tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949752016729683692024-03-05T23:05:30.432-06:00Chaos is the New NormalDoc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-24253707760228819032020-11-09T23:39:00.000-06:002020-11-09T23:39:28.929-06:00Dear Figs:<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzRJJOdS5aPQB9xbEpmWqOVCEBjt0XUhv7Pv4v8AXkYdqS9uId-V0kLH5NVZ8-YZHSairnt2daJTiOBhwZIA1cPIaLE173I8B4_Dt-a1yGCpZ8kOkkrd-869AZrswXZ84ILxL-gk5zM0/s2048/IMG_1162.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1972" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzRJJOdS5aPQB9xbEpmWqOVCEBjt0XUhv7Pv4v8AXkYdqS9uId-V0kLH5NVZ8-YZHSairnt2daJTiOBhwZIA1cPIaLE173I8B4_Dt-a1yGCpZ8kOkkrd-869AZrswXZ84ILxL-gk5zM0/s320/IMG_1162.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I still don't think you understand what you did. You can't -- because if you did, your apology would have rung a little more true. But we'll get to that (limp) apology another time. Let's talk about how I got here. <p></p><p>I'm a resident physician in family medicine in my second year of residency. This means that I have earned an undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science in biology here), a medical degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), and I've matched into a residency program that requires three years of training and passing a state board exam in my specialty before I can graduate and practice medicine as a board-certified licensed physician. In undergraduate training, I had to pass classes such as chemistry, physics, statistics, ecology, biosystematics, genetics, immunology, and physiology - to name a few. Then applying and gaining acceptance into medical school was no easy feat. Once accepted, one has to continue to study and learn about pharmacology, pathology, anatomy, physiology and more as they pertain to specific body systems and disease processes. Medical school is a marathon -- run at a sprinter's pace. Then there's The Match. I'm still traumatized from the match, so if you need to know what that's about, please just Google it, because I just can't spell out the terror of it here. It's the painful process of finding a training job for residency with computers deciding the outcome.</p><p>The thing about this ad that you guys at Figs don't understand? It only served to amplify all of the voices along the above journey -- sometimes my voice included -- that said I wasn't smart enough, or good enough, or MAN enough to accomplish my dreams. As a non-traditional (read: OLD) student starting back to school after 20 years of being out of high school, I already had a very loud inner voice telling me that it was very unlikely that I'd come out on the other end of this undertaking with a Dr. in front of my name. My advisor in college made sure to tell me that there was no way I'd make the grades needed to get into medical school. I had to get up every day and pep talk myself into working my butt off, AGAIN. Everyone around you tells you how lucky you are to be in medical school, and you wonder every second if you actually deserve it. Because everyone around you is extremely smart and hard-working with so many amazing accomplishments, and you can't help but compare yourself. I've heard that called imposter syndrome, and your ad feels like a mirror held up confirming that very idea. </p><p>So let's look at this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni6eyrQCwwIzBQPc1b12gKnIpl4lk4WU7lpye2mv5VLdQUrBZ97I_XNw4YQk9l_FXlCc2k9lmOpUwTIgWxnu6mjthuTBlcseww66DkSMlTCokpF7Xtr55d5SDf532REeq9gak1HbuUmg/s867/figsMAIN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="867" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni6eyrQCwwIzBQPc1b12gKnIpl4lk4WU7lpye2mv5VLdQUrBZ97I_XNw4YQk9l_FXlCc2k9lmOpUwTIgWxnu6mjthuTBlcseww66DkSMlTCokpF7Xtr55d5SDf532REeq9gak1HbuUmg/s320/figsMAIN.png" width="320" /></a></div>1. It's a young woman.<div>2. She's reading a Medical Terminology for Dummies book. Upside down.</div><div>3. She's got a prominently displayed DO badge.</div><div><br /></div><div>How did this get past the powers-that-be? There are people who are paid to look at stuff like this, and go, "nuh-uh, no way." Where are these people? </div><div><br /></div><div>Let me count the ways this is a hot mess that could be nothing other than malicious. But let me also set some records straight.</div><div><a href="https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/more-women-men-are-enrolled-medical-school" target="_blank">The majority of US medical students are women.</a></div><div><a href="https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/what-is-a-do/" target="_blank">DOs are fully licensed physicians who are able to practice medicine in all specialties and all areas.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>We as women physicians -- specifically osteopathic physicians -- do not need another voice telling us we are not capable physicians. The hurdles that exist for women physicians are high and difficult, now more than ever. The current coronavirus pandemic is asking more from our healthcare force than ever before, and we are dedicated to using all of our resources to fight back and take care of our patients. There is a tremendous opportunity to join alongside and be a positive force, yet Figs chose to tear down rather than build up. This is why I will not be purchasing any products from this company going forward, neither will I wear any that I have in my possession currently. It saddens me greatly that every time I see these articles of clothing in my closet that all I can think about is this company thinks I'm a stupid woman with a sub-par medical degree. I cannot in good conscience wear something that makes me feel so less-than. Because I'm not. Ask my patients.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Oh, and Rachel Maddow, you're on notice too. It takes about 5 seconds of research to avoid the Great Wrath of the AOA and a defamation lawsuit.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Very sincerely yours,</div><div>DOCTOR Val Staples, DO</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-9515494318380129102020-11-08T09:42:00.001-06:002020-11-08T09:42:37.260-06:00OOPS!<p> So I haven't posted anything here since the beginning of third year of medical school. There are reasons, but too much to go into. Anyway, summing up: I graduated medical school in May 2019. Matched into my first choice family medicine residency, and I'm now a PGY-2 resident. That involved a bit of a pick-up-and-move-situation, and I'm superbly happy in my new location. Some of the kids made the jump with us, and they are settling in pretty well. My son that is also a doctor matched in the same residency, and is a PGY-1 currently. This is just a bit of a catch-up post, and I have a subject in mind for jumping all the way back in, but it's simmering. Hang tight!</p>Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-33972967719833688862017-08-18T22:58:00.004-05:002017-08-18T22:58:54.671-05:00Third Year, it's HERE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have to admit, I couldn't make myself blog here while I was waiting for my COMLEX scores. I knew I'd say a bunch of stuff, and there was a distinct possibility that I might have to swallow some of those things if I didn't pass. Every time I thought about logging in to see my score, my stomach jumped into my throat and then plunged into my toes. Test day was pretty much a traumatic blur. I do remember going to BoruBoru Sushi and having a fabulous salmon sushi bowl after. That was nice. The thought of having to pull out all the books again after closing that chapter most enthusiastically and then having to retake that monstrosity of an exam was just too much to grasp for my poor brain. My brain. It's still a quivering pile of jello, guys. I'm three weeks into third year rotations, and whenever my preceptor asks me a question, I fly into panic mode. I want to curl into a fetal position on the floor and scream. I'm really good at saying, "I don't know. I am sure I knew that before, but right now, I have nothing." I really hope this goes away soon. I'm seriously embarrassed at what a slobbering idiot I've turned into. I probably need some therapy.</div>
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Speaking of therapy, EVERYONE needs to visit Hawaii some time in their miserable existence anywhere else on this planet that is not Hawaii. It is beautiful. I could happily move myself and my entire family there. But I'm thinking it's the worst place in the world to have a job. I don't think I'd ever want to work, I'd just sit on the beach and be useless all day. That would be fine until it came time to pay the bills and buy some food.</div>
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Rotations have been fun so far. I just finished my third week with my first rotation, and it's really a whole lot better than the first two years. I'm kinda sad this is my last week with my first preceptor. I've seen lots of cool cases that I can't tell you anything about, because HIPAA.<br />
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I'm trying really hard to find my feet with this new schedule. We have early morning lectures at 7am Monday-Thursday, and I feel like I have just enough time to get home and flop into bed when I get done with clinic. I still have lots of reading to do, and we have cases assigned to complete as well. Then we have to study for our end of rotation exam, which is every four weeks. Add to that the required laundry, food prep, and maybe seeing my family a little, and I am having a bit of trouble fitting everything in. I'm hoping I'll hit a groove and find some extra time here and there to get some exercise and goofing off time in. I can't be stretched this thin and just be in third year! I guess I'm just a wimp.</div>
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Well, I think that's pretty much caught up from the summer to now. Here's hoping things settle down, and I manage my time well enough to get it all done. The life of a medical student. A whiny one, I guess. It's HARD.</div>
<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-87517048002668936982017-07-05T19:29:00.001-05:002017-07-05T19:29:57.565-05:00Blocks? What are blocks? I'm done with blocks.I'm still here. I've just been buried in board study, and not much else has been going on. Well, it has been going on, I've just missed it because of the whole board study thing I mentioned up there. I have a new granddaughter! She's beautiful and perfect.<br />
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So what's been going on? Well, we finished our second year of medical school, and I'm in that lovely limbo period between finished with second year and taking COMLEX Level 1. That's scheduled for next week, and I'm still pounding the books pretty hard. It's been a bit of a challenge for me, because our school requires that we take a practice exam and make a minimum score on it before we are cleared to take the COMLEX. And I didn't do so good on that, so I had to get some help. But the help helped, and I'm all geared up to nail this thing next week. Except I'm pretty nervous. Hopefully it will go smoothly.<br />
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After I take the boards, my HB and I are taking a trip to HAWAII!! I'm so excited I just can't stand it. I'm also a little concerned with what I am going to do with myself after the studying part is over. I mean, I really only have a few weeks between COMLEX and starting clinical rotations, and the studying will definitely not be over for good. But I spend so much time studying right now, and I finished this afternoon and was casting about for something to do to keep myself busy, and I just got bored. I don't want to watch Netflix, I have seen everything on Facebook, and I really don't know what else to do with myself. I even took a nap, so I'm not sleepy. I've already exercised, too. So I guess I found time to blog, haha! Except there's not really a whole lot to update because it's just wake up, exercise, study, go to bed, repeat. I just feel the need to chronicle this as part of my journey, so you guys have to hear about it.</div>
