The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Gabe1]

A week later than the ETA but I love my birthday presents. They came this afternoon

 

[Songbird76]

I don't understand something. Why did they want to be Doctors to begin with? Was it just for the money? Didn't they realize that they would be working with sick people? Shouldn't the motivation for becoming a Doctor to help people get healthy again? And because of that they would always be front line to any and all illnesses. Probably better that they did get the reality check before the spent thousands of dollars and then decide it was a hazard filled vocation.

Sure, but I think there's also a difference between the idea of being on the front lines and the reality in an actual pandemic. Like....you can imagine a war zone from images on TV, and you know that it will be dangerous and loud and difficult. But I'm betting the reality of seeing it firsthand is way beyond anything you imagined. That can happen in any profession, really...that your idea of what it will be like is way different from the reality of it. If that's the case, then maybe it's not a good career for her anyway, but I can see how this is a huge wake up call. Most doctors probably didn't assume they'd deal with a pandemic like this when they became doctors. Sick people, of course...that comes with the territory. But on this scale, and where they can't get the PPE they need, and they are having to put their own health at risk...that's probably not something they counted on.
For an experienced doctor who has treated thousands of patients, it might not be a big deal, but for someone who was only imagining routine treatment of illnesses, it's probably pretty scary and would make them seriously consider what they are signing on for. It's like the difference between the idea in the abstract that you can't save everyone and then the reality of actually losing patients. It hits a lot harder, I'm sure, even though you always know it's a possibility. There's the routine/standard, and then there's the extreme. Most people don't really consider the extreme because what's the likelyhood that the extreme happens? If it happened a lot, it wouldn't be extreme. This is an extreme most of us never thought about.

 

[93boomer]

Dinner tonight
Salmon bowls with brown rice, mushrooms, onions, red bell pepper, tomatoes, salmon, and avocado. Topped with chili sauce and mayo mix.

 

[21stamps]

Might be tough to see in this photo, but I just went to the bakery to pick up T’s cake.., ended up leaving with these cookies too. Couldn’t resist!

Probably bought way too many., 8 of the yellow ones, a pound of the sprinkle cookies ... I want it to look like a party spread... which might be depressing, who knows.

 

[Songbird76]

I’m honestly not angry at any of the decision makers in the US, I don’t see any reason to be angry. We have gotten thru this so much better than what was expected. We didn’t experience what places like China, Italy, and Spain have experienced. We never ran out of beds, we never ran out of respirators..and most importantly, deaths have been well under what was predicted. I hope it continues this way.
I don’t know why our results were so much better than other countries, but I’m sure we’ll find out, eventually. I just feel like we should be thankful that it wasn’t worse, I am.

Maybe not in Ohio, but New York sounds like it's way worse than most of those places. When you consider that China has the largest population in the world, and the US has way more cases, even if you take into account that the US might be doing more testing than China did, the US is still not testing nearly everyone, so there are probably way more cases than reported, so it's probably still way higher than China. At least that's what it looks like from the news coverage we're getting here. A lot of our news right now is about Corona in the US, with some from Italy and France thrown in, but mostly about the US and New York especially. They interviewed a couple who live right by a hospital in NY and they said they stopped counting body bags coming out, and that as bad as the view is from their apartment, they can't even imagine what's going INSIDE if it's that bad outside. So sad.

 

[21stamps]

Maybe not in Ohio, but New York sounds like it's way worse than most of those places. When you consider that China has the largest population in the world, and the US has way more cases, even if you take into account that the US might be doing more testing than China did, the US is still not testing nearly everyone, so there are probably way more cases than reported, so it's probably still way higher than China. At least that's what it looks like from the news coverage we're getting here. A lot of our news right now is about Corona in the US, with some from Italy and France thrown in, but mostly about the US and New York especially. They interviewed a couple who live right by a hospital in NY and they said they stopped counting body bags coming out, and that as bad as the view is from their apartment, they can't even imagine what's going INSIDE if it's that bad outside. So sad.

I’m talking about the entire USA, including NYC. As bad as it has been, it still wasn’t as bad as predicted. They never ran out of respirators. I’m not at all saying that the situation isn’t terribly sad, but it was predicted to be much worse. The predictions were that there wouldn’t be enough respirators and there wouldn’t be enough beds, and the deaths would have been thousands more. That didn’t happen, thank god. So in my opinion there is nothing to blame anyone for.

