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Catch Your Breath
'You have to read this book.' - Tim Harford'
It's funny, touching and gobsmacking in equal measure. At its heart is a breathtaking account of life on the COVID frontline.' - Jay Rayner
'Ed's journey is funny, sad, harrowing, hilarious... I STRONGLY URGE YOU TOREAD THIS.' - Colin Mochrie
A gut punch of a memoir by a doctor - and comedian - whose job is to keep people alive by putting them to sleep. Ed Patrick is an anesthesiologist. Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him. But it's not just sleep-giving for this anesthesiologist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It's enough to leave anyone feeling numb.But don't worry, there's plenty of laughing gas to be had.
'Very funny, very timely, scary in places. Ed writes with wit, insight, surprise and pathos. He is cutting his teeth in anesthesiology, taking people as close to death as you can take them, and then trying to wake them up again. And makes it funny. A joy to read.' - Phil Hammond
It's funny, touching and gobsmacking in equal measure. At its heart is a breathtaking account of life on the COVID frontline.' - Jay Rayner
'Ed's journey is funny, sad, harrowing, hilarious... I STRONGLY URGE YOU TOREAD THIS.' - Colin Mochrie
A gut punch of a memoir by a doctor - and comedian - whose job is to keep people alive by putting them to sleep. Ed Patrick is an anesthesiologist. Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him. But it's not just sleep-giving for this anesthesiologist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It's enough to leave anyone feeling numb.But don't worry, there's plenty of laughing gas to be had.
'Very funny, very timely, scary in places. Ed writes with wit, insight, surprise and pathos. He is cutting his teeth in anesthesiology, taking people as close to death as you can take them, and then trying to wake them up again. And makes it funny. A joy to read.' - Phil Hammond
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2021
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1036 people want to read
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March 25, 2025Didn't really make much of an impact on me, largely because so much of it was about the experience of being Ed Patrick and I was just more interested in the experience of being an anaesthetist, especially during covid. Those sections were well done but I just felt could have been a lot more dug into. That said I believe the author's a comedian and this seems to be written more for that market so it might land completely different for people looking for funny doctor memoirs.
September 20, 2021
"We've had smartphones for a while now, but NHS IT is like your stubborn grandad who refuses to move on to new technology "
Firstly, how cool is this hardback?? I absolutely love the fact that I took the dust jacket off and THIS was waiting underneath 💚
Medical memoirs always feel like home to me and I really miss my time working at the hospital; this book felt so familiar to me.
From the 'Foreword - A Doctor's Note' I knew I was going to love this book because I felt like I was reading something by Adam Kay (and I have read and loved all of his books). And then I realised Ed was also a Comedian and it all made sense.
We start the book in medical school and proceed on throughout his career. And most pages made me smile or laugh; as in actually laughing out loud.
The main difference between this book and any of Adam Kay's is that the end of this one was set during the COVID-19 pandemic. And my anxiety and fear was summed up a lot within these pages. However, it did made me feel less alone.
I still firmly want to be a Doctor, but a Doctor who doesn't get on their knees to examine someone's testicles 😉
Firstly, how cool is this hardback?? I absolutely love the fact that I took the dust jacket off and THIS was waiting underneath 💚
Medical memoirs always feel like home to me and I really miss my time working at the hospital; this book felt so familiar to me.
From the 'Foreword - A Doctor's Note' I knew I was going to love this book because I felt like I was reading something by Adam Kay (and I have read and loved all of his books). And then I realised Ed was also a Comedian and it all made sense.
We start the book in medical school and proceed on throughout his career. And most pages made me smile or laugh; as in actually laughing out loud.
The main difference between this book and any of Adam Kay's is that the end of this one was set during the COVID-19 pandemic. And my anxiety and fear was summed up a lot within these pages. However, it did made me feel less alone.
I still firmly want to be a Doctor, but a Doctor who doesn't get on their knees to examine someone's testicles 😉
May 29, 2025
IP 5.1.25
A long term mentor once told me about the land of sleep---commonly referred to as the place of Wynken, Blynken and nod (Field) and how certain specialists send you ever so softly to that place. Similar unto the prayer we say, "and now I lay me down to sleep..." Description was unto a winding path and the stark stainless coldness in "vine" before the descent into Fields world is what Ed Patrick fully immerses himself in (as often as a debit card swipe).
“There’s a unique mystery to starting medical school. On one hand, you learn in depth about human physiology and disease processes; on the other, you spend a lot of time with dead bodies.”
—Ed Patrick
A long term mentor once told me about the land of sleep---commonly referred to as the place of Wynken, Blynken and nod (Field) and how certain specialists send you ever so softly to that place. Similar unto the prayer we say, "and now I lay me down to sleep..." Description was unto a winding path and the stark stainless coldness in "vine" before the descent into Fields world is what Ed Patrick fully immerses himself in (as often as a debit card swipe).
“There’s a unique mystery to starting medical school. On one hand, you learn in depth about human physiology and disease processes; on the other, you spend a lot of time with dead bodies.”
—Ed Patrick
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2024
4.75/5
As a doctor who did an ICU rotation during the height of the pandemic, so much of this book hit very close to home. I could feel so many of the emotions I was feeling working in a (mostly) COVID ICU - exhaustion, anxiety, sadness, despair, anger and so much more. Don't get me wrong, for the most part I enjoyed the "fun" parts of this book, too, though there were a few parts where I felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny. The retelling of the author's medical school experience and foundation years, the patient and colleague anecdotes, the structural issues of the NHS (hi from Germany, it's not much better here and yes we also still use pagers in the year 2024), all of it was fairly entertaining. But it was the author's COVID ICU experience that really got to me. For me, it captured the feeling of working in a COVID ICU and everything that came with it quite well. And I know this is not necessarily something every health care worker would want to read (and I would especially recommend it to those who do not work in the medical field!!!), but for me it was almost "comforting".
