Planning Ahead

The end of medicine. Ahhhhh. Granted, it was better than surgery, but a 12 week rotation is just not cool. My attention span is definitely not long enough for that. Plus, it leaves me utterly exhausted. Next year's M3's will have a better time. They will only get 8 weeks of medicine and surgery, then 6 weeks of electives. But I guess the good thing is that if all goes according to plan I'll be an M4!!!! Tomorrow is senior planning day and I.CAN'T.WAIT. I've officially decided to not to an away rotation and will try to get the 4th year over with as soon as possible. It's not a residency strategy, just more of a I-need-to-move-out-of-the-house-asap-in-order-to-preserve-any-sanity-I-have-left. I want to take the least painful rotations and get the required stuff done. That's the one downside of picking pathology: all of the M4 courses are electives. But I'll manage, it'll be awesome. I'm so excited about tomorrow. Mainly because I don't have clinical duties and get to see some of my friends that have been on opposite rotations.

Oh, and may I mention that i'm PUMPED about my ob/gyn group? I think the only thing that could make it better if my medicine partner was in Group 5 as well. But I've got HemeOnc Doc and Speed Demon on my team. Bomb-diggity. We start on REI which I heard is super easy. I'll be interested to see the rotation schedule I get, esp. when I have L&D nights. But I don't have much going on in march so it'll be more for my own info than anything else. I hope I get to see some wicked tumors. And if I get to TOUCH a teratoma, omg I may just pee myself!

The thing that got under my skin the most was the whole "you should REALLY consider medicine" statements. I know it's odd for someone to be so decided on something so early in 3rd year, but honestly I'm a person that knows what I like and knows what I want. So as flattering as it SHOULD be, I just get defensive and put off. I like the basic science behind diseases. I like the disease states. I don't like treatment plans. Or what study should I order. Or what complication will I need to look out for with this medication. Just not my cup of tea. I'm so pumped that people want to do that. but not me. I don't think anyone will try to get me on Ob/Gyn or Peds. They'll be like "go away". haha.

But all in all, I enjoyed medicine okay. I think if I didn't like path, I could do medicine. It would be a job, and not something I LOVED. But I could do it.

well, since I have been on Q4 call, have had no social life, and my love life is drier than the Mohave desert, I think that's all I have to talk about. I've started wading my way through USMLE world qbank and hopefully will get some good study time during L&D.My Step 2 CK date is June 24 so I'll have to get some serious knowledge into my head!

Ok, I'll Say It...Who dat.

So I watched the superbowl, and all I have to say is that I wish I could have seen my brother's face when the Saints won the 44th superbowl. He has been a Saints fan all his life and I know he must have been so excited. Although the fact that the Saints made it to the superbowl and WON makes me a little leery of the apocalypse.

I was however very disappointed by the superbowl commercials. I think budgets must really have been that bad this year. I think the winner will be Doritos. My favorite is the guy telling the dog he has to speak for a dorito, and the dog goes up behind the man, puts on the shock collar, barks so the guy gets shocked, and then gets the whole bag for himself. I really laughed at that one. And Bud Light had just...confusing ones. I just didn't get them. And the google one was full out cheesy and sappy.

I have a little under 3 weeks until I finish my internal medicine rotation and I.AM.PUMPED. It really does not float my boat as a medical specialty. I however LOVE my team (well, the scutting  isn't my favorite, but the intern who does it is really nice so I'll just look over that part). The M4's are hilarious and my partner makes my day. Even though I don't think she knows how to take me half the time, I've really enjoyed working with her and she puts up with my little temper tantrums throughout the day.

So tomorrow will be my first day off since starting my rotation on the first. I need it like woah, but unfortunately it also comes with a test. Alas. Also, I'm starting to really think about 4th year schedules and away rotations. I'm still wavering, but I'm leaning toward not going on any away rotations merely for the fact that trying to plan one gives me a migraine.

Well, on that note I'm going to procrastinate and then go to Saigon for some pho!

Spare Me

*Begin Rant*
Before I came to medical school, I spent 32 hours shadowing at UMC. At the end of those 32 hours, I realized 3 things: 1. cardiology is for the birds 2. Ob/Gyn seemed like fun 3. I LOVE AUTOPSIES

After I was accepted into medical school and started my first two years of the perpetual hot dog eating contest for the brain, I figured out 3 things: 1. neuroanatomy is used in hell as torture 2. I hate pharmacology 3. I LOVE PATHOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY

Then I started my 3rd year. So far I have endured surgery, family medicine, psychiatry, internal medicine, neurology. I learned 3 things: 1. crazy people are only fun while they are crazy 2. patients make me feel awkward and uncomfortable ESPECIALLY if they are crying 3. I like diagnosing and learning disease processes, but I don't do treatments, treatment plans, and medication bingo.

