Very very interesting weekend. But I have done no work at all. No wonder I feel so happy!
This year has been a really interesting year for me. The whole time I was doing science I don't think I was ever really the person I wanted to be. I was more akin to shut in than a human being.
I've changed a bit this year, I'm a little more open. A little more mellow, but mostly I think I'm a bit more me! Sure, I haven't changed dramatically, maybe I've just become more accepting of myself. I just feel more at ease with life.
One thing I have learned this year, is that confidence is key. Even when you're not confident! This is especially true when you ghost the wards. As one of the doc's said to us:
"Dress like a doctor, put on your badge and throw a stethoscope around your neck, and just go talk to patients. There's nothing to be scared of."
Or more concisely, as my GP told me as we chatted about medicine "90% is looking the part."
If you can't be confident, look confident, and the rest will come trickling back!
I'm starting to get a wrangle on this medicine dealy. But I'm trying not to be consumed by it. Wouldn't want to get obsessed (again!) I really hope this balance can be maintained!
Mostly though, I'm just thankful for the opportunity.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
sunshine and lollypops
This weather is nice! Took the top off the jeep and drove with the sun in my face and the wind in my hair, and I was happy. Then spent the night at a fun birthday where I got to know some of my classmates a bit better. I'm finally starting to realise a balance between work and recreation is probably healthier than a balance between work and contemplation (about work).
But because this is a medical themed blog, supposedly, I should at least drop a bit of medicine in. You might remember some time ago I talked about my first experience with CPR. Essentially they threw me in to the deep end, and let me push on a dummy's chest for a bit. I felt awful afterward, and would later find out that I had succeeded in pushing on my mans chest sufficiently just once, out of my 120 times. I'd also been unable to get any reasonable puffs of air in to him! All in all it was a disaster, but a really good learning experience.
On Thursday I had my final basic life support assessment - a virtual rerun of the original scenario (with a few changes for spice!) Except this time I had skills! It was really nice to feel confident about some life saving skills, and rather happily I passed. They give you a little picture of how you performed, which I find the most interesting part of all.
Basically, it's just craziness. The top waveforms are the ventilations, the bottom is the compressions. You have to get each one in to the right volume or depth for it to be successful, and you have to be pushing on the chest at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. So if you're doing CPR, go hard and fast, and forget being gentle.
Suffice to say, I'm really looking forward to doing some more advanced life support stuff in the future!
But because this is a medical themed blog, supposedly, I should at least drop a bit of medicine in. You might remember some time ago I talked about my first experience with CPR. Essentially they threw me in to the deep end, and let me push on a dummy's chest for a bit. I felt awful afterward, and would later find out that I had succeeded in pushing on my mans chest sufficiently just once, out of my 120 times. I'd also been unable to get any reasonable puffs of air in to him! All in all it was a disaster, but a really good learning experience.
On Thursday I had my final basic life support assessment - a virtual rerun of the original scenario (with a few changes for spice!) Except this time I had skills! It was really nice to feel confident about some life saving skills, and rather happily I passed. They give you a little picture of how you performed, which I find the most interesting part of all.
Basically, it's just craziness. The top waveforms are the ventilations, the bottom is the compressions. You have to get each one in to the right volume or depth for it to be successful, and you have to be pushing on the chest at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. So if you're doing CPR, go hard and fast, and forget being gentle.
Suffice to say, I'm really looking forward to doing some more advanced life support stuff in the future!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Some kind of fruit company
One of the other articles I liked in this mornings paper was one by Hugo Rifkind. Jobs or no Jobs, that Apple culture really makes me shudder
Don't know if you caught it, but highlights the discreet evilness of apple. I'll quote some of the last few column inches.
""Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me" is another fine Jobs quote, also in reference to Gates. "Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful," he continues, "that's what matters to me."
This was a comment made before Gates started pouring his money into vaccinations, obviously. Still, there's something about it that goes right to the heart of why the Apple cult makes me shudder.
These are phones and computers we're talking about. Trinkets and things. Is it right that our wonder should be so lightly spent?
Well, maybe. And maybe, in a world where information saves lives just as much as vaccinations do, inventing something like the iPhone is, indeed, doing something wonderful in every sense. But buying one isn't. I'm not sure for how much longer Apple will get away with blurring the two."
You can check the whole article out here
Don't know if you caught it, but highlights the discreet evilness of apple. I'll quote some of the last few column inches.
""Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me" is another fine Jobs quote, also in reference to Gates. "Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful," he continues, "that's what matters to me."