As a doctor who did an ICU rotation during the height of the pandemic, so much of this book hit very close to home. I could feel so many of the emotions I was feeling working in a (mostly) COVID ICU - exhaustion, anxiety, sadness, despair, anger and so much more. Don't get me wrong, for the most part I enjoyed the "fun" parts of this book, too, though there were a few parts where I felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny. The retelling of the author's medical school experience and foundation years, the patient and colleague anecdotes, the structural issues of the NHS (hi from Germany, it's not much better here and yes we also still use pagers in the year 2024), all of it was fairly entertaining. But it was the author's COVID ICU experience that really got to me. For me, it captured the feeling of working in a COVID ICU and everything that came with it quite well. And I know this is not necessarily something every health care worker would want to read (and I would especially recommend it to those who do not work in the medical field!!!), but for me it was almost "comforting".
March 24, 2022
This was absolutely brilliant. Full of humour, raw honesty and emotional chapters, this is a book that will stay with me and will recommend to everyone.
It has plenty of funny stories as we go through Ed's training to be an anaesthetist which was really enjoyable and made me laugh out loud plenty of times!
Then covid hits and it becomes heartbreaking as he is moved from operating theatres to the ICU. It definitely made me appreciate the NHS and everyone in the health and care professions so much more and opened my eyes toward the struggles and hardships that the NHS really went through.
It has plenty of funny stories as we go through Ed's training to be an anaesthetist which was really enjoyable and made me laugh out loud plenty of times!
Then covid hits and it becomes heartbreaking as he is moved from operating theatres to the ICU. It definitely made me appreciate the NHS and everyone in the health and care professions so much more and opened my eyes toward the struggles and hardships that the NHS really went through.
January 22, 2025
I loved this, Ed makes the insight of anaesthetist accessible in a humorous informative way, I laughed real belly laughs in places, found I learned a few things along the way and felt not overwhelmed with information in a way that's hard to understand.
Loved it, would love another book from him, would really love to see where his career has taken him now
Loved it, would love another book from him, would really love to see where his career has taken him now
May 2, 2022
This is about Ed journey from n the medical profession. It is funny in parts and all so upsetting in others.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book
September 16, 2021
Catch Your Breath! And welcome to the waiting room of a hospital before being invited to sign all the papers you should to before your anaesthesia and your subsequent surgery. (In Germany they have at least the number of words requested for a novella. Hope the Brits are more practical). What is really happening there is unfathomable for the majority of - hopefully - accidental visitors of the surgery room. But if you really want to know more, anaesthesiologist and comedian Ed Patrick wrote a book about it. Now it´s all there revealed, in the book.
I was not so sure what to expect from Catch your Breath. The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthesist. I am not foreign to medical interventions, hospitals, anaesthesia and other Greek/Latin words. I even count among my acquaintances a couple of anaesthesists. But how it is to write about it? Would it be boring, too technical, dark and creepy (some people may not even wake up from the deep sleep).
Patrick´s is hilarious, the British kind of hilarious, but nevertheless serious enough to introduce you to the big picture of what does it mean to practice this job, including the professional path leading to it. Told as a personal story it gives credibility to the experience. Authentic is also his account of the time spent in the hospital during the hardship of Corona times. The ´Sleepless´ part of the book title makes even more sense now, isn´t it?
In any case, if you are considering a medical career and dream about a smooth balance between work and personal life, you rather apply for a position in the medical services by the city hall. Because, in the real medical life, which involves hospital and night shifts and anaesthesia, there is nothing like that. And this is available for any normal city hospital in this big wide wild world.
As a memoir, Catch your Breath has an impressive number of dialogues which are so vivid and smart and hilarious that I´ve caught myself just laughing on my own more than once. But believe me, there are so many serious things this book deals with, it´s not a humour book. But what would life be if not a big joke that we need to learn how to make fun of. In full seriousness, of course.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a blog tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own
I was not so sure what to expect from Catch your Breath. The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthesist. I am not foreign to medical interventions, hospitals, anaesthesia and other Greek/Latin words. I even count among my acquaintances a couple of anaesthesists. But how it is to write about it? Would it be boring, too technical, dark and creepy (some people may not even wake up from the deep sleep).
Patrick´s is hilarious, the British kind of hilarious, but nevertheless serious enough to introduce you to the big picture of what does it mean to practice this job, including the professional path leading to it. Told as a personal story it gives credibility to the experience. Authentic is also his account of the time spent in the hospital during the hardship of Corona times. The ´Sleepless´ part of the book title makes even more sense now, isn´t it?
In any case, if you are considering a medical career and dream about a smooth balance between work and personal life, you rather apply for a position in the medical services by the city hall. Because, in the real medical life, which involves hospital and night shifts and anaesthesia, there is nothing like that. And this is available for any normal city hospital in this big wide wild world.
As a memoir, Catch your Breath has an impressive number of dialogues which are so vivid and smart and hilarious that I´ve caught myself just laughing on my own more than once. But believe me, there are so many serious things this book deals with, it´s not a humour book. But what would life be if not a big joke that we need to learn how to make fun of. In full seriousness, of course.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a blog tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own
February 19, 2023
A quietly funny and self-deprecating read covering some of the many stories from a newly qualified doctor, beginning in his medical student days through to the more recent Covid-19 era. Along a similar vein(!) of 'This Is Going To Hurt', there are mentions of patients he encounters from paediatrics through to the geriatrics, as he works in challenging NHS conditions to do his work effectively; that being, keeping people alive.
