You know, you'd think that a lot of excess free time would mean my productivity would skyrocket. Well, you obviously don't know me very well.
First, let's discuss productivity. I have been incredibly productive in my reading. It's just that my reading has more to do with the fictional lives of Londoners or Mississippians than the anti-natriuretic properties of aldosterone. But I'm settling into this semester, developing a rhythm for school work vs. other stuff, so I'm staying on track. It helps that only one class is very challenging at the moment. I'm sure it won't last.
This past Saturday I volunteered for the first time at the Jackson Free Clinic. It was so fun to do some hands-on clinical work and see the effect it has on people. The clinic does great things with limited resources. The most interesting part is that it is completely student-run! My adorable friend Savannah just got a position on the board, and it's a great way to make a difference while doing something for which you have a passion. And it was really fun to see classmates that had been there before "doctoring" on people. I definitely will be going back.
On Sunday I went to the Salvation Army Souper Bowl with precious Angela (she wrote about it on her blog, here). So I was feeling very charitable, thinking, "Man, I would be an awesome Trophy Wife Philanthropist." Then I realized that wasn't the best attitude, and my big head shrunk quite a bit. So now everything is back to normal.
In other news, I am the new face of Lancome cosmetics. Lancome just doesn't know about it.
Also, I bought some of that light yogurt in those dessert-y flavors they advertise as replacement for cake, and, as it turns out, it still tastes like yogurt. Boston Cream Pie is far superior to Boston Cream Pie-flavored yogurt, in case you were wondering. Just like butter is way better than margarine (Charitable trophy wife material and able to make a Mitch Hedberg reference? Jump back!).
I discovered Monday night that if I wash my hands with the fancy soap by the sink in my bathroom, then try to run my fingers through damp hair washed with this super-cleaning shampoo that I use once a week, the combination develops into this tacky, gluey substance on my hands that is somewhere south of awesome. That was a fun time.
At school we have started down the slippery slope that leads to the reproductive system. Yesterday in histology we went over the male, and I really needed my male professor to stop using the word "we" because it was weirding me out. Fortunately a different professor that doesn't make me uncomfortable will go over female next week. I have heard that when it comes time for reproduction in physiology next month there will be lots of giggles. So at least I have that to look forward to.
This afternoon another round of White Death is supposed to fall on us from the sky. Last time, the sleet starting falling in earnest just as we were leaving school, and my feet lost most of their feeling by the time I got to my car because I had chosen cute shoes over practical shoes. But I'm inside now, safe from the coming Storm o' Doom. I hope you are too!
Cheers
Erin
P.S. I've decided that I'm going to start saying, "Cheers." I would really appreciate your support.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
porcine morality
Of late, UMMC has been at the center of certain ethical controversy. A physicians' group has filed a complaint about the university's treatment of pigs in a lab for medical students. The day the article was on clarionledger.com was the day before I was supposed to do said lab. Now having done it, let me just say, IT WAS AWESOME.
On the day of, I was freaking out. I have a tendency to get light-headed around certain medical procedures, usually weird things. I thought I was partly over it, since I was fine all last semester, but some friends were talking about drawing each others' blood for practice at the Jackson Free Clinic last weekend, and somewhere between "she didn't stabilize her hand" and "I thought the needle would poke back through the skin," I had to leave the room. So it wasn't looking good for the pig lab. All day long, I went through waves of panic and self-encouragement. I prayed quite a bit.
Right beforehand, I'm getting calmer as the physiologist that ran my side of the room was explaining what would go down. Then we walk in and the barn-like smell wasn't as intense as I was expecting, but my legs were feeling a little like Jell-O. The first cut on the pig, and I have to look away. The room only spun a little, though, and I recovered quickly, but I'm thinking to myself, "This is not good. This is just the beginning."
