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
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