UHS Class 2006 part 01

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Wow Tammy, that is awesome that you designed a letterhead! 🙂
Just wanted to give my report from my surgical experience this morning.
First off, I intubated the woman, since at my hospital, respiratory therapy intubates most general anesthesia patients. It was a little difficult visualizing the cords, but I finally saw them and slid the tube right in. So that was pretty cool.
Then I watched as they inserted the laproscopes and went to work. They did a laproscopic abdominal transverse hysterectomy with a right oopherectomy. So after watching this for a while, they asked me if I wanted to scrub in and hold retractors or something! I said hell yeah I do; so one the head scrub nurse took me out and showed me how to properly scrub in. I didn't realize how long you have to scrub your hands and forearms.
After I washed up, I walked into the OR and another surgery nurse gowned me up. She then put sterile gloves on me and tied up my gown. I was all set to go.
I first was in between this woman's legs, holding the retractor on the right side, pulling up to allow the physician to see. I did this for probably about a half an hour. Then I got to hold some Kelley clamps and also suction. After about an hour, I moved up to along side of her and hold a different retractor. At this point I really couldn't see what I was doing, so the other assistant physician would move the retractor to where he wanted it. This went on for another thirty minutes or so. Finally they were ready to close. They began to suture up the laproscopic incision sites, when the assistant doc asked me if I was still scrubbed in and if I wanted to suture. I instantly got a rush of adrenaline. I said I have no idea how to suture. He then said no problem, I will teach you.
Oh, back up, I also put in a foley catheter in the woman too. I have only done this one other time.
So I was standing next to the doc and just demonstrates how to sew. It is definitely tougher than it looks. But by the third stitch I put in, I was feeling more comfortable. I really wished I hadn't drank a cup of coffee that morning, because my hands were really shaky. But he said I did a great job, although I really didn't think so.
But I was so pumped after the procedure was over. I felt like I got my real first taste of being a doc. Sure I have done respiratory tasks before, but never holding instruments during surgery or suturing!!!!!

Anyway, just thought I would share that with you all. But I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me......I don't want you all to think that I think I know everything, because I freely admit I don't know a whole lot. I am just really happy to get the opportunity to experience some of these things before going to medical school!!! And I thought my future fellow classmates might be interested as well.

Well have a good weekend!!

Chris
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Tammy:
•Qafas & Mary,

You can borrow my family for the ceremony. I'm sure my mom will be excited enough for all of us! :wink: •••••Nicest thing I heard all day! 🙂 Thanks Tammy!
 
Hey Chris, thanks for sharing...sounds like really cool stuff, and I'm sure that atleast some of it will come in handy in the future. I especially enjoyed the baby stuff. I think most of us just take stuff like babies being born for granted; but, it has got to be something else actually being there when one is born.

By the way, I just slept and watched TV....thought I'ld share, as long as we are all talking about our days. 😀 😛 <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> 😛 😀

Good day everyone!
 
Qafas,
I finally received my packet, but thanks for your concern :wink: !!

Chris,
Congrats on your surgical experience! I've gotten to observe a few myself, but never scrub in & do things-- that is WICKED cool!!! (yes, I am from Boston)

For any of you who will be family-less at the White Coat Ceremony, my family seems to adopt everyone (there's 6 of them coming), so feel free to join the bandwagon! :clap: :clap:

Good luck all, only 2.5 months to go!!

~Hillary
 
Wow Chris! Reading your posts is almost like watching Trauma: Life in the ER ! 😀 What an exciting job you've got!
Do you plan on trying to continue to work a little during the first 2 years of school? It would be sad to have to stick soley to the books after getting a little dose of "real" medicine already. I'm sure you'd miss it!

And for all those family-less for the White Coat Ceremony, count me in! We should start a club. :wink: I'm sure there will end up being quite a few of us.

And, I STILL haven't gotten that wonderful package from UHS yet!! Hopefully I'll get it Monday. I love it when I check my mail and find envelopes with their logo on them!