The author clearly enjoys the often comedic value of his work - I know from personal experience you cannot survive the NHS ward life without a dark sense of humour. I thought some of the stories with senior staff and patients seemed a little TOO comedic to be real, many of them read like they were straight from a Morecombe and Wise sketch, which I'm sure a typical lay person wouldn't necessarily think to question quite to the extent I did.
Overall, an entertaining but not life-altering read.
The author clearly enjoys the often comedic value of his work - I know from personal experience you cannot survive the NHS ward life without a dark sense of humour. I thought some of the stories with senior staff and patients seemed a little TOO comedic to be real, many of them read like they were straight from a Morecombe and Wise sketch, which I'm sure a typical lay person wouldn't necessarily think to question quite to the extent I did.
Overall, an entertaining but not life-altering read.
August 11, 2022
Oh, British doctors, why are you so dry?
And why is that so relatable?
A young anaesthetist when COVID breaks out, Ed Patrick recounts his journey to through medicine, and how that brought him to the specialty of anaesthesia.
Worlds apart from my own South African setting, I can still identify with Ed’s experiences. It is uncanny, how bittersweet to read such real, horrifying, tender experiences.
At the same time, perhaps that relatability is why I can’t give it a higher rating, yet I still recommend it to some readers. Besides being the first anaesthetic memoir I’ve read, there is little that sets this memoir apart. Yes, he writes of COVID - the part anaesthetists played, the part so few realise we played - but to me, I was basically just reading my life of the past two years.
However, I HIGHLY recommend this book to people who like medical memoirs but aren’t anaesthetists themselves. Students thinking of studying medicine, medical students, and young doctors will also find this memoir engaging and insightful, and offer some perspective on their future plans.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley and Octopus Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.
And why is that so relatable?
A young anaesthetist when COVID breaks out, Ed Patrick recounts his journey to through medicine, and how that brought him to the specialty of anaesthesia.
Worlds apart from my own South African setting, I can still identify with Ed’s experiences. It is uncanny, how bittersweet to read such real, horrifying, tender experiences.
At the same time, perhaps that relatability is why I can’t give it a higher rating, yet I still recommend it to some readers. Besides being the first anaesthetic memoir I’ve read, there is little that sets this memoir apart. Yes, he writes of COVID - the part anaesthetists played, the part so few realise we played - but to me, I was basically just reading my life of the past two years.
However, I HIGHLY recommend this book to people who like medical memoirs but aren’t anaesthetists themselves. Students thinking of studying medicine, medical students, and young doctors will also find this memoir engaging and insightful, and offer some perspective on their future plans.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley and Octopus Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2022
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is about the author's journey through med school and then starting his career. After going through a few rotations he ends up being an anesthesiologist. In the second half of the book we get a glimpse into life in early COVID times as an anesthesiologist in the UK. It was quite fascinating to learn about the role of anesthesiologist and how they are really specialists in the area of breathing, making them vital during COVID.
There was a lot of humor in the book and I really enjoyed reading it. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt though and the beginning a bit slow.
The book is about the author's journey through med school and then starting his career. After going through a few rotations he ends up being an anesthesiologist. In the second half of the book we get a glimpse into life in early COVID times as an anesthesiologist in the UK. It was quite fascinating to learn about the role of anesthesiologist and how they are really specialists in the area of breathing, making them vital during COVID.
There was a lot of humor in the book and I really enjoyed reading it. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt though and the beginning a bit slow.
January 19, 2023
This was a very funny and entertaining read about the life of an anaesthetist.
I didn't really know much about what an anaesthetist did before reading this book, but I enjoy medical memoirs, so I'd thought I'd give it a read.
And I'm glad I'm did. This book managed to find the right balance between being funny and light-hearted but also sharing some of the upsetting and distressing elements of the job, including working through the COVID-19 crisis.
If you enjoy medical memoirs, I have no doubt you would enjoy this one, too. It's a quick read but very entertaining and inspiring, too. Highly recommend!
I didn't really know much about what an anaesthetist did before reading this book, but I enjoy medical memoirs, so I'd thought I'd give it a read.
And I'm glad I'm did. This book managed to find the right balance between being funny and light-hearted but also sharing some of the upsetting and distressing elements of the job, including working through the COVID-19 crisis.
If you enjoy medical memoirs, I have no doubt you would enjoy this one, too. It's a quick read but very entertaining and inspiring, too. Highly recommend!
December 26, 2021
A Very Readable Book
I read this book because I wanted to know what it was like on the front lines of the Corona Virus Outbreak & it didn't disappoint. It's a very easy read & it takes u along with the writer; with his actions, his hopes, his fears & how he coped with it all. I learned a lot about life as an Anaesthetist & what a Cockapoo is. It's very readable & if u want to know more about Covid 19 from the inside I fully recommend this book.
I read this book because I wanted to know what it was like on the front lines of the Corona Virus Outbreak & it didn't disappoint. It's a very easy read & it takes u along with the writer; with his actions, his hopes, his fears & how he coped with it all. I learned a lot about life as an Anaesthetist & what a Cockapoo is. It's very readable & if u want to know more about Covid 19 from the inside I fully recommend this book.
January 14, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version.
