Friday, June 26, 2009

Hoping, Wishing, Thinking, and Praying

that call this weekend won't be as draining as it was the 1st time I was on call. Either way, it's on the weekend so I get to go home by 7am on Sunday. Wahoo!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Finally

I finally ENJOYED one of the surgeries I scrubbed in on! Wahoo!!! Apparently I really like vascular surgery. Never EVER would have guessed that in a million years. I just really liked watching them tease out the arteries and veins and SO wanted to get my hands in there and do it myself. It's so much different in a living pt than in a cadaver. Finding arteries and veins was not my idea of a good time during Gross lab.

Today we made an AV fistula in the arm for a patient's hemodialysis access. The surgeon also moved the vein more superficial than it was originally to allow for easier access for the nurses who will be sticking the pt when it's time for dialysis.

The best part of the case: You get to SIT DOWN during vascular cases. Score. Also, the attending and resident were really nice and I only got asked one question, which of course I didn't know the answer to. Once again, nice attending, so it wasn't completely mortifying - just a "teaching experience" as they call them.

Exciting part: I got to suture the underlying tissue together and then staple the incision. It was my 2nd time suturing, and a different technique than the one I did the 1st time, so I was glad to learn how to do it. Surgeons make it look easy, but there's very subtle differences in how they hold the tools, tie the knots, etc... which can make us look very clumsy comparatively. Anyway, it's now time to get in the bed. Gotta be up at 3:00 :)
7 more days at the VA - wahoo!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Cool Side Note

Today I got to see an A/V fistula created by one of the vascular surgeons at UMC for dialysis access. The cool part:
*I felt a "thrill" over it - a buzzing sensation
*I heard a bruit! Finally! I've been wanting to hear a bruit for the last year or so. It's just a little "whoosh" type sound you can hear with the bell of your stethoscope (the smaller side). You hear it in the carotid arteries when there's blockage and also in AV fistulas.

I'm more excited about these things that I saw in clinic rather than in surgery. All the surgeons HATE clinic, but I really prefer it to most of the other things we do. Perhaps it's a sign.

Dear Surgery,

I want my life back.

Signed,
Your pal - Chazing Zebras

Monday, June 15, 2009

Ahem, Make that 13.3

So, a few of us thought that half marathon seemed a little long in the last 3 miles. We were CORRECT! Turns out one of the miles was actually 1.2 miles. So that leads us to a grand total of 13.3. That almost makes up for my time discrepancy. (I wanted to finish in 2:30:00 and finished in 2:38:03ish).

I would post about my day today, but after driving home, eating dinner, and checking my e-mail and checking on my pts, it's time for me to get in bed. Gotta be up at 3:30:) I think today I decided surgery is NOT for me! Maybe I'll change my mind, but I doubt it.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Goals for Today (in no logical order)

*cook dinner
*get a new phone (because AT&T doesn't pick up in the hospital)
*recover from the half (knees ok now, hips might fall off - could barely walk yesterday!)
*clean house
*do stupid EBM assignment for school
*throw together 5 minute presentation on diverticulitis for tomorrow
*figure out financial aid's hangup
*pack lunch for tomorrow
*pay bills

Not sure if it's the week of surgery or the half marathon, but I've been walking around in a daze trying to figure out what I should do at any given moment and therefore getting nothing done. Hope everyone else's weekend was fabulous!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

13.1

Ran and finished my first half marathon this morning. I'm gonna be honest - I'm glad it's over! I don't think my body can withstand 80 hour weeks at the hospital and running this much. The only reason I spent ~80 hours at the hospital this week is because I was on call though, so that should ease up hopefully.

As for the half, I ended up seeing a lot of people I knew. That was fun. People I went to high school with, college, then some dental school kids as well. My cousin A and I ran it together. It got kind of warm towards the end and was in full sun for about the last 2-3 miles. My body did not like that! I was getting cold chills and just praying I didn't keel over right there on the pavement. I really got an adrenaline rush at the 13.0 mile marker and was so relieved to cross that big finish line. It took me 2:38:03. I was 636/1055, so pretty much right in the middle. That's fine with me!

Now it's time to rest, hydrate, eat, rest, hydrate eat. I haven't left the bed yet the few hours I've been home this week and I don't plan to until Monday. I'll post about a typical day on Acute Care Surgery later.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Preparedness FAIL

So after I leave my house at 7:00am tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, I might not be home until 5:00pm Wednesday night. Why, you ask? Because I'm ON CALL! Now, I did see something that said if you're on call during the week, you're supposed to leave around 1:00pm the next afternoon. However, we have an entire day full of surgery lectures and I'm not really sure what the protocol is. Also, I'm not really sure what I need to take with me tomorrow morning. We're supposed to be in professional dress for the lectures, but definitely in scrubs overnight for call. Guess sometime between the two I'll do a switcheroo. Feel like I'm packing for a slumber party.

Runner's, er... Walker's Log

Taking it easy. Kris and I walked 40 minutes. No clue how far or how many calories burned, but it was very relaxing :)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Headed to the BEACH Y'all

I'm leaving for the gorgeous blue waters and sandy white beaches of Florida tomorrow morning bright and early. It's me and three of my fellow back-row-sitters. It should be a blast.

Today I made my mama's oatmeal pumpkin muffins and my very own chocolate chip cookies for snacks/breakfast options on the trip. I'm excited because Future Pathologist is going to be making yummy dinners at the condo at night and I'm pretty sure Future Pediatrician has got some things up her sleeves as well. I'll just play seux chef since I really only know how to bake.

Here's what I'm reading:







I was going to be reading House of God, but it didn't arrive in time:

Monday, June 1, 2009

And Then I Checked My E-Mail

and I'm not on call either of the 2 weekends I was worried about!!! Wahoo!!! Life is good :)

So I Just Checked the Mail

and there was a shiny check from the IRS in it. Funny how things work, no?

The IRS Hates Us

Kris and I had been planning to receive our tax refund sometime this week. That's what the website said. That's what the 1st IRS official we talked to 3 weeks ago said. Now, they've decided to "review" our refund since we filed for the first time homebuyers' credit. But no fear, they're mailing out the rest of our refund - this Friday. And we need to allow 3 weeks for it to get here. What the heck? BROKE. Grrr....