~~Danielle~~
 
Dear "Family-less at Orientation" Friends and everyone else:

We will just have to stick together and make the best of it! I promise I will be VERY proud of all of you! I'll bring extra Kleenex.

My day....did a plasma exchange (accessed a fistula with 17g needles), ate lunch, made phone calls (work related), looked at SDN for new posts, listened to one of my soon to be ex-coworkers vent on me about the weekend, had a discussion with the Pathology resident about metabolic vs. respiratory alkalosis/acidosis, put several units of Fresh Frozen Plasma into inventory, put new copies of the updated consent forms for all the different apheresis procedures in the folders they belong in, got in a heated argument with a dude from Clinical Engineering about the thermometers that they were supposedly calibrating that they owed us (he was an angry Irish guy--red nose and everything), printed out end of the month stats and left. 23 working days to go!

Chris, I think that is so awesome that you got to suture. I mean, what med student-to-be gets to do THAT? Wowsa. You rule. I got to work in the OR a couple times during heart transplants, but didn't really get that close, the blood lines to my machine were like 10 feet long and me and my big machine were shoved in a corner. Got to see the donor heart though. Pretty intense!

Qafas,what'd ya watch on TV?? I'm jealous!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!!!!!!
M.
 
OK, this started with Chris describing his fascinating day, and it devolved into the rest of us decribing our... lets call it "less than fascinating day". So, here goes with mine:

I continued to out-process from Ft. Stewart, GA! I can't tell you what a joyful time this is for me to be on my way out of this place and on my way to KC, via a month long stay at home in Philly.

I still don't know what floor I'm on in CT. I went the cheap route- no view for me. I'll just keep my nose buried in a medical textbook, rather than looking at a view of the Missouri River, or the Paseo, or that filthy-looking motel nearby.

I can't wait to meet all of you wonderful people. We are going to have such fun.

My parents will be around for the white coat ceremeony. Perhaps they can temporarily adopt one of you orphans (there's almost always a free dinner at a nice restaurant involved. Perhaps one of those expensive places at Country Club Plaza?)

Oh, speaking of Country Club Plaza (and continuing my random stream of Jungian consciousness), has anyone driven down that road away from the Plaza along the Kansas border? That must be one the most gorgeous neighborhoods I have ever laid eyes upon.

Gotta go now. Once again, its great to be on my way out of Georgia (my apologies to any Georgia residents, but frankly, your state sucks!) and on my way to KC.
 
Is anyone thinking about buying a Slice of Life Machine for at home? I think I am going to get one. Sounds like we could get a lot of studying for path done, at home.
Yeah we could throw a huge block party: studying slice of life.
"Go go go, aleigh aleigh aleigh, go go go aleigh aleigh aleigh; tonight's the night we're gonna celebrate the Slice of Life, aleigh aleigh aleigh"

Just wondering if anyone is thinking about getting one too.

Also, would anyone be interested in forming a flag football team, and taking on either KU school of med or UMKC? It could be the DO vs MD bowl!!

Have a good weekend!!

Chris
 
Okay, all this talk about "my fascinating day" is beginning to make me feel worthless for not having much to do these days! 🙁 But, then, I'm sure some of you are jealous of me for exactly that reason (hint, hint, Mary) 😛 😀 So, I guess it's not all that bad. By the way, I just watched some more TV and slept some more......NBA is the name of the game these days.......go KINGS!!

Chris, I have been thinking about the Slice of Life, but it is quite expensive; so, I'm not sure if I'm going to get one just yet. Perhaps if I can find a used one at a good price.
I do like the flag football idea.....I think it'll be fun, even if we can just get something going within UHS. Is there any place around the campus where we could play? I didn't have a chance to look around the campus much when I was down there, but maybe someone else did.

T.A.M, be sure to bring shorts.....philly is getting pretty hot these days! 🙂 I'm outta here in another week; When I moved here last year, I didn't think there was a chance in hell that I would miss Philadelphia. But, now I think that I will. Hell, I am even thinking of coming back here to do some of my clerkships during the third and fourth year. But, for now it's back to California.

Good day everyone!
 