A fairly standard recount of an anaesthetist's time in medical school, and then the early years of his career. Of course, the early years of his career were impacted by COVID, and he detailed how that impacted him.
Unfortunately for me this didn't have enough interesting stories or patient encounters, and therefore wasn't as amazing as I had hoped.
A fairly standard recount of an anaesthetist's time in medical school, and then the early years of his career. Of course, the early years of his career were impacted by COVID, and he detailed how that impacted him.
Unfortunately for me this didn't have enough interesting stories or patient encounters, and therefore wasn't as amazing as I had hoped.
December 16, 2024
I found this book informative and entertaining. You need a good sense of humor to make it through the challenges of working in the healthcare field.
December 31, 2024
Really enjoyed this honest and often amusing account of a Dr moving though the British health system, made me laugh out loud.
April 30, 2024
really good book - funny, interesting, and really touching. gave insight to an outsider as to how it is being a doctor during the pandemic. also took me a grand total of two days to read the whole book.
January 6, 2023
Perhaps I am a little biased, having specialised my reading in non-fiction and with a weird interest in reading/watching medical stuff. But this book felt just like any other, and not much stood out really.
I have to say I felt the title to be a little inaccurate, and I hate misleading titles. "The Secret Life" makes you think you will learn, well, some secrets, maybe a little mystery, maybe something naughty the author will admit to. Nope. This book follows Ed from medical school, through rotations as a junior doctor to training as an anaesthetist. It may be interesting, but there certainly aren't any plot twists, secret lives or extraordinary things you wouldn't know if you had just a little interest in the field. Throughout the book, as I have seen in many others, are scattered complaints about how underfunded and unmodernized the NHS is, along with compliments for it, of course, as it seems the author still has a job he would like to keep. It seems like he was going for a "funny doctor" kind of vibe, but with the countless anecdotes, all about him doing something awkward or being insecure about himself, all he's done is convince me that he's just not that good of a doctor. And it feels weird to think that about someone who, not only is a working, functioning doctor, but also wrote a book about it, so I give him the benefit of the doubt and conclude that he probably is good at what he does, just not very good at presenting himself that way. It seems that he wanted to be the next Adam Kay, with his funny patient stories and awkward situations, but that for me didn't really hit. But like I said, perhaps I've just read too many of those already.
I have to say I felt the title to be a little inaccurate, and I hate misleading titles. "The Secret Life" makes you think you will learn, well, some secrets, maybe a little mystery, maybe something naughty the author will admit to. Nope. This book follows Ed from medical school, through rotations as a junior doctor to training as an anaesthetist. It may be interesting, but there certainly aren't any plot twists, secret lives or extraordinary things you wouldn't know if you had just a little interest in the field. Throughout the book, as I have seen in many others, are scattered complaints about how underfunded and unmodernized the NHS is, along with compliments for it, of course, as it seems the author still has a job he would like to keep. It seems like he was going for a "funny doctor" kind of vibe, but with the countless anecdotes, all about him doing something awkward or being insecure about himself, all he's done is convince me that he's just not that good of a doctor. And it feels weird to think that about someone who, not only is a working, functioning doctor, but also wrote a book about it, so I give him the benefit of the doubt and conclude that he probably is good at what he does, just not very good at presenting himself that way. It seems that he wanted to be the next Adam Kay, with his funny patient stories and awkward situations, but that for me didn't really hit. But like I said, perhaps I've just read too many of those already.
September 6, 2023
This was alright, very easy to read and written well. The vast majority of the “funny” scenarios however made me cringe and were quite obviously severely embellished if not entirely fabricated (accidentally sitting on a patient’s dad’s lap? Really? Doubt it mate). I feel that the author was trying quite desperately to be funny in an Adam Kay sort of way but it just wasn’t working… sorry. Parts of the book were interesting & touching but in general I felt it was lacking in substance and gravity. Overall fine as a casual read, I always enjoy medical memoirs even if they’re not particularly outstanding
April 23, 2022
I devoured this book in one go, resulting in a very late night/ early morning, but I couldn't put it down.
An interesting and sometimes humourous look at the life of an Anaesthetist.
Well worth a read!
An interesting and sometimes humourous look at the life of an Anaesthetist.
Well worth a read!
October 3, 2021
We have all lived a shared experience in the last two years, but for some, the essential workers, the experience was much more acute, it took all they had and more. For those on the front line, in our hospitals and ambulances, our GP surgeries, we asked of them to walk towards a virus that threatened both their lives and of those they cared about. They faced an emotional and physical threat and did so with little thought other than treating those most in need. Nothing in their training could prepare them for the onslaught of the loss of life, the relentless waves of admissions, lack of governmental support and the terrible knowledge that there was little they could do! Yet through all of this, the abuse from the Covid deniers, the corruption around PPI, they kept going, they found humour in the darkest of moments!
This is what Catch Your Breath a deeply moving and often hilariously funny book is about, not just the authors journey to becoming a anesthetist, but the often harrowing reality of life in our already struggling hospitals even before Covid hit. It’s the experience he shared with his colleagues, the sudden knowledge that their lives were about to change for ever, caring for patients would become much harder, more emotionally and physically draining. Their worlds were about to be caught up in a tsunami that left them scared, traumatized and numb. Yet still they got up and carried on, what other choice did they have and they found humour and a connection with humanity wherever they could. People like Ed Patrick looked to their colleagues for support, they took heart from messages left by those working outside of ICU “Good luck, ICU! Love from the Medical Team!”