I've banked a good amount of shadow time in the path dept using my own time. Yes people, when I have a day off I go RUNNING to the gross room and spend ALL.DAY. there. With a smile on my face. ALL.DAY. I love it there. So no, no I don't want you to tell me I'm "wasting great interpersonal skills" or that I'm "too upbeat to be a pathologist" or that I'd "have a very promising career in ::insert specialty here::".

Let me clue you in on 3 things:
1. Interpersonal skill is needed in a pathologist because I will be telling YOU what the biopsy showed. I kinda need good skills to get the message across. Also, I want to stay in academics so me wanting to teach future doctors kinda requires me to have good interpersonal skills. Don't you think?
2. I know I would have a promising career in ::whatever the hell you envision for me::. I'm in medical school. I'm smart enough to get here, pass the first two years, get through Step 1, and then spend my time doing scut work for various specialties. I know I'll have a promising career in ANYTHING I choose to go into. It just happens to be pathology.
3. Yes, I'm a happy person (most of the time). That doesn't mean I need to do medicine, or peds, or ob, or whatever. Pathologists are happy people too. We're even ::gasp:: social! You know, we have to interact with other pathologists, the secretaries, the techs and EVEN OTHER DOCTORS.

So, yes. Interpersonal skills, broad knowledge base, and personality are all important qualities of your neighborhood pathologist. As is for an internal medicine doc, a pediatrician, or whatever you may be.

So spare me. I don't need your opinions, suggestions, or thoughts on the matter.

*End Rant*

I Mean, Really?

I saw this today and thought I should share.

On my out of the med mall today, I saw one of the ancient neurology attendings in his car (I'll give you guys a hint: (during morning sign ins for neuro) "YOU!" (pointing at random student to answer a question that most of the residents already established a stoned deer-in-the-headlights look as soon as it was asked)

Anywhoo, the license plate on this neurologist's said "NEURON"

I mean, really? that's like my car's license plate saying "CANCER"

All of this ridiculousness is starting to wear on me.

Rue!

So I'm on general medicine ambulatory. I guess it could be worse. Bestest thing: 3 day weekends. Oh yes, I said THREE DAY MOTHER &%#@!ING WEEKEND!

Fellow 3rd years will know why I'm so excited. But don't worry, I'll be paying my dues soon on VA medicine wards.

So, my epic blog post will not be so epic basically because what would be epic isn't happening anymore. Basically, I mentioned to my dad I was planning on getting a dog, he got mad and started being all "MY HOUSE" and "NO DOGS IN MY HOUSE" and blah which made me mad. I'm 25 and I don't need no house rules. Well, I planned on moving out but after about a week of my mom crying I decided to compromise with her. I'll be getting done with my 4th year as quickly as possible, which means an April finish. So as SOON as I am done (I'm talking May 1st), I'll be going to whatever town holds the institution that I match at and I move. I'll fly back for graduation, but I'm OUT. DONE. Plus, she forks up the money for any kind of dog I want. She agreed. So I guess I'll be stuck here for another year. But I get to move out earlier than intended (may instead of late june). So my advice for anyone intending on moving in with parents: Don't. Looking back it would have been worth all the loans. It was just once I was in i could never get back out. Ugh. Live and learn.

So I'm super pumped about doing next year schedules. I'm planning on doing a July path month (even though Momma Medschool advised against it) because I want to do an away rotation. I'm very nervous about getting it at the place I want, so I'm trying to leave as much open months as I can. So that'll leave Aug, Sept for away before interviews. I'm thinking of an Oct internal medicine month, but a lot of programs I'm looking into do late Oct interviews. So maybe I'll talk to ColorectalSurgeon to be and see if she wants to do the medicine rotation in feb. I'm just hoping I get the rotations when I want. I'm not looking into doing too many freebie classes (granted, 2 Path months + 1 away rotation=1 elective left) but maybe the computers in medicine or something either Nov or Jan so I'll still be free to do interviews. I don't know, I'll have to play with that. And then probably scramble to finish up a bunch of requirements before April.

