It has been a while...

So...I realize I havent posted in quite a while.

1. Surgery finished strong...all in all it was a good time. The residents were great, the attendings were helpful, but by no means would I ever choose to go into surgery simply because of the lifestyle. The OR time was rewarding and so was the floor medicine...but the lack of life outside of the hospital for the next 6+ yrs of my life at least is enough for me not to pursue it.

2. Spending 2 weeks at home over xmas break was exactly what I needed after 3 months of surgery.

3. Getting to see some of my best friends from undergrad in milwaukee, some of which I havent seen in years was a great time. I can really appreciate our friendships more and am thankful to have met such great people. It always amazes me that even if we havent seen/talked in a while, the minute we get back together it's as if we were back on campus and nothing has changed.

4. I'm currently on my last of 4 weeks on OB...soon to be followed by 4 weeks of GYN. OB has been great so far...there is something amazing about bringing another life into this world...especially when you're allowed to actually be that person who brings them in and not just a bystander. Ive been in on a few dozen deliveries so far, and have even gotten to deliver by myself, with the attending and resident right next to me, a couple of times now...pretty awesome.

5. The other night when I was on nights I had the final confirmation that the OR is not for me. One of the OBGYN attendings was talking with me the other day and the Q of what do you want to do inevitably came up. I said IM, but tossed in that I liked the OR so who knows. He brought up the great divide....are you a cutter?...because you're either a cutter or you're not...and I couldn't agree more. I enjoy the OR, I really do, but I simply enjoy doing procedures. So...as of now, i've officially ruled out Surg and OB/GYN and am 99.5% sure I will be applying to IM come this fall....plenty of time to change that though.

6. I've always said cardiology, cardiology, cardiology....I think that goal may have changed as well. GI has always interested me and even more so lately...plus they get to do a lot of procedures. BUT, pulm/critical care has also jumped way up on my list. It's always new and exciting, you get to do procedures and you get to have a huge impact.

7. I got signed up for my 4th yr electives...kind of scary! As of now I'm doing an I'M sub I, GI, neurology, radiology, Family med, ICU and CVICU

I think that's about it for now....

Cheers

2 weeks to go...

Final 2 weeks of surgery anddddd I'm ready for the 2 week break that follows finishing! Kind of crazy to have been going every day since early July with no real break. Is this what real life is like? Everyone said clinicals was a lot better than basic sciences and on one hand I do agree. In clinicals at least we get to apply what we've learned to real situations, however, I think you're even more busy (or should be). Not only do you spend 8-12+ hours at the hospital each day, you're still expected to study outside...and needless to say...there is just as much, if not more to study now than in basic sci. These past 10 weeks have been pretty much a joke for studying..the last thing I want to do after being at the hospital for 12+ hours is go home and read or do Qs. Most of my studying comes on the weekends and even that can be a struggle at times. I finally put together a little study schedule for these last 2 weeks so hopefully I can get a good amount done. Time will tell...surgery shelf is in 11 days and then hopefully home in 12 or 13 days...crazy how fast it has gone!

In other news, I signed up for step 2 CK and CS....$2165 later of course! Ill be heading to Chicago in mid march for CS and most likely take CK at the end of June depending on how I'm feeling/how much studying I can get done in March/April.

These chairs are starbucks are not so comfy today so...off to the groc store before some more Qs this afternoon.

Cheers

3 weeks and 2 days left!

Who would have thought that surgery would fly by as much as it has!? It's crazy that I only have 2 more days of colorectal and then 3 final weeks on vascular! No joke, I think I'm going to miss it a little. The OR keeps growing on me. Even doing simple bed side procedures are more and more enjoyable....but still no way I would want to do 5+ years of surgery residency! I think a lot of it has to do with how great the residents are. I don't know if i've just been lucky or what the deal is but the residents I've gotten to work with have all been amazing. They're always there to teach and have fun doing whatever we are up to. I never feel pressured or over worked. I really couldn't as for a better experience, especially given that coming into surgery I thought I would hate it for sure.

Noxolo

Who would have thought...

Kind of shocking, but 5 weeks of surgery are done...7 to go! I still really don't like the long hours we have as students...heck, the residents and attendings are at the hospital more than we are....but then again I think they're crazy so yah.

To be honest, I kind of really like surgery now. Not so much rounds/consults, but the OR is a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Maybe it's because I get to do more than I thought I would and actually feel like I can be of some help.

Favorite OR Quotes:

"Surgery is a contact sport"

"hold it like you mean it"

"boo"


Noxolo

Scratch that...

Week 2 is done...officially 1/6 of the way done with surg andddd the next 10 weeks can't go by fast enough. I really don't know why anyone would choose to live at the hospital like general surgeons do. I'm there generally 5am-5pm and I know the residents are there longer than I am for the most part....sounds like no life and no fun to me. The OR is still a lot of fun, but I miss the medical management that was integral in IM.

Oh well. At least it's cooled down, the trees have changed and football is in full swing....give me something to look forward to when I'm not at the hospital and not sleeping...

noxolo

Maybe surgery isn't sooo bad after all....

My first week of surgery is officially in the books....only 11 more weeks and 3 weekend calls to go!

Overall, surgery is a lot better than I thought it would be, but there is still no way i'd want to pursue it. The OR is a lot of fun and definitely the highlight of the rotation, but I don't love it enough to give up patient care....plus the hours suck. So far I've scrubbed in on 3 cases which have all been unique in their own way. One was a Lap distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, one thyroidectomy and one ventral hernia repair. It's been interesting bringing back all my anatomy and actually applying it. I think surgery is the one place that you actually need to know where something should be, but also where else it could be.

One bad thing about surgery is that when I get home the absolute LAST thing i want to do is study. Sooo I'm finding it hard to get a chance to do anything more than read up on what ever case I may scrub. I guess that's what weekends are for?

Noxolo

Bang bang

The other day on living social they had a deal for target shooting for an hour for 2 people at a place in Livonia. Since my roommate has NEVER shot a gun, and we dooo live in the D, I figured it would be a good experience. We get an hour of range time, ear/eye protection, targets, two 9mm's and ammo...all for $28! I'm not sure when we'll go since I start surgery tomorrow...but hopefully sooner than later! I went to a different range about a month ago now, tons of fun! (If that's what you're into I guess)

In other news....MN football is somehow 4-0!? Pretty sure that hasn't happened since I was back in undergrad..which feels like forever ago. I might have to see if they play out here this season and get some tickets.

Cheers