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Anyway, I hope all my fellow med school students are having a nice summer (because most of them have already taken the boards), and that we will all be ready to jump in and figure out what the heck we are doing once third year starts. I guess once boards are over, I can begin obsessing about third year and how I don't know anything about anything.</div>
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-6033603556375454192017-06-08T09:29:00.001-05:002017-06-08T09:29:11.189-05:00Bonus: I'm just over here busting up the odds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This post looks to be a follow up to yesterday's whinging about studying for boards, so you can ignore it if you like. But sometimes, when you're fearing the future, it helps to look backward. So here I go. I spent a large portion of my life going with the flow. And that's ok, if it makes you happy. I learned early on that making waves gets you unnecessary attention (detention?), and it's better to just keep your head down and take whatever comes. Good societies are built on everyone following the rules. But progress depends on people -- just every once in a while -- asking "but what if we...?" The majority of people in this world are content to check off their to-do list every day and keep putting one foot in front of the other, and that's OK. But there's always been this huge "but what if I...?" bouncing around in my head. It's really hilarious when I meet someone new and we are making small talk about what we do as a career, what makes up our family, or what do we like to do for fun. Oh, you have six children? WOW! Oh, you're in medical school at 43? OMG! You've lost 100 pounds in the last year? WHOA!<br />
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See, I didn't set out to do anything out of the ordinary, or stuff that people don't normally do, or anything that would statistically be something out of my reach. But here I am, doing all that stuff! I can't tell you how many times someone has said, oh well, the odds of that working out for you successfully are pretty low. I honestly didn't see it as a challenge. I just kept working towards what I wanted waiting for it to not work out. Except, so far it has worked out. SO I keep going. So when I whinge about boards and whether I feel like I'm going to pass, it's kind of like wondering if this is the part of my journey where they finally tell me I can't go any further. I'm way further out on the rope than I ever imagined I'd get. And I won't be content to stop here. If I don't pass COMSAE, I'm going to take it again. But I really hope I pass. If I fail COMLEX, well I'm going to take that again too! I don't feel hopeless or discouraged, I just feel REALLY REALLY NERVOUS. </div>
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And then today I was scrolling through Facebook after my workout, and I saw a video about Mandy Harvey. She lost her hearing at 18, and thought she would have to give up singing. But she didn't. She taught herself how to sing in a new way, and she's super good at it, too! So she goes on America's Got Talent and makes Simon Cowell cry. Mandy joins the ranks of my heroes, which includes the Chewbacca Mom, Melissa Radke, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Girl Power! Anyway, I'm including the video from her performance. I was going to just make a Facebook post and share it, but then I started having all these thoughts, so I blogged instead. I'm sure your FB scroll button will love me for that.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKSWXzAnVe0" width="560"></iframe>Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-64157515903342615002017-06-07T17:22:00.000-05:002017-06-07T17:22:00.017-05:00Block 8 Week 9 (is it?): We've reached that pointSo I've reached the point in studying for COMLEX Step 1 that I'm sure every medical student does at some time in their dedicated study block: I HATE EVERYONE. Not really, I don't hate anyone at all. But I keep catching myself watching people going about their lives doing things they want to do and having fun and zero cares. AND I AM SO JEALOUS. I see cars parked in front of shopping centers or restaurants, and I think about how all those people have all this time to do whatever they want, and I'm sitting here cramming more diseases in my head than it could ever possibly hold.<br />
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We are one week from taking COMSAE, which is the practice test that determines whether my school will allow me to take COMLEX on June 28. I'm convinced no one else in my class is struggling with this as much as I am. I feel like everyone is going to pass it with flaming flair, and I'm going to be sitting there with an almost but not quite good enough score. And that will send all the plans I have spiraling down the toilet. I've been following a study schedule, and most days I am happy with my practice questions. But, the last two days have been less than stellar, and I feel like stuff is falling out of my head faster than I can put it in. I can't decide if I need to study harder or take a break.<br />
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So yeah, when I am sitting here at Panera sucking at COMQUEST, I look out the window and there's a lady sitting at a table sipping a coffee and scrolling through her phone, and I think UGH why did I go to medical school? I guess I'll have to come back and write a follow up post answering that question, because nothing is coming to mind.<br />
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I think what I'm going to do right now is put up my computer and books and go do something normal humans do. If my head stops swirling with all the stress and stuff, I'll do another round of questions before I go to bed.<br />
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-85903518176559623632017-05-22T11:18:00.000-05:002017-05-22T11:18:25.259-05:00Block 8 Weeks 2-6: This block is weird and I don't quite know what to say here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I keep opening a new post with the intention of catching up with the last few weeks. And then another week passes of pretty much the same thing, and I really don't think anything I'd put here would be very entertaining. It's block 8: the final frontier. Dedicated board study is pretty much just lather, rinse, repeat. I get up every morning and work out. Then I decide whether I'm going to class or not. Sometimes we have class, but it's mostly review. There are some sections where I find the review helpful, and some not so much. Like today is GI, and I'm pretty good on that, so I decided to stay home and do some studying on my own. Except it is now 11am and I am still working on the whole getting showered and presentable after my workout. I feel like I move in slow motion here lately. I think maybe I need a little more structure in my study schedule. Right now it's pretty much dread, delay, drudge. We are about a month from COMLEX Step 1, so I gotta get my booty in gear. Gonna do that now, CIAO!<br />
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-5240860607313953192017-04-16T21:15:00.002-05:002017-04-16T21:15:34.928-05:00Block 8 Week 1: When Cameron was in Egypt's Land...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hopefully everyone has seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off and I don't need to recommend this one. Don't be embarrassed if not, just go watch it.<br />
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Block 8 begins: dedicated board study block. Except not so dedicated, because we have a few extra things to do in addition to board study like BDLS and ACLS, and more things with initials that I have no idea what they stand for. All through my block break, I was getting emails from school about all these dang assignments I had to complete DURING MY BREAK. Um, yeah, I'll get right on that...<br />
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Break. It's a noun. I thought it meant hiatus, vacation, a pause in activity. I was WRONG. Apparently my school takes it to mean to smash, split, or divide into parts violently, reduce to pieces or fragments. Because that's what they did to my sanity all block break! Seriously guys, I need that week to get my head back in the game. Oh well.<br />
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Monday started with our dedicated review course. We have a lecturer that comes in and reviews stuff we are supposed to know already and sum it up so we can retrieve it when we take boards in June or July. By the end of the day Monday, my head was full to bursting and I was TIRED. Then we had to come back for more on Tuesday. It's pretty heavy duty, and sometimes my brain just goes NOPE. But it is a really good review course, and I'm picking it up OK. Hopefully it will stay in there, because he keeps pouring MORE in!<br />
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Oh, and guess what I do when I get home from school? Study for boards. I have a study plan all mapped out that includes First Aid, Combank questions, Osmosis questions, Sketchy Pharm/Micro/Path, and Savarese. There's more than that available, but I can't fit anything else into my schedule currently. I try to fit anything extra in on the weekends. Ah, the weekend. I had a huge list of things to do that included -- you guessed it -- more board studying. Except I didn't even dent that list. I did some questions, and I tried to do some reading, but my brain wasn't having it. Hopefully going forward in this block, I'll have a little more stick-to-itness.<br />
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We have another week coming up with the same lecturer reviewing with us, and then next week we have our BDLS course. That's Basic Disaster Life Support. Apparently next Friday, we will be participating in a fake disaster with the local law enforcement and emergency services. We will be expected to triage and treat victims, which is pretty cool. I think it will be a nice break from the constant review classes. And it will be OUTSIDE. I love outside. So I'm definitely looking forward.<br />
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It's hard to believe the time has passed so quickly, and we are inching up towards boards and then clinicals. Everyone keeps telling me clinicals is going to be so much more fun. I've had fun so far, but most of the fun is looking forward to being finished, haha!<br />
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Here's to another week of more studying! Ciao!Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-47847367071450923782017-03-31T21:43:00.001-05:002017-03-31T21:43:32.223-05:00Block 7 Week 10 and 11: We made it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And here we are once again, at the end of a block. You guys know how it goes by now. Nail-biting, nerves, anxiety, RELIEF! The last two weeks have been non-stop studying and testing and waiting for grades, but it's OVER! But there is something different about this block. It's the end. We have covered all the lectures and now it's time to move on to dedicated board study. So for the next few months, it will be boards non-stop. Eat, sleep, study, repeat. I'm excited about it, but I'm also a little nervous. I can't believe two years of medical school are almost over, and at the end of July, I (hopefully) start my clinical rotations. Must. Pass. Boards. I can't say it went really fast, but at the same time, it seems like it should have taken longer to get here. I'm pretty excited.</div>