 

[Lilofan]

I’m talking about the entire USA, including NYC. As bad as it has been, it still wasn’t as bad as predicted. They never ran out of respirators. I’m not at all saying that the situation isn’t terribly sad, but it was predicted to be much worse. The predictions were that there wouldn’t be enough respirators and there wouldn’t be enough beds, and the deaths would have been thousands more. That didn’t happen, thank god. So in my opinion there is nothing to blame anyone for.

I have friends and family that are living through this in NYC. They would all strongly disagree with you. NYC hospitals are actually recruiting RNs to relocate to NYC to work in the NYC hospitals - 13 weeks for $36K. They really need the help.

 

[21stamps]

I have friends and family that are living through this in NYC. They would all strongly disagree with you. NYC hospitals are actually recruiting RNs to relocate to NYC to work in the NYC hospitals - 13 weeks for $36K. They really need the help.

I have friends and fam in NYC area too. I’m sure it’s anecdotal, Everyone is going to feel differently on if they should blame someone higher up or not. What I am saying is I am happy that the predictions were wrong and that nowhere in the United States ran out of respirators or beds. We have gotten through this much better than parts of Italy has, everywhere here. I am thankful for that, but, not everyone has to be on that same page.

 

[Lilofan]

Maybe not in Ohio, but New York sounds like it's way worse than most of those places. When you consider that China has the largest population in the world, and the US has way more cases, even if you take into account that the US might be doing more testing than China did, the US is still not testing nearly everyone, so there are probably way more cases than reported, so it's probably still way higher than China. At least that's what it looks like from the news coverage we're getting here. A lot of our news right now is about Corona in the US, with some from Italy and France thrown in, but mostly about the US and New York especially. They interviewed a couple who live right by a hospital in NY and they said they stopped counting body bags coming out, and that as bad as the view is from their apartment, they can't even imagine what's going INSIDE if it's that bad outside. So sad.

What's being reported by the media is only half the story. The residents in NYC are really going through very rough times.

 

[Gabe1]

@93boomer Happy linesman day to your hubby tomorrow

 

[Gabe1]

What's being reported by the media is only half the story. The residents in NYC are really going through very rough times.

Indeed. I just wish all would dig deep and find compassion and empathy. We crave solidarity. Stirring the pot and denial isn’t going to save life.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I don't understand something. Why did they want to be Doctors to begin with? Was it just for the money? Didn't they realize that they would be working with sick people? Shouldn't the motivation for becoming a Doctor to help people get healthy again? And because of that they would always be front line to any and all illnesses. Probably better that they did get the reality check before the spent thousands of dollars and then decide it was a hazard filled vocation.

I have an aunt and an uncle who are both doctors. My aunt doesn't work with patients at all; she's a pathologist. She went into it because she finds the work interesting, but she'd rather not have to talk to people all day. She calls herself a lab rat. My uncle sees pediatric patients, but he primarily is a research professor now. Neither of them is on the front lines.

Still, can you really blame them? This entire situation is bringing out what a thankless profession being a doctor is. The doctors are warning everyone to stay home. Some listen, and others completely ignore the situation. Those on the front lines go home exhausted, stressed, and with their own lives in danger, maybe having saved some lives, but knowing there's some lives that they can't save. Worse, there's no end in sight for them. Even when we do start reopening, there's the possibility of a resurgence until they get a vaccine out and about. And when things don't go right, who gets the blame? The doctors and healthcare professionals. Not to mention the piles and piles of paperwork involved that get in the way of them actually doing their jobs.

Which would make someone who is smart enough to be a doctor start seriously questioning whether they have the emotional capacity to deal with all of this. Can't say I'd blame them.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I don't think I set my reading goal high enough.

 

[Gabe1]

It's sad, really. They can be such heroes, so it's sad when they are second guessing that. But I totally understand. It must be scary to watch in the medical industry...lack of supplies, losing patients and even colleagues. Most get into it to help people and make a difference, never really thinking they might be risking their lives to do that.

I saw a post this post from an acquaintance of mine.

I’m going to the hospital to retrieve my dead husband, an ER Doctor.

Whenever someone says it is not so bad they are not living in this ladies shoes.

