"Medicine in Antarctica"
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have done 3 trips as the ship physician (for passengers and staff) to Antarctica. I'll spell it the right way this time, since I am tired of that red line that says I misspelled something. There are anywhere from 120-200 passengers on each expedition, depending on the ship. There is also a doctor for the crew (all of the sailors, hospitality crew, cleaning crew, etc.). We usually have a fairly well-stocked clinic and can do more than I expected. We cannot do any laboratory testing or x-rays. Most importantly, there is no nurse!! Many of you may not realize that most doctors do not start IV's, do EKG's, etc.
So, on the first trip as doctor we begin in Punta Arenas, Chile. I arranged a few days before the trip for rest in relaxation. My recommendation is to NOT spend any extra time in this town. We started in a "hostel" where a fight broke out the first night outside of our room. Fortunately, we moved to a hotel the next day. We did a tour of the hospital, which was very interesting. The night before our trip started, we had a dinner with the passengers. Getting on the elevator, there was a man with his daughter. I commented on how exciting it must be for an 11 year old girl to go to Antarctica. Her father said, "I've taken her to 55 countries (or some absurd number I can't remember)." This does become pertinent later.
The morning after the dinner, we all took a flight to Antarctica. Yes-there are flights to and from Antarctica. As you might imagine, the weather is very unpredictable and can cause some major travel issues, but for those who don't want to brave the Drake passage by ship, it is a great alternative. It also cuts 4 days off the trip. For those who say "you have not really been to Antarctica unless you traverse the Drake passage in a ship," I say, "who wants to spend at least $12K on a vacation and spend 4 days vomiting???"
What did I anticipate when I agreed to do this gig? I expected lots of seasickness and injuries from hiking or falling on the ship. Maybe some big scary things like heart attacks and strokes too. At the beginning of the voyage, several of the staff do presentations, including one by the doctor. The introduction includes asking if there are passengers who are medical personnel. While the doctors may be flattered, I look for nurses! On this first trip there was a nurse anesthetist-jackpot!! They are great at starting IV's and managing airways. We also advise about such complicated concepts as drinking alcohol increasing the risk of falls and the importance of hand washing. Other than the nurse anesthetist, a couple of other nurses were on the ship as well as a child psychiatrist and a cardiac pathologist. I really hoped I would not require their services!
This trip occurred over Christmas, so there were some other kids, in addition to the 11 year old. I'll just call her "insane, spoiled brat." No that's too long. How about "Satan?" There was a 14 year old girl, 12 year old boy, a couple of 17ish aged boys and a 21 year old manboy. All goes well on day one and I awaken the next morning and Brian, my husband, says "you should have heard them next door last night. They were goin' at it." I thought he meant, well you know. But he was referring to the fact that they were yelling, cussing and fighting. So I take a look at the manifest and it is the father and Satan!!! And soon after the trip began, the 21 year old was hanging with the 14 year old girl--major PDA. And in front of his entire family and her aunt and grandmother!
Many of the initial calls are about seasickness. I start by divvying out medication a couple pills at a time. I was soon carrying a huge box with about 1000 doses in it with me! I felt like I should be at some street corner in some big city. One evening, I get a call from the 21 year old who tells me his cabin number and his family's name. Then he asks, "do you have condoms?" Um, is this my job? Then I realize that we should have condoms. According to the crew doctor, they usually have them, but we could not find one. Next conundrum-what do I do about this 21 year old who has been hanging with the 14 year old and now wants a condom????? I had no evidence that they were doing the nasty so had to let it go. An aside to the future--next trip as doctor I went to Kroger to buy condoms. Went to self-checkout and of course major alarm to "see attendant." I'm trying to explain that I am the doctor on a ship, blah, blah, blah. Very embarrassing. So this covers birth control and underage sex.
Fast forward a few days into the trip and I hear crying and loud talking in the room next door. I go over to the room with Disneyland dad (DD) and Satan. There is a drunk passenger holding Satan's head in her lap while the DD tells me he doesn't know what to do. His daughter hates him and he has taken her to so many countries???? OMG-I should have called the child psychiatrist. Somehow in the course of the trip, she also had something fall on her and had a minor black eye. So now you know about the ? child abuse too.