Please don’t worry it is not all heartbreak and devastation. Yes it is a memoir that hits you at moments like a hammer blow, yes it will upset you, cause you to reflect, but also it will have you rolling around laughing so hard you will need tissues to wipe away tears of laughter. Catch Your Breath moved me from laughter, to moments of remembrance and gave me a whole new appreciation of what working in a hospital is like. It reminded me that humour is the greatest tonic we have, that at it darkest it is the most healing, the more perverse, the more irrelevant the funnier it can be. Because it pushes away the darkest of thoughts, allows those facing what men and women like Ed Patrick did, to maintain some level of sanity.
I laughed hysterically at the moment he was asked to make a unicorn out of a medical glove to distract a young child before he was anesthetized, wanted to hug him tight when he realized he couldn’t save every patient and found what being an anesthetist involved endlessly fascinating.
That he is a comedian as well as an Anaesthetist shines through in his writing, he brings a lightness of touch to his narrative and as a result Catch Your Breath feels like a perversely gentle read despite some of the subject matter! I found I didn’t want to put it down, even when I felt the remembrance of the early days of the Covid Pandemic coming back, because his warmth and humour made it easier to deal with. His and his colleagues sense of humanity shines through and I can’t recommend this book enough to all of you.
So to all those that railed against nurses doing dance video’s on Tik Tok, for those that blamed medical teams for cancelling surgery, closing clinics, take a step back and take a long deep look into your souls and acknowledge the debt we owe these people.
This is what Catch Your Breath a deeply moving and often hilariously funny book is about, not just the authors journey to becoming a anesthetist, but the often harrowing reality of life in our already struggling hospitals even before Covid hit. It’s the experience he shared with his colleagues, the sudden knowledge that their lives were about to change for ever, caring for patients would become much harder, more emotionally and physically draining. Their worlds were about to be caught up in a tsunami that left them scared, traumatized and numb. Yet still they got up and carried on, what other choice did they have and they found humour and a connection with humanity wherever they could. People like Ed Patrick looked to their colleagues for support, they took heart from messages left by those working outside of ICU “Good luck, ICU! Love from the Medical Team!”
Please don’t worry it is not all heartbreak and devastation. Yes it is a memoir that hits you at moments like a hammer blow, yes it will upset you, cause you to reflect, but also it will have you rolling around laughing so hard you will need tissues to wipe away tears of laughter. Catch Your Breath moved me from laughter, to moments of remembrance and gave me a whole new appreciation of what working in a hospital is like. It reminded me that humour is the greatest tonic we have, that at it darkest it is the most healing, the more perverse, the more irrelevant the funnier it can be. Because it pushes away the darkest of thoughts, allows those facing what men and women like Ed Patrick did, to maintain some level of sanity.
I laughed hysterically at the moment he was asked to make a unicorn out of a medical glove to distract a young child before he was anesthetized, wanted to hug him tight when he realized he couldn’t save every patient and found what being an anesthetist involved endlessly fascinating.
That he is a comedian as well as an Anaesthetist shines through in his writing, he brings a lightness of touch to his narrative and as a result Catch Your Breath feels like a perversely gentle read despite some of the subject matter! I found I didn’t want to put it down, even when I felt the remembrance of the early days of the Covid Pandemic coming back, because his warmth and humour made it easier to deal with. His and his colleagues sense of humanity shines through and I can’t recommend this book enough to all of you.
So to all those that railed against nurses doing dance video’s on Tik Tok, for those that blamed medical teams for cancelling surgery, closing clinics, take a step back and take a long deep look into your souls and acknowledge the debt we owe these people.
September 4, 2023
I found this book to be a very helpful insight to read for my university application to study medicine.
Some key and notable moments that I would like to point out are as follows:
- This book highlights the importance of the multidisciplinary team within medicine, the role of specialized nurses in anaesthesia and the fact that doctors rely on nurses as they often have a much closer rapport to the patients. It is important to respect others within the medical team and use their strengths to your advantage
- In medicine, you are not just carrying out procedures, but rather you are helping real life people and it is so important to respect their wishes when working. An example I would like to point out on page 121 is when an old lady is about to have a procedure done and the only thing that she requests is that her dentures be put to her side ready for her when she wakes up again as her family are unaware of the fact she has false teeth. Small things like this in medicine (being human) are shown throughout the book, being a doctor is not only about being clever but rather having empathy and compassion.
- The unknown. Being a doctor you must be a good sport and be ready to face the unknown. This is shown in the book through the occurrence of the pandemic and how that shifted hospital life for many. It was a draining time for doctors that even their days off did not feel like days off, there were simply days where they were at the hospital and days when they are not. The possibility of a pandemic occurring again is there. Doctors must be ready to adapt!
- Doctors need to be mentally strong. In the hospital, life moves very quickly and patients can shift from seemingly healthy to disastrous is mere hours. The book taught me that despite this, at times doctors do need to detach themselves from their emotions yet that is a much harder task than it seems, so being mentally strong is so important.
- Things always break in the NHS and doctors and other healthcare professionals alike always need to think on their feet and be prepared for the worst case scenario such as a ventilator breaking and the IT systems failing which seems to be a pretty common happening. Being prepared and ready for the worst case scenario is a reoccurring theme throughout the book, because things don't always go smoothly, keeping a cool head in a stressful scenario!
- No multiple choice exam can prepare one for the reality of dealing with people in crisis and not all good doctors have the right answers. Ed Patrick frequently describes feeling helpless in the novel whilst his patients rely on him and sometimes you cannot completely rely on facts, especially during moments of emotional hardship in families after losing a loved one.
