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It's hard to eat when your up to your elbows in an abdomen.
Hey all,
So I'm hoping to get some suggestions from forumites about food timing. Here's my situation. Sometimes, I can eat 6 times a day: Usually, 7:30am, 10:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:00pm and 8:00pm.
BUT
Now that I'm actually IN the hospital, this is becoming more and more difficult. There are days where I'll be in the operating room for 8 hours IN A ROW. We're lucky if we get a sip of juice during that time. And other days where I'm rounding on patients and because of the staff doc's preference, won't get to eat mid-morning or mid-afternoon (because everyone knows, there are only 3 meals in the day). Sometimes on rounds, I can carry a bar or something (today, I had 2 rice cakes in my pocket), but you can't really chow down--even an apple gets kinda weird looks unless you're in a significant down-time period.
The long and short of it is that I don't actually have full control of when I eat. Sometimes I have better control than others. But I would say those are in the minority.
It's not nearly the same thing, but when I am out and about I always bring a super shake with me ... I make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until I'm ready to leave, then put it in a cooler (or just my car this time of year) ... would you get weird looks having a drink while on rounds?
I feel your pain. Although I work on the other side of the curtain where we have more regular breaks. Eat breakfast before work, lunch at lunch time, workout when you get off from work, PWO shake after, a late dinner at home. That's 4 feedings, better than nothing. If I am rounding, I will often bring some almonds in a Ziplock bag to eat during the down times, they are discrete. Protein bars work well, or if you have planned lectures, say in the afternoon, have a meal then - something you can grab and go with like cottage cheese/fruit.
Medicine is a huge commitment, you aren't going to be able to always do everything you would like in terms of nutrition and exercise. Just don't throw in the towel if you find you can't conform to some ideal - any sensible eating is better than 90% of the population.
Well, it depends on the rounds. Right now in ICU, probably a bit, unless it was in an opaque mug--then I could possibly pretend it was coffee...
Definitely not in the operating room though.
If you make it right, you just down it. No "sipping out of a mug." That's cute... Chug it! Mine take 5 seconds. Shaking them takes longer...
As to the 6 meals, that might be a bad habit to get into. I think consistant meal timing is more important that how often you eat. In fact, now that I'm on 6 meals a day, when I have to go longer than 3 hours, I get cranky. 4 hours and I'm woozy. Might be psychological, but still. Don't want that in the OR, do ya?
Life was easier when I was on 3 meals and small snacks...
Another idea is BCAA capsules. If you can swing a few of those with the sips of OJ, that might get you through better. They are pricey, but if you're only using them for those special occasions, not so bad. It's cheaper than a meal. And, better than a missed meal.
I don't know the politically correct name for the "giver of the juice sips," but couldn't he/she slip you a few capsules at the same time? I'd imagine something like that happens when a doctor needs to take medicine during a long operation, so there out to be some way.
I feel your pain. Although I work on the other side of the curtain where we have more regular breaks. Eat breakfast before work, lunch at lunch time, workout when you get off from work, PWO shake after, a late dinner at home. That's 4 feedings, better than nothing. If I am rounding, I will often bring some almonds in a Ziplock bag to eat during the down times, they are discrete. Protein bars work well, or if you have planned lectures, say in the afternoon, have a meal then - something you can grab and go with like cottage cheese/fruit.
Medicine is a huge commitment, you aren't going to be able to always do everything you would like in terms of nutrition and exercise. Just don't throw in the towel if you find you can't conform to some ideal - any sensible eating is better than 90% of the population.
Thanks objdoc.
Almonds might work. I find it easier on surgery--every day isn't 8-hour surgery day. Rounding, however, especially on internal services. Ugh.
Oh, it's still 'clerkship'. Haven't been accepted to residency yet. But assisting on all kinds of stuff--and yes, I've had my arm in an abdomen. I haven't done any surgery in a while, since I'm my internal medicine rotation (though I did get to put in a central line and a chest tube the other day in ICU).
Bryan, what kind of surgery are you doing? Congrats seem to be in order if you have gotten accepted to do surgery. I wasn't aware of this.
I know that we're now "anti-muscle milk" in here, but I really like those pre-made shakes. Keep a few of those in your locker.
We were only anti-muscle milk powder, but the ready to drink ones do not have the unsafe ingredient. Drink up on those.
Also, JP, they've stared making some new versions of the powder without the ingredient, too. Unfortunately, I can remember the name of the ingredient. There's a thread, somewhere.
It's hard to eat when your up to your elbows in an abdomen.
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