Too Much of a Good Thing?

[ladysprite]

I love my new practice so much. And I'm utterly boggled at how quickly and well it's taken off. But I'm starting to feel a bit like Mickey Mouse in 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' - like I've created something with no real idea of just how big it was going to get, and where it was going to take me, or how to keep it all calm and smooth and under my control.

My practice is growing. It's thriving. I'm getting word-of-mouth referrals; other vets are sending clients my way; people whose pets I've helped to pass are calling me in earlier to help support their remaining pets. I'm seeing more and more hospice cases, too - I've been booked all this week without a single euthanasia. People are calling me specifically to ask for help managing pain, or assessing quality of life, or just coming to terms with a terminal diagnosis and finding family consensus. And it's amazing.

I'm also, because I had to make my schedule for relief work several months ago, working 3 days a week doing 10-hour shifts with an hour commute each way. So I'm trying to squeeze all of these patients into the corners and spaces after work and on weekends, and using my lunch breaks (when I get them) to do callbacks. Most nights I've been seeing appointments and writing charts and answering work emails until after 9pm.

I swear I never expected it to go like this. I don't think I actually had any concrete expectations, beyond 'I'm going to try this, and we'll see what happens.' I sure as hell didn't think that I'd be this busy this quickly. I am delighted and excited and inspired and awed and grateful.

I am also exhausted as hell....

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

You are cutting back on your relief-vet schedule now, right? So this particular time-squeeze has an end in sight, after which you'll be able to devote most or all of your time to the new practice. You've obviously struck an underserved market, which is a Good Thing.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to cut back. And come mid-november things hopefully slow down a bit.

New practice still isn't quite supporting me - I need the relief work to keep solvent. But if things keep going this way, hopefully that won't be the case for long....

[ckd]

You are doing amazingly needful work, and it shows. As starcat_jewel says, once your relief schedule starts to give you some relief, things should get easier to manage. Hang in there and you'll get through the rapids: wet, tired, but exhilarated.

[aishabintjamil.livejournal.com]

As someone who often adopts senior animals, I'm thrilled to see this going so well for you, because it means that there are fewer people out there regarding their senior animals as disposable. Congratulations.

[pujaemuss.livejournal.com]

Time to consider finding employees?

PJW

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

You've built the better mousetrap, and the world is beating a path to your door!

Just remember your self-care...

::hugs::

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Very glad it's going well! But please try to set aside some time for eating and sleeping, it's not good for anyone if you get sick.