Friday, November 5, 2010
Movin' On...
Well today was my last day in Clinic. I got in this morning and people had brought in fruit, smoothies, cake, all kinds of stuff. After seeing my first few patients, my preceptor told me- "You know you have a 1/2 day today, right?" I DIDN'T know, but it was a nice surpise. Though when it comes to that clinic, I'd have gladly STAYED the other half of the day as a treat, not LEFT. I've so enjoyed working at the Clinic. It's the first time I've worked in a small, privately-run healthcare center and I have to say, I REALLY enjoyed it. PREFERRED it, even, to my past experiences working/ rotations in big ginormous corporation like hospitals.
I've mentioned to a lot of you over the phone in conversations about working at the Clinic here, how one of the highlights is the amazing murals they have on the walls and the patient rooms. Well, before leaving today I took a few pictures of some of my favorite patient rooms and the growth chart that is done very much in the same style as the beloved Australian 'gum drop' babies books of youth :) Like I said, if my doctors' offices were decorated like this when I was little, I'd have BEGGED to go to the doctor!
Well, up next is my "Clinical Project" rotation- which means I spend a week on Campus getting the in's and outs of my research project started under the direction of our new Clinical Research Team professor. Then, I'll be heading up to Alaska to work remotely on-line for the rest of my project details, and of course get to be with Ryan leading all the way up to Christmas! I'm sure that time will FLY by... but the week I have left here in Oregon before that happens, will absolutely drag on.
I'll be sure to keep you all posted from the road and all the stops along the way, as usual.
Have a great weekend!!!
xoxo
Mego
I've mentioned to a lot of you over the phone in conversations about working at the Clinic here, how one of the highlights is the amazing murals they have on the walls and the patient rooms. Well, before leaving today I took a few pictures of some of my favorite patient rooms and the growth chart that is done very much in the same style as the beloved Australian 'gum drop' babies books of youth :) Like I said, if my doctors' offices were decorated like this when I was little, I'd have BEGGED to go to the doctor!
Well, up next is my "Clinical Project" rotation- which means I spend a week on Campus getting the in's and outs of my research project started under the direction of our new Clinical Research Team professor. Then, I'll be heading up to Alaska to work remotely on-line for the rest of my project details, and of course get to be with Ryan leading all the way up to Christmas! I'm sure that time will FLY by... but the week I have left here in Oregon before that happens, will absolutely drag on.
I'll be sure to keep you all posted from the road and all the stops along the way, as usual.
Have a great weekend!!!
xoxo
Mego
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Last Mile...
You hear a lot about the Clinical Year being a marathon, not a sprint. It's a cliche, and always seemed so obvious to me, that I never really put any thought into it.
That changed last Friday, when after pfficially completing my 5th week of my 6th week rotation- I hit that proverbial wall. Just like in a marathon, when you hit mile 20 and suddely it gets. really. hard. You reach that critical point where you are aware of the huge distance you've come and what you've done... and with that realization comes a few moments of "wait a minute, I really HAVEEEE done a lot to this point" and for a brief moment the magnitude of that realization can overshadow the small bit you have left to make it all. the. way.
The same is true out here on rotation. Now, I've DEFINITELY had it great on ALL of my rotations. I've been blessed with great locations, amazing and receptive preceptors, fabulous patients and of course Ryan - came into my life via a rotation- so to say I've been blessed with the luck of my rotation placement is a vast understatement. But even in the BEST of work circumstances, there's that pesky thing called "life" that matters as well. And 5 weeks into a 6 week stint of being separated from the one you love, your family, your friends in the program, the friends you originally left at home FOR the program, only having in your possession what you know you can fit into a car-trunk or baggage cart at the airport, not to mention just being a stranger in strangers' home- where your stuff, your space and privacy is never really 'yours'... it just plain old gets to you. Throw in a extra little emotional component like not being able to come home to celebrate your Da's birthday, and missing your baby brothers trip home (again!) and well, to use a running analogy: You bonk.
The good thing about the bonk... is with a little refueling, you're right back on pace. And I certainly have some AMAZING people at my 'refueling' stations. After my post-work emotional meltdown- in which I attempted to go to the gym to distract myself and ended up sobbing to Ryan in a dark, desserted yoga instead- I bounced back. Sometimes you just need to completely empty out to refeul your stores completely. Ryan talked me back out of my overly emotional state. How someone so far away can still feel and be so supportive and close is such an amazing joy and comfort to me. I am so grateful for having such a compassionate and supportive fiance. Then there was the timely call post-gym-meltdown. from my Blair Bear - killing time on her long busride home from work in Hawaii. Talk about amazing compassionate, loving people... Blair explemifies these qualities - even when I'm not in an emotional state! - and again there's that gratitude word, and thoughts of how truly blessed I am to be so surrounded by amazing people to lift me up, feed my soul, and make sure I bounce back from any 'bonk.'
So after a brief stop at the store for some Australian wine, French cheese, and bakery baguette (pictured here) in honor of my Da's birthday celebration that I was missing out on back at good ol' 30 B... I bounched back completely. Working the rest of the weekend, I saw a brand new bebe in the hospital (my favorite part of this job) and more sick kids in after-hours clinic. The weekend flew by and suddenly I am here at the last mile. Just two days left in pediatrics. I will sad to say goodbye to this rotation in particular. But like a race, I can always come back and run it again some day. For now, though, I'm focused on the next 6 marathons I have left...
xoxo
Mego
That changed last Friday, when after pfficially completing my 5th week of my 6th week rotation- I hit that proverbial wall. Just like in a marathon, when you hit mile 20 and suddely it gets. really. hard. You reach that critical point where you are aware of the huge distance you've come and what you've done... and with that realization comes a few moments of "wait a minute, I really HAVEEEE done a lot to this point" and for a brief moment the magnitude of that realization can overshadow the small bit you have left to make it all. the. way.
The same is true out here on rotation. Now, I've DEFINITELY had it great on ALL of my rotations. I've been blessed with great locations, amazing and receptive preceptors, fabulous patients and of course Ryan - came into my life via a rotation- so to say I've been blessed with the luck of my rotation placement is a vast understatement. But even in the BEST of work circumstances, there's that pesky thing called "life" that matters as well. And 5 weeks into a 6 week stint of being separated from the one you love, your family, your friends in the program, the friends you originally left at home FOR the program, only having in your possession what you know you can fit into a car-trunk or baggage cart at the airport, not to mention just being a stranger in strangers' home- where your stuff, your space and privacy is never really 'yours'... it just plain old gets to you. Throw in a extra little emotional component like not being able to come home to celebrate your Da's birthday, and missing your baby brothers trip home (again!) and well, to use a running analogy: You bonk.
The good thing about the bonk... is with a little refueling, you're right back on pace. And I certainly have some AMAZING people at my 'refueling' stations. After my post-work emotional meltdown- in which I attempted to go to the gym to distract myself and ended up sobbing to Ryan in a dark, desserted yoga instead- I bounced back. Sometimes you just need to completely empty out to refeul your stores completely. Ryan talked me back out of my overly emotional state. How someone so far away can still feel and be so supportive and close is such an amazing joy and comfort to me. I am so grateful for having such a compassionate and supportive fiance. Then there was the timely call post-gym-meltdown. from my Blair Bear - killing time on her long busride home from work in Hawaii. Talk about amazing compassionate, loving people... Blair explemifies these qualities - even when I'm not in an emotional state! - and again there's that gratitude word, and thoughts of how truly blessed I am to be so surrounded by amazing people to lift me up, feed my soul, and make sure I bounce back from any 'bonk.'
