The season’s upon us …
The holidays always seem to be a battle of extremes in my practice. A time of year when people are supposed to relax instead becomes a time of insane stressors for many. And those of us in the medical profession get stuck picking up the pieces.
People either want to put things off until the new year or need them addressed urgently. Migraine phone calls go up. Seizure medications are forgotten. Tempers flare (try getting a parking space at Costco if you don’t believe me).
College students come home and want to be worked in during their break. Patients with physical limitations who are traveling need notes written to assist them. People with migraines want them controlled so they don’t ruin their holidays. Those with Parkinson’s disease (and other movement disorders) often want to get “tuned-up” for family gatherings. People visiting relatives leave their medications behind and request replacements called to pharmacies far, far away (often at 2:00 a.m.).
It’s a season for injuries. Back pain from lifting and carrying trees, boxes, and decorations. Concussions from standing up in a low attic. Carpal tunnel syndrome from writing and mailing lots of cards.
The end of the year also brings deductibles into play. People suddenly find they’ve met theirs and call in wanting MRI scans done and medications refilled before the ball drops, usually giving my staff little time to negotiate through the authorization process.
Although everyone else wants time off for the holidays, many are angry when we do, too. The Friday after Thanksgiving traditionally gets a few angry messages from people unhappy that we’re closed.
Of course, human illness never takes time off, so those of us who cover hospitals still see our share of strokes, encephalopathies, and other acute neurologic disorders. Helping others, regardless of when they need us, is part of what we signed up for.
Somewhere in the controlled insanity of a medical practice, it’s often easy to lose sight of our own families and priorities. So try to focus on yours. It’s good to remember who you’re really working for.
Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.