hypocaffeinemia

Wow, it doesn’t feel like it’s been a whole week since I’ve last blogged. It’s been a busy week: we finally got power back at our house, so my family and our train of suitcases moved back in this past weekend. I’ve also worked 5 shifts, started up post-hurricane school, and bombed our first test. I hope to get back to actual medically related blogging this weekend.

My hospital is currently in the midst of a large expansion. We’re going from podunk community hospital to ginormous regional medical center. It’s quite the transition, and watching the construction up close is both fascinating and inspiring.

However, in the last several months both our Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and CEO have resigned due to the tried and true cliche of “Accepting a better job somewhere else due to closeness of family and/or new opportunities AKA Cash money, bitches!”

It could be pure coincidence that two of our top administrators– two that have been here from day one, mind you– have elected to pack up and leave in the midst of our hospital’s biggest project to date.

Or it could be something much worse.

As I left work yesterday, I saw an interesting site: a convoy of at least twenty utility trucks, heading to wherever they’re kept at night. It was like a homecoming parade: people waving and cars honking their horns in support. 

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I’m on day 8 of no power (or hot water) at home. The 19th century lifestyle is getting old. What really rubs the salt in the wounds is that my neighborhood is the only one in my area that hasn’t had power restored. In fact, my house backs up to a major road and I can see the streetlamps from my backyard. In the meantime my wife and son are staying at my already crowded in-laws while I play the vagabond and sleep wherever I may roam, so to speak. 

FEMA, in all their glory, contacted me and told me they’d reimburse at their per diem rate any hotel until my house is “livable” again. Problem is I can’t find a hotel with rooms anywhere in a 30 mile radius of where I work. If I weren’t scheduled this weekend I’d be seriously inclined to drive to Austin or San Antonio just to have a brief respite after last weekend’s festivities. 

I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining– I’m fortunate my property took no damage and my family is safe, fed, and warm. I know many even this far north that received extensive damage. I think we’re all just ready for a return to normalcy around here. 

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In related but unfortunate news, there’s now a tropical wave entering the Caribbean that has a decent potential for developing into yet another cyclone. If that comes anywhere near the upper Texas coast, we’re screwed. 

As power has been scarce when I’m not at work, most of my updates have come in the form of tweets. For no one in particular’s benefit except for mine I’m pasting a log of my tweets the last week here.

back to work. still no power. at least I have 48 hours of overtime on today’s paycheck. Who knew disasters equal cash money?   13 minutes ago  from BeTwittered

STILL no power…this 19th century lifestyle is getting old. Yes, I realize the irony of tweeting given the situation. about 13 hours ago from BeTwittered

STILL no power. Radio says maybe friday in my area. about 21 hours ago from TinyTwitter

@home no pwr for 2wks, no potable h2o, but cellphones working, its cool outside, and full moon!! 09:06 PM September 16, 2008 from TinyTwitter in reply to home

New blog post: Darkness surrounds http://tinyurl.com/679bnp 06:41 AM September 16, 2008 from Twitter Tools

hospital is normalizing…however my house is still with no power and cell phone is spotty. water quality is still in question. 06:29 AM September 16, 2008 from web

@rlbates hope you get it restored soon. We’re back online at the hospital, but around us is/was pitch black….no power anywhere. 08:17 AM September 14, 2008 from web in reply to rlbates

thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel, but now a cold front is producing severe thunderstorms and more flooding. AC’s ON, baby! 06:50 AM September 14, 2008 from web

pwr restored finally…AC blowing..still a ? re: h2o 11:45 PM September 13, 2008 from TinyTwitter

pwr back to parts of the buildng…wait..no …there it goes again 08:09 PM September 13, 2008 from TinyTwitter

@not_ratched it’s localized…med center hosp. have pwr & are fine. Us community hospitals are in for it. ISO someone to do a TIPS, plz! 05:53 PM September 13, 2008 from web in reply to not_ratched

just found out we will likely lose water pressure tonight as well. 05:29 PM September 13, 2008 from BeTwittered

conditions INSIDE are dire. patients coding, unable to find dialysis for acte hyperK, temp 90+, we’re on our 14th hr/shift..36+ inside hosp 05:24 PM September 13, 2008 from BeTwittered

@medpiano generators only power lights/essential equipment. No central AC on generators– not enough gas in Houston to cool. Agree wrt infec 04:17 PM September 13, 2008 from web in reply to medpiano

ICU temperature up to 92 degrees. 03:26 PM September 13, 2008 from BeTwittered   

http://tinyurl.com/6qa4sn 12:52 PM September 13, 2008 from web

@scanman during…dog is alive but hurt. 12:39 PM September 13, 2008 from web in reply to scanman

fucking assholes chained a dog to a picnic table in galveston. Such people don’t deserve life outside solitary confinement. 12:19 PM September 13, 2008 from BeTwittered

New blog post: crIKEy! http://hypocaffeinemia.com/…    08:14 AM September 13, 2008  from Twitter Tools

we have roof damage on the 4th floor apparently… No damage from the construction cranes at the moment. Worst over, but we’re not finished. 07:56 AM September 13, 2008 from BeTwittered

power is out, but internet still works via generator power. 06:33 AM September 13, 2008 from web

fire alarm @ 3:30–short circuit. temp is up to 85 INSIDE ICU. 4 pt rooms in IMU are flooding through the walls. variceses bleeder, no GI 06:32 AM September 13, 2008 from web

now back in the ICU…hot as hell in here. Feels like a sauna. 05:19 AM September 13, 2008 from web

fire alarm wake up call….50-70mph winds 04:19 AM September 13, 2008 from TinyTwitter

power tmp back on…windy n hot…sleep before storm… 11:08 PM September 12, 2008 from TinyTwitter

power out…hospital heating up rapidly…no ac 09:54 PM September 12, 2008 from TinyTwitter

power just died…on phone frm now on. 08:59 PM September 12, 2008 from TinyTwitter

winds are picking up..dayshift is huddled around tv eating dinner. 07:52 PM September 12, 2008 from TinyTwitter

power flickering, but still okay for now. 06:21 PM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

