Post 100

Well, this is it. 100 posts in this little journal. Pretty cool if I do say so myself. Unfortunately for you, my dear readers, the writing has gotten a bit sparse lately. Don't get me wrong, I've tried to write. And write and write and write and write. But, writing this personal statement for residency is sucking the life right out of me and my skinny little fingers. (I do have skinny fingers, not abnormally bony or long or anything, but skinny)

Anyway, there are a few Life Events occuring very soon that need mentioning, I suppose, so maybe this post can enlighten you on how my life has been flying by these past few weeks.

1) Getting married.

Okay, I thought that Chris put a shiny, sparkly ring on my finger and then we'd get married. Unfortunately, we have to get through the wedding first. It's been exciting, frustrating, and lovely all at the same time. I think when 10/17 rolls around it's going to be so awesome, but getting there is driving me nuts. I've passed the point of caring about the little details (Do you want the centerpieces to have all roses or have roses and other flowers? Should the cake be round or square? What color shoes should the bridesmaids wear?) SERIOUSLY WHO CARES about this stuff!? Apparently someone, but just not me.

Things are moving along quite nicely, though. We are going to have a freakin' awesome cake, we have really awesome invitations, and in the end, we're gonna be married. Chris got his wedding band yesterday and it made me really excited to see him try it on. Weird, I know, but I get little kicks like that. I have yet to make up my mind on a wedding band, it's one of those things "you have to wear the rest of your life so you'd better like it" type deal, and I'm afraid to make that type of commitment. I made it to Chris because he is so awesome, but picking a ring is harder than that, you know.

2) Moving, and going away for a month.

In hindsight, I would not have scheduled my away rotation for the month before the wedding. That means I'm not around to schedule the "final meetings" with all those "vital" people - the florist, baker, candlestick maker, and the like. Though I don't really care about the specifics, it is important to me that all these people (we are paying ungodly amounts of money to) do their job and do it well. So, I've been trying to cram in all these meetings, in addition to finishing up the marriage-prep stuff at the church (which my opinions on that would be enough to fill another entire post, but suffice it to say that it's useful for some but wastes too much of my precious, precious time), in addition to the rest of my life. Hindsight is 20/20 though, so I gotta get these meetings out of the way then I'm leaving.

I FINALLY got placed for my AHEC in Bardstown. Today. I'm leaving Monday. I had to resort to writing a couple nasty emails to some people, but it got the job done and I know that I have a rotation for next month. ::sigh of relief:: It's going to be fun but also a little stressful. Grandma and Grandpa love to try to make me fat, and although I don't really mind that, I do have to wear a strapless wedding gown 2 weeks after I get back and I'd prefer not to flap my lunchlady arms around while breaking it down on the dance floor.

Oh yes, and I'm moving. Did anyone tell you that Patrick's roommate HAS to have my bedroom (and not the completely empty one upstairs)?? Because no one told me. Now before I leave for Bardstown I have to move all my stuff up the hill (though it's a little hill, it's a hill) to Chris' place. Everything. Must. Go. And after living in the same home for 6 years, I have accumulated a lot of crap. Oh and then take half that stuff and pack it for Bardstown. Sorry if I seem a little bitter, because I am. In addition to just moving my stuff, Chris had to move his bedroom upstairs and we decided to super-clean and paint everything before doing that. So we are going to have a beautiful little green bedroom and a beige study area, with clean carpet, scrubbed linoleum, and a pleasant aroma that reminds you of being squeaky clean. It's really turning out lovely, but has been quite a bit of work.

AND Chris' friend Tyler is getting married on Friday, and naturally we're the photographers, so I have to move my stuff BEFORE Friday because we're spending my last weekend in Indy. Naturally.

3) Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays.

Seriously, too many procreated in January because the September birthdays in my life are out of control! Sabrina, my MOH (in wedding-speak, or "maid of honor" in regular-people language), emailed me to find out what weekends I have available for a bachelorette party. Here's the lineup:
Next weekend: Me - 24 years old on the 6th. Probably a no-go for a party because it's so soon.
Sept 12: Amy (Chris' sister and bridesmaid) turns 20
Sept 19: Chris (Groom, sort of important) turns 27
Sept 26: Grandma (who I will be with in B-town, and who is turning 80 and we're having a huge bash to celebrate - and I am making a cake that's going to be the BOMB, no joke)
Oct 3: Gregory (my brother and groomsman) turns 18
Oct 10: one week before the wedding. No birthdays (thank Goodness!)
Oct 17: WEDDING

With the exception of mine, everyone's birthday is on a Saturday! Really weird, if I do say so myself. And those are only the Saturday birthdays (because there are more, if you can believe it), which is when I need to find time to have a shower (with grown ups) and bachelorette party (with us young'ns)

4) Applications, and What Will I Do With My Life

This is getting down to the wire. I need to decide what to do with my life, and I have no idea. I want to do Medicine. I want to do med-peds. I want to do medicine. What the heck, why can't I decide this? Another one of those Life Decisions that I can't make a good commitment to. But, applications have opened up (and directors can download them 9/1) so I need to get my butt in gear. I may have to apply to both and just go from there. But it would be better to just make a freaking decision.

Trying to write a personal statement has been harder than it should, too. First, I can't say for certain that THIS ONE specialty is the only one for me because, clearly, I am still deciding on what to do with my life and I really don't know for sure. Also, taking multiple choice tests has made it virtually impossible to sit down and write an essay on "Why I will be a good doctor and what I will do with my life" - I mean, I suppose I get decent writing practice with this blog but...let's be real here, I don't usually write essays or even complete my sentences! Plus it's just always hard to write about yourself.


Anyway, to recap: I've been really busy. I'm going to be really busy for a while. I suppose I should try to relish it while I have it, then enjoy the heck out of St. Lucia once we ever get there. Yea, laying on a beach (minus hurricane season) sounds pretty awesome right about now.

cakalicious

In honor of my 99th post, I thought I would post some of these cake pictures I've been promising!

First, some pretty pink garden roses Chris got me after I came back from Step 2 in Atlanta!

(Isn't he the cutest?)


Some yummy vanilla funfetti cupcakes...
(I know it's silly, but funfetti is my favorite flavor!)
I made a little Roessler-Henderson family for Kateri and Karl, then watched them devour their young. Karl's on the left, Kateri on the right - Kateri has a goofy smile because she's about to start her surgery rotation ;)


Here's Sarah's birthday cake - a chocolate-cherry delight!


It said "Happy Birthday, Dr. Sarah!"
Complete with little fondant Sarah (+stethoscope), coconut "grass" and little yellow flowers, and the balloons are actually funfetti cake pops covered with colored white chocolate! So yummy!
I think she liked it. Here's some action photos!

Hooray! Happy Birthday, Sarah!

I know there's still train pictures missing, but I don't know where they went - Chris will have to find them for me! I'm planning a HUGE cake for my gramma's 80th birthday (like...feeding 75-100 people huge)...get ready!

4th year

I just did one of the Jillian Michaels 20-minute workouts and am POOPED (so my brain's not quite working right) but I wanted to say a couple things

1) Weddings aren't really THAT bad... we got some things sorted out (at least to some degree) so there's not as much drama. Seriously, I don't do drama.

2) Being a 4th year is awesome. AWESOME. At least on this rotation. I know things, and I can actually help, and I knew some stuff that none of the residents did! (Thanks, ENT rotation!) sweeeeet!! More to come on this topic later...

3) I like the med-peds folks. A lot. They're well-rounded, friendly, and super smart (The kind of person I want to be!!). I just really don't want to do a 4-year residency of wards wards wards ICU wards (clinic) wards...etc.

4) Going to meet with the new priest for coffee soon... don't really know how I feel about him. Either way I think he's doing our wedding so I'm going to have to get used to him!

Well I'm not sweating all over the place anymore (seriously, if you want a workout, it's called 30-day Shred and it is the hardest and most complete 20-minute workout I've ever done!), so I'd better change clothes. Wish me luck!

the truth about weddings

Apparently, weddings are about the parents of the bride giving her away, and have nothing to do with the actual bride or groom.

Maybe now I can see why we've been having some disagreements.

email bloopers

Christopher Simmons is apparently a popular name. He just got this email:

"Hey Chris
Hope you had a great weekend! I don't know if you have talked to geoff or not recently but my groin is doing much better! I have a doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon but I was wondering when you'll be in so that I can possibly come in wednesday, thursday, or friday. Hope to hear from you soon!
Thanks,
H----"

The funny thing is, Chris doesn't know this person. Neither does he know "geoff." But we're both glad she's doing well. He wrote back:

"Sorry H----, I think you have emailed the wrong Chris on this one. Alas, best of luck with your groin!
Cheers,
Chris"

Advice for a 3rd year

Note: I wrote this note a few weeks ago (back before I went on vacation and deep fried my brain) after reflecting on the past year and all the experiences I've had. It may not be the most well-written piece of information ever, and maybe the advice isn't even that good, but I figured it was worth posting anyway. You don't have to take my advice - you don't even have to read it if you don't want to! :)

This past year has probably been the most fun I've ever had. I've worked hard, played hard, and been successful (so far...match day will be here before we know it!). I hoped to attend "scut monkey day" which is more formerly known as the now-4th years unofficial orientation to 3rd years to give advice, tours, and general guidance and assurance to the class below us. I've been thinking about what advice I have--what I would do over this year if I could. I've made a semi-dorky little list of things I would recommend to anyone starting 3rd year, as well as advice I hope to keep in mind next year and for years to come. It's a little hokey and I feel sort of like I wrote the same thing over and over, but hopefully you get the point.

On studying

• At least for me, getting enough sleep is about equal to a few good hours studying, so don't cram. It's not worth it.
• That being said, coffee is your friend too.
• Know your patients. You will hear that over and over again and it's hard to do at first but read about their conditions and take a thorough H&P if you can even if you don't have to. It's so much better to learn by talking with real people instead of reading it in a book or in a chart. I will never forget my patient who had a thyroidectomy and had post-op hypocalcemia because I got to tap on her face and see Chovstek's sign.
• Talk to other students about books, study materials, tests, and just about everything. It helps to find some people with whom you can share books, notes, and learn about which attendings to avoid. For example, I was recommended this website in the beginning of the year by a study buddy and it’s helped me breeze through most of the surgery quizzes.

On learning in general

• First, and most importantly - learn and do everything possible. This is the only time in your life where you're the VERY BOTTOM of the totem pole. Use that to your advantage and ask the dumb questions, get people to show you the basics as well as the details.
• Help with as many foleys, paracentesis, IV lines, etc as possible. Write prescriptions for your residents to sign. Ask to do these things, because they often forget to ask you if you want to do them. And trust me, it will help you in the future! One little tip for those at the VA: they have some awesome software with "how to" for many procedures and "patient info" packets on almost every subject imaginable. Try to find those because they're aweome.
• Similar to the first two: Practice. Do a physical exam on everybody so you get a sense of what normal is. You may not think you need to, but why not? You may even find a clue that no one else has.
• There will be patients that you don't like. Learn something about yourself from them.
• There will be patients that need you. You, unlike the doctors, can spend time talking to them (or their family) that no one else has time to do. On psych I spoke with one girl's mom almost every day about her fears for her daughter, and I really felt like I made a difference. It's a great feeling - it's the reason we all wanted to become doctors, right?
• As hokey as it sounds, try to make everything a learning opportunity.

On personalities

• You're probably going to be ignored quite often. Try not to take it personally. Everyone is under pressure, especially the interns. If you're irritated because you've been watching them enter orders for an hour, remember that you're not their top priority (they're trying to keep from killing their patients, not trying to make sure you go home early)
• "Is there anything else I can help you with?" is always a valid question and equivalent to "Can I go home?" but in a nice way. Hopefully they will take the hint.
• There are definitely career options you will realize quickly that you are not interested in. Still, learn what you can from them, because even if you would never in a million years do neurology, you may have a patient with MS, or with a history of stroke, and you need to know what they're dealing with.
• Don’t be shy. This is really hard for me but you must go out of your comfort zone and show enthusiasm and interest.
• Spend time with your loved ones, no matter how busy you are. Having a social support group is important for patients but is just as important for you. Without Chris and my parents I don't know where I would be today!

Finally, one of the biggest keys to success is to be on time, act interested, and smile. Smiling not only puts patients at ease, but interns, residents, attendings, and everyone else too. and enjoy it. This is your opportunity to learn - with real people, but no real responsibility. Use it to your advantage. Oh, and HAVE FUN!