But once I came back, I was fine for the rest of the lab. I'm pretty sure it was the praying. My apprehension went away completely, and I'm pretty sure nervousness was the only reason I got dizzy in the first place. From then on, the lab was just really interesting. I got to feel life under my hands! A beating heart, breathing lungs - these cannot be replaced by a simulator; lungs are really mushy. Also, I prefer that my first go-round with a defibrillator and heart massage be on a pig rather than a person. That's all I have to say about the legal issue.
The best thing to come from this lab is the fact that I'm no longer concerned about surgery rotations in my 3rd and 4th years. Now I know I'll be fine. God is good.
In other news, our school days have been considerably shortened without dear old gross lab. Today, I only went from 10-12, so I intend to buy some curtains this afternoon before settling in to study.
Before I go measure my windows, I would like to share this week's handy-dandy tip.
If you knock out a tooth (or your child, because they lead with their faces), pick up the tooth, rinse it off with water (do NOT brush it), and shove it back in. Then get to a dentist. If you don't get the tooth in within an hour, the connection between tooth and gum starts to break down, so it won't heal as strongly.
Happy Monday!
Erin
On the day of, I was freaking out. I have a tendency to get light-headed around certain medical procedures, usually weird things. I thought I was partly over it, since I was fine all last semester, but some friends were talking about drawing each others' blood for practice at the Jackson Free Clinic last weekend, and somewhere between "she didn't stabilize her hand" and "I thought the needle would poke back through the skin," I had to leave the room. So it wasn't looking good for the pig lab. All day long, I went through waves of panic and self-encouragement. I prayed quite a bit.
Right beforehand, I'm getting calmer as the physiologist that ran my side of the room was explaining what would go down. Then we walk in and the barn-like smell wasn't as intense as I was expecting, but my legs were feeling a little like Jell-O. The first cut on the pig, and I have to look away. The room only spun a little, though, and I recovered quickly, but I'm thinking to myself, "This is not good. This is just the beginning."
But once I came back, I was fine for the rest of the lab. I'm pretty sure it was the praying. My apprehension went away completely, and I'm pretty sure nervousness was the only reason I got dizzy in the first place. From then on, the lab was just really interesting. I got to feel life under my hands! A beating heart, breathing lungs - these cannot be replaced by a simulator; lungs are really mushy. Also, I prefer that my first go-round with a defibrillator and heart massage be on a pig rather than a person. That's all I have to say about the legal issue.
The best thing to come from this lab is the fact that I'm no longer concerned about surgery rotations in my 3rd and 4th years. Now I know I'll be fine. God is good.
In other news, our school days have been considerably shortened without dear old gross lab. Today, I only went from 10-12, so I intend to buy some curtains this afternoon before settling in to study.
Before I go measure my windows, I would like to share this week's handy-dandy tip.
If you knock out a tooth (or your child, because they lead with their faces), pick up the tooth, rinse it off with water (do NOT brush it), and shove it back in. Then get to a dentist. If you don't get the tooth in within an hour, the connection between tooth and gum starts to break down, so it won't heal as strongly.
Happy Monday!
Erin
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
knowing things
Knowing things is my favorite. And now, if you bring me your EKG, I should be able to tell you what's going on. That's right. I know stuff. Or, at least, I should.
This weekend I did not study very much, but instead chose to hang out with Mama at home. There were cookies involved. I did get to go to my first basketball game of the season, and since Auburn is not very good, it was a good one. I got to see State friends too, which is always a plus.
In Dr. Manning vacation news, we did not go to Utah. I was looking forward to Utah. I've never been to Utah. But in the next lecture, he had skipped a few pictures. We went to Japan and Hawaii that day. They were quite beautiful, but I still want to know what Utah looks like. Now I'll never know. We currently have a different lecturer in phys, but Manning comes back on Friday, so maybe I'll get to see Utah then. I can only hope.
Tomorrow starts Biostatistics. I do not know what that means. I only know it's at 8:00 in the morning, so I'd better go if I'm going to Zumba, shower, and go to sleep by 10. Ciao, bella gente
This weekend I did not study very much, but instead chose to hang out with Mama at home. There were cookies involved. I did get to go to my first basketball game of the season, and since Auburn is not very good, it was a good one. I got to see State friends too, which is always a plus.