FEMA projects damages to be $7 billion 05:52 PM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

@shototsu at least they’re giving us 48+ hours of time and a half 05:47 PM September 12, 2008 from web in reply to shototsu

I know that price gouging is bad…never expected to see it occur in the hospital cafetaria. Dinner: $7 pizza (and only pizza) 05:44 PM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

@Shreela you’re a lot closer to the water than me…on the NW side of town. Stay safe. 04:37 PM September 12, 2008 from web in reply to Shreela

very windy outside. 04:34 PM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

night shift ride out team has arrived, building fully locked. donuts for all. 01:25 PM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

darwin awards for all trying to “ride the storm out” on galveston. 12:01 PM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

it’s humid and grey outside. 11:21 AM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

way too many useless people showing up in the way pretending to help or something. 10:16 AM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

semantics: cat two but 110 mph winds…cat 3 begins at 111mph 10:05 AM September 12, 2008 from web

winds ~20mph 50 mi island here. 09:56 AM September 12, 2008 from web

most of galveston is flooded…from both sea and bay side. 08:59 AM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

galveston already flooding in areas w/out seawall…Ike still 15+ hours away 08:06 AM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

New blog post: Certain Death http://hypocaffeinemia.com/… 07:13 AM September 12, 2008 from Twitter Tools

now locked inside the hospital. mild gusts outside and we’re 18 hours away. 06:48 AM September 12, 2008 from BeTwittered

Retweet @hurricaneike: Actual NWS text: “PERSONS NOT HEEDING EVACUATION ORDERS IN SINGLE FAMILY ONE OR TWO STORY HOMES WILL FACE CERTAIN … … 09:21 PM September 11, 2008 from TweetDeck

@Shreela got it. will be twittering from phone in hospital as well. (Methodist) 08:55 PM September 11, 2008 from web in reply to Shreela

@hurricaneike if you have windows mobile, check out radar watch 2 for live radar. 08:00 PM September 11, 2008 from web in reply to hurricaneike

all packed up…gotta be at the hospital at 6 AM…parkinglot barricaded at 10AM. 07:43 PM September 11, 2008 from BeTwittered

the north side of the hosp next to the ICU is a giant construction zone…should make things interesting with 115 mph winds 02:20 PM September 11, 2008 from BeTwittered

no gas, no water, no bread 75 miles from the coast. morons. 02:00 PM September 11, 2008 from BeTwittered

disaster mode: 3 day vacation inside the ICU. BYOB and the party’s in the break room. I hope someone brings twister (not you ike!) 01:51 PM September 11, 2008 from BeTwittered

New blog post: The crazy before the storm http://tinyurl.com/4k4y5v 01:49 PM September 11, 2008 from Twitter Tools

@JanetRN You’re about to be appropriately welcomed to Houston. Prepare for living 2-4 days w/out power. 07:00 AM September 11, 2008 from web in reply to JanetRN

New blog post: Blogging Live from Ike http://tinyurl.com/5gfxm7 07:23 PM September 10, 2008 from Twitter Tools

Ike’s models are all over the place…officials delaying evac orders due to uncertainty. Could be ERY BAD waiting until the last minute. 03:49 PM September 10, 2008 from web

ike teased us, but the models once again align against me. 03:02 PM September 09, 2008 from BeTwittered

New blog post: Ike prepares to lay the smack down on Texas http://tinyurl.com/5h6arx    02:46 PM September 07, 2008  from Twitter Tools

ike’s pointing at us now, woohoo. 11:13 AM September 07, 2008 from BeTwittered

@doctoranonymous actually, I’m wrong…started in a similar location, but is heading more northerly   08:38 AM September 06, 2008  from web in reply to doctoranonymous

@doctoranonymous following the same path as the 1915(1916?) galveston ‘cane. 08:33 AM September 06, 2008 from web in reply to doctoranonymous

ike is moving fast. 08:46 PM September 05, 2008 from BeTwittered

Up in my neck of the woods, nobody has power. Most of this part of Houston is slowly regaining it in bits and pieces, but a different company maintains the lines in my area. They’re telling us it could be up to three weeks. Joy.

No hot water, either, even though we have a gas heater and the gas is still on. The morons that designed my house, however, went with an electric stove so cooking is neigh impossible at current. The in-laws have power, so everybody and their mother (literally) will be crashing their place in the near future.

Meanwhile at the hospital (where I currently am typing this from) we have electricity and internet and air conditioning and hot water– It’s lovely. We’re nearly back to normal, although our water still hasn’t been given the all-clear for consumption.

I found a half-open McDonald’s yesterday. I hate McDonald’s– their food tastes like greasy cardboard.

The chicken biscuits and hash browns we shared for breakfast was perhaps the most succulent and delicious meal I’ve eaten in years.

We’re still alive here on the north side at the beltway.

Power’s out to everybody- we have internet via generator power. No AC– the temperature inside the ICU is up to ~88 F.

We have some minor roof damage that triggered a fire alarm at 3:30 AM, and one side of our building’s rooms are flooding from the wall.

Hard to see, but it appears many trees outside are uprooted. Luckilly the construction cranes and construction site appears to be undisturbed.

Had a really bad upper GI bleed last night and had to police escort in a GI doc while we rapid-infused in the ICU.

Blood bank is nearly out of blood, too.

I’ll post a twitter log at some point as I don’t want to waste power.