So there was a major medical issue at the end of the voyage that I will tell you about later. It was actually an injury and something I felt comfortable taking care of!! Will tell more Antarctica medical stories, but stay tuned next week for "The Goat in the ICU."
So, on the first trip as doctor we begin in Punta Arenas, Chile. I arranged a few days before the trip for rest in relaxation. My recommendation is to NOT spend any extra time in this town. We started in a "hostel" where a fight broke out the first night outside of our room. Fortunately, we moved to a hotel the next day. We did a tour of the hospital, which was very interesting. The night before our trip started, we had a dinner with the passengers. Getting on the elevator, there was a man with his daughter. I commented on how exciting it must be for an 11 year old girl to go to Antarctica. Her father said, "I've taken her to 55 countries (or some absurd number I can't remember)." This does become pertinent later.
The morning after the dinner, we all took a flight to Antarctica. Yes-there are flights to and from Antarctica. As you might imagine, the weather is very unpredictable and can cause some major travel issues, but for those who don't want to brave the Drake passage by ship, it is a great alternative. It also cuts 4 days off the trip. For those who say "you have not really been to Antarctica unless you traverse the Drake passage in a ship," I say, "who wants to spend at least $12K on a vacation and spend 4 days vomiting???"
What did I anticipate when I agreed to do this gig? I expected lots of seasickness and injuries from hiking or falling on the ship. Maybe some big scary things like heart attacks and strokes too. At the beginning of the voyage, several of the staff do presentations, including one by the doctor. The introduction includes asking if there are passengers who are medical personnel. While the doctors may be flattered, I look for nurses! On this first trip there was a nurse anesthetist-jackpot!! They are great at starting IV's and managing airways. We also advise about such complicated concepts as drinking alcohol increasing the risk of falls and the importance of hand washing. Other than the nurse anesthetist, a couple of other nurses were on the ship as well as a child psychiatrist and a cardiac pathologist. I really hoped I would not require their services!
This trip occurred over Christmas, so there were some other kids, in addition to the 11 year old. I'll just call her "insane, spoiled brat." No that's too long. How about "Satan?" There was a 14 year old girl, 12 year old boy, a couple of 17ish aged boys and a 21 year old manboy. All goes well on day one and I awaken the next morning and Brian, my husband, says "you should have heard them next door last night. They were goin' at it." I thought he meant, well you know. But he was referring to the fact that they were yelling, cussing and fighting. So I take a look at the manifest and it is the father and Satan!!! And soon after the trip began, the 21 year old was hanging with the 14 year old girl--major PDA. And in front of his entire family and her aunt and grandmother!
Many of the initial calls are about seasickness. I start by divvying out medication a couple pills at a time. I was soon carrying a huge box with about 1000 doses in it with me! I felt like I should be at some street corner in some big city. One evening, I get a call from the 21 year old who tells me his cabin number and his family's name. Then he asks, "do you have condoms?" Um, is this my job? Then I realize that we should have condoms. According to the crew doctor, they usually have them, but we could not find one. Next conundrum-what do I do about this 21 year old who has been hanging with the 14 year old and now wants a condom????? I had no evidence that they were doing the nasty so had to let it go. An aside to the future--next trip as doctor I went to Kroger to buy condoms. Went to self-checkout and of course major alarm to "see attendant." I'm trying to explain that I am the doctor on a ship, blah, blah, blah. Very embarrassing. So this covers birth control and underage sex.
Fast forward a few days into the trip and I hear crying and loud talking in the room next door. I go over to the room with Disneyland dad (DD) and Satan. There is a drunk passenger holding Satan's head in her lap while the DD tells me he doesn't know what to do. His daughter hates him and he has taken her to so many countries???? OMG-I should have called the child psychiatrist. Somehow in the course of the trip, she also had something fall on her and had a minor black eye. So now you know about the ? child abuse too.
So there was a major medical issue at the end of the voyage that I will tell you about later. It was actually an injury and something I felt comfortable taking care of!! Will tell more Antarctica medical stories, but stay tuned next week for "The Goat in the ICU."
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