In Dr. Manning vacation news, we did not go to Utah. I was looking forward to Utah. I've never been to Utah. But in the next lecture, he had skipped a few pictures. We went to Japan and Hawaii that day. They were quite beautiful, but I still want to know what Utah looks like. Now I'll never know. We currently have a different lecturer in phys, but Manning comes back on Friday, so maybe I'll get to see Utah then. I can only hope.
Tomorrow starts Biostatistics. I do not know what that means. I only know it's at 8:00 in the morning, so I'd better go if I'm going to Zumba, shower, and go to sleep by 10. Ciao, bella gente
Thursday, January 13, 2011
i'm alive, i promise
You would think that with two weeks off from school and an extra day for the Ice Apocalypse that I would have updated you, but there really wasn't much to say. I went home, slept, watched TV,read normal books, spent a couple days at the cabin, slept, watched TV, read more books, saw friends when State went back to school. Neither super-eventful nor super-productive, but wonderful. Friends, family, food, reading, sleep...these are the things I needed. I had a great Christmas with fun presents, as always, and I hope you did too. But we now return you to our regularly-scheduled programming.
Physiology is the name of the game now, which is wonderful. It's an engineering class! There are graphs and charts and vectors, things that are comfortingly familiar. We're studying the heart and cardiovascular system right now, topics I learned under Dr. Cathcart in bioengineering. If I saw him in the near future and it were socially acceptable, I would kiss that man. The only reason my brain isn't already on overload is his teaching. It helps that I really like the subject, but I think that's thanks to him as well. Plus, our current teacher, Dr. Manning, is precious. He takes 1-2 minute breaks in the middle of each lecture to show pictures from his vacations so we can rest our brains. And today we went along the Columbia River gorge, down which our family drove during our trip to Oregon when I was in high school. He showed a picture of the bridge over Multnomah Falls and I got really excited because I've been on that bridge!
Unfortunately, these trips through Wyoming, British Columbia, Washington, Nevada, etc., make me extremely jealous. But tomorrow we're venturing through Utah, so I'm looking forward to that.
Have I told you about my Spanish class? There is a group called La Sociedad de Español Médico (Medical Spanish Society), and of course I was all over that. I joined the advanced class since I have a Spanish minor from State, and it has been so fun. We had several meetings last semester, and last night we met to review the things we learned. Basically, we've gone over how to interview a patient. Not having known how to do this in English, I've learned way more than just Spanish so far. I feel like I now have a pretty good grip on what to ask of a patient in both languages now, so hopefully I will be more comfortable with that M3 year. The club recently received a grant to turn it into an actual class, including an opportunity to do a rotation in a Spanish-speaking country, which is really exciting.
In other news, I've apparently lost all ability to keep food upright. Monday, my Diet Dr. Pepper flew right off my tray onto the cafeteria floor, spilling on both tray and floor, and generally causing problems. The food remained untainted, however, unlike today. Today, we were trying to fit too many people around the table, and my tray was hanging dangerously far over the edge. Soon thereafter, said tray flipped over said edge onto ME. There was gravy involved. And more DDP (that's what we call Diet Dr. Pepper on the street). Fortunately I had on a cardigan-type garment that I used to cover up this little mishap. I hope I haven't developed some sort of nervous condition. Maybe that will be a symptom when we get to psychiatry. "Dangerous around food. Do not let patient use cafeteria trays." Maybe next week will be better. Incidentally, that's how I view all symptoms of any illness I have. I go all Scarlett with my, "I won't think about that today. I'll think about it tomorrow."