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I have one week between me and the dreaded Block 8, and you can bet I'm going to live it up. Well if living it up means sitting on my duff doing a bunch of nothing. You guys know how I feel about nothing. Ahhhhhhh. It's lovely. HB was out of town last week (in Hawaii, don't get me started), and I actually got a lot of cleaning and stuff done. I like to pace around my house and clean up instead of study because I'm complicated like that. So I don't have a huge list of housework that I need to get done really. We are throwing around some ideas about going camping or hiking or something. I kinda hope we manage to do something. I miss hanging out with my kids and HB, and I'd like to spend some time with them before boards prep gets super-serious. But I also don't want to plan a bunch of plans that will feel a whole lot like something other than nothing. Because ahhhhhh. Nothing.</div>
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Anyway, I don't have much else to report currently. I have an empty mind (haha nothing new) that is shrinking from responsibility. So I'm going to get back to doing my nothings. Have a nice break guys!</div>
<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-16840961218515251512017-03-18T20:12:00.001-05:002017-03-18T20:21:21.780-05:00Block 7 Week 9: If it makes you happy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I guess it's no secret that I've been in the dumps in a serious way for the last few weeks. I don't want to do anything that remotely looks like studying or learning. I just want to curl up in bed and watch Grimm episodes and eat carbs. Some of this has to do with impending board exams, and the rest is probably separation anxiety because the HB has been out of town SO VERY MUCH lately. He's going to freaking HAWAII the week before block break WITHOUT ME. Yes, salty, that's me. </div>
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So today I thought I'd write a post about things that make me happy, because there are quite a few things on that list.<br />
First, when I'm all bummed and my friends come over and play cards and make me laugh. Last night, Mikey and Ezra and Dottie came over and we ate twizzlers and starburst and oreos and ice cream and played cards until LATE. We laughed and goofed off, and it was AWESOME. Sometimes your study buddies turn into family, and that's pretty nifty.<br />
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Next, CHEESE! You guys, I love cheese so very much. It's good all by itself, or on a cracker, or melted and smothering a tortilla chip. Cheese is a friend that has NEVER disappointed. I feel like food is going to star in a major way on this list.<br />
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Fat babies. OMG guys. My grandsons are so adorable, and the little one is all chubby and squishy and he loves cuddling. The older one is easily placated with cheese (just like his Bubbie), and he says the most hilarious things. I wish I had been able to relax and have fun with my littles like I do with my grandies. But I was too worried about being the perfect mother and I had no chill.<br />
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HIKING! I have never been an outside person. Mainly because I was fat and out of shape. I'm still kinda fat and out of shape, but not as much as before. I discovered that I REALLY don't like going to the gym and working out on a machine with a bunch of other hamster people. I like to be outside. We have this awesome park that has lots of great hiking trails (and biking apparently; I discovered this when I was almost mowed down by a couple of eager bikers), and I would go there EVERY DAY if weather allowed. However, our weather has been iffy here lately, so I haven't been as often as I'd like. But this is definitely on my list of happy things.</div>
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PEEPS (See I TOLD you there's lots of food)! Easter is my favorite time of year, mostly because of peeps. I like to open the package and put it up out of sight of my kids until they get stale and then eat them. Yeah, I know, pretty sick, right? They are so yummy! It seems like everyone has deep opinions about Peeps. I'm definitely in the LOVE department.</div>
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My HB. I have a major league crush on that dude. I've loved him since I was 11 years old, and I ain't stopping now. Or ever. He is stuck with me FOR LIFE. Poor guy. He doesn't seem to mind though; I guess I'm pretty charming or something. Or maybe he's hanging on until I'm a doctor so he can be my Trophy Husband. We're both OK with that.</div>
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SO we had our standardized patient last Tuesday, and that was INTERESTING. You'd think by now I wouldn't get all in a dither about this since I've done it every block since the first one. But I get so dang nervous! Another dumb thing I did was get a gel manicure on the Friday before. So I have these fake nails that I'm not used to, and I'm expected to type my notes on the encounter in nine minutes when I can't even spell my name with these durn things on!</div>
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I went back today to review my note, and it's a mess! Typos galore! I think a toddler might have done a better job. I seriously hope that I pass. Yes, it's that bad. But I feel like my patient experience went well. I hope the grader agrees.</div>
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Well, I guess that's it for this week. Two more weeks in block 7!!! </div>
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-5516513610595251852017-03-13T16:28:00.000-05:002017-03-13T16:28:47.093-05:00Block 7 Week 8: I just want to wrap up in a blanket on my couch and play video games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So there's this motivational speaker guy that I follow on Facebook. He's really awesome. He was born without any arms or legs, and he travels around and speaks and writes books and is generally a great dude. I see his posts and they are all like, don't let your problems slow you down, turn them into stepping stones or some kinda flowery language like that. Most of the time, I'm all like, yeah dude, let's get it! But not today. Today, I want to go home and get under the covers and pretend like I don't have SP tomorrow.<br />
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I know I write this blog and I'm always like, hey, I'm so blessed to be here, and things get hard, but you just have to work hard and you'll get there. And most of the time I feel like that. But today. UGH. Blame it on Daylight Saving Time (if I ever get a straight answer on who thought it was a good idea to start a Monday an hour in the hole, Imma dig him up and kick him right in the butt), or Monday, or the fact that we are starting week 9, or any number of bummer things that are going on. It's just that this is a hard place to be. I don't want to study or practice for my standardized patient for tomorrow.<br />
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The thing that a lot of medical students will tell you about this undertaking is that you have to pass on a lot of fun things that the rest of the world gets to do while you are becoming a doctor. And most of the time you can tell yourself that it will all be worth it when you are living the dream. But I read an article this morning that pretty much just dumped a truckload of sand on that idea. This is the article: <a href="http://www.idealmedicalcare.org/blog/sleep-deprived-docs-disclose-hospital-horrors/" target="_blank">Sleep Deprived Docs Disclose Hospital Horrors</a>. To sum up, the ACGME (that's who is in charge of medical education in residency after graduation from medical school) approved a return to 28-hour shifts for doctors in residency. The article discusses some anecdotes of doctors' experiences after a long call period. It is scary and horrifying.<br />
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See, as a medical student, there are some things about our education that are kind of a drag. Like sometimes an instructor of a particular class might not be presenting the most up-to-date clinically-oriented information, and we get frustrated. Or maybe I did bad on an exam, and it makes me feel like I'm not working hard enough. The rigors of the first two years sometimes wear you down and you just feel in the dumps. But you tell yourself, hey, we are so close to clinicals, and getting closer to graduation, then residency, and then being a "real doctor!" However, it's really hard to look forward to the next step when it looks like what these interns are experiencing in that article.<br />
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It doesn't make sense to me that anyone thinks it is a good idea to have a sleep-deprived intern practicing medicine. If truck drivers don't get enough sleep, they cause 60-car pileups on the freeway. If a physician doesn't get enough sleep, the attending smacks him on the butt and sends him into the ER to work up the next patient. What does a 60-car pileup look like in an ER? Or in the NICU? I don't think I want to know. I certainly don't want to be the intern responsible for a bad patient outcome simply because I fell asleep while I was supposed to be working up a head injury.<br />
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I'm really sorry for the bummer blog post today. I have to remind myself that this path I'm on is a calling for me, and I'm not promised that it will be fun and rosy when it's all done. All I know is this is what I'm supposed to be doing. It would be a lot easier if I was sure that spending all this time becoming led to something better than what the doctors in that article have experienced. It would make it a lot easier to give up being with my family and blanket-wrapped video game times. And not all days are like this for sure. It's just today kinda sucks.<br />
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-30121773194265992822017-03-04T08:11:00.000-06:002017-03-04T08:11:08.021-06:00Block 7 Week 7: My Motivational PlaylistI started getting the idea for this blog post this week, and I wanted to make sure before I dive in that everyone who reads this doesn't misunderstand me. While I might whinge and moan about how difficult medical school is, I do not want anyone to think that I am ungrateful for this opportunity. I talk to a lot of people who are smart and qualified who have not been accepted into medical school. These are people who probably look a lot better than I do on paper and in interviews. So I do not want to give the impression that I am not content with where I am. The other side of that coin is that I want to be real. A lot of people live their lives thinking that at some point in the future, they will find "happy." If I weigh a certain amount, if I get into this school, if I drive this car, and if I can wing my eyeliner just right, I will exist in this place called happy. I won't lie, there is a special satisfaction that comes with getting that eyeliner winged perfectly.<br />
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But at the end of the night after wowing the public, ya gotta wash that stuff off, right? Otherwise you wake up in the morning looking like an SVU victim found in an alley.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJUSxtBPLCBqoOP8iBU-chnC6LHh1rEALbfQNDaLWlH0CBfPg6yESTtUmTS_tUpcrJ0B9VLQ322QgK9Xme8cRm4UlUH5V265Ob17ZJZC-5CWEm3Tjr-PeDYp9lHOe_BMWM62MdPLRPBo/s1600/barbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJUSxtBPLCBqoOP8iBU-chnC6LHh1rEALbfQNDaLWlH0CBfPg6yESTtUmTS_tUpcrJ0B9VLQ322QgK9Xme8cRm4UlUH5V265Ob17ZJZC-5CWEm3Tjr-PeDYp9lHOe_BMWM62MdPLRPBo/s320/barbie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So that kind of happiness is temporary -- but that's another blog post for another time. Having said all that, let's go.<br />
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Some days I can't find the motivation to get in the car and do the same thing all over again. When school first started, this was not a problem. I'd get up at 6am, take a shower, get dressed in my snazzy new business casual attire, and hit the road like:<br />
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Fast forward to block 7, and it's more like:</div>
