On to the next one...

I wrote my last post almost a month ago - I can't seem to keep up with the blogging.

Third year seems to be becoming a blur.

As much as it is exciting to be in the hospital, you rotate through each specialty so quickly.  As I am getting comfortable and familiar with my surroundings, the rotation is over and I am thrown into another. Sometimes it seems I just need to keep my head above water long enough for my next day off to come. Working 6 days a week since February with a total of 3 weekends off has taken a toll. Might I add that the "day off" is spent guiltily sleeping in and then franticly studying for the next exam.
Needless, to say it can/has been frustrating and exhausting to feel lost most of the time - while trying to keep an external calm and having the classic "medical student enthusiasm".

I have already finished my first week of paediatrics.
Here is peds in a nut shell: adorably cute kids that are ALWAYS screaming/ crying and come in with full blown colds that get you sick (and give you headaches!). Lessons learned so far? new found respect for parenting!
... but I'd rather tell you about the last little while in florida.

I finished 6 weeks of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Ob/Gyn) and LOVED it. I think I may have found my specialty. The rotation was mostly an inpatient experience as I only spent 2 days in the outpatient clinic, however it was my choice as I wanted to get as much hands on learning as I could. I became a sponge for wanting to learn too much in very little time. I couldn't help myself, I took two 26 hour calls that were voluntary and worked 12+ hours/day. I may have over-indulged! But I had great attendings teach and trust me to perform procedures on patients. To give you a little glimpse... I learned to actually deliver babies with my own two hands (what an incredible experience! To hold someone in their first moments of life and be part of that new family), I was taught how to close fascia and skin, admit patients on my own, read and interpret fetal and maternal monitoring strips, make first incisions, drain cysts and scrubbed in/assist on numerous surgical cases.... the list can keep going but I'm afraid I will start using too much medical lingo ... then I would lose my readers for sure.

If you can't tell that I am excited then here is a picture to prove it. This was taken on one of my last days working with a doctor that I have grown to look up to (she truly invested her time in teaching and showing me everything she could). This was taken after she had let me close fascia and skin after a c-section and perform a quick surgical procedure called marsupialization on my own (with her guidance of course!). Such a rush.

I found ob/gyn to be the perfect combination of primary care in which you can develop a relationship with your patients, hands-on work that is not too time demanding in the OR (most procedures are < 2 hours) and a specialty which I can take the skills I learn and contribute elsewhere, where maternal health resources are needed. This specialty would allow me to continue pursuing my interest in international health (and even link my undergrad genetics studies). There are so many (too many?) possibilities.

Hollywood beach boardwalk

Other than rotations I have not had much time to explore Florida, unfortunately. But I hope to do so in the coming weeks... I am however a 5 min drive to the beach and boardwalk which has become my new running route as soon as I get used to the humidity here - you'd think I would be used to it from Saba, no?

mom and I at the beach after our 17 hour road trip!
Obviously this is the first place we would go to :)

Dinner with friends before they left for their next rotation.

My new favourite study spot.
Poolside studying can work...sometimes

One thing I find is hard to get used to is all the moving around. As much as it is exciting and amazing to have all this opportunity to travel and temporarily live in places I would never think of going, my friends and I have Skype friendships now. Sometimes we even Skype if we are in the same city doing different rotations. Everyone has such a different (and hectic) schedule that it is hard to find to maintain those friendships in person... unless we meet up for study sessions!
I look at all this moving around as travel opportunities and times of adventure... but sometimes, just sometimes, I feel like a lot of people my age are starting their life. "settling down" so to speak which seems like a comforting idea. Being away from close friends and family can be isolating. Moving from place to place with no real 'home' can also be isolating. Always studying can become lonely.

Just some thoughts.

To end off on a more positive (and super cool!) note, here is something I found today :)

If you want to follow his adventure here is the link to his blog: http://www.hankboughtabus.com