I just realized I've missed fifteen minutes of Friends! It's a miracle I can watch it on my $5 cable, so I try to take every opportunity so they don't take it away from me. Until next time,
Erin
Physiology is the name of the game now, which is wonderful. It's an engineering class! There are graphs and charts and vectors, things that are comfortingly familiar. We're studying the heart and cardiovascular system right now, topics I learned under Dr. Cathcart in bioengineering. If I saw him in the near future and it were socially acceptable, I would kiss that man. The only reason my brain isn't already on overload is his teaching. It helps that I really like the subject, but I think that's thanks to him as well. Plus, our current teacher, Dr. Manning, is precious. He takes 1-2 minute breaks in the middle of each lecture to show pictures from his vacations so we can rest our brains. And today we went along the Columbia River gorge, down which our family drove during our trip to Oregon when I was in high school. He showed a picture of the bridge over Multnomah Falls and I got really excited because I've been on that bridge!
Photo: multnomahfallslodge.com
Unfortunately, these trips through Wyoming, British Columbia, Washington, Nevada, etc., make me extremely jealous. But tomorrow we're venturing through Utah, so I'm looking forward to that.
Have I told you about my Spanish class? There is a group called La Sociedad de Español Médico (Medical Spanish Society), and of course I was all over that. I joined the advanced class since I have a Spanish minor from State, and it has been so fun. We had several meetings last semester, and last night we met to review the things we learned. Basically, we've gone over how to interview a patient. Not having known how to do this in English, I've learned way more than just Spanish so far. I feel like I now have a pretty good grip on what to ask of a patient in both languages now, so hopefully I will be more comfortable with that M3 year. The club recently received a grant to turn it into an actual class, including an opportunity to do a rotation in a Spanish-speaking country, which is really exciting.
In other news, I've apparently lost all ability to keep food upright. Monday, my Diet Dr. Pepper flew right off my tray onto the cafeteria floor, spilling on both tray and floor, and generally causing problems. The food remained untainted, however, unlike today. Today, we were trying to fit too many people around the table, and my tray was hanging dangerously far over the edge. Soon thereafter, said tray flipped over said edge onto ME. There was gravy involved. And more DDP (that's what we call Diet Dr. Pepper on the street). Fortunately I had on a cardigan-type garment that I used to cover up this little mishap. I hope I haven't developed some sort of nervous condition. Maybe that will be a symptom when we get to psychiatry. "Dangerous around food. Do not let patient use cafeteria trays." Maybe next week will be better. Incidentally, that's how I view all symptoms of any illness I have. I go all Scarlett with my, "I won't think about that today. I'll think about it tomorrow."
I just realized I've missed fifteen minutes of Friends! It's a miracle I can watch it on my $5 cable, so I try to take every opportunity so they don't take it away from me. Until next time,
Erin
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
has it really been that long?
Gracious, I did not mean to go two weeks without telling you anything! It's been lots of studying for me lately, so I haven't been thinking about blogging. So sorry.
It is the beginning of the end. Since Thanksgiving, I have taken two tests. That is, two out of TEN. Yes, ten. 10. Diez. Dix. Dieci. But, we're getting there. Histology will be over for the semester as of Friday afternoon, so that's exciting. Oh, and I did my final dissection in gross lab! I only have to take the practical, then I will never have to go in that smelly place again. I threw away some scrubs the other day, just because I could. It was quite liberating.
This past Saturday my friends that I study with and I went to the Claus Ball, which is a cocktail party for the whole med center. We counted 15 M1's there, including us, which means only 122 of our classmates were at home studying instead...
Unfortunately I will be studying for the next two weeks, so I may not be able to write much in the near future. But when biochemistry and gross anatomy are over, it will all be worth it. Until then,
Erin
It is the beginning of the end. Since Thanksgiving, I have taken two tests. That is, two out of TEN. Yes, ten. 10. Diez. Dix. Dieci. But, we're getting there. Histology will be over for the semester as of Friday afternoon, so that's exciting. Oh, and I did my final dissection in gross lab! I only have to take the practical, then I will never have to go in that smelly place again. I threw away some scrubs the other day, just because I could. It was quite liberating.
This past Saturday my friends that I study with and I went to the Claus Ball, which is a cocktail party for the whole med center. We counted 15 M1's there, including us, which means only 122 of our classmates were at home studying instead...
