fruit and vegetables are the crux and everything else is just filler. I believe in a lifestyle overhaul – not a temporary diet.

A 6 or 12 week change is not going to change your life. But a serious look at your life – your exercise patterns, how you shop, how you cook, what you cook and how much you eat – well hey, that’s sustainable and the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A lifetime is certainly better than 12 weeks – wouldn’t you agree?

The Late Doctor

January 28, 2016January 28, 2016 Dr Preeya Alexander

People forget that I’m a patient too when I see the doctor.

I have also grown frustrated and irritable in the waiting room whilst the GP or specialist runs 15, 30 or even 40 minutes late.

I pride myself on running within 5 to 10 minutes of appointment times – BUT there are days when it blows out, when I see the list of 6 people waiting to see me and I am running half an hour late at the very least. It makes me incredibly stressed and anxious BUT let me give you some insight into why I might be running late:

A patient will walk into my room and tell me that they are ready to kill themselves- that today is the day they are going to do it and they just booked in to say “thanks and goodbye.”My body stiffens, my mind goes into overdrive and I know my priority for the next hour is getting this person the emergency psychiatric help they need and in that moment that one life is my priority – I’m sorry but the waiting room just doesn’t factor in.
An emergency walks through the door – a man or woman comes in clutching their chest and their heart tracing shows they are having a massive heart attack. A child has critical asthma and is on the brink of going into a respiratory arrest. Or a man has cut his hand at work and there’s blood, tendons and muscles hanging into a towel carried by his mate. In every case, a doctor is needed to manage the emergency despite how booked up we are with appointments. In that moment I immediately accept that I will run an hour late (and let reception know to warn my patients) but my duty is to the person who is on death’s door and so again, I’m late.
The 15 people before you have booked a single appointment – for 15 mins – when in fact they had 3 issues to discuss which no thorough GP can deal with in 15 minutes. So despite my best efforts in trying to train my patients to book appropriately sometimes their expectations in what I can do in 15 minutes is unreasonable.
Phone calls – I have other doctors, emergency rooms, patient’s relatives and patient’s themselves constantly calling. So sometimes –we have to take a phone call between appointments – a relative concerned their partner will commit suicide or a patient concerned they can’t breathe – that’s a phone call you cannot ignore.

I must say – the majority of people are super understanding when I explain the reason for running late, but sometimes, people have too much pent up anger from their time in the waiting room and they let me know exactly how they are feeling- which is fine. But remember I’ve been there too and I understand.

When I feel my frustration building in the waiting room as a patient I try to remind myself that there MUST be something else going on for the doctor to be running THAT late! And now you know the types of things happening behind your doctor’s closed door perhaps your next wait won’t seem as bad either!