So after a brief stop at the store for some Australian wine, French cheese, and bakery baguette (pictured here) in honor of my Da's birthday celebration that I was missing out on back at good ol' 30 B... I bounched back completely. Working the rest of the weekend, I saw a brand new bebe in the hospital (my favorite part of this job) and more sick kids in after-hours clinic. The weekend flew by and suddenly I am here at the last mile. Just two days left in pediatrics. I will sad to say goodbye to this rotation in particular. But like a race, I can always come back and run it again some day. For now, though, I'm focused on the next 6 marathons I have left...
xoxo
Mego
Saturday, October 23, 2010
"Keeping the Flame"
I came across this short editorial on following your dreams and living your life to the fullest, by the great, ballsy, kick-ass chick rocker Patti Smith.
Her words really spoke to me and touched me and I hope they move and inspire you too. Go out there and do what you love, be who you want to be, love fully, dare greatly, and keep the course! Great rewards always come to great people, with even greater hearts and souls!
xoxo
Meghan
********************************
"Keeping the Flame: in praise of the bright thing inside us" by Patti Smith
"When I was young, everything seemed so simple. I felt the calling toward art and literature, so I decided I would be a writer and pen a magical book like 'Peter Pan' or 'Alice in Wonderland.' But no matter how fixed I was on my path, something always drew me away and I tramped unexpected roads with great twists and turns. And what I learned is that we are all Pinocchio: We begin our life, waving to our mother and father with our schoolbooks in hand, hoping to do well. But we are turned this way and that. We make mistakes, we move from our course, we falter, flounder and may suffer remorse, rebellion or a sense of defeat. We seem to lose our way. But no matter!!! If we keep our little flame alive, our first feeling of enthusiasm of who we are, without the influence or intervention of others, we will prevail. And like Pinocchio, despite all his trangressions, find the courage to reunite with our little flame and be rewarded. And the reward is this: We become ourselves.
In my life I have made many mistakes. Sometimes I was careless and inconsiderate of others. Fate drew me to singing and performing around the world, and yet this was not what I dreamed for myself- sometimes I felt it took me from my true path, that of a writer. But I found performing brought me closer to the people. It gave me an opportunity to travel, to explore, to communicate, and concern myself with my fellow man.
In 1979 I gave up my life in the arena of rock'n'roll to marry and raise a family, another divergence from my pursuit as a solitary artist. But through my family I learned the final lesson of Pinocchio- what it is like to be human. And always through everthing, through sacrafice and success, I have tried to stay close to my little flame, reminding me who I am.
The cricket tells Pinocchio, "Always let your conscience be your guide." These word, by a small, insignificant insect, give us all we need. The best person to tell you who you are, what you should be, is ultimately yourself."
Her words really spoke to me and touched me and I hope they move and inspire you too. Go out there and do what you love, be who you want to be, love fully, dare greatly, and keep the course! Great rewards always come to great people, with even greater hearts and souls!
xoxo
Meghan
********************************
"Keeping the Flame: in praise of the bright thing inside us" by Patti Smith
"When I was young, everything seemed so simple. I felt the calling toward art and literature, so I decided I would be a writer and pen a magical book like 'Peter Pan' or 'Alice in Wonderland.' But no matter how fixed I was on my path, something always drew me away and I tramped unexpected roads with great twists and turns. And what I learned is that we are all Pinocchio: We begin our life, waving to our mother and father with our schoolbooks in hand, hoping to do well. But we are turned this way and that. We make mistakes, we move from our course, we falter, flounder and may suffer remorse, rebellion or a sense of defeat. We seem to lose our way. But no matter!!! If we keep our little flame alive, our first feeling of enthusiasm of who we are, without the influence or intervention of others, we will prevail. And like Pinocchio, despite all his trangressions, find the courage to reunite with our little flame and be rewarded. And the reward is this: We become ourselves.
In my life I have made many mistakes. Sometimes I was careless and inconsiderate of others. Fate drew me to singing and performing around the world, and yet this was not what I dreamed for myself- sometimes I felt it took me from my true path, that of a writer. But I found performing brought me closer to the people. It gave me an opportunity to travel, to explore, to communicate, and concern myself with my fellow man.
In 1979 I gave up my life in the arena of rock'n'roll to marry and raise a family, another divergence from my pursuit as a solitary artist. But through my family I learned the final lesson of Pinocchio- what it is like to be human. And always through everthing, through sacrafice and success, I have tried to stay close to my little flame, reminding me who I am.
The cricket tells Pinocchio, "Always let your conscience be your guide." These word, by a small, insignificant insect, give us all we need. The best person to tell you who you are, what you should be, is ultimately yourself."
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Pediatrics: Snotty Nose, Pee, Poop, and Cuteness Overload
Well, I am officially at the half way mark of my fourth rotation and in Pediatrics in rural Washington State. It has been fantastic in everyway.
First off, in stark contrast to my break-neck surgical rotation, this rotation has been hectic- but time-capped day's of 9-5 clinic, with some occassional Night Clinic (Urgent Care) and Hospital NICU check-ups thrown in for good measure. I've seriously had a BLAST and have had some great stories to tell of course, for which I apologize for not updating the blog sooner.
The best part of my job most definitely has to be the bebes! At this rotation, I've been able to go to the NICU and check in on newborn premies... I get to do the 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 month... etc... well child check ups... and I tell ya, NOTHING is better for the soul than talking nonsense to a chubbie little baby for 15 minutes 10 times a day. That 17-year old brat in for acne medication, the demanding parent with their 4-year-old and a 1 day history of runny nose, the 7 year old that screams bloody murder because you're looking into his ears... all that stress goes away when you enter a room with a cute little baby that you get to play with for 15 minutes and then give it back before to the parent to take care of for the rest of the peep/poop/cry/ don't-put-me-down rest of the day. It's the best of both worlds! Exposure... without COMMITMENT! ;)
The kids are REALLY funny too. It's funny to see the differences in development and maturity (both mental and physical) in the kids even of the same age, from one to the next. Some kids are super outgoing and you barely get "Hello, I'm..." out before they're telling you all about how they get to be at the doctor to day, and they get a sticker if they're good, and if they get shots its ok because it only hurts for a minute and they protect you, and this is the book I have at school... lol And other kids burst into tears and cling onto their parents the second you look at them... Obviously, I relate a lot better to the former type of children :)
Some of my favorite quotes so far have been:
- "Some times when you do to the doctor they have to check your butt"
- "You smell pretty." (6 year old when I was looking in her ears...)
- "Are you a bodybuilder?" a Mom after I explained her sons pertusis treatment plan in detail and asked if she had any questions.
I've also had to get used to how things are done a lot differently in Ped's vs. my Family Practice. I was glad that I had Family Practice first before coming into Pediatrics, because I thought I'd see a lot of the same conditions - and I do- but there are noteable differences in practice. Among them:
1) No gloves... really ever... apparently they scare the kids, more than blood born pathogens scare the doctors.
2) You check the genitals of the babies without gloves
3) You can't remove in-grown toe nails, but you can give them IV's?