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ESPECIALLY on test days. I have spent the better part of two years (which isn't really a long time, is it?) getting up, getting dressed, and going to class. We sit in the same chair next to the same people and listen to other people talk about (and show gross pictures) of disease processes and sometimes even some normal stuff. A few days a week, we come in and take exams. It gets monotonous. Becoming a doctor pretty much sucks up all the hours in a day, and that stretches into weeks, and months, and years. I think I understand why a lot of doctors get salty about their patients consulting Dr. Google after spending so much time learning the ins and outs of the human body so that we can treat them properly. </div>
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So what do you do to keep your head on? Well, it takes some extra work and time (which are things that aren't plentiful), but it can be done. One of the things that helps me is music. I LOVE music, and I have some pretty varied tastes in that area. I have a Spotify subscription, so I like to make playlists. I have a playlist for just about everything. I organize them according to artist sometimes, and then I have some that are specific to situations. Then I have my starred playlist, which is huge and always growing. It's just songs that I've come across that I like. Most of the time I just set that one to shuffle, and I'm good. HB teases me that I don't have any music from this decade on that playlist, and he's pretty close to right. So then I have this one playlist, and it changes a lot because I find new stuff to stick in there and I get tired of some of the older ones. It's called I Don't Want To. I think it was originally called Monday, but the new descriptor is more fitting, because it doesn't just happen on Mondays. I think every song that gets to be on this playlist so far has been an upbeat tempo that just gets you moving, but also has lyrics that motivate me. "Don't Bring That Trouble" by Needtobreathe has been on there for a while, and I don't see it getting retired any time soon. "Unstoppable" by Sia is a new addition. I don't want to put down a complete list here of songs, because I think it's a good idea to find your theme songs to populate your Motivational Playlist. </div>
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So sometimes when you're feeling rather like this:<br />
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Don't do this:</div>
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Make a playlist, and walk into class like this:</div>
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No, it won't change the monotony of medical school or make you a better student, but it might just help you get through another day of I Don't Want To. And eventually you will cross those off your list and get to better days.</div>
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-58762558856534706872017-02-28T14:30:00.001-06:002017-02-28T14:30:30.165-06:00Block 7 Week 6: Strange things are afoot at the Circle K<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not really, I just love that quote from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. I have to say that second to The Princess Bride, Bill and Ted is one of the most quotable movies of my teen years, maybe ever. I am an unabashed aficionado of dumb movies, and Bill and Ted is one of my favorites. I think I learned more history from this movie than during all of my high school years. Shhhhh... I know. </div>
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I guess you could say that strange things ARE afoot, though. Now that we are nearing the end of our two years of desk travail, I am feeling a little overwhelmed. I'm trying to fit in board studying, regular studying, life, exercise, family, church, and all of the usual things we have to juggle. I've had some difficulty with the board study, though. Honestly at 8pm I'm falling in the bed like it's midnight. Yes, I'm taking my vitamins. I just feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done, and even if there were, the last four or so just aren't good for studying. My brain hurts!</div>
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So what's new in week 6? Not much, just more of the usual. We had a huge push of Clinical Medicine Psychology this week, and I am reeling with all of the possible mood disorders and psychotic diagnoses that are out there. We had our exam this morning, and I think I did OK. I know there are several students in my class that have been excited for getting to this subject finally, and I'm glad they are having a good time. I think I hit my peak in OB/GYN. </div>
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I'm starting to get really excited about moving back home for clinicals. I love my house and my neighborhood and the idea of getting my chickens back! I will miss the proximity to town, however. It's nice to be able to hop in my car and get to Kroger in five minutes or less. My kids have really gotten used to being close to town, and they can get to their various sports practices quite easily where we are. So there's definitely pros and cons regarding the move, but I really think the pros (CHICKENS!!!) very much outweigh the cons (NO CHICKENS!!). Yes, I based my entire decision on the ability to keep chickens.</div>
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But seriously, we all have our coping mechanisms. My son (first year med student) bakes. How he bakes! Breads, cookies, you name it! I can always tell when school is getting heavy, because the house fills with yummy carb scents. I'm not doing as well with coping, because I tend to drown myself in online shopping. (Have ya seen my leggings collection? OMG!) But one of the things that really keeps me from floating away into panicky feelings is chickens. Before medical school, I had 15 fluffy feathery friends that ran free in my back yard. They were quirky and sassy, and just sitting in the backyard watching them seemed to drain all stress right out of me. Also, EGGS! The fresh eggs were definitely a plus. I'm currently replacing my chicken angst with a lizard. He's pretty much just a naked chicken. Here's a shot of Muerte:</div>
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But he doesn't lay eggs. I'd rather he didn't, actually. But it's really fun to let him run around the house, and watch him eat superworms. He gets excited about worms and crickets, y'all. REALLY excited! So he's my indoor pseudo-chicken. If I could put a vest on him and call him my service animal, I would take him to school every day. </div>
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Speaking of service animals, we have a service dog that visits our school on mornings that we have exams. His name is Hodges, and he's a sweetie. He pretty much just wants to play tug-of-war with his toy, but I love seeing him on test days. One of the students in our class is conducting a study about interacting with Hodges and possible reductions in stress before exams. I'm not sure if I feel any differently about my exam after visiting with Hodges. But it's nice to play tug-of-war with him anyway. </div>
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I guess that's all for this week. Stay tuned next week for post-mortem after our OMM final and practical.</div>
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Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-76681591470637416492017-02-20T20:23:00.001-06:002017-02-20T20:23:29.748-06:00Block 7 Weeks 4-5: Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So the big news dropped on Friday; our assignments for third and fourth year, that is. I was very pleased to get my first choice, and I'm even more excited that we get to move back HOME! While I have loved my time here, and I love the house we currently live in, I am so excited to get back to MY house. I miss my yard, and my neighborhood, and CHICKENS!</div>
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Pretty much the biggest news going on right now outside of clinical rotation assignments is BOARD EXAMS. Yeah, we have to pass the big Step 1 before we are allowed to do our rotations. Everyone is carrying their well-thumbed copies of First Aid everywhere they go, and you can see people scribbling notes in them all the time. I have a really cool schedule for board study, and sometimes I even stick to it. Next block is 24/7 boards boards boards. *sigh*</div>
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I kinda hit a wall this morning right after my pharmacology exam. I was getting in my car, and saying bye to a classmate. I caught myself saying, "Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm going home, and then I'll be back tomorrow to DO. THE. SAME. THING. ALL. OVER. AGAIN." This medical school thing ain't easy guys. You kinda get used to it, but sometimes you stop and ponder the lather, rinse, repeat-ness of it, and it gets OLD. We sit in lecture all day, we go home and eat something, then we study study study. Sleep, get up, repeat. I'll just say I'm super looking forward to clinicals next year. The monotony is wearing me out.</div>
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Speaking of worn out, that's my middle name! By about 8 at night, I am so absolutely pooped. I feel like I've aged a hundred years since school started. After attending class, trying to get in some exercise, and studying (if I can stay awake long enough), my energy is gone. I think maybe I need to up my vitamin dosage or something. I'm feeling kinda like this guy: </div>
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Anyway, I guess that's all that's going on with me right now. Hopefully next week I'll be more interesting, right now though, I'm going to bed. Good night!</div>
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-75351252205256548122017-02-05T19:27:00.000-06:002017-02-05T19:27:23.121-06:00Block 7 Week 3: Five by Five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah yes. We couldn't have a blog without a little Buffy, right? I never could quite figure out what Faith was referencing exactly when she said she was five by five. I guess it was her way of saying everything's OK. Or maybe not. She wasn't exactly OK, was she? I kinda get her though. I find myself saying I'm OK a lot of time when I'm not exactly sure that I am. I'll think I'm OK, and then I'll have a mini panic attack while I'm trying to nail down a pathway or cascade in cell bio. Yeah, we have our cell bio final tomorrow, and this is not my best subject. So my brain will start cramping and then I panic because I don't want to remediate cell bio. We always jump to the worst conclusions don't we?<br />
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We are trucking along here in block 7 now. We only have one more block left in our pre-clinical education. Then it's time for boards and clinical rotations. This block includes hematology, dermatology, and lymphatics. People will come up to me sometimes and ask if I'm almost done with medical school. Haha, no. But it has gone very quickly, especially second year. First year seemed to drag out indefinitely. Then this year started, and ZOOM! I feel like I've learned a ton, but then someone will ask me a question about a condition, and suddenly I'm like, oh. We haven't really learned that yet. Or worse, we will have learned about it, but maybe not the particular aspect they are wanting to know about. For most illnesses, we get clinical presentation, a little info on any kind of genetic goof-up if applicable, and drugs that treat it and their mechanism of action. If it's a bacterial infection, I should be able to tell you if the bug is gram negative or positive (in theory), which really doesn't tell you much about the disease course or what you can expect. It does help with the kind of medication that might wipe it out though. I'm hoping that kind of info will be more clear in clinical rotations. </div>