TAM,
My family will be there, but if you're talking about free food at the Plaza, then I'll ditch them and be adopted by yours! ha! ha! I hope you enjoy your time off!

OK, speaking about our exciting days...

Today we had an open house trying to sell the ole homestead. (Anyone want a vacation home in sunny Southeast Kansas? 😛 ) So I took my boyfriend's daughters hiking at Elk River in Independence, KS. It is beautiful there. However, we contracted ticks while hiking, so being the girly-girls that we are, we decided we won't be going hiking in the woods anymore until fall. Yeah...pathetic I know! We also took my overweight dog with us (she likes everything - even bananas and broccoli, in addition to all fast food) who just about died (not really) on the hike. She is really out of shape just like the rest of the family.

So, that was my day. Now we're watching a movie with Lance Bass from N' Sync. (Yippee skippy) Of course, you will notice I am online and not watching the movie. This is something the girls wanted.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone! Can't wait to meet you face-to-face in about 2 mos.

- Tammy
 
Hi Everyone-

I'm finally off for the night and my little brother isn't hogging the computer time. I am totally looking forward to moving to KC.

Mary-
I look forward to meeting you at the SLEP thing. Which one are you planning on going to? I will be going to the 2nd week b/c I don't move up there till the 1st of Aug.

It been really interesting reading about everyones day. Unfortunately, mine fall into the dull and boring category. Fri. was slightly interesting... I got to work at 8:30 where my boss tells me I've been ok'ed to sign for stuff at Sam's Club. He then hands me a list for each of our 5 pools and sends me on my merry way. I think my highlight was having lunch with my little brother but that was kinda a drag too b/c he made me buy

Well I should go now we are having our HUGE tourney this weekend and I have to be at work by 8. Have a good week everyone.

Take Care
Ronda
 
OK, point taken! Apparently, most us currently live dull, pointless lives (soon to change, though)! Please, can we change the subject? I'm starting to get depressed.
 
And did you notice... the rampant political extremism seems to have died down in the Lounge lately. Maybe there's hope for the world, or at least hope for the SDN.
 
OK, let's change the subject......let's see......
It is early Sunday morning and I can't really think of anything interesting to talk about. So I think someone else needs to come up with a topic.

Oh I have one....is anyone going to have a DO "knight" them with your first white coat at the ceremony? I think I am going to have Dr. K (DO from Phillipsburg featured in the last UHS-LINK); granted that he can make it.

That is all I can think of right now....I should still be in bed.....my two little ones woke us up this morning!!

Chris <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
 
Ronda,
Looking forward to meeting you as well during the SLEP! I'll be going the week of 8/5 as well. It will be fun.

The other day at least three separate people "warned" me about how hot and humid it gets in KC. Don't you love how, when you tell people 1.)You're going to DO school and 2.) where you are going to DO school, the reactions can be of great variety? Here are some of the questions I've gotten recently in response to my good news:

1. "You really want to go to med school? Heh. Talk to me in four years". (my thought: (with a tone of sarcasm) "NO. Ya know, now that I've talked to YOU, I don't. Who cares that I've spent the last 3 years of my life working toward this. And thousands of dollars taking classes, preparing for and taking the MCAT, and another couple grand applying, traveling, and interviewing. No, you're right. I really don't want to go to med school. What have I been THINKING?" ---What I really say (with a nice smile) "Yeah...I've decided that medicine is what I will be happy doing as work for the rest of my life. It just makes me tick."

2. "So what's the difference between an MD and a DO?" ----I always give the dissertation. I feel that if I'm going to be a DO I better give a favorable distinction (or lack thereof) of the field.

3. "Why do you want to go to school in Kansas City?" ----I don't like giving this answer, but sometimes, depending on who's asking I say..."when applying to med school, sometimes you just end up going where you are accepted". It's nice to think that some people think you can just pick the school you want to go to and go there.

4. "Missouri? You'll find out why they say it's 'Misery'." ---I just smile and nod my head.

5. "Wow. Kansas City's so far away. Why don't you go to Case?" ---refer to #3.