4) Instead of a can of pressurized nitro for wart removal, you dip a q-tip in a laddle of actual steaming boiling liquid nitrogen, a la Harry Potter, and place it on the kids foot as they screammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm as loud as possible, kick you in the face, and 5 nurses are needed to hold down a 40-lbs patient. The wart removals are by far the most traumatic thing that goes on here
5) The patients agree to anything for the price of a Dora / Spiderman sticker.
6) Circumsions are done at 2 WEEKS... so far, this has been the most traumatic thing for ME in medicine.
Being rural medicine in the northwest, means that I also have a LOT of Spanish-only speaking families. I so wish I had my Blair Bear here to translate for me. I've had to get by with cherades and my broken spanish with a french accent.
And more so than Family Medicine, the volume of hyper-reactive hyperchondriac (parents) is out of control. "So nausea, vomiting and fevers? How long has this been going on?" response : "since lunch time..." (at a 2pm appointment)... well, you're kids sick... viral. What do you want me to do??? I also see a LOTTTTT of "runny nose / cough" as the cheif complaint on the chart. And these parents are SOOOOO concerned. For a RUNNY NOSE! You have GOT to be kidding me... I realize that in my up-bringing, only arterial bleeding, or loss of consciousness would have mandated a trip to the doctor - and sometimes not even then - so MAYBE I have a skewed view of things, but still... Runny Nose??? He's 5... What do you expect? Bring him back in 10 years if its still a problem.Uggg
Anywho. The Clinic itself is great! The walls are elaborately decorated with all these magical, fantasty murals, fairies, dinosaurs, wizards... A grand-mother of one of our main families donated her time to do them all. Even the hallways are done, there's not a square inch of white paint in the whole place. I will try to take pics one day after clinic to show you all just how cool this looks.
My preceptor is also, a huge part of what makes the clinic so awesome. She graduated from the same program as me at Pacific- about 10 years ago. She is knows her stuff and doesn't put up with any crap - from the patients or the parents - and they love her for it. I learn something from her everyday! She's amazing. How I keep lucking out with these fabulous rotations and even more fabouls people to work FOR but I can only hope they keep comin'! Each rotation is better than the next!
Stay tuned for more... and with a sooner interval between posts this time... I promise :)
XOXO
Mego
First off, in stark contrast to my break-neck surgical rotation, this rotation has been hectic- but time-capped day's of 9-5 clinic, with some occassional Night Clinic (Urgent Care) and Hospital NICU check-ups thrown in for good measure. I've seriously had a BLAST and have had some great stories to tell of course, for which I apologize for not updating the blog sooner.
The best part of my job most definitely has to be the bebes! At this rotation, I've been able to go to the NICU and check in on newborn premies... I get to do the 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 month... etc... well child check ups... and I tell ya, NOTHING is better for the soul than talking nonsense to a chubbie little baby for 15 minutes 10 times a day. That 17-year old brat in for acne medication, the demanding parent with their 4-year-old and a 1 day history of runny nose, the 7 year old that screams bloody murder because you're looking into his ears... all that stress goes away when you enter a room with a cute little baby that you get to play with for 15 minutes and then give it back before to the parent to take care of for the rest of the peep/poop/cry/ don't-put-me-down rest of the day. It's the best of both worlds! Exposure... without COMMITMENT! ;)
The kids are REALLY funny too. It's funny to see the differences in development and maturity (both mental and physical) in the kids even of the same age, from one to the next. Some kids are super outgoing and you barely get "Hello, I'm..." out before they're telling you all about how they get to be at the doctor to day, and they get a sticker if they're good, and if they get shots its ok because it only hurts for a minute and they protect you, and this is the book I have at school... lol And other kids burst into tears and cling onto their parents the second you look at them... Obviously, I relate a lot better to the former type of children :)
Some of my favorite quotes so far have been:
- "Some times when you do to the doctor they have to check your butt"
- "You smell pretty." (6 year old when I was looking in her ears...)
- "Are you a bodybuilder?" a Mom after I explained her sons pertusis treatment plan in detail and asked if she had any questions.
I've also had to get used to how things are done a lot differently in Ped's vs. my Family Practice. I was glad that I had Family Practice first before coming into Pediatrics, because I thought I'd see a lot of the same conditions - and I do- but there are noteable differences in practice. Among them:
1) No gloves... really ever... apparently they scare the kids, more than blood born pathogens scare the doctors.
2) You check the genitals of the babies without gloves
3) You can't remove in-grown toe nails, but you can give them IV's?
4) Instead of a can of pressurized nitro for wart removal, you dip a q-tip in a laddle of actual steaming boiling liquid nitrogen, a la Harry Potter, and place it on the kids foot as they screammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm as loud as possible, kick you in the face, and 5 nurses are needed to hold down a 40-lbs patient. The wart removals are by far the most traumatic thing that goes on here
5) The patients agree to anything for the price of a Dora / Spiderman sticker.
6) Circumsions are done at 2 WEEKS... so far, this has been the most traumatic thing for ME in medicine.
Being rural medicine in the northwest, means that I also have a LOT of Spanish-only speaking families. I so wish I had my Blair Bear here to translate for me. I've had to get by with cherades and my broken spanish with a french accent.
And more so than Family Medicine, the volume of hyper-reactive hyperchondriac (parents) is out of control. "So nausea, vomiting and fevers? How long has this been going on?" response : "since lunch time..." (at a 2pm appointment)... well, you're kids sick... viral. What do you want me to do??? I also see a LOTTTTT of "runny nose / cough" as the cheif complaint on the chart. And these parents are SOOOOO concerned. For a RUNNY NOSE! You have GOT to be kidding me... I realize that in my up-bringing, only arterial bleeding, or loss of consciousness would have mandated a trip to the doctor - and sometimes not even then - so MAYBE I have a skewed view of things, but still... Runny Nose??? He's 5... What do you expect? Bring him back in 10 years if its still a problem.Uggg
Anywho. The Clinic itself is great! The walls are elaborately decorated with all these magical, fantasty murals, fairies, dinosaurs, wizards... A grand-mother of one of our main families donated her time to do them all. Even the hallways are done, there's not a square inch of white paint in the whole place. I will try to take pics one day after clinic to show you all just how cool this looks.
My preceptor is also, a huge part of what makes the clinic so awesome. She graduated from the same program as me at Pacific- about 10 years ago. She is knows her stuff and doesn't put up with any crap - from the patients or the parents - and they love her for it. I learn something from her everyday! She's amazing. How I keep lucking out with these fabulous rotations and even more fabouls people to work FOR but I can only hope they keep comin'! Each rotation is better than the next!
Stay tuned for more... and with a sooner interval between posts this time... I promise :)
XOXO
Mego
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
TGIF
Life has gotten WAY better ever since last Friday when Ryan came in to visit :) We spent all weekend with his grandparents. It was awesome! They live in the high-desert area of Oregon near Bend. The landscape is amazing, and we had some great weather to get out and enjoy it in. Not only that, but when we went to watch some friends of the family race bmx, Ryan ended up getting suckered into the race last minute. He hadn't raced in about 6 years - and he was dressed in a random pair of jeans and a walmart sweatshirt we bought that morning because it was cold ;) Needless to say, he was not prepared... but he still got a ginormous 2nd place trophy that I'll proudly be toting around to all my rotations the rest of the year hehe... enjoy the pics! and of course... more blogging to come soon! Stay tuned and much love! - Mego
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Spoiled!
