30/6/12

Today has been a bit of a grumble fest.  Hope a good night's sleep fixes me up!

29/6/12

I don't have the time or the inclination to write much tonight so I'll keep it short.

Radiology was quite interesting, the pace was steady but I saw enough and learnt a few things which is always good.

A&E turned out to be rather disappointing due to some poor organisation.  Saw only a few patients, and they were mainly the uninteresting ones and the majority of patients I did see was only because a nurse and a HCA took pity on me and let me follow them once the doctors had abandoned me!  I suspect I learnt some useful skills though so all was not lost!

All was also not lost with our tree, it is now safe, but not very tree like anymore! (We were hoping they'd get rid of the trunk too...)

I realise my posts about work experience have been a bit bitty (although more writing than you've had for a while!), at some point, when I've had a day off or 2 and a my brain has recovered I'll try and sum it up and tell you what I'm thinking!

28/6/12

It was raining when I went into the hospital and was 26 degrees and like this when I came out!

Morning was pretty dull, ward round on the medical admissions unit.  Saw 5 or 6 patients in 2 hours.  Then consultant disappeared.  I chatted to a 4th year med student for a while and then went for an early lunch.  On a similar note to yesterday it got me thinking again, about a number of things.  Medicine as a career for one.  And about all the poor old folks (and poor other folks!) in hospital!

Today's lunch was therefore entirely too long - 2 hours!  Tried to get into theatre earlier but it wasn't possible.  However I really enjoyed the afternoon.  I was with one of the anaesthetic registrars (in theatre with my previous consultant...).  He was really good.  Taught me lots, and once again tried to get me thinking about physiology and stuff, it's been good these last few days trying to think in the right way!  Think I learnt lots anyway.  And, at 2 separate times in the afternoon I was actually responsible for keeping people alive.  The anaesthetist left me squeezing the ventilation bag while he was in the other room sorting out more drugs.  A simple task (otherwise I wouldn't have been trusted with it!), but still, made me feel good, and was nice to actually do something! 

Final day tomorrow.  Radiology followed by A&E.  Quite looking forward to it! 

27/6/12

It's been a long day!

Was in theatre all morning, just the one case - a long operation on an ear.  Not all that much for me to see once the novelty of the whole thing had worn off!  Anaesthetist kept me busy though - he definitely over estimated my clinical knowledge, but I think I learnt a lot!  A few things to think about for med school interviews too...

The afternoon session was something which has really got me thinking though.  Was shadowing the on call consultant (a cardiologist) on EAU, this was my first real taste of medicine rather than surgery.  Can't believe quite how different it is! The people become far more like people, rather than just things that are there to be fixed, there's a vulnerability about patients on the operating table, but a very different vulnerability when they're lying on a bed having to open up to you!  Saw quite a few interesting cases, and in one case had to take down the notes because there was no SHO around to do it for the consultant!  The consultant was really nice, although a little bit odd.  He quizzed me a lot, about things which I have no idea about - the history of medicine, the prevalence and pathologies of certain diseases etc. although he seemed almost impressed that I could pick out the liver and kidneys on a CT scan with my no medical training!  He also gave me a few things to think about for med school interviews, and recommended a book.

Definitely got me thinking though...

And I'm a tad dead.  Walking around all afternoon requires even more effort than simply standing.  Still that's 5 days out of my 9 of work out of the way now! 

*Really* lazy photo today.  Part of my "smart" work attire...

26/6/12

Day 2!

My morning in fracture clinic was actually rather dull at times if I'm honest.  Although I'd been really looking forward to it the consultant who I was assigned to had an emergency in theatre so I was left with a very busy registrar!  He did his best, but there was a lot of time standing around not doing anything!  When the consultant finally arrived, with only 3 out of 50 patients left to be seen (I know it wasn't his fault!), it was actually quite good - he seemed very keen to teach!

No time for lunch as the clinic had overran, so straight into theatre for the afternoon.  This was back in the theatres where I'd done my previous experience but it was really different this time.  The anaesthetist who I was shadowing was great, he explained lots to me - even taking me out of theatre to demonstrate on a skeleton!  I was the "poached" by the consultant from this morning who took me into his theatre.  Although it was quite a routine procedure (something which even I have seen quite a few times now!) he took the time to explain everything, which made all the difference to me.  He even sat down with me afterwards and talked it all through, when really he probably should have been grabbing a between-patient coffee!

He then took me to another theatre and left me to watch a knee replacement.  The consultant here gave me a running commentary which was nice!  Meant I stayed until almost 6 though (not late in terms of real doctoring I know, but I'm not a real doctor!), and that I didn't ever make it back to the anaesthetist who I was supposed to be with (I'd only intended to be out of that theatre for half an hour or so!)

Realised at the end that all I'd consumed (since about 8 yesterday evening!) was a tic-tac, some painkillers and a couple of mouthfuls of water!  Hmmm not good!

Anyway, it was a long day.  But a good one.  Really looking forward to tomorrow (even if it's an earlier start and probably a later finish that today!).

Very happy to be sitting down!

25/6/12

As I mentioned yesterday I can't go into much detail about my work experience 'cos of confidentiality and what not.

What I can say is that I spent the morning on the labour ward, I saw 2 c-sections.

Hard to find words to adequately describe seeing a baby that is just a few seconds old.  Despite this if I should ever become a surgeon (and I'm not convinced that surgery is a path I particularly want to take...although I shall keep an open mind), that is not surgery I want to be performing!

Today's photo is of new life...so perhaps appropriate!