6. "What kind of doctor do you want to be?" ---a good one.

I'm sure that all of you have experienced similar conversations. Someone I know keeps saying I'm going to "DO school." She's an MD.

By the way this post IS NOT meant to start any debates!!!!!!! Just talkin' about my reality.

Well, today I'm going to try to find some Copper River salmon to cook for dinner tonight. It's in season.

Well, just thought I'd tell you what's on my mind.

I am VERY excited about moving to KC and getting my new apt. and starting school and having a good time. I really can't wait to learn about OMT.

Have a great day everyone and stay well!!!
M. 🙂
 
Hi Mary,

I get the "DO school" thing a lot, too. Either that or "osteo school." It bothers me, not because I don't want to be a DO, but because I think that by calling it that, it kind of takes away from the fact that it is a "medical school." Does that make sense?
The general public seems to understand what a tremendously difficult journey "medical school" is, and by calling it "DO school" instead, it makes it seem as though it is less so, in some sense--as though I'm not justified in worrying about how difficult and time-consuming it will be because it's "just DO school."

I hope that came across the way I intended it too.

I also get references to "that program" that I'm about to start, or even worse, "that little program" I'm about to start. 🙄
No matter how much I try to educate people like that about what osteopathic medicine actually is, it doesn't seem to make a difference in their perceptions.
Believe it or not, my Mom was in this category, regardless of how hard I tried to tell her that, yes, I was, in fact, going to medical school, until she saw one of those full-page ads by the AOA in of all places, OPRAH magazine! Hey--if it's good enough for Oprah, then it must be true, right??! My Mom now actually CARRIES that ad around with her to show to people who ask about what I'm doing! There's also a copy stuck to her fridge. <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

Well, whatever it takes, I guess!

~~Danielle~~
 
Oh Great!!! Just when I finally have something interesting to say about my day, we are changing the topic. Grrrrrrr! 😡 😡 😡 Ahhhhhhhhh! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> I?m just kidding guys and gals, I have nothing interesting to add??.I just watched more TV and did a bit of writing. Oops! Can?t mention that anymore, since we changed the topic 😛

Really cool assessment of our situation, Mary. I get many of the same questions and comments. I?m especially getting tired of the ?Osteopathy, huh! What part of the body is that?? routine. But, I suppose that this is something we will have to deal with for the rest of our careers, since most people have never heard of Osteopathic medicine. I think I will just start referring people to SDN?.if they are so interested in knowing about Osteopathy, they can read about it!

By the way, has anyone heard from his/her big brother/sister? They sent the info in the infamous ?packet,? for those of you might not have noticed. I am thinking about writing to my big brother in a day or two, and getting some advice on this, that and everything in between.

Good day everyone!
 
I too have noticed that when you say Kansas City, MO, most people give a polite "Oh, I see", when they really mean, "Why Kansas City", although some openly say that. Maybe its just me, but I see nothing wrong with KC at all. I admit, I've spent less than 100 hours of my entire life in the city, but I consistently liked what I saw. After all, I attended undergrad in South Bend, IN, and I currently live in Georgia, which makes South Bend look like Paris. I also notice that most of the disparaging remarks I get come from people who've never been to KC, much less the Midwest. So, I won't let them get me down!
 
I know what you all mean about standing up for our profession. Usually, at least once a day at the hospital, one of my patients that I am treating will first ask if I am a doctor, because I wear a long white lab coat. Then I say that I am just getting ready to start med school this fall. Then their automatic response is, Oh you're going to KU right? Then I respond by saying "No, I am going to the University of Health Sciences College of Ostepathic Medicine". Then usually a variety of rebuttle responses occur after that:
--Oh, so you are going to be a chiropractor?
--So how close is that to a real doctor?
--How many extra hours do you have to take to become an MD?
But once in a while I receive, "Oh, I have been to an osteopath. They are great physicians!!!"