Unfortunately I will be studying for the next two weeks, so I may not be able to write much in the near future. But when biochemistry and gross anatomy are over, it will all be worth it. Until then,
Erin
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
deep breath, everybody
Okay. So. Here's what's been happening:
1. Lots of tests. Lots of studying. More tests. More studying.
2. Last test. Gross lab. Home.
3. Cookie dough. Memoirs of a Geisha. Lots of deep breathing.
4. Shopping.
5. No studying.
6. Panic because I haven't been studying and don't know anything about anything.
7. Furious studying for about a day.
8. Mental shutdown. Hummus. Cookie dough.
9. Thanksgiving!!
After a few weeks of what seemed like interminable studying/test cycles, we finally got a break. I have thus far used this break to restore my mental capacity, panic about school, and lose mental capacity all over again. Now I have reached that dangerous place where all I can think about is going home for Thanksgiving and taking lots of naps.
1. Lots of tests. Lots of studying. More tests. More studying.
2. Last test. Gross lab. Home.
3. Cookie dough. Memoirs of a Geisha. Lots of deep breathing.
4. Shopping.
5. No studying.
6. Panic because I haven't been studying and don't know anything about anything.
7. Furious studying for about a day.
8. Mental shutdown. Hummus. Cookie dough.
9. Thanksgiving!!
After a few weeks of what seemed like interminable studying/test cycles, we finally got a break. I have thus far used this break to restore my mental capacity, panic about school, and lose mental capacity all over again. Now I have reached that dangerous place where all I can think about is going home for Thanksgiving and taking lots of naps.
Lately we've been studying hematology in our physiology class, which I find incredibly interesting. First of all, physiology is just awesome. It's biological engineering in practice! I see graphs and equations and it makes me happy (and hearing the panicked whimpers of my biochemistry-major classmates makes me giggle a little). But secondly, hematology (the study of blood) is quite fascinating. I guess this is a good sign, because if I do an oncology fellowship in the future (many, many years in the future), it will most likely be a combined hematology/oncology fellowship. Plus, the new professor is a BE grad from State, so of course he is the best around. That's just how we roll.
Tomorrow I'm going home for Thanksgiving. Here's what I predict will happen: studying gross, studying biochem, reading Vogue, eating turkey and other deliciousness, taking naps, playing with a skull, hanging with the family, and more naps. Except for the studying, which will probably be minimal anyway, it's going to be a good week.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
toobusyforspaces
So, it's been a hectic couple weeks. I shouldn't even be typing this right now. I should be studying oxidative phosphorylation and all other types of biochemical pathways. But, it's been a long time, and I don't want anyone to think I've died or been maimed or something.
On Monday we had four tests again: a light histology test, developmental anatomy, and gross written and practicals. All the grades are in, and it was a complete victory! Getting a 100 on that histo test was the best reward for a week of studying, even if that particular test only counted for about 4% of my grade in a class worth not much more than that of my whole year. I take what I can get. That, combined with B's on developmental and gross written and an A on gross practical, equals a win.
Coming up on Monday are some biggies. Biochemistry and physiology, together covering about 30 lectures (more than a college midterm). If I can survive until Tuesday, I'll be home free. I'll have time to do things like shop for groceries, buy a dining room table, and maybe even spend time with friends that doesn't involve lying on the floor dramatically like on "Grey's Anatomy" because you think you're going to fail and don't know anything I'm talking to you Savannah.
Here are some things that have happened recently:
I got a skull to study now that we've moved on to head and neck in gross. It would cost me $3900 to replace should anything happen to it. Ken the lab master said that if I didn't have the money, they would replace it with mine. I said he could have it.
Our current physiology professor said, "To be a sword swallower, you have to have a strong desire to make a living without being productive." So true, so true.
