Vascular, week one

Shockingly enough, I don't loathe vascular surgery as much as I thought I might. Granted I'm working more than I ever have in my life, but the first week wasn't so bad - I enjoyed some of the procedures and the attendings/fellow/residents let me do a ton of suturing/stapling. If nothing else, I'm a bit more involved over here. And blood isn't nearly as gross as poopoo (very medical term there).
I got Saturday off and was on call Sunday. Actually got a couple hours of sleep Sunday night in between stupid calls... The people of Jackson can be utterly brilliant. It's simultaneously amusing and sad. We got several Peds calls, so I ended up spending much of the early morning hours in the pER. I planned on being productive or at least human yesterday - but besides breakfast with a good friend I hadn't seen in a while, I was completely dead to the world as per usual post call.

The countdown continues. 15 days and one call left!!!

We're halfway there - oh, livin' on a prayer...

Surgery is officially halfway over. The Bon Jovi song from my favorite chief resident's playlist only seemed an appropriate title.

Today, I received my radiation badge. Sounds like the beginning of a slow nightmare. On the upside, we found out this week that we're taking our board a day early so we can participate in Match Day activities with our buddies if we'd like. Heck yea. I'm looking forward to being an observer in the process so I can be slightly less/more freaked out about this time next year.

I have to round in the morning, but my sister, brother in law, and nephew are coming into town tonight and I'm super excited. Can't wait for some baby slobber and my late Valentine's date! A weekend of normalcy? Yesplease!

Monday brings with it vascular surgery, but it is 26 days, 13 hours, 26 minutes, 52 seconds until Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 9:00:00 AM. Come on, day 27! it's beginning to look like I might actually survive this...

For once in my life, I'm speechless (a week of sorrow)

Yes, me. Speechless. I've been thinking I needed to update the blog for a while, but haven't had the right words. It's been a really not-fun week.

Last weekend, while on trauma call, I lost my great-grandmother. 89 beautiful, happy years. 26 years of memories of her by my side. And then she was gone. We knew it was coming as she's been ill for about the last three weeks.. and it was a very peaceful, happy, pain-free death. I still haven't completely processed it and don't know when I will. It's hard to be sad when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that a person is happier and better off in heaven. Especially after leading a good, full life. But on the other hand - it's hard not to be when you miss someone. I missed the funeral Tuesday. First time in my life I've missed a funeral for a family member. I thought about asking off, but decided I didn't know where I'd want to be (with dad at the funeral or with mom at home) and I was too exhausted to figure it out. I decided to take today instead, when I could likely see them both in the same place.

Two days later, I got the news that one of my mom's corneal transplants had rejected and she'd be needed an emergency transplant. The following day - that the transplant had to be put on hold because there was bacteria in the cultures (and the eye has to be completely clean before the transplant). It puts her in a state of limbo and a lot of pain, neither of which I'm a fan of. We could use your prayers.

And yesterday, I witnessed one of the worst experiences of my medical career thus far. Surgery hasn't been for me from the beginning, but that solidified any thought I had of possibly thinking it was "ok for now". It's just too high risk and too alwaysstressful. To me there's a difference in a patient's life in your hands (over an antibiotic you prescribed) and a patient's life in your hands (because they're gutted open on an OR table). That, and if you guys didn't know before, I'm not a fan of adults.

This weekend I'm hoping to catch up on some sleep if I remember how, and break the funk to make it through another week or so without being completely miserable. At least it's almost time for the second half of the rotation - the only exciting thing about this is that it's the second half of the rotation. And the heavy lead I get to wear in the OR, which ups the chances of me passing out/throwing up/otherwise being kicked out :)

It is 34 days, 14 hours, 25 minutes, 40 seconds until the end of surgery. It cannot come a moment too soon.

5/24/13

Today was "Senior Planning Day". The title in itself is a little scary - and unbelievable. Where did the time go? Weren't we just getting our acceptance letters? Just started anatomy? Just smelling like formaldehyde?
In a blink it's three years later and it's time to apply for diplomas and cap and gown. Time to start thinking about senior scheduling. Time to think about away rotations, interviews, and a whole bunch of crazy that'll go down in the next 15 months. Time to start thinking about paying back all those loans (ugh).

Exciting? Very
Scary? A little
Enough information to make your head explode? Absolutely.

I enjoyed the day off surgery and sitting with my best friends, catching up with classmates, and preparing for our future. There are a lot of questions left, but a lot of things now answered... such as:
When is Match? March 22. I'll know where I'm spending the next few years.
When is graduation? May 24, 2013 folks. Mark your calendars. I'll be growing into a long coat then!

We start scheduling in a couple months. I'm tentatively looking at the following:
June - Step 2 CK (18th) and CS (25th)
July - Medicine Sub I
August - NICU
September - Peds ER
October - PICU
November - Review of Pharm or off completely
December - Interviews/Off
January - Peds Ambulatory Clinics/last interviews
February - Peds Surgery or Away Rotation
March - Peds GI
April - Off or Peds Surgery (if Away in Feb)
May - Off/GRADUATION.
June - Sleep
July 1 - Intern. Woah.


PS: It is 43 days, 16 hours, 1 minute, 12 seconds until the end of Surgery. Not that I'm counting. ;)