The latter of the responses is my favorite, mainly because this requires the least amount of explanation.
I have a feeling that no matter what we will be constantly defending our knowledge and skills throughout medical school, residency, and during our practice years.
That is one of the main reasons that I think we should construct a DO conference, somewhere in the midwest, so that people can learn about osteopathic medicine.

I think I will email me big bro today as well. I got the paper in "the packet"

hey has anyone gone through the extensive textbook list and figured up how many books and how much it will be?
Just by finding the cheapest textbook of each in that massive packet we received, I am up to 30 textbooks and around 660 bucks!! And I don't even have all of them on the list!!!! That is insane!!

Also, has anyone else bought an OMT table already? I found a hell of a deal on ebay about three or four months ago so I went ahead and bought one.

Man I get more and more excited each day for school!!!

Chris :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
Solie & friends,
Everything you mentioned came across just fine. We are definitely on the same page!

Qafas, I got an email from my big sister. I sent her an email back with questions and haven't gotten a response yet (&gt; 1 week). I'm finding our conversations here in SDN to be more helpful thus far!

When I was in KC (for the 9 waking hours that I was there---and that's the ONLY time I've been there) I found it to be a very pleasant city. I was able to spot some of the common amenities that I enjoy. I like baseball, and I don't anticipate having a hard time getting tix to Royals games if I feel the need to go, or especially if they are playing the Indians. I know that I will be happy there. Maybe not for the rest of my life (Arizona! New Mexico! Montana!) but for the purpose it serves, it's just fine.

BTW made a three-bean salad today too and curled my hair in curlers. Now I'm a beauty queen. Hah. Every minute I "blow off", I think to myself how someday QUITE SOON about how this type of behavior will not be acceptable!

Arrevederci!
M. 😀
 
TEXTBOOK funny!

I have an edition of the Moore anatomy text from waaaaaay back in college! The 3rd edition! Has Anatomy changed in 10 years?? What to do...

Signed,
Don't Think I'm Buying a New Anatomy Text 😛
 
MaryC,
Well, you never know. We humans may have evolved (or devolved) as a species in the last ten years...
 
It seems like most of the MSI & II students have said not to buy the text books yet. I know I hardly cracked a book throughout my undergrad as I learn primarily from lecture & notes. So, I'll probably take their advice & only get a handful of books.

My favorite comment about DO school is that "it is much easier than MD school." WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY? And you would know this how?

So I explain that many DO students take both the DO & MD board exams to prove to people like you that DO students receive the same level of instruction.

Chris, I get the KU comment too...then have to explain that UHS is an osteopathic school & name several respected physicians in town who went to UHS. uugghhh!

OK...enough complaining!

Have a great week everyone!
 
To add to the list of silly things people say when they ask if I've gotten into med school yet:
(P.S.-- I'm currently in MD-saturated Boston)

"Ohhhhh, you're a doctor but not exactly an MD, right?" (nope, not exactly at all)

"Kansas City? There's no ocean in Kansas City!"
(no kidding, I didn't notice?!)

"So, since you do all this manipulation stuff, you have to be a general practitioner, huh?" (this was actually a slightly intelligent question, regarding the others!)

And my very favorite &lt;insert EXTREME sarcasm here&gt;

"So what am I going to tell people since you're not going to Johns (Hopkins)??" (basically insinuating that since I wasn't going MD, it wasn't going to be worth it to mention I was in med school) -- THANKS DAD (not!)

Anyways, I'm glad we got off that interesting day topic as mine could never rival surgery & the like! See you guys in about 2 months!!

~Hillary
 
Oh, I thought of another one that came from my step-mother who always disapproves of everything I do. And I'm 30!!! uugghhh!!!

"Osteopaths aren't even allowed to practice in real hospitals. Why would you do this?" 😡

OK, so I tried to give her the spiel, but it wasn't working. But when a MD friend of hers praised UHS as one of the best med schools in the nation, she changed her tune. I suppose that is good, but it is still extremely frustrating that she wouldn't listen to me. (But that is getting onto a whole other topic, isn't it?! 🙁 )

Don't you just love step-monsters? I mean mothers. :wink:
 
Dear Friends,

In addition to the insults I get socially, I get it from family as well. My father is STILL trying to pursuade me to become a dentist. Even though I've been on the doctor track for three years now, he's still like, "you know, you should be a dentist. They don't have all the insurance hassle that doctors have. I would think about that if I were you". He also refers to my move to KC as "the exodus". I'll tell ya....family sometimes..... 🙄

🙂 M.
 