 

[Gabe1]

 

[Goofyernmost]

Sure, but I think there's also a difference between the idea of being on the front lines and the reality in an actual pandemic. Like....you can imagine a war zone from images on TV, and you know that it will be dangerous and loud and difficult. But I'm betting the reality of seeing it firsthand is way beyond anything you imagined. That can happen in any profession, really...that your idea of what it will be like is way different from the reality of it. If that's the case, then maybe it's not a good career for her anyway, but I can see how this is a huge wake up call. Most doctors probably didn't assume they'd deal with a pandemic like this when they became doctors. Sick people, of course...that comes with the territory. But on this scale, and where they can't get the PPE they need, and they are having to put their own health at risk...that's probably not something they counted on.
For an experienced doctor who has treated thousands of patients, it might not be a big deal, but for someone who was only imagining routine treatment of illnesses, it's probably pretty scary and would make them seriously consider what they are signing on for. It's like the difference between the idea in the abstract that you can't save everyone and then the reality of actually losing patients. It hits a lot harder, I'm sure, even though you always know it's a possibility. There's the routine/standard, and then there's the extreme. Most people don't really consider the extreme because what's the likelyhood that the extreme happens? If it happened a lot, it wouldn't be extreme. This is an extreme most of us never thought about.

You're probably right, but when I go to a doctor I want one that is in it because they seriously want to help people. All will have a hope for riches for doing their job correctly, but if money and prestige is the only real motivation, then I would just as soon that they stayed home and brought in someone that really wanted to make a difference. I suppose that is asking to much, but I can dream can't I?

 

[Goofyernmost]

I have an aunt and an uncle who are both doctors. My aunt doesn't work with patients at all; she's a pathologist. She went into it because she finds the work interesting, but she'd rather not have to talk to people all day. She calls herself a lab rat. My uncle sees pediatric patients, but he primarily is a research professor now. Neither of them is on the front lines.

Still, can you really blame them? This entire situation is bringing out what a thankless profession being a doctor is. The doctors are warning everyone to stay home. Some listen, and others completely ignore the situation. Those on the front lines go home exhausted, stressed, and with their own lives in danger, maybe having saved some lives, but knowing there's some lives that they can't save. Worse, there's no end in sight for them. Even when we do start reopening, there's the possibility of a resurgence until they get a vaccine out and about. And when things don't go right, who gets the blame? The doctors and healthcare professionals. Not to mention the piles and piles of paperwork involved that get in the way of them actually doing their jobs.

Which would make someone who is smart enough to be a doctor start seriously questioning whether they have the emotional capacity to deal with all of this. Can't say I'd blame them.

I can't say that I blame them either, but I really wish they did understand what doctoring is all about before I become their patient. Let's hope that attitude doesn't prevail because we will all be in trouble if that is the case. Soldiers enlist for low pay in the military with the promise that at some point in time, they might get killed. Let's hope that people don't stop wanting to be soldiers because of the danger. The same goes of firemen and policemen. A Doctor really doesn't face the same pressure because they have some control over it by what precautions they use. Soldiers, firemen and policemen can not do anything about a bullet heading toward them or a burning building falling on them. And for a lot less pay.

Research doctors are not the same thing as up front medical doctors. Completely different career field and the only thing that they have in common is the prefix of "DR" in front of their name, even if it is medical research.

 

[Figgy1]

@StarWarsGirl life is excellent I posted something elsewhere and The Will Wheaton responded with something very nice. Life is good

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Research doctors are not the same thing as up front medical doctors. Completely different career field and the only thing that they have in common is the prefix of "DR" in front of their name, even if it is medical research.

They go through the exact same training. They all have MDs. My uncle, before he started focusing primarily on research, performed pediatric neurosurgery, and did residency at the ER. The only difference is they're not at the front lines right now. We don't exactly have a shortage of doctors here. I'm glad for their sakes that they have reduced work schedules; they have a four year old.

 

[21stamps]

They go through the exact same training. They all have MDs. My uncle, before he started focusing primarily on research, performed pediatric neurosurgery, and did residency at the ER. The only difference is they're not at the front lines right now. We don't exactly have a shortage of doctors here. I'm glad for their sakes that they have reduced work schedules; they have a four year old.

Yep.
My cousin is a neurologist, focusing on research. She spent quite a few years between the ER - required during residency, and then surgeries, but her specific career goal was research. She is most definitely an MD.