Chest Pain. Not Always Cardiac.

Paged out emergent for a male experiencing chest pain with difficulty breathing.

Call Details
Patient was picked up complaining of 10 out 10 chest pain in the center of his chest. Patient described it as sharp pain. He also complained of being short of breath and having difficulty breathing. Vitals were within normal limits and 3-Lead cardiac monitor showed no ST Elivation in leads I II and III. A twelve lead was no done since the ambulance was in motion. Patient was also very diaphoretic. Patient was given 325mg of Aspirin per protocol with no releif. Although signs were pointing to a possible MI, breath sounds stated otherwise. Breath sounds were diminished on the left side and full on the right. At this time it was beleived not to be cardiac but rather respiratory. At this time I am thinking this patient is suffering from a pneumothorax. This was later confirmed by the emergency department. When evaluating the patient about his medical history, the patient left out that he has a history of pneumothoraxes. He did however mention this to the hospital.

My Diagnosis
Pneumothorax

Hospital Diagnosis
Three Percent Pneumothorax

Post Call.
Following the call I feel it is necessary to encourage patients to give a full medical history rather than just what they feel is pertaint. Also it is necessary to always listen to breath sounds and keep all possibilities of the pain. Although a pneumothorax is rare in the field, it is not impossible.

Hard Learning

It's always hard to get criticism, especially when you think you are doing everything right. People have given me praise since I started, well until now. I got my first bad evaluation. It's tough hearing the negative especially when it is something you strive for perfection in. All night I kept reading the comment section on my evaluation. There was nothing positive on it. I understand that I am still learning the ropes in emergency medicine but it is hard to not get the amazing reviews that you hope for. But after last night I learned something. You shouldn't let criticism bring you down. You should use it to encourage you to do even better. You can never rise if you are never brought down first. Everyone starts from the bottom and works their way up to the top. No one said it will be easy. I read a quote. It went something like this, failing is not falling down, but not getting up afterwards. That is exactly what I will do. I will get up. But I won't stop there. I will patch up the scratches and learn from my mistakes. I will learn what made me fall in the first place and use that to become a better person and hopefully one day a great physician. No one said this road will be easy but what is the fun if the road isn't bumpy....very bumpy. I'm not giving up on my dreams of becoming a doctor. My EMT life is only a brick that must be properly molded to set the foundation of my future. So I thank the people that gave me the bad review. Without it, my eyes would not be open as much as they are now.

This is just another brick in the wall of my dreams. Another step up to the stars.

Finals coming FAST

Thanksgiving break just finished and now its time to start studying for finals!!! I can't wait till Christmas break gets here but I am scared of finals. This semester I have taken general chemistry, genetics, cellular biology, math, and EMT-I. All together that adds up to 25 credit hours! WHAT WAS I THINKING. It is do-able but never again will I do that!!

Things to do this week is
Learn 12-lead ECG
Memorize Photosynthesis pathways
Know everything about PCR and electrophoresis
and of course..
STUDY STUDY STUDY