25 May 2013

Barely surviving.

I'd like to say that I'm nailing small animal medicine. It would be awesome if I could actually function, too, on medicine. But neither of those things seem to be happening.

The only thing I've got going for me is my practical skills (thank you, VCA, for helping me gain those prior to vet school. Being able to get a catheter in first try and being able to jugular stick a cat are two of my coveted skills) and my professionalism. And maybe my pretty face, but that's pushing it.

I just feel like every step I take in this rotation is a misstep. I swear, I know things. I really do. But when I try to open my mouth and say it, it comes out in a garbled mess and I look (and feel) like a complete doofus. Seriously. I know plasma lactate elevations occur with hypoxemia and endotoxemia. I really do (although I didn't know that you can get false elevations with ethylene glycol toxicity, which is a good fact to know).

I'd like to be able to demonstrate the knowledge I've got swirling around in my brain. But the combination of 13-16 hour days and not enough water and never enough caffeine (there is not enough caffeine in the world) are making my brain has the dumb.

Next week, we've all been told to up our game on the knowledge front. So basically, I need to know all the things.

Excuse me while I go attempt to (physically) cram the entirety of Small Animal Internal Medicine by Ettinger into my brain.

20 May 2013

Back in the QMH.

Today was my first day back in the QMH since February, and also my first day on Small Animal Medicine. Only 13 more days on SAM to go.

Honestly, I'm just not cut out for small animal work. The jugular veins are too small, the patients wriggle out of your arms, and I am way better at predicting the behavior of a horse than that of a beagle. Also, my brain has been stuck on equine medicine for the past 12 weeks (pretty much) and it's taking me a little longer than I'd like to get back into the swing of small animal work. 

Ah, well. It's only for a short while. It's only 2 weeks in the QMH before I'm back working with the big ponies for Equine Surgery. 

13 May 2013

Something to brighten your day.


Thank you, Cornell University class of 2012. You made my day a little brighter.

I was browsing the Student Doctor Network vet forums and came across a post that had this link in it. I laughed hysterically. I hope it improves your day just a little bit too.

I'm officially on my last week of my first research block. After meeting with my advisor earlier today, I am very relieved and happy with what I've got. I'll be going back in June to do one last thing, but I don't have to go to any more places!! I'm pretty much done with all my data collection. And I've got most of my stats done as well, thanks to my lovely science friend S. who is doing a masters in stats. She's a star. So now, it's all about the write-up.

Next week, Small Animal Med starts. I'm glad to be getting back into the hospital after being stuck at home for 3 weeks. Nervous, because small animal med is not a strength of mine, but hey. What else are clinics for?

07 May 2013

When Research Strikes.

So I've been back in the UK a week now, and I'm currently hanging out in Norwich. I've started to collect data for my project, but unfortunately the data I'm getting isn't quite complete. We'll see what happens.

Word to the wise: try not to create your own retrospective project. Unless you know what you're doing (which I don't), it's much easier to discuss a topic and have a lecturer or clinician guide you in the right direction.

In other news, British Summertime has arrived! It's beautifully sunny outside, warm(ish), and the sky stays light until 9pm. Ah. I love it. I went to the local pub's garden party with my rotation group and had a great time catching up on everyone's Easter EMS and research project problems (I'm not the only one! Thank GOD). I've been making excuses to go outside (mowing the lawn, attempting to garden with my very un-green thumb), and trying to make sure that I enjoy as much of this weather as I can before it leaves. The only downside to British Summertime is that the sun starts to rise a hell of a lot earlier than one expects. In June, it'll rise around 4:30am.

Anyway, I'll update more frequently now that the sun rises earlier. You know, more time for activities!