Curbside

When doctors 'curbside' each other, they ask for free advice based on the other's specialty.

One of the benefits of going to medical school is that I have several doctors on speed dial. In fact my son's pediatrician has been my friend for over a decade (I knew her in high school) and we chat about his progress about once a week, free of charge. I happen to have a good supply of urologist buddies, but I hope not to need them.

The other night I contacted my friend Liz, who is in opthamology residency. I was concerned because my son had a tiny hair just sitting on his eyeball for the past few days and I asked her what I should do about it. I was told to either leave it there or try some drops. I had to laugh when she said, "but if you do try wiping it out, don't freak if you scratch his cornea." - Oh, cornea schmornea. . .

Best of all, by talking to Liz I got to feel a LOT better about my situation. Like me, she has a son and had to resume residency with all of its hurdles. We empathised with each other in so many ways. I told her about my wardrobe fiasco, hating my abdomen with its persistent linea nigra, trials with breast-feeding, and difficulty seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We didn't come up with any solutions, but I'm beginning to find that having an understanding ear makes a huge difference in my ability to push forward.

Maybe next time I go shopping I'll curbside consult a buddy of mine in psychiatry so that I don't get depressed when I see those Victoria's Secret models mocking me?