- Doing your best doesn't always feel enough
- During covid-19 Ed Patrick lost his role in the NHS and had to completely alter his job
(these are simply my notes from the book for my uni application, not really a review as such)
Some key and notable moments that I would like to point out are as follows:
- This book highlights the importance of the multidisciplinary team within medicine, the role of specialized nurses in anaesthesia and the fact that doctors rely on nurses as they often have a much closer rapport to the patients. It is important to respect others within the medical team and use their strengths to your advantage
- In medicine, you are not just carrying out procedures, but rather you are helping real life people and it is so important to respect their wishes when working. An example I would like to point out on page 121 is when an old lady is about to have a procedure done and the only thing that she requests is that her dentures be put to her side ready for her when she wakes up again as her family are unaware of the fact she has false teeth. Small things like this in medicine (being human) are shown throughout the book, being a doctor is not only about being clever but rather having empathy and compassion.
- The unknown. Being a doctor you must be a good sport and be ready to face the unknown. This is shown in the book through the occurrence of the pandemic and how that shifted hospital life for many. It was a draining time for doctors that even their days off did not feel like days off, there were simply days where they were at the hospital and days when they are not. The possibility of a pandemic occurring again is there. Doctors must be ready to adapt!
- Doctors need to be mentally strong. In the hospital, life moves very quickly and patients can shift from seemingly healthy to disastrous is mere hours. The book taught me that despite this, at times doctors do need to detach themselves from their emotions yet that is a much harder task than it seems, so being mentally strong is so important.
- Things always break in the NHS and doctors and other healthcare professionals alike always need to think on their feet and be prepared for the worst case scenario such as a ventilator breaking and the IT systems failing which seems to be a pretty common happening. Being prepared and ready for the worst case scenario is a reoccurring theme throughout the book, because things don't always go smoothly, keeping a cool head in a stressful scenario!
- No multiple choice exam can prepare one for the reality of dealing with people in crisis and not all good doctors have the right answers. Ed Patrick frequently describes feeling helpless in the novel whilst his patients rely on him and sometimes you cannot completely rely on facts, especially during moments of emotional hardship in families after losing a loved one.
- Doing your best doesn't always feel enough
- During covid-19 Ed Patrick lost his role in the NHS and had to completely alter his job
(these are simply my notes from the book for my uni application, not really a review as such)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2024
"Just like people don't remember having an anesthetic, I struggle to remember which day it is. There is no weekend, there are no days. I'm either in hospital or not."
-
ℂ𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 takes you on a captivating journey through the life of an Anesthetist, shedding light on a role often overlooked in the medical world. Dr. Ed Patrick's story unfolds against their challenging journey during the pandemic, where the physical and emotional strains on healthcare professionals reach unprecedented levels.
From the early days of medical school to the resurgence of COVID-19, Dr. Patrick's experiences offer a moving glimpse into the world of Anesthetists. What struck me most was the realization that their contribution extends far beyond the operating room. Anesthetists like Dr. Patrick are crucial in providing intravenous access, making them the go-to person during challenging moments when doctors and nurses struggle to get cannula into patients with difficult veins in the ward.
The book skillfully balances the serious nature of their work with a touch of humor. Dr. Patrick's wish for polite requests rather than demanding ones from colleagues adds a human touch to the narrative. The author masterfully avoids any hint of bragging or entitlement, presenting the challenges Anesthetists face with humility and authenticity.
The storytelling style is like a conversation with a longtime friend, making the book a light and enjoyable read despite the heavy subject matter. Jokes sprinkled between chapters provide fun moments and enhance the overall reading experience.
ℂ𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 is a compelling exploration of the often-overlooked world of Anesthetists, offering readers a deeper understanding of their vital role in healthcare. Dr. Patrick's story, told with sincerity and a touch of humor, makes this book engaging and enlightening.
-
ℂ𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 takes you on a captivating journey through the life of an Anesthetist, shedding light on a role often overlooked in the medical world. Dr. Ed Patrick's story unfolds against their challenging journey during the pandemic, where the physical and emotional strains on healthcare professionals reach unprecedented levels.
From the early days of medical school to the resurgence of COVID-19, Dr. Patrick's experiences offer a moving glimpse into the world of Anesthetists. What struck me most was the realization that their contribution extends far beyond the operating room. Anesthetists like Dr. Patrick are crucial in providing intravenous access, making them the go-to person during challenging moments when doctors and nurses struggle to get cannula into patients with difficult veins in the ward.
The book skillfully balances the serious nature of their work with a touch of humor. Dr. Patrick's wish for polite requests rather than demanding ones from colleagues adds a human touch to the narrative. The author masterfully avoids any hint of bragging or entitlement, presenting the challenges Anesthetists face with humility and authenticity.
The storytelling style is like a conversation with a longtime friend, making the book a light and enjoyable read despite the heavy subject matter. Jokes sprinkled between chapters provide fun moments and enhance the overall reading experience.
ℂ𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 is a compelling exploration of the often-overlooked world of Anesthetists, offering readers a deeper understanding of their vital role in healthcare. Dr. Patrick's story, told with sincerity and a touch of humor, makes this book engaging and enlightening.
September 13, 2021
#bookreview #booktours
#catchyourbreath
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist
I didn’t expect that being an anaesthetist in a pandemic would leave me outside my front door naked, or indeed that I’d be telling this story to readers. Nevertheless, I am excited to shed more light on this and the mysterious world of drugs and coffee. – Ed Patrick
Catch your Breath is a gut punch of a memoir by a doctor – and comedian – whose job is to keep people alive after putting them to sleep. Ed Patrick is an anaesthetist. Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him.
