Louisville Medicine Volume 67, Issue 7 | Page 36

DOCTORS' LOUNGE (continued from page 33) behavior seems to falter in the face of prolonged sleep deprivation: damn the calories and full-caffeine ahead. There is an enormous scientific effort ongoing to understand sleep and sleep deprivation. Recently, in the November 1 Science magazine, Soren Grubb and Martin Lauritzen wrote about the rever- sal of flow of cerebrospinal fluid during deep slow wave sleep. This involves small amounts of fluid, but with very careful measurement they theorize that this improves communication between the various compartments and networks of the brain and helps to clear waste products that can build up over time in the development of dementia. new doctors. Right now, in the midst of leaving so many people, my day is chiefly a series of painful goodbyes. I am happy to see many people still so well and thriving. We remember together their departed family members I cared for. There is much suffering they have endured, but also much hope and renewal, with me as their guide. I know that I will always remember the lessons they have taught me and will carry them deep in my heart. As for leaving my partners, Sharon and coworkers - I don’t even want to think about it. When you are no longer of use, you can get in the way. I hope not to get in their way, but maybe help as a part-timer somewhere. There is no study that says losing sleep for years is good for you, ever. Therefore, I am calling it quits as of this Christmas with full- time practice, and sometime in February or so wish to do part-time coverage for others. My plans involve teaching medical students and nurse practitioner students, as well as just-starting out nurse Still, underneath, there is a little bubble of happiness rising to the surface. Just think: I will be able to be home for the cable man or the plumber, during an actual weekday. I will read more, walk more and cook more. I can see my Jazzercise homies every day if I feel like it. Chance, our dog, and I will lie around on the sofa all we practitioners who seem nowadays to be learning their physical examination skills in… an online course. want, and comment on the cat. Yes - they touch the computer to learn how to take a pulse. This terrifies me, and I will update you about that later. Dr. Barry practices internal medicine with Norton Community Medical Associates-Bar- ret. She is a clinical associate professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Medicine. Dr. Blodgett warned me many years ago that this day would come and told me my chief responsibility would be finding my patients STAY Connected Night-night - and do not even think about waking me up. facebook.com/Greater-Louisville-Medical-Society with GLMS between publications www.glms.org @LouMedSociety Contact [email protected] for more information @LouMedSociety linkedin.com/groups/Greater-Louisville-Medical-Society 34 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE