...They probably wouldn't be all that original.
However, if I pen (type?) them down, no matter how unoriginal, they might have a way of becoming reality.
I know, I know, it isn't even Christmas yet and I am writing these down. This is what comes of being tired of studying and needing to take a break, all the while knowing that taking a nap would not be the best plan. So, instead, a blog post is formed.
These are not going to be in any particular order (other than how they popped into my head).
1. Run. Work up to running about 20-30 miles per week. This number will be more in the month of June, when Mike and I are signed up to do the Rock n' Roll marathon in Seattle.
2. Play a more active roll in household duties. I admit, my involvement in this area has significantly decreased since medical school started. Yes, I did actually do the statistics and the change is, indeed, significant.
3. The all important, eat more "healthy foods." Now, this one is actually somewhat hard for me (and Mike if he is game) because we don't really eat too much "unhealthy" food. Most of our shopping at the grocery store involves the perimeter of the store. I think that the places I particularly need to work on involve cheese (eating less of it, even though it is on the perimeter of the store), fruit (I need to eat more of this. It has definitely been hard to get all the apples and bananas in that I need with this schedule of mine that doesn't not involve a desk or planned lunches), and decreasing portion sizes (hmmmm, how did that meal for 6 turn into a meal for 2?).
4. Keep involved in my rotations and do the best that I can in them. I have no idea when I might find "that" rotation that determines the rest of my career.
5. Help Mike not be so dependent on coffee/caffeine. This can happen in multiple ways, but of course, Mike has to be game first for this to even go anywhere. I could help by doing more things around the house, trying to get him to drink herbal tea instead of another cup of coffee, and making it so he can sleep more.
6. Spend less freaking money on coffee. True, we spend less now that we have an espresso machine at home, but the spending has not gone down to zero. More like 50%.
7. Try to wean myself off of needed/wanting/obsessing about so much sleep. I LOVE sleep (almost as much as I love cheese) and I feel the need to schedule lots of things around sleep. Example: Go to Grand Rounds or sleep? Sleeping usually wins out.
Please note how only 1 of these is really focused on med school. This apparently means that I have more going on in my life than just med school. :)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Opinions. Thrown at the keyboard.
Where do I start?
For a while, I had been getting frustrated (Mike can back up that statement) with the fact that it felt like "everyone" was complaining about doctors, the education of doctors, and doctors in training.
"Doctors waste valuable healthcare money"
"Doctors only want to pad their pockets. They don't actually care about what is right for the patient."
"Doctors are abuse to those around them. They are just plain rude and think that they own the hospital."
"Doctors don't do any of the hard work anyways. We (the nurses) are the ones that change the bedpans and answer the call buttons."
"Medical students and doctors these days don't care about patients and don't spend the time to listen to them."
"Doctors and medical students aren't even nice to patients."
"I (a patient) always research what I think I have before I go into see the doctor so I know if they are just going to recommend treatment that is more expensive than a cheaper option."
What???
There are two general things that really irk me about all of this. The first is on a more personal level. Is this what people are thinking about me? Am I really that horrible? The second is personal in a different way. Am I just not able to see this attitude in me or those around me? How horrible would it be for me to be training in an area that sometimes banks on "reading" those around you and I can't even understand what my upper levels are thinking?!
I also felt somewhat defensive over this "profession" that I chose. I worked so hard to get where I am at. I work with so many people that are deserving of respect and kindness because they have worked at least as hard as I have. They are here, right beside me, putting up with whatever comes along so we can in turn serve those in this society.
Since writing my two previous posts, I have have two encounters that were somewhat ironic in their timing. The first happened just after my second to last post. I said that I don't really see too many "abusive and destructive" doctors. Well, I still didn't see one, but the doctor I am currently working with told me that he had just thrown a pair of scissors while in the operating room the day before.
And why did he throw them? Because they were the "12th" pair of scissors that weren't sharp. Yes, I understand that not having sharp scissors while operating is really poor form on the part of the hospital, but did he really need to throw them?
The second encounter was today. Grades are a big deal in my line.
Duh.
So, of course, I am gunning for as many honors as possible (so far I have a High Pass and an Honors). Today, somehow the topic of grades came up while I was talking with the doctor who threw the scissors. Apparently, he went to a residency that didn't even look at your application unless you had "honors" in OB/GYN. So, this doctors approach to things is that if you tell him that you are even slightly interested in OB/GYN, he will give you honors (as long as you aren't incompetent). On one hand, this is quite nice for people applying to OB/GYN. It is also nice for people that have followed the "underground" advice of saying that you want to go into whatever field your current rotation is. It sucks, however, for those, like me, that have answered truthfully. When he asked me what I wanted to go into, I said that I didn't know but that OB/GYN was the first rotation that I had tried that was on my list of "possibilities."
Does this mean I will end up with honors or not? I have no freaking clue.
Personally, I would only like to get honors if I KNEW that I EARNED the damn grade. But... It would also be nice to have as many honors as possible for whatever residency I apply to.
(In other news... I will FINALLY be visiting my cousins and family down in Alameda before making my way over to Vegas for New Years! yay!)
For a while, I had been getting frustrated (Mike can back up that statement) with the fact that it felt like "everyone" was complaining about doctors, the education of doctors, and doctors in training.
"Doctors waste valuable healthcare money"
"Doctors only want to pad their pockets. They don't actually care about what is right for the patient."
"Doctors are abuse to those around them. They are just plain rude and think that they own the hospital."
"Doctors don't do any of the hard work anyways. We (the nurses) are the ones that change the bedpans and answer the call buttons."
"Medical students and doctors these days don't care about patients and don't spend the time to listen to them."
"Doctors and medical students aren't even nice to patients."
"I (a patient) always research what I think I have before I go into see the doctor so I know if they are just going to recommend treatment that is more expensive than a cheaper option."
What???
There are two general things that really irk me about all of this. The first is on a more personal level. Is this what people are thinking about me? Am I really that horrible? The second is personal in a different way. Am I just not able to see this attitude in me or those around me? How horrible would it be for me to be training in an area that sometimes banks on "reading" those around you and I can't even understand what my upper levels are thinking?!
I also felt somewhat defensive over this "profession" that I chose. I worked so hard to get where I am at. I work with so many people that are deserving of respect and kindness because they have worked at least as hard as I have. They are here, right beside me, putting up with whatever comes along so we can in turn serve those in this society.
Since writing my two previous posts, I have have two encounters that were somewhat ironic in their timing. The first happened just after my second to last post. I said that I don't really see too many "abusive and destructive" doctors. Well, I still didn't see one, but the doctor I am currently working with told me that he had just thrown a pair of scissors while in the operating room the day before.
And why did he throw them? Because they were the "12th" pair of scissors that weren't sharp. Yes, I understand that not having sharp scissors while operating is really poor form on the part of the hospital, but did he really need to throw them?
The second encounter was today. Grades are a big deal in my line.
Duh.
So, of course, I am gunning for as many honors as possible (so far I have a High Pass and an Honors). Today, somehow the topic of grades came up while I was talking with the doctor who threw the scissors. Apparently, he went to a residency that didn't even look at your application unless you had "honors" in OB/GYN. So, this doctors approach to things is that if you tell him that you are even slightly interested in OB/GYN, he will give you honors (as long as you aren't incompetent). On one hand, this is quite nice for people applying to OB/GYN. It is also nice for people that have followed the "underground" advice of saying that you want to go into whatever field your current rotation is. It sucks, however, for those, like me, that have answered truthfully. When he asked me what I wanted to go into, I said that I didn't know but that OB/GYN was the first rotation that I had tried that was on my list of "possibilities."
Does this mean I will end up with honors or not? I have no freaking clue.
Personally, I would only like to get honors if I KNEW that I EARNED the damn grade. But... It would also be nice to have as many honors as possible for whatever residency I apply to.
(In other news... I will FINALLY be visiting my cousins and family down in Alameda before making my way over to Vegas for New Years! yay!)
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Doctors are Horrible...
... according to most people out there apparently.
I keep finding all of these articles stating experiences with doctors that were less than stellar. I am not sure what is going on here. Many of these people say that "doctors are arrogant, abusive, and disruptive" while another article that I had read earlier says that doctors don't listen to patients at all.
Really?
Come on now.
I have seen doctors be short with patients. I have been on the receiving end of some crap from attendings. I have experienced the "want" to tell patients to "hurry it up" because I want to go home and see Mike and my dogs.
However, I have not seen doctors be so blatantly rude as these people are describing. Yes, I haven't seen everything. That is correct. Can I really have gone this long in this field and not have run into those horrible kinds of doctors? Does this mean that the Pacific Northwest is home to the most awesome and caring doctors?
I just get so frustrated! Why don't people write articles about how awesome these doctors are? It is so disheartening to read all of these things. Why am I putting myself and those around me through this if all of my patients are just going to hate me and think that I am one of the worst people around?
Anyone else want to tell me their thoughts on this?
I keep finding all of these articles stating experiences with doctors that were less than stellar. I am not sure what is going on here. Many of these people say that "doctors are arrogant, abusive, and disruptive" while another article that I had read earlier says that doctors don't listen to patients at all.
Really?
Come on now.
I have seen doctors be short with patients. I have been on the receiving end of some crap from attendings. I have experienced the "want" to tell patients to "hurry it up" because I want to go home and see Mike and my dogs.
However, I have not seen doctors be so blatantly rude as these people are describing. Yes, I haven't seen everything. That is correct. Can I really have gone this long in this field and not have run into those horrible kinds of doctors? Does this mean that the Pacific Northwest is home to the most awesome and caring doctors?
I just get so frustrated! Why don't people write articles about how awesome these doctors are? It is so disheartening to read all of these things. Why am I putting myself and those around me through this if all of my patients are just going to hate me and think that I am one of the worst people around?
Anyone else want to tell me their thoughts on this?
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Life
Life has been interesting recently. I started OB/GYN at the beginning of November, which is actually why I haven't been posting. My life at Swedish doing OB/GYN is pretty busy. My schedule is working from 8:00 am to 5-6:00 pm without a lunch break usually. I am also on call again every 4th night or so.
I am not sure how excited I am about this rotation as well. I really like it when I am there, depending on with whom I am working with. But when I am at home, I am not sure if I like it so much. I like the mix of "medicine" with "surgery." I like that I get to help someone bring another life into the world. The moment that a child is born is amazing. It is kind of an odd experience being an outsider in a situation that is so momentous.
What do I not like about OB/GYN? The lifestyle is pretty rough. That isn't so bad, but that fact combined with the additional fact that the schedule isn't always predictable is what makes this worse. I don't mind being busy, but I like set schedules more than "random" extra time in the surgery suite because there aren't enough other people to assist.
Other than that, I guess I have been doing alright. I am still excited to be doing what I am doing. We are remodeling our bedroom and that is going well.
Other than that, not much is going on...
Kinda boring.
I am not sure how excited I am about this rotation as well. I really like it when I am there, depending on with whom I am working with. But when I am at home, I am not sure if I like it so much. I like the mix of "medicine" with "surgery." I like that I get to help someone bring another life into the world. The moment that a child is born is amazing. It is kind of an odd experience being an outsider in a situation that is so momentous.
What do I not like about OB/GYN? The lifestyle is pretty rough. That isn't so bad, but that fact combined with the additional fact that the schedule isn't always predictable is what makes this worse. I don't mind being busy, but I like set schedules more than "random" extra time in the surgery suite because there aren't enough other people to assist.
Other than that, I guess I have been doing alright. I am still excited to be doing what I am doing. We are remodeling our bedroom and that is going well.
Other than that, not much is going on...
Kinda boring.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Life out here
So... I love Montana. Did I mention that before? I haven't been this excited about a "place" in a long time. I am seriously asking Mike to think about this place as a possible place to call home in 5-6 years after I finish residency. Of course, a lot could change in that 5-6 years.
My rotation is going well. I am in the middle of my 3rd week of this 6 week rotation. I am getting a lot of suture time in! :) It is pretty cool.
I am getting more and more nervous about choosing a specialty. A lot of doctors say that I don't need to know yet, which is true... I just need to know by March-ish. Below are the many things that have crossed my mind:
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Pediatric Cardiology
Cardiology
Orthopedic Surgery
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
OB/GYN
Family Medicine (ONLY if in a small area like Whitefish, big city Family Medicine is stupid)
These aren't really in any specific order. The sad thing about all of this is that I have only done my Internal Medicine and part of the Family Medicine rotations. I won't even see Cardiology and Ortho until after I need to figure out what I am doing. The other thing to think about here is that these specialties are all over the map in terms of competitiveness. I would say that Peds is the "easiest" and Orthopedic Surgery is the hardest (and by hardest I mean that my Step 1 score may not be high enough for me to really feel comfy with my chances). Right now, in terms of lifestyle and specialty, Orthopedic Surgery would be my number one choice. The call schedule isn't too challenging (docs here take call by the week instead of day) and the pay-scale is pretty nice as well. I really want to be able to have a family and support the family well (not that I am discounting anything that Mike will be doing) without having to worry about missing a trillion dance recitals or soccer games.
I am just not sure what to do.
My rotation is going well. I am in the middle of my 3rd week of this 6 week rotation. I am getting a lot of suture time in! :) It is pretty cool.
I am getting more and more nervous about choosing a specialty. A lot of doctors say that I don't need to know yet, which is true... I just need to know by March-ish. Below are the many things that have crossed my mind:
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Pediatric Cardiology
Cardiology
Orthopedic Surgery
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
OB/GYN
Family Medicine (ONLY if in a small area like Whitefish, big city Family Medicine is stupid)
These aren't really in any specific order. The sad thing about all of this is that I have only done my Internal Medicine and part of the Family Medicine rotations. I won't even see Cardiology and Ortho until after I need to figure out what I am doing. The other thing to think about here is that these specialties are all over the map in terms of competitiveness. I would say that Peds is the "easiest" and Orthopedic Surgery is the hardest (and by hardest I mean that my Step 1 score may not be high enough for me to really feel comfy with my chances). Right now, in terms of lifestyle and specialty, Orthopedic Surgery would be my number one choice. The call schedule isn't too challenging (docs here take call by the week instead of day) and the pay-scale is pretty nice as well. I really want to be able to have a family and support the family well (not that I am discounting anything that Mike will be doing) without having to worry about missing a trillion dance recitals or soccer games.
I am just not sure what to do.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Whitefish, MT
Below is the link to my flickr account with photos of Whitefish. There aren't that many, but I think they are fun! :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j1h03hna/sets/72157607910483786/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j1h03hna/sets/72157607910483786/
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