This was a comment made before Gates started pouring his money into vaccinations, obviously. Still, there's something about it that goes right to the heart of why the Apple cult makes me shudder.
These are phones and computers we're talking about. Trinkets and things. Is it right that our wonder should be so lightly spent?
Well, maybe. And maybe, in a world where information saves lives just as much as vaccinations do, inventing something like the iPhone is, indeed, doing something wonderful in every sense. But buying one isn't. I'm not sure for how much longer Apple will get away with blurring the two."
You can check the whole article out here
Monday, August 22, 2011
Maaaate
It's official! I'm an idiot! (argh)
On the plus side we get to defibrillate a manikin on Wednesday. Joy.
On the plus side we get to defibrillate a manikin on Wednesday. Joy.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Doctors In Training!
Had a hilarious practical tute today. They were teaching us 'injection techniques.' There was a group of nine of us, two of whom were already needle veterans. So for all intents and purposes there were seven novices. I shall include myself as a beginner as I've only ever given injections to mice.
It was all going well, only one needle stick. But then they let us practice opening the glass ampoules. These are little glass vials, that are really good for keeping drugs stable. They also have the added benefit that you have to crack the top off of them as there is no lid. Hence you can't exactly steal the morphine inside.
They are however tricky to open. This was evidenced by the two people in my tute group who managed to cut themselves while breaking the tops off. Nothing overly bad, but somewhat amusing that the most hazard part of the morning came from the package rather than the needle.
On the plus side we got to immunise some faux skin covered sponges. They were very grateful and are now fully vaccinated against saline.
Another thing on the list of things I can't wait to try on actual people!
It was all going well, only one needle stick. But then they let us practice opening the glass ampoules. These are little glass vials, that are really good for keeping drugs stable. They also have the added benefit that you have to crack the top off of them as there is no lid. Hence you can't exactly steal the morphine inside.
On the plus side we got to immunise some faux skin covered sponges. They were very grateful and are now fully vaccinated against saline.
Another thing on the list of things I can't wait to try on actual people!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Leonard Lilly, my one and only
Trying to learn the basics of cardiology in one month is a bit of a nutty task. It's really interesting material though.
I think I've pretty much read the whole cardiology text now. It's all too much though, I don't think I've taken anything on board!
Actually, another one of our imaginary patients died. She had a heart attack, and was recovering in hospital when she blew a papillary muscle in her damaged heart and died within an hour or so. I was telling Dr. Dad the story of our fictitious patient, when he recalled his own version.
A patient, several days post MI; Rapid onset shortness of breath and a new onset systolic murmur. Dad diagnosed the same condition and the patient met the same fate. Crazy to think these things you learn about actually happen. I'm clearly not mentally ready to be on the wards with peoples lives in my hands. As I told someone today 'I have just enough knowledge to kill someone, but not enough to save them.'
On another note, I forget Dad was a once a young doctor cruising the wards! The perks of being the boss I guess ;)
I think I've pretty much read the whole cardiology text now. It's all too much though, I don't think I've taken anything on board!
Actually, another one of our imaginary patients died. She had a heart attack, and was recovering in hospital when she blew a papillary muscle in her damaged heart and died within an hour or so. I was telling Dr. Dad the story of our fictitious patient, when he recalled his own version.
A patient, several days post MI; Rapid onset shortness of breath and a new onset systolic murmur. Dad diagnosed the same condition and the patient met the same fate. Crazy to think these things you learn about actually happen. I'm clearly not mentally ready to be on the wards with peoples lives in my hands. As I told someone today 'I have just enough knowledge to kill someone, but not enough to save them.'
On another note, I forget Dad was a once a young doctor cruising the wards! The perks of being the boss I guess ;)
Monday, August 1, 2011
Normal tension
We're learning about hearts. So far I've picked up a bit. But it has pandered to my medical student hypochondriacness. But that's okay, because other people hear my non-existant systolic noise as well. Who would have thought three first years putting their heads together could be wrong!
Anyway, as you may have inferred from the title, I finally got my results back about my hypertension. It's coatyness is as white as the pure driven snow. It turns out I'm just easily excited. If I was a doctor I'd give myself some beta blockers and mellow the heck out.
Anyway, as you may have inferred from the title, I finally got my results back about my hypertension. It's coatyness is as white as the pure driven snow. It turns out I'm just easily excited. If I was a doctor I'd give myself some beta blockers and mellow the heck out.
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