I found a new appreciation for Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I bought some t-shirts celebrating Movember, my new favorite time of the year. If you're unfamiliar, apparently November is the month for men to grow a mustache in support of men's health awareness. This has brought so much joy to my life. Watching my classmates grow mustaches is hilarious and a little surreal, because it suddenly feels like I'm at school in the 1910s. Some of them look more mature, like I should take them seriously, and others look more like creepers. So far none of them look like Tom Selleck, though, which is a shame, a dang shame. I genuinely enjoy the 'staches, though. They make me happy. Plus, they're raising money for prostate cancer research, which is awesome (and the M1's are kicking tail, which is even more awesome). I'm hoping they all look like this:
A girl can dream...
On a completely unrelated note, today was one of my favorite days in med school so far. This afternoon I went on a visit to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU, pronounced "knee-cue"). It was awesome. A) We got to scrub in, which made me feel like a real doctor; B) I hadn't forgotten everything the geneticist had taught us and was able to have an intelligent conversation with the man; and C) the babies are super-duper, make-your-ovaries-hurt cute. Between this afternoon and hearing a family physician speak earlier today about his work in Honduras and during Katrina, I had a day full of reminders about why I'm doing this to myself. I got to talk to a couple M3s about life on the other side, and I was overwhelmed with how blessed I am to be able to do what I'm doing. Sometimes you just need a little perspective.
I promise I will blog again sooner, but it will probably be next week because I'll be living at the classroom wing with my study buddies, and the UMMC wireless won't let me use blogger. I hate being held down by the man.
Until then, peace, love, and prostates. Happy Movember, everybody.
On Monday we had four tests again: a light histology test, developmental anatomy, and gross written and practicals. All the grades are in, and it was a complete victory! Getting a 100 on that histo test was the best reward for a week of studying, even if that particular test only counted for about 4% of my grade in a class worth not much more than that of my whole year. I take what I can get. That, combined with B's on developmental and gross written and an A on gross practical, equals a win.
Coming up on Monday are some biggies. Biochemistry and physiology, together covering about 30 lectures (more than a college midterm). If I can survive until Tuesday, I'll be home free. I'll have time to do things like shop for groceries, buy a dining room table, and maybe even spend time with friends that doesn't involve lying on the floor dramatically like on "Grey's Anatomy" because you think you're going to fail and don't know anything I'm talking to you Savannah.
Here are some things that have happened recently:
I got a skull to study now that we've moved on to head and neck in gross. It would cost me $3900 to replace should anything happen to it. Ken the lab master said that if I didn't have the money, they would replace it with mine. I said he could have it.
Our current physiology professor said, "To be a sword swallower, you have to have a strong desire to make a living without being productive." So true, so true.
I found a new appreciation for Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I bought some t-shirts celebrating Movember, my new favorite time of the year. If you're unfamiliar, apparently November is the month for men to grow a mustache in support of men's health awareness. This has brought so much joy to my life. Watching my classmates grow mustaches is hilarious and a little surreal, because it suddenly feels like I'm at school in the 1910s. Some of them look more mature, like I should take them seriously, and others look more like creepers. So far none of them look like Tom Selleck, though, which is a shame, a dang shame. I genuinely enjoy the 'staches, though. They make me happy. Plus, they're raising money for prostate cancer research, which is awesome (and the M1's are kicking tail, which is even more awesome). I'm hoping they all look like this:
On a completely unrelated note, today was one of my favorite days in med school so far. This afternoon I went on a visit to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU, pronounced "knee-cue"). It was awesome. A) We got to scrub in, which made me feel like a real doctor; B) I hadn't forgotten everything the geneticist had taught us and was able to have an intelligent conversation with the man; and C) the babies are super-duper, make-your-ovaries-hurt cute. Between this afternoon and hearing a family physician speak earlier today about his work in Honduras and during Katrina, I had a day full of reminders about why I'm doing this to myself. I got to talk to a couple M3s about life on the other side, and I was overwhelmed with how blessed I am to be able to do what I'm doing. Sometimes you just need a little perspective.
I promise I will blog again sooner, but it will probably be next week because I'll be living at the classroom wing with my study buddies, and the UMMC wireless won't let me use blogger. I hate being held down by the man.
Until then, peace, love, and prostates. Happy Movember, everybody.
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