One down

Can I just say I had a blast on my peds rotation. It was a lot of fun, way too short and now it's over. Internal Medicine is next - I have a 10 minute drive ahead of me and some pretty reasonable hours. This stuff is fun. If only I could remember all the stuff I learned last year. I am afraid that I have see something 3 times for it to stick. At least once I actually do something (hands on) I usually don't have a problem doing again. Usually. I have the weekend off for the most part and look forward to starting my next clinical on Monday.

I am tired

getting up at 5:30 and getting home at 6 with 2 hrs of driving is making me a tad bit tired. I am still having fun on my peds rotation. My docs tell me I am doing fine, especially for my first rotation. My diagnostic skills seem pretty good. I wish I knew more about drugs. I mean I feel like my pharm classes were very good but they covered the basic pharmacology of the various drug classes ad not all the specific brands and dosing considerations. All in time i am sure.

More on my first rotation

For my peds rotation I rotate through 3 different docs. It is good because I get to see different techniques and approaches and philosophies. So halfway through my third day the doc says "how about we start throwing in on cases/" to I say "sounds good." I saw a hand full that day and at the end of the day the doc was running late for a conference call with two patients left. He actually considered letting me handle them all on my own but thought better of it - as students we are not supposed to do the work of anyone or be used to extend productivity. I was flattered that thought enough of me to take that on but I know I don't know enough to do that just yet. Right now I commute one hour each way and wake up at 5:30 ang get home by 6:30 most days. Friday stunk because I got out at 4:30 and because of traffic didn't get home until two hours later. I have a free apartment provided to me which I may use once in a while. The wife is going out of town wednesday through friday so I will have get the boy to school extra early and pick him up extra late. The doc on Friday complemented me that I work really well with the kids and they respond well to me too. I thought that was cool. It seems that kids and dogs like me the most - perhaps they can tell just how much I have in common with them?

Pediatrics Rotation - my first rotation ever!

Today is the fourth day on my first rotation. I've been seeing patients by myself for the last two days. Naturally the docs will go in a follow-up after I give them my report. The place is really relaxed and collegial and they really want me to learn. Everyone is super nice and friendly - at least it seems that way to me. I am having fun seeing patients and learning the practical application of the past year of book knowledge. It is fun!

My back is slowly getting better an I am encouraged that stretching improves or alleviates my pain for a while. The more I stretch the better I feel, but I get tight very quickly. Many people have asked why I haven't gotten an MRI yet. My reasoning is as follows: The MRI will find something. That something may or may not be the cause of my pain. Other than PT, which I am doing on my own as much my schedule allows, I am not willing to consider any other treatment options (surgery) that might apply to the dubious finding on an MRI that is guaranteed to show something wrong with a 39 year old former football/hockey/martial arts participant who has had other minor infrequent back problems.