Hey guys--
I have enjoyed reading all your comments about how DOs are worthless docs and such!! Very funny!

Also just wanted to say that I got to scrub in on a nephrectomy today, but we won't go into that conversation again.....I don't want to piss people off and have them get the wrong idea about me!

Later

Chris
 
Chris,
You should tell us about the nephrectomy. I think its cool that you get to experience so much.

I would tell you all about my day, but in truth, I really don't want to re-live it again.

I saw this lady in the ICU who was in such bad shape...I beg anyone to never let me get to that point, and if I do, LET ME GO!!!!!!!!

M.
 
Mary--
I know what you mean about seeing people the shape that they are in and thinking deep down that I will never want to be like that! Some patients I have dealt with on the vent and such, I just wish we could help them along, especially the ones that you know want to die. It may sound mean and heartless, but it's the truth.

With the nephrectomy, I got to scrub in again. To me, I would have thought that you would put the patient on their side and go in posteriorly, but they cut below the ribs on the front side and dig their way back to find the kidney. It was pretty cool. I got to hold a few retractors and clamps, plus hand the surgeons some tools (only the ones that I knew the names of!)The man had an enlarged kidney, plus it appeared to have calcification in the renal artery.
One of the docs was quizzing me periodically about the kidney; lucky for me they were fairly easy questions and that I knew the answers to.

Like what vessel enters the kidney, which vessels leaves the kidney, how do the kidneys filter, where does the sodium concentration occur....stuff like that. So most of it was fairly simple.
To top it off, the air conditioning isn't working in the OR, and it got up to 80 degrees today. I was drenched with sweat by the time I left the OR.

I had actually only went back their to intubate, but the surgery girls asked if I wanted to scrub. We are so dead on the floor in respiratory (only having two incentive spirometry treatments)

By the way, for those of you that work in a hospital, it is just me or do people tend to die in a run of three? We completed one cycle of three last week and we have only one more to go in our present cycle. One guy died on Saturday night, one guy died today around 1500; now we are trying to predict who the next one will be. It doesn't help that the average patient age in our hospital is around 80!!!!

Anyway, that is all for now!

Chris
 
Chris,
I think it's nice that the surgeons quiz you...it's like they care. I wouldn't have known the answers to some of those questions....I would have improvised or just mustered up an "I don't know."

I'm sure lots of people die here everyday, but I don't get to keep count...on the contrare, I think we have hundreds of people who are supposed to be dead that are still alive!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Thanks for sharing. It's a free country. 🙂

M.
 
OK, guys. Remember that "things happen in 3s" comment? Well, my family is on number 2.

My dad just had a heart attack. Apparently it was fairly minor and occurred in the lower back part of the heart. He told me that is the "best" place to have a heart attack if you are going to have one. He has blockage, but doesn't know the extent yet. He is scheduled for a cath on Wednesday.

Anyone really knowledgable on cardiac "stuff?" Can you give me details?

To update you on my grandpa who had bilateral pulmonary embolism...he is doing wonderfully. He's already been dancing a couple of times with his girlfriend since returning home from the hospital.

So, my life might be like a soap opera, but so far it has had happy endings!

Thanks for letting me share!

- Tammy
 
Tammy--
I PM'd you.......Let me know what you need to know!

Chris
 
Tammy--I can completely sympathize with you on your "step-monster" situation...I've got one too, so maybe we can play My-step-monster's-worse-than-your-step-monster one day. 🙂 🙄

I STILL haven't gotten my package from school. 🙁 Maybe because it's coming to Canada? Stuff doesn't usually take that long, though. Anyway, I haven't seen the booklist yet, but is anyone considering just getting review books instead? I've heard First Aid and the BRS or High Yield series are good. I'm concerned about spending too much money on books that I won't even have time to open. Any thoughts?

~~Danielle~~
 
Hey everyone,
Since everybody has been talking about how their typical day goes I thought I would share what I have been doing, although it seems boring to me compared to some of you guys. I am currently working at UAB in the division of cardiovascular disease as a research assistant. I am working on the human tissue specific plasminogen activator(t-PA) gene. It is a clot-busting protein that is often given to MI and stroke victims, but also occurs naturally in the body(in concert with the other clot-busters: urokinase and streptokinase). Our lab studies how components of red wine can upregulate this gene, thus increasing the body's clot-busting capabilites(fibrinolysis) and therefore lowering the incidence of heart disease. We have shown that moderate red wine consumption does in fact increase fibrinolysis significantly. This explains the so-called "French Paradox." (Note of caution: Extreme red wine consumption actually DECREASES fibrinolysis and leads to increased risk of CAD, so go easy on the wine. 🙂 ) I am now trying to identify response elements in portions of the t-PA promoter to determine how this increase in fibrinolysis occurs at a molecular level. Anyway, I'm sure I have bored all of my future classmates to death, but I thought I would share. I am so jealous of you guys with clinical jobs. I really miss clinical work. I worked as a phlebotomist for 2 years. Research is okay, but I much prefer to be in the hospital working with patients.
 
Bama--
I think that your research sounds very interesting as well as severely educational. When we get to the blood block, you will be helping us out on the hematology section I am sure. That is really cool!

Now we will all have to go out a few times a week and become wine coneseurs!! Gotta keep the heart in good shape you know. To hell with jogging, drink up!

Chris
 
.....can relate to the misunderstandings about DO's and UHS that some have been sharing

When first accepted to UHS, my mom said she didn't feel comfortable telling our family friends that I was going to medical school because she said she felt she wasn't being totally honest with them.......after a little education and encouragement from the rest of my family, she now is spreading the DO message in our community to her friends.

Bama....... you picked an awesome department to do research in....getting to rub shoulders with internationally renowned cardiologists at UAB....I took the Cardiovascular Epidemiology course in UAB School of Public Health under Dr Canto and Dr Howard and it was an awesome course..

Chris......thanks for sharing your recent clinical experiences...I think it helps all of us get pumped up for school!

As for me, less than 2 weeks left in my short-lived retail pharmacy career!!

carpe
 
Bama,
Your research is what makes my world go round. I work with central catheters all the time, and when they don't work well, we have to presume a fibrin sheath or clot. I've used urokinase, streptokinase, and TPA. And I drink lots of red wine. I think that coagulation is very interesting.

However I'm looking forward to learning about lotsa other stuff, too!

M.
 
Sounds like the clinical experiences will be great. I just observe in the ER and love watching everything. I think you learn a great deal by just watching. The Dr. I work with is really great, he also quizzes me to make sure I am listening.

I guess since we are changing the subject I have a little to add. I just got engaged, so the wedding should be next summer. Yikes, I have to deal with being an MS1 and planning a wedding. Good thing I have a supportive family.

On summer plans - is anyone planning anything before school? At CMSU one of the professors is taking a group of 4 students to Jamaica to work in a medical clinic. We leave at the end of june - Aug. 2nd, so I will be back just in time for school.

Well i have to get to my boring, paying job - JCPenney's. I'm counting down the days.

Karen.
 
Karen,

That sounds like a great summer! I'm sure you will be very busy, but try to enjoy yourself a little while in Jamaica.

- Tammy
 
Karen--
Sounds really neat that you get to go to Jamiaca-mon!! That would be very interesting to do!!

Have a great time!

Chris
 
Karen,
Congrats on your engagement!!!! Have fun in Jamaica! Are you coming from the KC area or farther away? Is your honey coming with you?

I can't believe it's June 4. Summer's here, but you wouldn't know it by the weather here in Cleveland. I don't think I can take another gray gloomy day!