But it’s not just sleep-giving for this anaesthetist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It’s enough to leave anyone feeling numb especially in the midst of a pandemic.
Hilariously funny, moving and truly insightful, it follows Ed's journey from bewildered medical student in Aberdeen to unflinching anaesthetist on the NHS frontline. A dose of insight into life on the hospital wards during the pandemic, while injecting hope that we will all get through this.
But don’t worry, there’s plenty of laughing gas to be had.
Oh my god guys…literal tears running down my face laughing at some bits of this book. As a health care professional I can relate to lots of the stuff discussed within the pages but Ed just has a way of making things absolutely hilarious. The book was a perfect recollection of a career and all the good, bad and in-betweeny bits. A great insight to the workings within a hospital and despite some of the bad days, it reminds me that we still need to keep ourselves going with a bit of humour. A fantastic read!!! Loved it!! 🥰
#catchyourbreath
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist
I didn’t expect that being an anaesthetist in a pandemic would leave me outside my front door naked, or indeed that I’d be telling this story to readers. Nevertheless, I am excited to shed more light on this and the mysterious world of drugs and coffee. – Ed Patrick
Catch your Breath is a gut punch of a memoir by a doctor – and comedian – whose job is to keep people alive after putting them to sleep. Ed Patrick is an anaesthetist. Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him.
But it’s not just sleep-giving for this anaesthetist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It’s enough to leave anyone feeling numb especially in the midst of a pandemic.
Hilariously funny, moving and truly insightful, it follows Ed's journey from bewildered medical student in Aberdeen to unflinching anaesthetist on the NHS frontline. A dose of insight into life on the hospital wards during the pandemic, while injecting hope that we will all get through this.
But don’t worry, there’s plenty of laughing gas to be had.
Oh my god guys…literal tears running down my face laughing at some bits of this book. As a health care professional I can relate to lots of the stuff discussed within the pages but Ed just has a way of making things absolutely hilarious. The book was a perfect recollection of a career and all the good, bad and in-betweeny bits. A great insight to the workings within a hospital and despite some of the bad days, it reminds me that we still need to keep ourselves going with a bit of humour. A fantastic read!!! Loved it!! 🥰
January 9, 2025
In the now familiar vein of medics comedically detailing their time in NHS practice, Patrick's memoir chronicles the key events and memorable moments of his time training to be and becoming an anaesthetist.
It feels rather a disservice to this book to daub its cover in accolades for how funny it is. True, it is humorously written, weaving witty asides amongst the personal anecdotes, so the whole book has the tone of that interesting figure one once happened to meet at a party and whose stories one is sure to regale others with in the future. It's compelling in that way, but much of its appeal comes from its simple charm. Throughout, it refers to the humanity required to keep the medical system's cogs turning, politely reducing doctors to size. They are merely people.
As such, much of the book's choppy writing style can be forgiven. It is formatted to jump sporadically between periods and narratives in a way that takes a moment to adjust to as the reader. The book intents to share an experience and entertain, not comprehensively inform.
It's interesting to read this a few years after its initial publication as the time-specific experiences, in particular those on the Covid ICUs, have a different tone when contextualised with wider, but not always deeper, public knowledge and understanding.
It feels rather a disservice to this book to daub its cover in accolades for how funny it is. True, it is humorously written, weaving witty asides amongst the personal anecdotes, so the whole book has the tone of that interesting figure one once happened to meet at a party and whose stories one is sure to regale others with in the future. It's compelling in that way, but much of its appeal comes from its simple charm. Throughout, it refers to the humanity required to keep the medical system's cogs turning, politely reducing doctors to size. They are merely people.
As such, much of the book's choppy writing style can be forgiven. It is formatted to jump sporadically between periods and narratives in a way that takes a moment to adjust to as the reader. The book intents to share an experience and entertain, not comprehensively inform.
It's interesting to read this a few years after its initial publication as the time-specific experiences, in particular those on the Covid ICUs, have a different tone when contextualised with wider, but not always deeper, public knowledge and understanding.
May 5, 2022
Fascinating, frightening and frustrating! I absolutely devoured Catch Your Breath, the memoir of an NHS Anaesthetist by Ed Patrick. Written in short snippets of cases, experiences, and daily life this book was super easy to read and would be a great book to dip in and out of if you're short on time. However, for me the issue was putting it down. Whenever I needed to do some 'life stuff' I'd always tell myself I'd put the book down as soon as I'd finished that particular snippet but then I'd start the next one and tell myself that was definitely the last and so on and so on until I was having to drag myself away.
I loved reading the little insights into life as a Doctor and how Anaesthetists are vital to all different areas of medicine and not just for attending to patients in surgery. I really think it's a medical area that is often overlooked and underestimated but Ed has done a fab job of bringing the role to life and highlighting how complex and interesting it can be.
The writing was also really comical at times with some dark humour thrown in so if you loved This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay then Catch Your Breath is definitely a book for you.
This was easily a 5 star read and I'll be recommending it to as many people as I can.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I loved reading the little insights into life as a Doctor and how Anaesthetists are vital to all different areas of medicine and not just for attending to patients in surgery. I really think it's a medical area that is often overlooked and underestimated but Ed has done a fab job of bringing the role to life and highlighting how complex and interesting it can be.
The writing was also really comical at times with some dark humour thrown in so if you loved This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay then Catch Your Breath is definitely a book for you.
This was easily a 5 star read and I'll be recommending it to as many people as I can.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
November 29, 2023
Hard hitting and hilariously funny, not quite the combination youd expect from a behind the scenes tale of an anaesthetist!