You'd hardly call working 14-17hour days all week 'spoiled'... but when your fiance` researches about 50 different spas in your neighborhood via internet and phone calls from Alaska and books you an hour massage because he knows you've been working an 80 hour week in non-supportive ballet flats and your sciatica is killing you... THAT's spoiled ;)
You can't really tell by the horriblely lop-sided pic I took with my phone here, but the place was AWESOMEEEEE! It was a Yoga Studio/ Spa. And they had the most amazing set-up. I got my robe and flipflops and - as the photo shows they had all kinds of treats for you in their little lounge waiting area. They also gave you free use of the sauna facilities included in your massage which was also, beyond fabulous.
I already knew this already of course- but Ryan, you really are the best fiance` ever! :) mwuah xoxoxo!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
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Sometimes you wanna go...
So, with Surgery, comes the glamour of high-speed, critical patients, life or death decisions and exacting procedures that make you sweat just THINKING about what you're suppose to do to this person, let alone what it feels like when the scapel is in hand and you're about to cut skin! And then there's the long hours... and by LONG I mean, LONGGGGGGGGGGGG...
My day starts rounding on my in-patients at 5am. Throw in some dressing changes, a few unstable patients about to crump, and various people switching from one ward to the next and suddenly you're 50minutes into your 'lunch break' - which I have just deemed, "hour that normally people who have lives get to sit down and eat something, which I think is normally done around Noon???"...
Then, when you think you're exhausted and you've MORE than completed HealthParnters 10,000 recommended steps ten-times over... it's THEN time for you to do the FUN part - SURGERICAL CASES! Which IS fun, except that to have that fun it requires another 6+ hrs of standing... when all you want to do is lie down. Since starting in surgery - and I realize this is only day FOUR for me... but there is a funny paradox, in that STANDING is actually WAY more tiring then MOVING. In terms of fighting sleepiness, I'd so much rather see 40 bed patients running around to 8 different sections of the hospital, then STAND... in ONE spot for Four hours... it's grueling. It wears me out...
Which brings me to the point of this post. When the days get long and hard, and your separated from your Fiance, friends and family... you need an escape. Which I have found in my new favorite hang out - which is a) conveniently located on my bike ride home b) an obvious choice for it to win my patronage, because it is FRENCH themed! Yep... just like the bistros of Paris I miss so dearly!
They have Belgian beers you can only find on the old continent, make a MEAN true french style latte, and best of all -and I know Steph would appreciate this most if she could come out and visit me ;) - they have REAL French pastieres and chocolates and most importantly MACARONS! ;)
Plus they are open to Midnight and show free movies on Mondays, plus ample outdoor seating to enjoy the perfect Northwest summer nights. I've been hanging out there a lot after work to long in my patients, skype Ryan, etc... I look forward to it so much!
So here's a view of my post-work de-stressing session at "Pix"... ;) can't wait til tomorrow at 9pm for another round. Bisous!!!! - Mego
My day starts rounding on my in-patients at 5am. Throw in some dressing changes, a few unstable patients about to crump, and various people switching from one ward to the next and suddenly you're 50minutes into your 'lunch break' - which I have just deemed, "hour that normally people who have lives get to sit down and eat something, which I think is normally done around Noon???"...
Then, when you think you're exhausted and you've MORE than completed HealthParnters 10,000 recommended steps ten-times over... it's THEN time for you to do the FUN part - SURGERICAL CASES! Which IS fun, except that to have that fun it requires another 6+ hrs of standing... when all you want to do is lie down. Since starting in surgery - and I realize this is only day FOUR for me... but there is a funny paradox, in that STANDING is actually WAY more tiring then MOVING. In terms of fighting sleepiness, I'd so much rather see 40 bed patients running around to 8 different sections of the hospital, then STAND... in ONE spot for Four hours... it's grueling. It wears me out...
Which brings me to the point of this post. When the days get long and hard, and your separated from your Fiance, friends and family... you need an escape. Which I have found in my new favorite hang out - which is a) conveniently located on my bike ride home b) an obvious choice for it to win my patronage, because it is FRENCH themed! Yep... just like the bistros of Paris I miss so dearly!
They have Belgian beers you can only find on the old continent, make a MEAN true french style latte, and best of all -and I know Steph would appreciate this most if she could come out and visit me ;) - they have REAL French pastieres and chocolates and most importantly MACARONS! ;)
Plus they are open to Midnight and show free movies on Mondays, plus ample outdoor seating to enjoy the perfect Northwest summer nights. I've been hanging out there a lot after work to long in my patients, skype Ryan, etc... I look forward to it so much!
So here's a view of my post-work de-stressing session at "Pix"... ;) can't wait til tomorrow at 9pm for another round. Bisous!!!! - Mego
Monday, August 16, 2010
Surgery 101
So, today was my first day on my Burn Surgery rotation! And... it. was. awesome!!!!!!!!!
So most rotation schedules entail doing Clinic on 2-3 days, In-patient hosiptal visits on another couple 1/2 days a week and Surgeries the other 2-3 days... Well in my first day, I did ALL THREE!
I should up ready to roll at 7am... my preceptor had already been at the hospital since 5am. The only other resident in the service with me is a Surgical Resident (aka he's really far along in his studies, already has the title of Doctor, and is just doing an extra 5 yrs of SURGERY specific residency... so to say he is a 'resident WITH me' is a VERY relative term). The other 'resident' Dr Bonson has only been on board since last Friday so he and I were at least both lost as we checked in at the front desk and they immediately had us start rounding on Patients. We have 16 beds in the Burn Unit and another 10 beds designated as Burn ICU.
My preceptor is AWESOME. His name is Dr. Eshraghi. And he pocesses that rare quality in a Surgeon of being both WICKED smart AND entirely normal and personalable! He didn't pimp me too hard. Just taught me. And I just in general tried to keep up. I have shin splints for running around in my completely worn-to-the-bone zebra ballet flats (thanks Tom and Caitlin - Christmas 2008... LOL, yeah I need new shoes...)
In the morning, after rounding on our in-patients on the unit, we moved over to the clinic and saw pre/ post-op patients. Coming off of my Family Med rotation in Elmendorf, and the great face-time I got with patients, today- witnessing even someone as brilliant and wonderful as Dr. Eshraghi stumble over and foil-up patient encounters- I felt kinda proud to be a PA... like, in the back of my head, I was thinking : "Wow, I would have explained that proceedure and explained our treatment approach rationale SOOOOOO much better, faster and more appropriate to the patient's view point than you just did..." Even when your humbled and in the presence of greatness like a Burn Surgeon, there's definitely things a PA would do better. That kinda made me feel good ;)
The highlight of the day, was definitely the afternoon where I ASSISTED on my first ever surgery!!!!! It was over 3 hours long! Our patient was a 50 yo Female with complications of an abdominal wound. She had ovarian cancer and as part of her removal of the tumors, she had a colostomy bag. The incision from that and her tumor removal became infected and she developed fistuals and a large, gaping wound over a good 12 x 12 section of her abdomen. We used a new device in surgery today that I had never seen before, called a Versajet. Essentially it's a high powered water pic. And instead of 'cutting' the patient, the high-pressure water jet removes the tissue!!!! AMAZING!!!! I told Ryan about this and he said they used it when he was deployed in Afganistan too. It was a new toy to me though and I was super excited to see it in action.