Speaking of Medicine, I'm totally pumped about my VA ward. I'll have a super awesome partner (who apparently I'll have to be fighting for a path spot.) and an awesome M4 (FABULOUS) and I heard our intern is great and our attending is awesome. So i'm excited! maybe i'll FINALLY have a good medicine experience. Or get out before 6 pm every day.

So one good story that I've recently collected: I was doing clinic and I walk into a patient's room. Both her and her friend/cousin/sister were in the room, BOTH on their cell phones. So I was like "hi mrs. so and so. I'm going to talk to you before the doctor gets in, is that ok?" She looks at me then turns her attention back to her conversation and says "yeah, so how you been?". okay... So I go back out and talk to the doctor. Basically said both of them were on the phone and I was not comfortable telling his clinic patient to hang it up. So he said he'd take care of it. I heard him walk into the room and say "OKAY! PUT THE CELLPHONES AWAY!"

As bon qui qui would say: Rue! (rude. haha)

Told You So

So I just finished up my Neurology course. I survived. I guess it wasn't THAT bad, once I got used to the drastic change in the game plan. I think that stressed me out more than it pissed me off. I am going to miss my residents so much. I think Chaka Khan has been one of the best residents I've encountered. I plan on writing him a letter for his file so others can know how awesome he was. I did learn a good bit and got a great second round of learning-things-I-didn't-learn-in-neuroanatomy. But I knew my feelings couldn't be swayed away from Path. At least not yet.

Plans for the weekend include sleep, making cookies for Dr. Pathologist's birthday, and laundry. Woo! My friend C was in town from Birmingham. I've really missed her! it was good hanging out. The funniest part of the weekend was going to Julep for dinner and her and Pizza Man getting plastic knives to cut their filets. it was HILARIOUS. Welcome to Jackson: the next 3rd world country. haha. But it was really great to see her. I think I'll be going to visit her over spring break. It's going to be a good time.

So for the next 2 weeks I'll be in a very cushy ambulatory general medicine clinic. I'm pretty pumped. Then it'll be VA wards, which won't be bad. I think just the fact it's medicine wards makes me go "blech".

Also, warnings were not heeded on my previous UMC ward partner's case. Now he's one of only 2 or 3 without a partner. You were warned....

So with that, let me go commence the epic laundry day. I think every.single.thing I have to wear is dirty. And with the water situation (ie-if you have it consider yourself lucky) may extend the general length of time it takes to do said laundry.

I'd Rather Not

So my first couple of days of Neuro were ok. The residents were all nice and the attending Dr. R was GREAT. then, attendings changed. And now neuro is my living hell. This attending wants not the one H&P require, but TWO. Which I guess would be alright if he didn't want identifying information, assessment/plan, diagnosis, and I'm not sure maybe coded? All by thursday. Plus we're supposed to present I think one patient at rounds? So yeah. Instead of learning and going "yup, don't like it" now i'm like "holy mother of God can I PLEASE go back to surgery?" And we don't even have that many patients. I may not get the 2 H&P's.

But I will say my partner is GREAT. I need to apologize for the vent fest friday after the worst.rounds.ever. Especially since her hubby was stranded and she needed to go and i was just annoyed that the guy wasted our time by trying to explain the physics of the MRI machine for an hour.

Well, I'm back in the gym and on the way to my first 5K! I saw the Blues Marathon Runners today and i was like "I WANNA DO THAT!" haha. I've always needed a hobby. Maybe running will suffice? I'll be excited when it warms up so I can run outside.

I've also been thinking more about doggie. I've started looking into cocker spaniel rescue places. There are some in TX, GA, and FL. So that's another option I suppose. But I never know if I"ll be approved for a dog or not. As much as I'd like a puppy, I think getting a grown up dog will be ok too. The only thing that I hesitate about is that they already have a name! What if I don't like their name?! can I change it? ugh. But, I think I'll want a cocker. I picked it because it's known as "sporty" and I'll need a buddy to go running with and walks. Plus my mom had some way way before she and my dad were married and really liked the breed. They're known to be good with kids and other animals also. Plus, I don't want a little tiny dog either. I want something a little more hearty than my poodle Luna. But I'm sure I'll go and browse CARA or whatever when it comes closer to time.

Can I just fast forward to July? I'd rather not do the rest of this neuro/medicine/ob-gyn/peds thing. Thanks.