 This afternoon was with a speciality I had requested to see - ENT (and I'm back with them on Wednesday morning).  The consultant who's clinic it was I was sitting in on was amazing.  For a start he described be as "his colleague" when introducing me to patients which was perhaps a generous description (and led to 1 patient asking my opinion one what I'd seen!).  He made a real effort to teach me, and made sure I could see what he could,  not sure how much of it will stick but I really enjoyed it!

Hopefully the rest of the week will build on a good first day! 

24/6/12

Well it's not how I would have planned my 21st or the surrounding days but it's been pretty good so far nonetheless!

If this photo a day business is going to end this will be the week that it does, I'm on work experience all week.  At the hospital with very undetermined (and likely long) hours, with I suspect few photo opportunities.

Hoping it will be good though (even if it does mean I'll have done 9 days straight working by this time next week!

23/6/12

Lazy photo today 'cos I was at work and nothing exciting appeared to take a photo of.

22/6/12

I've been very quiet for a while but I thought today would be a good time to write a little bit more.

It was results day yesterday, I was very nervous, having not done as well as I'd have hoped earlier in the year I wasn't sure how I'd have done this time round.  As I said yesterday I got a 1st overall.  Was very relieved to hear that!  Having been told my individual module marks earlier on today I was really surprised to find that I'd done well enough this time round to actually make this year my highest averaging!

This success is definitely owed to a select few people who have provided me with a lot of support, help and encouragement over the last 6 months and I really hope they know who they are!

It's odd though, having seen the actual marks today I think it has sunk in that I actually did it and got a 1st.  Everyone has been congratulating me and telling me what a great achievement it is (again thanks!), but it doesn't feel like a huge success to me.  Probably because I went in knowing if I got any less I'd be disappointed so it didn't exceed anyone's expectations, I "merely" met them.  Sure, I worked hard - but didn't a lot of other people, who maybe didn't do as well?

Gives a good cause for a celebration though.  My birthday (I'm getting old!) is at the weekend, but as a minimum of 7 days straight working starts for me tomorrow we were celebrating tonight.  Went out for a meal with family (parents, brother and all 4 grandparents).  My dad made a speech seen as it was a bit of a double celebration for me.  Don't think anyone's ever made a speech about me before.

He said how proud he, and everyone else, is of me, and how well they all think I've done etc.  Didn't really feel like they were talking about me though!  Perhaps I need to learn to take a complement?

Still.  Happy Becky.  The last few days things have been just right for me.  Making the most of it because I don't suppose the good fortune will last long!

Here's some of the people who were with me tonight, I'm pretty sure you can work out which one's me if you didn't already know!

This is probably a good time to point you back in the direction of my post about my 3 years at Nottingham now you know the conclusion of it!

http://schrodingerandhiscat.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/highlights.html

I suspect I will be back posting again something shortly as I have work experience next week, although very strict rules have been placed as to what I'm allowed to write and publish I'm afraid! 

Thanks again everyone! :-)

21/6/12

Results today - I got a 1st!  Yay!  Should get module results tomorrow too :)

Someone was very quick off the mark:

20/6/12

I love my dog sometimes :-)

19/6/12

I went to the beach today!

Blue sky:

I feel ill (blame the drugs), but I think this well summarises my feelings at the end of today :-)

18/6/12

Picture of me rather than taken by me today.

Undecided as to whether I like it or not, the wrong things stand out to me!

17/6/12

Paid the price today for my riding "fun" in the last couple of days.  Ouch. :-(

Made cookies though.  Yum!

16/6/12

Knocked a sizable chunk off my times riding to work and back today, not bad given the wind.  I've lost a lot of fitness so I wouldn't describe it as quick, but it was nice to feel like I was trying hard and pushing myself on the bike again.  Really quite satisfying!  

Not at work again for a little while now, which is probably for the best because I'm now rather sore and I probably shouldn't flout medical advice too much... 

2012 cycling: 63.11 miles

*The smiley-ness of this is not a reflection of how my face currently looks!

15/6/12

Is there any left?

2012 Cycling : 58.85 miles (would have been nice to do at least 100 a month, looks like I might just make 100 for the year at this rate...)

14/6/12

Went for an "early" morning run.  Feel like I lost the battle this morning - very hard work, and not very fast!

2012 running: 27.7 km

13/6/12

Bed...

12/6/12

Very busy day.  Seemingly lots achieved.  Rather happy despite sore arm and tiredness (suspect grumpiness will over take later though!)

Postman was kind earlier:

That should keep me busy for a while!

Getting all too close to writing lots, so I'll stop now!

11/6/12

Rather grey out...

10/6/12

Went for a run for the first time in a while, my brother accompanied me and thanks to him I nearly killed myself, but knocked 30 seconds off my time (hills are hard!)

http://app.strava.com/runs/10484520

2012 Running total: 23.4 km

Not sure the world was ready to see my legs...

My mum had this waiting for when I got back though!

9/6/12

Cycled to work and back today. Always enjoyable but quite frustrating!

2012 Cycling Total: 54.85 miles

8/6/12

My day... well, just quantitative reasoning stuff so far.  Maths under pressure is difficult!

7/6/12

Took the camera to the football:

Full collection here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151811951980245.870670.844070244&type=1

6/6/12

I miss riding :-(  My bike is still shiny though...

5/6/12

4/6/12

The dying of an old favourite sock, signifies the end of something past and familiar, but the start of something new and exciting.

That's deep that is.

3/6/12

This not blogging business is almost difficult, might have to allow myself a post at some point in the next few days.

Today is cold and wet.  I am tired, sore and grumpy.  This has the potential to cheer me up, or possibly send me further into the depths...

*grumble grumble grumble*

2/6/12

Just your average evening...

1/6/12

New month, old theme...