While, I didn't get to play with the water thingymabob... I DID get to do a SKIN GRAFT! Yep, that's right, I scrapped off a piece of someone's leg, ran it through what looks like an industrial pasta roller and then glued it on to the patient's wound. Can you say AWESOME! Total highlight of my career thus far! And this is only day ONE! ;)
Who knows what tomorrow holds, but I can bet it will be just as crazy, scary, fun as this one... STAY TUNED! :) xoxox Mego
So most rotation schedules entail doing Clinic on 2-3 days, In-patient hosiptal visits on another couple 1/2 days a week and Surgeries the other 2-3 days... Well in my first day, I did ALL THREE!
I should up ready to roll at 7am... my preceptor had already been at the hospital since 5am. The only other resident in the service with me is a Surgical Resident (aka he's really far along in his studies, already has the title of Doctor, and is just doing an extra 5 yrs of SURGERY specific residency... so to say he is a 'resident WITH me' is a VERY relative term). The other 'resident' Dr Bonson has only been on board since last Friday so he and I were at least both lost as we checked in at the front desk and they immediately had us start rounding on Patients. We have 16 beds in the Burn Unit and another 10 beds designated as Burn ICU.
My preceptor is AWESOME. His name is Dr. Eshraghi. And he pocesses that rare quality in a Surgeon of being both WICKED smart AND entirely normal and personalable! He didn't pimp me too hard. Just taught me. And I just in general tried to keep up. I have shin splints for running around in my completely worn-to-the-bone zebra ballet flats (thanks Tom and Caitlin - Christmas 2008... LOL, yeah I need new shoes...)
In the morning, after rounding on our in-patients on the unit, we moved over to the clinic and saw pre/ post-op patients. Coming off of my Family Med rotation in Elmendorf, and the great face-time I got with patients, today- witnessing even someone as brilliant and wonderful as Dr. Eshraghi stumble over and foil-up patient encounters- I felt kinda proud to be a PA... like, in the back of my head, I was thinking : "Wow, I would have explained that proceedure and explained our treatment approach rationale SOOOOOO much better, faster and more appropriate to the patient's view point than you just did..." Even when your humbled and in the presence of greatness like a Burn Surgeon, there's definitely things a PA would do better. That kinda made me feel good ;)
The highlight of the day, was definitely the afternoon where I ASSISTED on my first ever surgery!!!!! It was over 3 hours long! Our patient was a 50 yo Female with complications of an abdominal wound. She had ovarian cancer and as part of her removal of the tumors, she had a colostomy bag. The incision from that and her tumor removal became infected and she developed fistuals and a large, gaping wound over a good 12 x 12 section of her abdomen. We used a new device in surgery today that I had never seen before, called a Versajet. Essentially it's a high powered water pic. And instead of 'cutting' the patient, the high-pressure water jet removes the tissue!!!! AMAZING!!!! I told Ryan about this and he said they used it when he was deployed in Afganistan too. It was a new toy to me though and I was super excited to see it in action.
While, I didn't get to play with the water thingymabob... I DID get to do a SKIN GRAFT! Yep, that's right, I scrapped off a piece of someone's leg, ran it through what looks like an industrial pasta roller and then glued it on to the patient's wound. Can you say AWESOME! Total highlight of my career thus far! And this is only day ONE! ;)
Who knows what tomorrow holds, but I can bet it will be just as crazy, scary, fun as this one... STAY TUNED! :) xoxox Mego
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sorry it has been FOREVERRRRRR since I've blogged!It's been a wild, crazy, fun month to say the least! My days in the Clinic have been full to say the least. Which I TOTALLY don't mind. But it would certainly be made more tolerable if I had cell/internet service in the hospital. I could fit in so much more if I could jump in to check an email, text a friend back home, look something up online, (and ok, ok... I'll say it - update my facebook! hehe) in my spare in-between minutes. Instead I now have to save all of these activites for the end of the day - at which point I'm busy logging in patients, working out, or just out enjoying Alaska. So thus my internet usage has gone to the way-side.I only have two more weeks left at Elmendorf here, and it's hard to believe. I've really lucked out with having this rotation first. While it certainly has been challenging, I know if PALES in comparison to the cut-throat, uber-competitive rotations that my other classmates have already been on. I'm very thankful to have started out with a rotation that has let me ease-in to this whole clinical medicine thing.My preceptors here have been phenomenol. Sadly, my two favorite ones, will both be leaving this site. One will deploy to Iraq for 7 months starting in September (Maj. Spencer). And the other will retire next July (Maj. Kubly). I'd say 25+ years with the Air Force is a good run and he deserves it. But it bums me out that the rest of my classmates won't get to work with these two amazing people.I worked with Major Kubly this past week and on my last day with him he hooked me up with a giant grocery bag of Alaskan salmon and reindeer saussage and elk links. All caught/ killed by him of course ;) Ryan and I grilled up the salmon last night and it really DOES taste better than the store bought stuff. I'm so lucky to have such amazing and generous teachers. And even luckier to have someone to help me eat it all! :)My next rotation is Surgery in Portland. Two weeks out, and I still haven't sewn up my housing or living arrangements... I should probably get on that... And with my next rotation I'm sure I'll be bored out of my mind without Ryan and all these outside adventures and exploring to go on. So I anticipate a full return to blogging at that time.Stay tuned! And as my final days in Alaska (for THIS round anyway) tick by, I'll try to post more pics and snippets.Miss and love you all! xo Mego
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Character Studies and Rants...
So... there seems to be two main populations I deal with... and of course, they are the extremes. Either I have the patients that come in asking for 5 months of disability for a HANGNAIL, or I get the person with a CLEARLY fractured ankle coming in 10 days POST fall just- and only because the swelling was so bad they could no longer force it into their boot for work... uggggg
I feel like I should host a mix-er where both the hypochondriacs and the non-reactors could get together and teach the other group their ways... Again, the Eileen McKenna school of medicine that I grew up in ("if it's not arterial bleeding, and you still wanna go to gymnastics practice, then quit whining") has made me sympathetize more with the tough guys than the frequent flyers... but still, even with my bias I recognize the unhealthy aspects of both groups' approach to care.
In honor of that, here are some GEMS I've encounted thus far...
Patient #1 : Chief Complaint (reported to me via my tech) "Patient would like an MRI so she can be diagnosed as dyslexic".... Now, I can get her an MRI to diagnose her as CRAZY TOWN but, ain't no brainscan for dyslexia. And after 45 minutes of one of the most disjointed, anxiety-ridden conversations I've ever born witness too... I finally had a plan for her: Referral to mental health and a manic depressive disorder! Yikes
Patient #2: 40 year old male with "penile discharge"... now don't worry, this isn't going where you probably think it's going... his "discharge" was PEE... and upon digital rectal exam, he had an enlarged prostate... so after palpating the poor man's prostate, I told him "Now, you need to go over to lab and get the very first catch of urine in the cup becau-..." He states starring at me in HORROR as I am taking off my ky-jellied gloves and throwing them in the trash (which I thought was a perfectly RATIONAL thing to do with them...) but he interrupts my instructions and starts yelling "whoa whoa whoa!!!!! What are you doing?! Why are you throwing that away?!?! Aren't you tossing the sample?!?!"... I'm thinking, "did ya really think I went in there and scraped a lil' of your prostate under my finger nail for cytology to take a look at..." But instead... I had to calmly and with a straight face say "no, sir. I was just explaining to you that now that we've stimulated the prostate what we need is a URINE sample..."