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Sometimes it seems like medical school is asking a little more out of me than I want to give up. Especially when something fun is going on, and I have to once again bow out and go study. Like right at this moment, my family is at my house eating nachos and chicken wings and watching the Super Bowl. Now, I'd rather eat crickets than watch a football game on TV, but I love a good excuse to get family together and eat junk food and hang out. But here I am studying for my exam tomorrow and feeling a little meh about it. I try to comfort myself with the fact that it will be over and I will be a real doctor, but that seems really far off from here.</div>
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Yeah I will deal with it, thanks. A really awesome lady told me one time that a lot of medical school involves holding my nose and getting through stuff I don't like. I think that was her reasoning for enduring organic chemistry in undergrad. So here I am holding my nose. But it's not all bad. We get to do some really cool stuff. Every Friday, we have early clinical experiences, and a lot of those have turned out to be really cool. Last week, I was assigned to shadow at a local EMS station. So I went to a firehouse and waited for them to get a call. Unfortunately, they didn't get any calls while I was scheduled. Or probably fortunately for the community. I never quite know how to feel about when I don't get to observe something because I know it means that nothing bad happened on my shift. Does that make me a bad person? I'm just sitting there on their couch like, I'm ready!</div>
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So I guess I need to get back to studying for that exam. I'd rather sit here and blog and do just about anything else, but in the morning I'll be sitting at my seat wondering why I wasted so much time. Tomorrow after my exam is over, I'm going to take a huge nap and maybe make some leftover nachos and watch some TV. That is, if I can remember how to operate the microwave...<br />
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-12400180013170307162017-01-28T17:38:00.002-06:002017-01-28T17:38:59.037-06:00Block 7 Week 1-2: I've said my piece and counted to three...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you ever feel like someone is constantly trying to change your mind? I do. Most of the time, it's my kids who want to do something, and I'm firmly against it. They will reason and convince and beg and come at you from every direction to get you to change your mind. I don't mind discussing it with them, because often I'd like to make sure I'm not just saying no because it's the first thing that comes out of my mouth. But there are just some things that are not going to fly, and no amount of cajoling is going to change my mind. That's when I have to say, "NO. I've said my piece and counted to three." Usually I don't say it like that, it's just no, and that's it. But this is the scene playing in my head. (Another good movie -- "O Brother Where Art Thou?") Super quotable. Like this one:</div>
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But back to changing your mind, or being bullied into doing so. I can't. There are things that I have to constantly roll over in my head and decide if it's right to believe them or hang onto them, because the way the world is going right now keeps banging at my core values and asking me to abandon them. I read a lot, in a lot of different places. And opinions, BOY do people have them. I'll read something, and I'm like, hrm, I can see how they could believe that to be true. And then I'll read someone else's opinions, and kinda feel like I could see how someone could arrive at that conclusion as well. </div>
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I bring this stuff up to HB all the time, because he apparently has everything figured out already. It's always stuff in these little cracks that don't necessarily fit neatly into one envelope or another. He can explain stuff really well too, but I don't always agree with him either. And he's OK with it for the most part. But you know how sometimes things just don't settle right in your head or your heart? That's kinda where I am right now. I can't turn on the TV and listen to what's going on, I have to just turn it off. </div>
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I know I've said before that I'm not political. And I'm really not. I do my level best to not encounter politics at all in any form. Because it's not my thing. However, I'm not sure burying my head in the sand is the right response either. I am a Christian. And that can raise hackles for people, especially right now. Many people have experience with Christians who are more interested in waving a banner of all that they "won't stand for." For me, it all comes down to what Jesus said when he was asked what is the greatest commandment. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="MAT.22.37" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-indent: 19px;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;">"Jesus said to him, '</span><span class="wj" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;">You shall love the </span></span><span class="wj" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="sc" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: small-caps;"><span class="bd" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;">Lord</span></span></span></span><span class="wj" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;"> your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' </span></span></span><span class="verse v38" data-usfm="MAT.22.38" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-indent: 19px;"><span class="wj" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;">This is </span></span><span class="wj" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="it" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;">the</span></span></span><span class="wj" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;"> first and great commandment.</span></span><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;"> And the second is like it. 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" -- </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matthew 22:37-39</span></div>
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I heard a sermon by a really great man a long time ago about Christians and rights -- we don't have any. When we accept the call of God on our lives, we surrender any and all rights and accept what God plans for us. Early Christians were thrown to the lions and used in all kinds of activities that exploited their so-called rights. Fast forward to the 80s, where I remember people in church boycotting a company because some rumor was spread that the founder was a satanist**. Yeah, that kinda stuff happened before the internet too, people. Some self-righteous lady got in my face one day at church because I was chewing a brand of bubble-gum that she was boycotting. Same lady also told me that she was looking forward to expelling me from our Christian school the following week because she felt like my hair was too short. Throw me in the briar patch! Anyway, that went a little sideways, didn't it?</div>
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It's hard being a Christian with opinions. And it's hard to know when you should speak up and about what. I feel like God has me in the place I'm in to demonstrate his love to the small amount of people He puts in my path to influence. I'm not always good at this, because I have opinions. And I like to talk about them. My goal in life is to take those two commandments up there and behave that way. I don't want to say or do anything that would violate loving God or loving my neighbor. It's hard, y'all!</div>
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There's another story in the Bible where Jesus tells a man this same thing. He wants to be a smarty, so he says, "Well, who is my neighbor?" Then Jesus tells him the story of the Good Samaritan and asks the man which person in that story was that man's neighbor. And the man said, "Oh. The one who showed mercy." BUSTED! Jesus didn't shame him, he just said, "Go and do likewise." (ref: Luke 10:25-37) That's what I want to do. I don't want to see someone suffering and cross the street so I am not affected or inconvenienced by their suffering. Easier said than done, right?</div>
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Anyway, all this rant was just for me today. I feel heavy and sad and kinda weird about how the world is flipping upside down on me. And how people I used to look up to are applauding it. Like somehow being American makes us better than the rest of the world. Like somehow our rights can be demanded and we ain't gonna take it any more. It just doesn't sit right with my insides. It feels wrong. Surely you can reach inside there and turn it over a few times and realize it too. Love God. Love your neighbor. Who's your neighbor? Go and do likewise.</div>
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Love from me. ❤️️❤️️❤️️</div>
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** Reference for the satanist founder of P&G (also apparently P&G sued Amway multiple times for spreading this rumor, jury is still out as to whether they started it initially, but that's a funny twist, huh?): <a href="http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/procter.asp" target="_blank">LINK</a></div>
Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-75881181480580838022017-01-04T13:31:00.001-06:002017-01-04T13:31:55.475-06:00Christmas, New Year, Block Break, It's AWESOME!Oh you guys, this is the longest break I have had since medical school started, and let me tell you, I am LOVING IT! Also, I miss my homies. I guess this is what it will be like when we all go out for rotations and we won't be together every single day. I'm not going to think about that right now... I'll think about it tomorrow.<br />
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So I wanted to take this post and talk about something kinda close to home. Today is the six-month anniversary of the day I had vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) AND a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). VSG is a weight loss surgery where the doctor removes a portion of the stomach so that you cannot hold as much food when you eat. It leaves a banana-shaped area of stomach that is less than half of the original size. The idea is that if you can't eat as much, you'll lose weight. The difference between a VSG and gastric bypass is that with the VSG, they don't re-route your intestines. The gastric bypass takes the intestines and bypasses the main portion that does most of the absorption. Gastric bypass also bypasses the pyloric sphincter, which controls the amount of food that passes from the stomach into the intestines. People who have bypass surgery have a small pouch of stomach that limits the amount you can eat, but also have decreased absorption of what they do consume. They often experience a phenomenon called dumping syndrome after consuming simple carbs or sugars that is very unpleasant.<br />
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Knowing this, I chose the sleeve because I felt that I would eventually want to have some rice or a cookie sometime in the future and I wouldn't want to feel like I was dying if I chose to do that. Also with the bypass, the portion of stomach that is closed off from the pouch is left in place, but if something went wrong with that part of the stomach, there is no way to introduce a scope to see what's going on. I felt that even though the sleeve is a newer procedure, I could be more comfortable with the long term effects going forward.<br />
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So why am I sharing this? Well, as a medical student, you hear about a lot of medical conditions. The thing about that is you hear in just about every single one that the effects are exacerbated by obesity. And I was obese. Like seriously obese. In fact, I am still actually obese. I have lost 69 pounds, and I am a little over halfway to my goal. I was a BIG GIRL. I also have a family history of conditions that are inevitable in obese individuals. I didn't have any of those yet, but I was well on my way.<br />