Have a good day everybody!
M.
 
so once again i haven't posted in quite some time. i've enjoyed reading what everyone has been up to!

mary- tell your dad dentists have to deal with the same insurance crap doctors do. my mom is a dentist and i work at her office part time. i deal with ins problems all the time!

tammy-i'm sorry to hear about your dad. he and your grandpa are in my prayers.

and chris-loved hearing the story about the baby. part of the reason i haven't got on SDN in awhile has to do with a certain baby girl. my best friend just had a girl on the 31st! the baby was taken immediately to nicu for respiratory problems. it seems she wasn't getting enough o2. thus she took way too many breaths per minute. watching her try to breath was like watching someone finish a 100m dash. i didn't get to talk with the nurse or doctor so i don't really know what was wrong. all i know is that she is going home tomorrow with mom! if i find out more from the already stressed mom i'll let you know.

and can i just say that after reading what my future classmates do each day i feel SUPER behind! since my days consist mostly of driving the beer cart at good ole deer run and then golfing after work and grabbing a beer before heading up to the cabin to watch the kings lose (very upsetting), i'm feeling like i am in for a big surprise at school!

though i can't help anyone with respiratory therapy, cardiology research, or blood banking, i might be helpful if we ever study exercise/sports medicine. i'm still doing this at the children's hospital 3 times a week and love it. 🙂

alright this is a novel!
 
Gretchen-
Don't feel like that you are BEHIND; when we all get to school, we will all be equal at square one. I too have a sports medicine background, since I was an athletic trainer for four years during undergrad. I have a feeling that if any section is easier, the musculoskeletal will be it; since we have knowledge in that area.

Can't believe it is June already!!
Also, very cool that we are up to 14 pages!!

Chris
 
Gretchen,

You think you're behind? I've done marketing & public relations all my adult life! I think I'll be able to communicate well with patients, but I won't have a clue what to say unless they need a newspaper ad placed or something! ha! ha! Thanks for your thoughts for my family. We should find out more today as my dad is having a cath. Keep your fingers crossed!

D-day is quickly approaching & I find myself getting more and more nervous by the day. Excited, of course, but nervous. I am so glad we have gotten to "know" each other here on the board though. It makes me more confident that I am going to like UHS. It was my first choice, but the career change is so drastic & the cost so high, that it does make me nervous. I feel better that I won't feel like the new kid in school when we get to UHS because I have been talking to all of you. Of course I have no clue what you look like, but what the heck! I'll just walk up to people and go, "Qafas? Mary? Gretchen?" Finally someone is bound to say, "Yes?" 😀

Take care!
Tammy
 
Hey gang--
I am going to KC tonight and will be apartment hunting tomorrow. I have an appointment with Jennifer Lorenz from Apartment Search, so she is going to have me check out some complexes! I am so so excited.

Tammy I am with you. I feel like we have connected as a class, at least some of us.....knowing more about each other will ease the tranisition. Yes the cost is high, but we will be making enough to scrape by when we are done! 🙂

Anyway, I will report in, in a few days, when I get back and let you know what I have found!!

I wish school started next week!!!!

Later

Chris
 
Well, don't know if anyone really cares, but what the heck! Just got the news on my dad. He has 50% blockage in two arteries, which the cardiologist deemed average. So, no surgery and he can resume normal activities on Friday.

Whoo-hoo!

Thanks for listening! 😀
 
Congratulations Karen on your engagement! How long have you and your fiance been dating? Where will he be at all year? I bet he and your family will help out a lot. Maybe you can get a few things done before school starts. If nothing else, it will at least give you something to do to get away from the stresses of school. I bet you're walking on cloud nine!
 
Karen- CONGRATS!

Tammy- Great news! Hopefully he'll have a speedy recovery!

Everyone-- barely 2 months to go WOOHOO!!
:clap: :clap: :clap:

~Hillary
 
Congratulations on your engagement, Karen!! :clap: :clap:

And Tammy--I'm so happy for you about the good news on your Dad! I'd be terrified if my Dad had to go through something like that.

And, I FINALLY got my package today!! 🙂

~~Danielle~~
 
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