Patient #3: 25 year old female coming in for "Back Surgery..."
Turns out, she wanted relief of work orders (what we call 'quarters' for Active duty Airmen) because she was having a MOLEEEEE removed from her back, or as she liked to referred to it, her BACK SURGERY... uggggg... Shaving something the size of a pencil eraser off your back and putting a bandaid over it, HARDLY qualifies as an invasive procedure mandating disability leave! uggggg This patient was such a joy, that the tech's started referring to her as "Eoyore"... because the second you went into the room there was an instant black rain cloud over your head. We were all quoting "thanks.for.noticing.me." and siging "I'm just a little black rain cloud... hovering over the trees..." the rest of the day. So ironically, this bitter patient, actually made our day BRIGHTER ;)
Hope you all enjoyed the stories... just a tip of the iceberg... trust me... hehe
Miss and love you all! xoxo
I feel like I should host a mix-er where both the hypochondriacs and the non-reactors could get together and teach the other group their ways... Again, the Eileen McKenna school of medicine that I grew up in ("if it's not arterial bleeding, and you still wanna go to gymnastics practice, then quit whining") has made me sympathetize more with the tough guys than the frequent flyers... but still, even with my bias I recognize the unhealthy aspects of both groups' approach to care.
In honor of that, here are some GEMS I've encounted thus far...
Patient #1 : Chief Complaint (reported to me via my tech) "Patient would like an MRI so she can be diagnosed as dyslexic".... Now, I can get her an MRI to diagnose her as CRAZY TOWN but, ain't no brainscan for dyslexia. And after 45 minutes of one of the most disjointed, anxiety-ridden conversations I've ever born witness too... I finally had a plan for her: Referral to mental health and a manic depressive disorder! Yikes
Patient #2: 40 year old male with "penile discharge"... now don't worry, this isn't going where you probably think it's going... his "discharge" was PEE... and upon digital rectal exam, he had an enlarged prostate... so after palpating the poor man's prostate, I told him "Now, you need to go over to lab and get the very first catch of urine in the cup becau-..." He states starring at me in HORROR as I am taking off my ky-jellied gloves and throwing them in the trash (which I thought was a perfectly RATIONAL thing to do with them...) but he interrupts my instructions and starts yelling "whoa whoa whoa!!!!! What are you doing?! Why are you throwing that away?!?! Aren't you tossing the sample?!?!"... I'm thinking, "did ya really think I went in there and scraped a lil' of your prostate under my finger nail for cytology to take a look at..." But instead... I had to calmly and with a straight face say "no, sir. I was just explaining to you that now that we've stimulated the prostate what we need is a URINE sample..."
Patient #3: 25 year old female coming in for "Back Surgery..."
Turns out, she wanted relief of work orders (what we call 'quarters' for Active duty Airmen) because she was having a MOLEEEEE removed from her back, or as she liked to referred to it, her BACK SURGERY... uggggg... Shaving something the size of a pencil eraser off your back and putting a bandaid over it, HARDLY qualifies as an invasive procedure mandating disability leave! uggggg This patient was such a joy, that the tech's started referring to her as "Eoyore"... because the second you went into the room there was an instant black rain cloud over your head. We were all quoting "thanks.for.noticing.me." and siging "I'm just a little black rain cloud... hovering over the trees..." the rest of the day. So ironically, this bitter patient, actually made our day BRIGHTER ;)
Hope you all enjoyed the stories... just a tip of the iceberg... trust me... hehe
Miss and love you all! xoxo
Friday, June 11, 2010
Alaskan Extra Curriculars...
It's a been a great but LONG 11hr+ days week! But on the plus side, that means I have today OFF! It's been so nice to spend a lazy morning in bed chatting with my grrlz back home, takin' my time witha proper breakfast (my favorite meal of the day) and working on my 2nd pot of coffee :)
So to celebrate my vacation day, I thought I'd kick off my weekend of excessive blogging with some shots of the amazing things I've been able to experience here in Alaska!
Last weekend Ryan took me skydiving for the first time and LOVEEEEDDDDD it! We went with 6 friends from work and we all did tandum jumps with people that are actually trained and know what they're doing - so we didn't have to do any of the ground-school classes stuff... just showed up, got our PowerRanger suits and JUMPED! It was AWESOMEEEE! My tandum leader was (read: is) an Army Special Forces Ranger- he's done something like 7000+ jumps! CRAZY TOWN! Needless to say, I made a special request for as many flips as possible leaving the airplane. They took us up in a Sesna with all the seats removed, save for the pilot's. We were crammed in there like sardines. Because the plane was so small, there's only room for two jumpers, the two trainer/tandum professionals, a videographer (if you choose to buy a dvd of your possible last act on earth - which of course I DID, and YES, it's supposed to be in the mail on Monday so I'll be sure to post it as soon as I get it), and the pilot.
They take you around for a 20 minute tour of the Valley, and then... as you watch the altimeter on your wrist climb to 10,000 feet... you JUMP!!!! I wasn't nervous or scared at all! I was just psyched! The best part is when you step out onto the beam outside the airplane door looking down at 10,000 feet, wind whipping by you... and then the release!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOMEEEEEE... you're technically supposed to pull your chute at 5,500 ft... but because my guys was a) pyschotic and b) knew I was too... he didn't pull until 4,800!!!! Ride of my life. Even though Ryan and his guy jumped first, we were the first to land! hehe The photos you see here include the whole group of us pre-jump (and no, my friend Teresa did not put her little girl Bella in the babybjorn for the jump); Ryan and me making a fashion statement in our suits and nerdy hat/ goggles; and me practicing the landing technique in the trapeeze :)
The weekend before last, 5 of us went camping 3 and half hours north of Anchorage at Lake Louise. It was truly BREATH TAKINGLY beautiful up there... Ryan took a TON more pics than this but here's a few to get you started for now. I don't know if you can see how COMPLETELY coated in mud Amber and I are in this pic... but believe me - the jump into the very COLD lake post ride was DEFINITELY worth the pain!
Lastly there's a shot of Ryan and me and trudging through the woods with his 12-gage shotgun on my back... Grandpa Dar would be so proud. And yes, I fired a gun... and yes I hit my very first clay! It's in my blood I guess... or maybe the fact that Ryan's an official Marksman rubbed off on me, whatever it is... just don't tell anyone or I may lose my npr membership.
Well, off to run some errands and take care of some business on my day off here. I miss and love you all BEAUCOUP!!!!!
xoxo Mego
Thursday, June 10, 2010
When in Rome.... er, Alaska...
Sorry I've been slacking on my posts, everyone! My dumb roommates neglected to pay the internet bill (ahhhhh, I KNEW there was a reason I swore I was done having roommates...) uggg. Anywho, that's not my only excuse for my M.I.A.ness... I've also been out enjoying the wonderful things Alaska has to offer in the summer.