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A lot of people feel like weight loss surgery is the easy way out. It might be. But if your house is on fire, are you going to try to find the most complicated escape route possible? No, you are going to find the easiest way out with the least amount of damage to your person. I have joined every weight loss bandwagon that exists. I have had some success with dieting and exercise. But every time I gained it right back. I have no promises that the same thing won't happen again. I hope that this time is different, and I am successful. What I know right now is all of my health indicators are within normal ranges. My blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good, and my cholesterol is good. And honestly, this hasn't been easy. But it has been worth it. I feel so much better, and I have so much more energy than I ever had before. I am exercising every day, and I just feel better. I can't believe it has only been six months, and I look so forward to the next six months to see where I go from here. If anyone has any questions about the procedure, or my journey, feel free to comment or send me an email at veebs@me.com. Happy New Year, guys!<br />
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Oh and here's a before and after:<br />
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-27740835535433598792016-12-23T13:09:00.001-06:002016-12-23T13:09:18.741-06:00Block 6 Weeks 10-11: I Am Quite at My Leisure!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today marks the end of week 11 of block 6. Technically there are two more weeks in this block, but they are the Christmas holidays. Then we have a week of block break. THREE WEEKS OFF! OH WOW! We only have two more blocks left in second year, and I can't believe it has gone by this quickly. The last two weeks weren't incredibly heavy, as we were taking final exams for a lot of our classes. We had several days that we didn't have lectures, so we were able to study more. And that's exactly what I did, yes sir, I studied. Nothing else at all.<br />
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We took our last exam yesterday morning, and by 4pm, all the grades were in and I was relieved to have passed everything with no remediation in my future. It gets kinda nail-bitey at the end sometimes, but this block has actually been pretty good. It's nice being in a good place at the end where you aren't worried about a particular test that could mess things up for you. I'm hoping to continue my streak for block 7. </div>
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I haven't had this much time off since medical school started. I'm not exactly sure what to do with myself. So yesterday, my youngest daughter and I went out to eat together because it's the day between our birthdays. We hung out and went shopping and had a great time. When we got back home, I sat down and started to reach for my computer. But then I realized that I didn't have anything looming. It was so nice to just sit around and goof off with the kids without feeling guilty for not studying. I do have to keep up with my board studying over the break, but I decided to give myself through the weekend with nothing on my schedule so I could enjoy the holiday with my family.<br />
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One of the biggest things I look forward to is catching up on sleep during break. This morning, I woke up at 6:24am. I guess it's going to take a little time for my brain to relax and enjoy the break. It was so annoying to roll over and look at my clock, though. Really? 6:24? UGH! And by the time I can finally sleep in, it will be time to start getting up early for class again. Oh well...<br />
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So to those of you who are in the same boat -- fellow medical students -- I hope you have an awesome break filled with good times with family and lots of rest. I hope you are able to allow yourself to take some time away from thinking about class and clinicals and boards and everything so that you can be completely ready to take on block 7. To everyone that reads this, Merry Christmas to you and your family. Be safe and happy!</div>
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-5349693669433031582016-12-09T08:17:00.000-06:002016-12-09T08:17:02.388-06:00Block 6 Week 9: Looking forward to doing some Nothing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
TWO WEEKS TO BLOCK BREAK!!!</div>
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I was thinking about the blog, and life, and stuff, ya know? What really jumped in my head was how block break is coming, and what exactly makes medical students so look forward to that one week between blocks. And... it's Nothing. Like capital N. Nothing. See, I didn't really grasp the concept of Nothing until I started med school. Because doing Nothing just kinda happened whenever I wanted it to. Nothing is the thing that EVERYONE likes to do, but they don't really know it until they can't do Nothing any more. Do you know what Nothing is? Here, I'll 'splain. So Nothing is the concept where a person can just exist. If you want to sit in bed and watch Netflix all day, go for it. There's nothing on the schedule, nothing impending, just Nothing. Nothing doesn't really exist for the average medical student. Even if you don't have an exam tomorrow, there is one coming -- or some kind of assignment due -- all the time. Or boards. Don't get me started on boards.</div>
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So the biggest thing that a student like me gets to missing is the ability to turn the brain off for a period of time, and just do what you WANT instead of what's on the agenda. Just a week a few times a year where the only thing expected is Nothing. For me, what qualifies as Nothing might be different than others. Nothing can be catching up on laundry, rearranging my closet, going to my kids' basketball game, or actually sitting on my butt curled up in my awesome new heated blanket and knitting or playing some Candy Crush. The crazy schedule expected of students in medical school can really do damage to the morale, and one of the ways to combat it is Nothing.</div>
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It's really funny how people will ask me if I've seen some new TV show, or shopped at a new store, or eaten at a new restaurant. Usually the answer is um, no, I've been studying my head off and living in a tiny bubble that includes my house, my school, and church. I always say oh that sounds cool, I'll have to add it to my list of things to do on block break. Except. I don't WANT a list of things to do on block break because that sounds like something other than Nothing. So it usually ends up that I never watch the show, or do the other things because they are a lot like a list of things. And who wants a list of things when they want to do Nothing?</div>
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That's more like it. The word bored just isn't a thing any more, because with the load I'm pulling, bored is a luxury that I rarely am able to indulge in. So for those of you who have wondered why I live for block break, there it is. Nothing. The opportunity to put everything down that's heavy and just do some Nothing. And eat some pizza, perhaps.</div>
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Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-53879169912274451112016-11-30T14:23:00.000-06:002016-11-30T14:23:10.300-06:00Block 6 Weeks 5-8 (OMG SORRY!): Reproductive block has been interesting...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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No you didn't miss any announcements from me, that factory is still closed, padlocked, and condemned. I've surely meant to update the blog more often, and actually it hasn't been an extremely busy block as far as course load. It's just having a little extra time allows for the things that get brushed aside during busy-ness, like laundry and seeing my kids and HB. I can't believe we are already 8 weeks in! Three more weeks until block break and then CHRISTMAS!</div>
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This block is about all things endocrine and reproductive. I have become immune to sitting in a room full of fellow medical students while hearing words that would make my mother cover her ears and run screaming from the room. I was a lot more flip about the terminology during the OB/GYN lectures, and then the Urology lectures started. And the PICTURES, people! I used to be rather ambivalent about how people used their parts before the myriad slides of diseased ones paraded before my eyes. Now I'm walking up to complete strangers and urging them to TAKE PRECAUTIONS PLEEEEAASSSE!!!! My poor children have been victim to my many rants on the dangers out there. </div>
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So yeah, Christmas is coming. I feel like we JUST had our school Halloween party, and then suddenly I'm doing the ceiling-high stack of Thanksgiving dishes and all the leftovers are gone. I'll also be celebrating a birthday in a few weeks. It's getting to be quite a few candles stacked on the cake nowadays. But 43 seems like a bit of a dud birthday. It's not exactly a milestone birthday, but it is one more year around the sun, so I'm grateful. What do I want for my birthday? Well anyone that has a birthday this close to Christmas will tell you that it kinda gets swallowed up into the Christmas festivities and so it's not as big of a deal. But I've never felt like I got cheated out of my birthday. My parents always made a pretty big fuss over the day (well we celebrate for DAYS instead of just the day). I used to think that grownups shouldn't make such a big deal about birthdays, but as I get older I realize another birthday is a huge gift that a lot of people don't get. So I like to party it up. Before school started, I would gather all my girlfriends and go to a restaurant and have a nice meal. I also make these ridiculous cupcakes that I sorta invented. So I suppose I'll whip up a batch of my special cupcakes and hang out with some buddies. As far as gifts go, I can't really think of anything. I'm such an amazon addict that I tend to just order up something if I need it. So I guess there's nothing I'm really crossing my fingers for this year. Most of the things I'd love to have are concepts like sleep, a few days where I didn't have to worry about studying, a sudden proficiency at standardized patients, and the kind of recall I had in high school that bordered on photographic. </div>
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So even though this block is winding down, the big push as of now is boards boards boards. We take them at the end of second year, and everyone is worried about passing and doing well. I haven't started worrying about it yet. I have a prescribed study plan from our academic counseling center, and I try really hard to stick to it, but I'm not as good as I'd like to be in that department. I even have reminders in my phone to do the study questions every day, and review of pharm and micro on the weekends. But sometimes when they pop up I'm just like, oh I will do that tomorrow. UGH! So this weekend I plan to catch up on a lot of that and make myself stick to the plan going forward. </div>
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Speaking of procrastination, I'm currently blogging instead of studying for my standardized patient, which is TOMORROW. So I'm off to read all about all the embarrassing questions I will have to ask a perfect stranger. I'm also going to have to stand in front of a mirror and say a bunch of embarrassing words so I won't giggle tomorrow. Also gotta work on my facial expressions. Anyone know how to teach yourself not to blush?</div>
Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-48450407177961169162016-11-05T11:44:00.000-05:002016-11-05T11:44:24.354-05:00Block 6 Week 2-4: Mama says that alligators are ornery because they got all them teeth and no toothbrush.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once again I have failed at keeping my blog up to date. I apologize, it has been BIZZAY lately. SO today's blog post is going to be Waterboy themed. You'll see why.<br />
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One of the most difficult parts about being a mom of six in medical school is when someone gets hurt. Zion (17yo) hurt his hand at football practice a few weeks back, and I happened to be out of town at a conference. This is strike #1 of mommyhood. I called and scheduled an appointment with the orthopedic doctor for him the next morning, but I couldn't get back home until later in the afternoon. Come to find out, he had a pretty serious spiral fracture in his hand. Also, since I didn't attend the appointment (strike #2), he managed to beg his doctor to allow him to play in the last game of the season. With a broken hand.<br />
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So fast forward to this past Tuesday AFTER the last game of the season (which they lost), and we find out that his hand did not heal right, and he has to have surgery. They scheduled his surgery for Friday morning at 6am. Well, Friday morning at 6am, I was expected to be loading up to head to the Middle of Nowhere High School where a group of us medical students presented a "Mini Med-School" to freshmen. Oh yeah, strike #3. I tried to get out of it, but it wasn't a possibility. So, I left his Dad in charge and drove out to the boonies to give my presentation. We finished pretty early in the morning, so I had a chance to actually get back to the hospital before he woke up from recovery. Well, that is, until I tossed my KEYS in the trunk and shut it without realizing. So not only did my son wake up from surgery without his mom, I had to call his dad away from the hospital to help me get into my car. The poor baby woke up looking for his parents and NEITHER of them were there. What happens when you get to strike #4? I'm pretty sure I've lost my Mom Card. </div>
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So to make up for my glaring failure as a mother, I took the night shift last night. I set an alarm on my phone to wake up every four hours and take his temp and give him meds. The poor baby has been apologizing for needing to be taken care of, and I feel like a complete heel. </div>
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I was really hoping when I went back to school that my kids wouldn't have to take the brunt of my absence and raise themselves. I always wanted for them to have the type of mom that sent them off to school in the morning and greeted them in the afternoon with cookies and that whole Leave it to Beaver kind of scene. The thing is, even if I hadn't gone back to school, I'm just not the June Cleaver type. But I do love my kids, and I don't want to scar them for life with Bad Mom Moments. Nobody means for their kids to turn out delinquents, but sometimes I feel like I'm following the formula for that outcome. Look at poor Vicky Valencourt. I'm sure her Momma went back to school and left her to fend for herself, and see what happened...</div>
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But hey, Zion really wants to play football, and he hopes to be able to play in college as well. So maybe like Bobby Boucher, he can use all the mistreatment he has endured at the hands of his mother to encourage him to play really well.<br />
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And hopefully he won't run across a little minx like Vicky Valencourt, because, well you know...</div>
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He did tell me yesterday (while his anesthesia was still wearing off) that I shouldn't feel bad about not being there for him for surgery. He said I could make it up to him once I'm a doctor. He even sang a cute little song:</div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/mQPjKSVe1tQ?t=31s" target="_blank">Buy Me a Boat</a></div>
Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-39929463028491023082016-10-14T17:13:00.000-05:002016-10-14T17:13:36.143-05:00Block 6 Week 1: Something New Every DaySo last week, huh? Apparently a lot of people read last week's post (well, more than usual anyway). I had a lot of feedback from the post, and I appreciate the encouragement that you all gave. I also heard a lot of stories that were way too similar to mine. I pray that those of you that have had similar experiences are able to find a place of peace and protection.<br />
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This week has been a hard one, honestly. School hasn't been a problem at all, though. Last Sunday a really close family friend and fellow church member passed away. This week has been full of preparing to say a final goodbye and comforting everyone who is feeling the loss. I wanted to be a lot more available to help out, but on Tuesday I came down with a horrible stomach bug, and I was down for the count for about two days. With that and keeping up with school, I've not been as helpful as I would have liked. Today we had the funeral and burial, and there were so many people who came together and leaned on each other for comfort. </div>
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I don't know if everyone else does this, but when I attend a funeral, I start thinking about loved ones that I've lost. I don't think of it as depressing or sad, though. I just like to reflect on people that I miss. One of the biggest losses I think I've experienced is that of my paternal grandfather. He died in a car accident about three weeks after HB and I got married. He's been gone more than 25 years, but I still feel a huge empty hole where he is supposed to be. I used to go to yard sales with Poppa and Granny on Saturday mornings sometimes, and I spent the night at their house all the time. I remember watching Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud with them in their living room. They were a very big influence on my life as a kid, and my Poppa especially taught me a lot of cool things. One of his favorite things to say (usually after I goofed up something) was, "You learn something new every day." He often said it sarcastically, but he was absolutely right. Sometimes I think of how many days it has been since he died and how many things I've learned on those days. I wish I could sit and talk to him about all the things I've learned.</div>
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There's this silly thing that I've done for almost my whole life that I can't believe I'm going to share with you guys. So there's this cute little picture of Aubie (War Eagle!) that I've always thought looks like my Poppa. He looks like this:</div>
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It's like if Poppa were a tiger, this would be his face. Yes, it's silly. I have a huge sticker like this on the back window of my car (2007 Ford Mustang, YES!). But whenever I look in my rearview mirror and see Aubie's face, I think about Poppa and I kinda feel like he's keeping an eye on me. I think when we miss people really bad, there are little things that can bring comfort and a reminder of how much you love them, even in their absence. I don't know if it makes it sting worse or it softens it a bit, maybe a little of both at different times. But whenever I feel like the world is really hard, I just think about Poppa watching and I hope he's proud. </div>
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There's a song that I hear sometimes, and it still busts me up pretty bad. It's called Beam Me Up, and it's about losing someone, and what you would do if you had a minute to see them again. I don't know what I'd say if I could talk to Poppa for just a minute, but I'd sure love the chance. I wouldn't feel the need to tell him I loved him the whole time because we said it to each other all the time, and he knew it. I don't have any regrets with our relationship, just that it ended too quickly. But the lyrics to the song are:</div>
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Beam me up</div>
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I don't know what I'd say in it.</div>
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I'd probably just stare</div>
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Happy just to be there holding your face.</div>
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Beam me up</div>
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Let me be lighter,</div>
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I'm tired of being a fighter.</div>
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I think a minute's enough...</div>
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Could you beam me up?</div>
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OK OK Now that I'm sobbing like a baby, I promise next week's post should be a little bit lighter. Have a good week!</div>
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Ciao!</div>
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<br />Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-25631850313617251962016-10-08T11:35:00.000-05:002016-10-08T11:35:28.379-05:00Block Break 5: Keeping silent is what they count on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wanted to use my block break blog post to tell you all about my awesome block break. It was going to be all happy and awesome and smiley. HB and I went to St. Augustine for the first part of the week and stayed in an AirBnB, and we had a blast. But I really can't fill this blog with details about my awesome week. Because Trump.<br />
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I'm not sure what kind of world you guys live in, but today I'm going to tell you a little bit about mine. Perhaps that will explain the visceral reaction that I had yesterday when I turned on the news. I apologize for using my med school blog to be political. I'm not political, not in the least. But staying silent is what they count on. Who? The ones who perpetrate the ideal that women are to blame for men's rotten behavior towards them.<br />
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I remember very vividly the first time a member of the opposite sex violated my personal boundaries. I was seven years old, and a little boy in my class who had never spoken a single word to me reached out and grabbed my crotch. If the first thing that comes to your mind is that I must have been wearing something or doing something to draw that kind of attention, just get out. Close the window and go. Or scroll up and read again. Seven. Years. Old. I was probably wearing jeans and a t-shirt and sneakers. You might say that some adult taught him this, or he was just a curious child acting out, or whatever kind of trash that people say here. It's not a comfortable subject to discuss, and it's the ugly underbelly of throwing thirty kids into a classroom with one adult to keep the peace. You might even think that it wasn't a big deal, and compared to the crimes that women have endured at the hands of sick perverts, it's less than a 1 on a scale to 10.<br />
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But what that incident did to me as a child, as an individual, as a female -- it was devastating. I did not enjoy it or welcome it. But I did not tell anyone. Why? Because as a seven year-old child, I already knew that these kinds of revelations made people uncomfortable, and it wasn't something that people wanted to discuss. So I tried to behave differently so that that kind of thing wouldn't happen again. I stayed far away from that particular kid, and I kept my eyes open. But it wasn't enough.<br />