After the years the whole country has dealt with thanks to the Covid pandemic, to hear it through the words on someone who was on the frontline was quite something.
This was a book that at times was hard to read due to the pure raw emotion and honesty but then within minutes I was gasping for air as I was laughing so much and while I felt some of these stories were over embellished, who doesn't re tell a story and now beef it up a bit?
The story takes us through Ed's training which had some side splittingly funny anecdotes, his rotations as a junior doctor though to Covid hitting. Ed is moved from his safe place in the operating theatres to the devastating scenes in ICU.
If anyone needs a reality check at just how much the NHS staff are under appreciated, this book will do it. It was a real humbling read that made me appreciate the staff and care professionals even more so.
A big recommendation to all readers that enjoy medical memoirs. A quick, entertaining and inspiring read.
3.5⭐
Thanks to netgalley and Octopus Publishing for the ARC.
After the years the whole country has dealt with thanks to the Covid pandemic, to hear it through the words on someone who was on the frontline was quite something.
This was a book that at times was hard to read due to the pure raw emotion and honesty but then within minutes I was gasping for air as I was laughing so much and while I felt some of these stories were over embellished, who doesn't re tell a story and now beef it up a bit?
The story takes us through Ed's training which had some side splittingly funny anecdotes, his rotations as a junior doctor though to Covid hitting. Ed is moved from his safe place in the operating theatres to the devastating scenes in ICU.
If anyone needs a reality check at just how much the NHS staff are under appreciated, this book will do it. It was a real humbling read that made me appreciate the staff and care professionals even more so.
A big recommendation to all readers that enjoy medical memoirs. A quick, entertaining and inspiring read.
3.5⭐
Thanks to netgalley and Octopus Publishing for the ARC.
September 11, 2021
I must admit that I love these autobiographical books. True stories from the Police, prisons, armed forces, the legal system, but especially those about the medical profession, so I knew Catch Your Breath would be right up my alley.
Ed Patrick takes us on his sleep deprived, hilarious, heart breaking, journey into becoming a medical student, through his years of training and then on rotation as a junior doctor, before making the decision to begin his training to become an anaesthetist. Ed is unapologetic in his unrestrained views of the NHS, and his stark honesty during the COVID-19 pandemic was both refreshing and desperately sad.
This really was a single session book, and one that left me sat thinking about it for several minutes after finishing. I think Catch Your Breath is one of these books that everyone must read, so I therefore recommend it to everyone. I gave this amazing book five stars.
Ed Patrick takes us on his sleep deprived, hilarious, heart breaking, journey into becoming a medical student, through his years of training and then on rotation as a junior doctor, before making the decision to begin his training to become an anaesthetist. Ed is unapologetic in his unrestrained views of the NHS, and his stark honesty during the COVID-19 pandemic was both refreshing and desperately sad.
This really was a single session book, and one that left me sat thinking about it for several minutes after finishing. I think Catch Your Breath is one of these books that everyone must read, so I therefore recommend it to everyone. I gave this amazing book five stars.
June 2, 2022
I enjoy reading medical memoirs and have enjoyed others such as This is Going to Hurt.
This follows Ed Patrick from his time at Aberdeen Uni studying medicine, to his eventual decision to become an anaesthetist. Ed ends up working in the ICU during the Covid pandemic, dealing with seriously ill patients.
Despite the serious subject, there are moments of humour in the book and it’s easy to read. I found I could pick it up and read a little at a time, due to the relatively short chapters and the fact it’s split into sections.
The book raises the important issue of mental health support for medical staff and the general public after dealing with the pandemic.
“I don’t want to see patients just survive. I want them to live their lives.”
Overall, I found this an interesting and readable book. However, I found it ended rather abruptly.
This follows Ed Patrick from his time at Aberdeen Uni studying medicine, to his eventual decision to become an anaesthetist. Ed ends up working in the ICU during the Covid pandemic, dealing with seriously ill patients.
Despite the serious subject, there are moments of humour in the book and it’s easy to read. I found I could pick it up and read a little at a time, due to the relatively short chapters and the fact it’s split into sections.
The book raises the important issue of mental health support for medical staff and the general public after dealing with the pandemic.
“I don’t want to see patients just survive. I want them to live their lives.”
Overall, I found this an interesting and readable book. However, I found it ended rather abruptly.
February 2, 2024
Not Enough
I had hopes for this book because many of the reviews I glanced at were positive! But now having finished it, I would say it's mediocre. I kept reading, thinking it would get better but it didn't.
It was primarily the style I didn't care for. Very choppy and disconnected. I felt like I was reading lecture notes or something on index cards before one gives an oral presentation. Maybe that's this author's preferred writing style or just what he felt would work best with this book! I don't know if he's written any others and if so, perhaps they're different?
For me, the writing itself was pretty decent but the style prevented me from feeling any sort of connection or developing any interest in the characters. Everyone has a story but I don't know enough what any of these stories are!
I had hopes for this book because many of the reviews I glanced at were positive! But now having finished it, I would say it's mediocre. I kept reading, thinking it would get better but it didn't.
It was primarily the style I didn't care for. Very choppy and disconnected. I felt like I was reading lecture notes or something on index cards before one gives an oral presentation. Maybe that's this author's preferred writing style or just what he felt would work best with this book! I don't know if he's written any others and if so, perhaps they're different?
For me, the writing itself was pretty decent but the style prevented me from feeling any sort of connection or developing any interest in the characters. Everyone has a story but I don't know enough what any of these stories are!
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