Since I got here 3 weeks ago, I have camped, hiked, climbed, skydove, 4-wheeled, and most shockingly perhaps, shot GUNS! hahaha Before you think I've completely turned my back on my bleeding heart liberal ways... just know that the targets were all pointed in the direction of Sara Palin's home in Wasilla (true story!). ;)
Well, I will be posting more tonight, but I just wanted to let you all know I have not COMPLETELY fallin' off the face of the Earth. More to come SOON! You are all missed and LOVED! xoxo
Since I got here 3 weeks ago, I have camped, hiked, climbed, skydove, 4-wheeled, and most shockingly perhaps, shot GUNS! hahaha Before you think I've completely turned my back on my bleeding heart liberal ways... just know that the targets were all pointed in the direction of Sara Palin's home in Wasilla (true story!). ;)
Well, I will be posting more tonight, but I just wanted to let you all know I have not COMPLETELY fallin' off the face of the Earth. More to come SOON! You are all missed and LOVED! xoxo
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The BEST birthday EVER!
WOW! To say that I had a great birthday would be a gi-normous understatement!!! Had an AWESOME day at work (performed my first procedure ALL ON MY OWN - ingrown toe nail removal! - You know you're a PA Student when THAT'S a birthday highlight...); followed by a kickbutt workout; followed by a post-workout meal of chocolatechip Balance Bar and individual sized Champagne, that Plunko got me (thanks, Plunko!) - see photo...
But truthfully, the BEST part of my birthday came from all of YOUUUUUUUUU and the TRULY heartfelt and moving messages, voicemails, emails and texts I received throughout the day. I don't use this word often or lightly... but I am SOOOOO truly BLESSED to have you in all in my life. I cannot imagine celebrating the highs, or making it through the LOWS without each and everyone of you and your critical role you play in my life. I love you all SOOOOOO much!!!!
Well, this is just a quick post before I go out and celebrate in downtown Anchorage for the first time! A bunch of Airmen that work with me are taking me out... if Liam's facebook photo albums are any indication, I should be afraid... VERY afraid :)
MUCH MUCHH MUCHHHH LOVEEEEE - Mego
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul...
Well, today has been ROUGH to say the least... but thanks to all of you, you took a hard day and made it better. I LOVEDDDD being able to chat with my Mumsey, Tait-a-ma-win, Aunt Maureen (HUGEEEE BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT in order there as well!!!!) Lyssie and the Bears... I seriously, wouldn't be able to do this without all of you. Thank you for boistering me up, giving me strength and support - even from afar, I feel it in a BIG WAY!
Adding to the 'interesting' day I had, my immune system apparently thought I wasn't dealing with enough stuff, so it decided to shut down on me. Thank goodness it's a Sunday and I've been able to truly just SLEEEPPPP all day, but I've been fighting off this headache/cough/bodyache/chills/nausea thing since I woke up. Wow, a week into healthcare and I've already gotten sick from my patients :P
Well, thanks to the Bears (aka Blair and Justin - for those of you who haven't met them yet, you WILLLLL SOOOON) I had a knock on my door and two ginormous bowls of hot veggie, chicken noodle broth soup and two cans of ice cold 7-up... AMAZING! Those resourceful bears called from HUNDREDS of miles away to get sickypoo Mego dinner and fizzy pop delivered to her doorstep. I am soooo spoiled. Thank you Bears... I heart you, and ALL OF YOU, big time. xoxoxo
Adding to the 'interesting' day I had, my immune system apparently thought I wasn't dealing with enough stuff, so it decided to shut down on me. Thank goodness it's a Sunday and I've been able to truly just SLEEEPPPP all day, but I've been fighting off this headache/cough/bodyache/chills/nausea thing since I woke up. Wow, a week into healthcare and I've already gotten sick from my patients :P
Well, thanks to the Bears (aka Blair and Justin - for those of you who haven't met them yet, you WILLLLL SOOOON) I had a knock on my door and two ginormous bowls of hot veggie, chicken noodle broth soup and two cans of ice cold 7-up... AMAZING! Those resourceful bears called from HUNDREDS of miles away to get sickypoo Mego dinner and fizzy pop delivered to her doorstep. I am soooo spoiled. Thank you Bears... I heart you, and ALL OF YOU, big time. xoxoxo
Friday, May 21, 2010
Things I have learned in Week 1...
So somehow, I went to sleep 4 times and woke up and it was Friday and my first week 'on the job' was over?!?!! What just happened?! I've seen and learned a LOT in 5 short days. I discovered I really do enjoy Family Practice. It's fun getting to be the gate-keeper of peoples' health and well-being. You may not to get to deal heavily with some super involved, complicated, rare disease... but you CAN be the first to CATCH it, and refer that person on. Not to mention that even those 'outlie-er' patients will always have minor health problems that they come to you for, and you have to take into consideration their other, more serious co-morditities. So you may not be treating that specific crazy disease entity but have to stay up on it and how it might affect the treatment of the more seeminly bengin problems nonetheless.
In this past week, I've also discovered how HORRIBLE I am at being empathetic for 'babies' and 'fakers'... and believe me, even as I type that I realize how absurd it sounds ;)... but for real... 19 year old in for a STUBBED TOE... dude... areyaKIDDin' me?! ME: "How would you rate your pain on a scale from 0-10..." DUDE: "3/10" ME: (pushing HARD over the joints of the big toe) "Does that hurt?" *no reaction* ME: Can you stand on your tip toes? *patient stands on toes* ME: "Did it bruise at all when you did it LAST WEEK?" DUDE: "Nope" ME: "Can you walk on it without pain?" DUDE: "Yeah..." Soooooo... WHADDYAWANTMETODOABOUTIT?!?! good LORD! why even come in!?! Here's your Rx for ADVIL now get the hellouttamyoffice! - of course, I didn't say those last 7 words but I SOOOO wanted to!
I've also discovered how SYMPATHETIC I am to the people I didn't think I would be! For all my distain of all our 'fluff' lectures on how to counsel patients, and ask about home, pyscho and social health... I find THAT's the suff I'm good at and willing to spend the extra time on (versus big-toe-itis guy)... One patient I had was in for a possible migraine diagnosis. The poor thing broke down in TEARS 60 seconds into my interview with her... fiancee was deployed til 2 months ago, his brother commited suicide WHILE he was abroad. Her wedding is 8 weeks away, she's frustrated at all the weight she's gained and the big life stressors she's got going on... I felt like saying "honey, you don't need imitrex, you need a HUG and more walks in the sunshine!" :( Super sad...
One thing I especially love about this rotation, is the great job that the military does at encouraging the TEACHING process for the next generation of practioners who are up and coming. They really are soooooo willing to help you learn, allow you to try stuff, see interesting procedures, and just get in there... you get the impression that they REALLY do want you to learn and better yourself through your time with them. I think in other private practices it'd be so easy to look at an intern as just someone to come in and take half your workload off your shoulders, but these guys have been great at allowing me to SLOW THEM down... allow me to see patients first without them (doubling their work hours in the process) just so I can see and practice things for myself. Amazing people for sure... One of the PA's today pulled me from my fifth case of Hypertentsion for the day because he wanted me to assist with a vasectomy. I'm not even his intern and he cared enought to come find me and the PA I was working with so 'the new kid' could see something out-of-the-oridinary for the day. So awesome! The teaching-the-next-wave-of-PA's is definitely something I feel strongly about doing myself some day - if I ever grow up :)
That's I gotz for nowz... sorry for another uneventful post. Hopefully I'll get into some fun or trouble - or both :) over the weekend. Stay tuned... miss and love you all! xoxo Mego
In this past week, I've also discovered how HORRIBLE I am at being empathetic for 'babies' and 'fakers'... and believe me, even as I type that I realize how absurd it sounds ;)... but for real... 19 year old in for a STUBBED TOE... dude... areyaKIDDin' me?! ME: "How would you rate your pain on a scale from 0-10..." DUDE: "3/10" ME: (pushing HARD over the joints of the big toe) "Does that hurt?" *no reaction* ME: Can you stand on your tip toes? *patient stands on toes* ME: "Did it bruise at all when you did it LAST WEEK?" DUDE: "Nope" ME: "Can you walk on it without pain?" DUDE: "Yeah..." Soooooo... WHADDYAWANTMETODOABOUTIT?!?! good LORD! why even come in!?! Here's your Rx for ADVIL now get the hellouttamyoffice! - of course, I didn't say those last 7 words but I SOOOO wanted to!