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I rode the bus to school when I was in 4th grade. I was probably about 10 or 11 years old. I learned very quickly to just grab a seat as far toward the front of the bus as possible, because if you walked all the way to the back, there were boys that sat on the edge of the seats on the aisle and would put their hands on you as you walked past. The first time that happened to me, I was groped all the way to the fourth row. You better believe I was behind the bus driver for the rest of the year. I also figured out that if someone was clutching their nose while it was gushing blood that they wouldn't grab your butt. I learned quickly if you gave a boy a bloody nose on the bus you'd end up in detention no matter what they did. I tried explaining to the principal that a boy pinched my behind and I punched him in the nose, and he gave me the boys will be boys talk. So I also learned that it was my fault.<br />
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The school bus is the absolute worst place for a girl. Once, I got off at my stop which was right in front of my house. I was a latch-key kid, so no one was home. Another boy got off at my stop (it wasn't his stop) and followed me to my house. I wouldn't open the door, so he pushed me up against the wall in the carport and groped me. I slapped him so hard my hand hurt for days, but thankfully he was more worried about me messing up his face than forcing his way into my house. The next day I got off at my friend's stop so he wouldn't try the same thing again. I got into trouble with my parents because they had to come get me from her house. I'm not sure why I didn't tell them what happened. Maybe it's because I learned in 4th grade that it was my fault.<br />
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It's really hard to explain to men what it is like to live in their world. A majority of men have never been thrown around against their will by someone twice as strong as they are, and it doesn't compute that cat-calling feels more like a threat than a compliment. But most women live in a world where they need permission to just be safe. Don't wear this, don't be at this place, don't behave in a way that draws any attention to you as a woman. What people don't realize is that it doesn't matter what you are wearing, where you are, or what you are doing, if a man has the intention, he's going to do it.<br />
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You might be surprised to hear that women wearing sweatpants with no makeup and with no alcohol in their system still get raped. Little girls sleeping in their beds at night get kidnapped and murdered through no action or fault of their own. The fault does not lie in a woman's appearance or actions, it lies at the feet of the perpetrator of the crimes against them. I'm not saying that a woman should not seek to protect herself from being in a situation where bad things could happen. But when the first question that comes to your mind when a woman is victimized is whether she was wearing something or behaving in a certain way that asks for it, you are what's wrong. You are perpetrating a culture that excuses horrible behavior by someone who knows better by laying that responsibility at the feet of the victim.<br />
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Yesterday I read the article outlining the quotes from Mr. Trump about how he can just grab a woman by her crotch and kiss her without asking because he's "a star," and that he had struck out with this married woman when the ink wasn't even dry on his marriage certificate to his new and improved wife. I am disgusted and horrified that two men had a conversation on camera about sexual assault, and it was something to laugh about, and they didn't see anything wrong with it. Today all of Trump's bootlickers are lining up to make excuses for his actions once again. It was so many years ago, he's changed. Oh? Please tell me about how he's changed. Because I saw his tweets about the former Miss Universe. He ranted for FOUR DAYS about her. Hillary doesn't even have to produce any campaign commercials because all she has to do is put a mic up to his tweets. I'm sorry, you just can't stamp this one with "At least he's not Hillary." I'm certainly not a fan of Mrs. Clinton, so don't misread me here. The presidential office of the United States has certainly been ground under the heel of many of those who have held it, but I honestly do not want to live in a country where Trump is allowed to ride roughshod over the Stars and Stripes. Again, I apologize for going all political, but an America under Trump is not safe for me or any other woman.Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-11781012589342387292016-09-30T02:26:00.001-05:002016-09-30T02:26:27.173-05:00Block 5 Week 10-11: Get used to disappointment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This phrase always cracks me up. I use it ALL the time, especially with my kids. Most people wouldn't know it, but I used to be extremely hardcore about running around and arranging everything so it would be perfect. I would get really bent out of shape if things didn't turn out exactly the way I had planned. I don't know what happened, but somewhere along the way I just decided to do a complete 180 in that department. I really don't get flustered about much at all any more. I think it probably has to do with understanding that life is going to happen, and it's a lot easier to deal with if you just relax and take it as it comes.<br />
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It also probably has a lot to do with being married to the HB. The thing about HB is, he's kinda like a wizard when it comes to time...<br />
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... except, he usually <i>is</i> late, so he can be rather not like a wizard.</div>
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HB has been really good for me (and my blood pressure) though. I look back at birthday parties and holiday meals and things like that and remember me being absolutely bonkers about people coming to my house. And HB would go to get ice and come back 3 hours later with an inflatable bounce house, a case of popsicles, and some guy he found that was riding his bike across the country (and no ice). Every time we have a gathering at our house, he gets the urge to go pick up something from the store, and I remind him that I cannot bear welcoming guests in his absence, and could he please return before they start arriving, and he just waves his hand at me and laughs like I'm making it up. So this is usually me: </div>
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And here's HB:</div>
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So somewhere along the way, I just gave in because I would get all stressed out and couldn't even enjoy having a good time with my guests. </div>
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What does this have to do with medical school? I guess what I'm saying is sometimes I see people at school that get all worked up about stuff like exams and studying and whatever drama is going on. It reminds me of the many times in my life when I let all the drama get to me and I acted like a complete dork. </div>
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There's a lot of pressure in school to compare yourself to other people, and to suddenly feel panicked that you aren't doing what everyone else is doing to be successful. So sometimes it feels like maybe I should be a little more -- I don't know -- psycho about my approach to being successful in school. Sometimes when I hear someone talking about an upcoming test, I think about whether I have done a sufficient amount of studying (stressing, worrying, obsessing) in order to do well. But then I remember what it feels like on the inside when you're about to just completely blow up and say a bunch of not-nice things. I don't like feeling like that, so I just have to decide to relax. Honestly, if it's the day before the exam and I really haven't prepared enough, it's way too late anyway, and staying up all night in a panic is not going to yield good results. </div>
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I really do work hard to try to do well, and I like to see that hard work reflected in my grades. But sometimes there are just concepts that do not sink in very well for me, and then that's when I have to just decide to get used to disappointment. But that's the thing about chilling out. Eventually, you don't really feel disappointed, you just feel grateful.</div>
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Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94975201672968369.post-74530566389877900322016-09-19T11:48:00.003-05:002016-09-20T16:48:09.314-05:00Block 5 Week 9: They don't suck...So I used to wait tables in a barbecue restaurant. That's a cool way to start a blog post, right? My kids were little, and it didn't really help much in the money department, but it gave me a few days a week where I could get out of the house. It was only open Thursday - Saturday, so I had a babysitter come take care of the kiddos, and I would spend those days waiting tables and dishing up barbecue. It was good food too!<br />
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The restaurant was a quaint little cabin situated on the main highway going through town, so we had quite a varied clientele. There were the regulars that were addicted to the pulled pork, ribs, and chicken and they would come in every week, as well as folks who happened to be driving by with their windows down only to be assaulted by the delicious smells wafting out of the chimney.<br />
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As with any restaurant, we had a huge lunch rush and a pretty steady dinner crowd, but between about 2 and 4pm, it was just EMPTY except for the few that came in to grab a big spread for tailgating or weekend parties. My fellow employees and I would sit at the tables waiting for business to pick up again, and we entertained ourselves with the newspaper, peeling potatoes, and gossip. This was before cell phones, sadly, so you couldn't sit there for hours on Facebook. Heck, it was even before Facebook. I had this little pocket PC thingy (any of you ancient folk remember those?) that I would play solitaire and snake on, and one of the other employees (Rick) would grab it sometimes and play for a while. He would get so irritated if he couldn't beat my high score, and boy when he beat me, he would dance all over the restaurant like he'd won a gold medal.<br />
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So there was also this place called Cowboy Bills where all the rednecks went on the weekend to drink beer and line dance or whatever is done in establishments like that. (Hang on, I'm going somewhere with this, guys.) Occasionally they would have some kind of special event that involved hanging flyers in places of business around town. So one Thursday afternoon, a gentleman came in the restaurant and asked if he could hang a flyer. The owner said it was OK, so he puts it up by the register. I took a look at it and saw that there was a band coming to play that weekend. So I turned to Rick and asked him if the band was any good. His reply, "Well... they don't SUCK." That answer made me laugh so very hard, and even now when I think about it, I get a huge kick out of it.<br />
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I actually did have a reason for bringing that story out of the archives, besides giving someone a snicker that might be reading. When I sat down to decide what to write about this week, I thought about how this block is going so far. I have about two more weeks left in the block, and usually about now I'm in panic mode because I'm sure I've screwed something up and am going to pay for it over block break. So far, I've managed to pass everything. So when I reflected on how I feel right now about medical school, all I could come up with was, "Well, I don't suck..."<br />
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So if you're ever in Milledgeville, GA and need something to eat (and it's Thursday - Saturday), hit up Paradise BBQ. It's the best ever.Doc Veebshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743453574608489607noreply@blogger.com0