I've also discovered how SYMPATHETIC I am to the people I didn't think I would be! For all my distain of all our 'fluff' lectures on how to counsel patients, and ask about home, pyscho and social health... I find THAT's the suff I'm good at and willing to spend the extra time on (versus big-toe-itis guy)... One patient I had was in for a possible migraine diagnosis. The poor thing broke down in TEARS 60 seconds into my interview with her... fiancee was deployed til 2 months ago, his brother commited suicide WHILE he was abroad. Her wedding is 8 weeks away, she's frustrated at all the weight she's gained and the big life stressors she's got going on... I felt like saying "honey, you don't need imitrex, you need a HUG and more walks in the sunshine!" :( Super sad...
One thing I especially love about this rotation, is the great job that the military does at encouraging the TEACHING process for the next generation of practioners who are up and coming. They really are soooooo willing to help you learn, allow you to try stuff, see interesting procedures, and just get in there... you get the impression that they REALLY do want you to learn and better yourself through your time with them. I think in other private practices it'd be so easy to look at an intern as just someone to come in and take half your workload off your shoulders, but these guys have been great at allowing me to SLOW THEM down... allow me to see patients first without them (doubling their work hours in the process) just so I can see and practice things for myself. Amazing people for sure... One of the PA's today pulled me from my fifth case of Hypertentsion for the day because he wanted me to assist with a vasectomy. I'm not even his intern and he cared enought to come find me and the PA I was working with so 'the new kid' could see something out-of-the-oridinary for the day. So awesome! The teaching-the-next-wave-of-PA's is definitely something I feel strongly about doing myself some day - if I ever grow up :)
That's I gotz for nowz... sorry for another uneventful post. Hopefully I'll get into some fun or trouble - or both :) over the weekend. Stay tuned... miss and love you all! xoxo Mego
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
The First Day...
Well, my life as a Clinician started today... and I LOVEEEED it! The Family Medicine clinic is located in the hospital on base. And the facility is really nice. The people who staff it are even NICER! The Air Force doesn't mess around with let-you-get-comfortable-and-set-up... nope. Just go in there and get'em! ... and I LOVED it!
My preceptor is GREAT! He asks me questions all the time - not to pimp and intimidate me but to make sure I know and learn. I was SOOOOO glad that I got his first two quesitons right on my very first patient that I saw with him! I also named a drug out the BLUE (pharmacology is NOT my strong suit... since my hollistic suck-it-up-if-want-to-go-to-gymnastics-practice Mother never really took us in for anything... arfarf LOVE YOU MUMSEY!) I usually struggle with drug names even for the super common stuff but I some how pulled Ketoconazole out of the blue as the drug of choice for the ring worm patient I saw :)
My preceptor is on the go ALLLLLL THE TIME... I think I saw 11 patients with him and that was only for 3 hours worth! He normally sees DOUBLE that when I'm not following him around like a puppy dog, slowing him down. I did get to see one patient completely on my own today- but tomorrow I should be almost exclusively by myself. More exciting/ scary stuff to come... and I say, BRING IT! Sorry this post was so uneventful... hopefuly some more engaging stories tomororw :) Stay tuned for the next installment. Love you all! xoxo
Oh, and the photo of the day, is my official Military Badge! First of many I hope :) WHOOP WHOOP!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
A room with a view...
I'm living with an active duty Airman up here near the base I'll be working at. His girlfriend lives here too and they have 3 month old TWINS! SOOOOOO cute... I'm definitely getting plenty of adorable baby time in.
Also, whats not to love about a view like THISSSSSS from your bedroom window?!
Cha-ching!
Everythinggggggg's more expensive in Alaska! Ramos and I went to Subway for lunch today, and the infamous "$5 Footlongs" were in fact, SIX dollars... (photo documention at right). I haven't watched any broadcast TV up here yet, but I'm wondering if the jingle will get stuck in my head now as "6... 6 dollar... 6-dollar footlooooooonggs"...
Also, evidence that everythings more expensive up here... at Target ( my FAVORITEEEE store as you all know), had my favorite Champion Sport Bras - which I actually needed to buy but DIDN'T - because they were $20.97!!!! And back home they were just in the Target Ad for $13!!!! What gives?! I've been numb to the economic crisis thus far, but when my sports-bra market barometer goes up - I pay attention! Guess I'll have to wait to stock up til next time I'm home.
And so it begins...
Hi everyone! I hope you've had a relaxing weekend! I threw out a teaser to some of you that I would be starting my blog to document my travels, trials, triumphs and tribulations of the Clinical year... well here we go! I hope you enjoy reading my posts; even if the only purpose it serves is killing downtime at work ;) I hope I made the page look legit enough that if you boss or some nosey co-worker pops in your cube unexpectedly, you can pass it off as 'market research' or something.
I will also take this chance to make a few disclaimers... first and foremost, I make no apologies for my reputation of HORRIFIC phonetic spelling. You just have to accept the fact that each paragraph will be littered with my Mego spin on how Webster should REALLY spell things. I have all these big words... and small... difficult words... in my head and I like to say them, it's just when I put them on paper I don't know how to SPELL them... so sorry, Mea Culpa... but I'm still not going to run spell check...
Secondly, names will always be changed to protect the innocent- and the not so innocent - in the event of stories from my Clinical practice. I will also camaflouge random details of stories or locations at times to keep myself in good standing with HIPPA.
Thirdly, and most importantly, feel free to leave your mark on my page with comments or questions for me along the way. I LOVE hearing from you, as much as I hope you love reading this from me. Hope to see you all at some point in these next 14 months on the road... carry on... carry strong... Love, Mego
I will also take this chance to make a few disclaimers... first and foremost, I make no apologies for my reputation of HORRIFIC phonetic spelling. You just have to accept the fact that each paragraph will be littered with my Mego spin on how Webster should REALLY spell things. I have all these big words... and small... difficult words... in my head and I like to say them, it's just when I put them on paper I don't know how to SPELL them... so sorry, Mea Culpa... but I'm still not going to run spell check...
Secondly, names will always be changed to protect the innocent- and the not so innocent - in the event of stories from my Clinical practice. I will also camaflouge random details of stories or locations at times to keep myself in good standing with HIPPA.
Thirdly, and most importantly, feel free to leave your mark on my page with comments or questions for me along the way. I LOVE hearing from you, as much as I hope you love reading this from me. Hope to see you all at some point in these next 14 months on the road... carry on... carry strong... Love, Mego
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