The Spice of Life

As I continue my surgical rotations I have been the unfortunate benefactor of some very poor displays of leadership. Surgery tends to be a fairly stressful environment and when stress gets mixed with a multitude of different personalities the combination is all but boring. My concern is not for the faculty involved but for the comatose patient who has, willingly or not, placed all of their trust in a title and not a person. If most people had the chose I don't think they'd be so eager to surrender their life to someone who is temperamental and pops their top with the slightest hiccup in operative procedure. But, that being said, most people would rather have a good surgeon than I nice surgeon. I guess I just don't see why most can't be both. I'm not trying to offend but to merely understand how different personalities react given stressful situations. Variety is the spice of life and it's no understatement to say that the OR definitely has it's share of spicy days. I believe everyone is a leader and my hope is that most people can learn that they can be a positive or a negative rolemodel in every walk of life they are in--because you never know when observant people like me are around watching and learning. I also believe that a wise person is one who takes every opportunity to learn and has a healthy balance of book smarts and street smarts. I guess the point of this babble is whenever you are in public there is always an opportunity to teach, encourage, and inspire others. Good day.

Blood, guts, and sharp things

Yesterday I finished my first week of my rotation at the VA hospital. If you don't know what the VA is it's a hospital that caters to the military veteran and men and women on active duty status for the American armed forces. That being said, I had the misfortune of witnessing post traumatic ailments from wartime injuries as well as some training mishaps like a torn meniscus and some other things like that. Unfortunately in my position I'm limited in the amount of patient interaction I get to have because the majority of the time I'm with the patient they are under the heavy hand of anesthesia. So, most of my conversation and communication is with faculty and staff of the OR department. Probably the most interesting surgery I assisted with this week was a Triple Arthrodesis( surgical fixation of an ankle). The procedure consists of making an incision on both sides of the foot, cleaning out all the goobery nasty stuff, and putting three or four screws in the bones of the foot and ankle. It was really interesting to say the least. I got to do pretty much everything within my scope of practice including closing the wound, which was my favorite part. I won't give too many details because I don't want to offend anyone or make anyone throw up.
I'm not quite sure how to go about explaining this but one thing I've noticed about being in the OR is that time simply doesn't seem to exist. The ankle surgery took about 4 hours but it didn't feel like it. It didn't feel like 10 minutes or 8 hours-- it didn't feel like anything. It's kind of strange I know but it was like that for every surgery I was in. It was probably due to the fact that I was focusing so hard on the task at hand and trying not to screw up that most every external factor disappeared. I definately am enjoying myself and it feels great to be able to come across someone who is broken and get an opportunity to fix them.

My domestic travels

Last week was my first week in the operating room. The "OR" part of the hospital is very much it's own little world within a world of the hospital. Everyone, both men and women, wear the same outfit. In fact, you are not allowed back in this area without the proper attire. Everyone speaks a different language consisting of words like esophagogastroduodenoscopy and others that are foreign to the average joe and others who have not had the pleasure of enduring a medical terminology class at one time or another. Everyone serves a common purpose and shares common goals (making the patient better) but there is very much an understated hiarchy that must be strictly adhered to. If you are new-- you are, for the most part, an idiot. It doesn't matter how intelligent you are; you are stupid to this new environment you are in. I didn't feel it to be insulting in any way but I was quite aware that I had little rights to speak freely and did my best just to blend in to my environment and observe the best I could. You have to remember, after all, that this is a world that goes against everything that is normal and natural in this world. We cut people open to make them better. In the normal world people come to the hospital after they've been cut, not get incised once they've arrived. Nevertheless, it's an amazingly energetic place. I have to admit that I enjoyed this newly discovered world and can't wait to go back.

Swimming in a sea of lesser mortals

I don't normally complain and I always try to stay positive in most circumstances, but I would like to make note of something that, if corrected, might improve society as a whole. I'm simply talking about the amount of feeble minded drivers on the road today. I'm not sure if there is a correlation here or not but it seems like even the most sane person can turn into a inconsiderate, irresponsible ninny given the privilege of a gas peddle. I drive on a very busy highway everyday and it is a certainty that everyday there will be a rush hour traffic jam and that everyday we will be driving 20mph in a 55mph zone. I was always taught to expect the unexpected but when this traffic phenomena occurs on a daily basis I expect people to plan accordingly- not the case. There are people who will swerve uncontrollably in and out of lanes to try to inch ahead of a never ending line. This behavior is not only wreckless, but will only shave a few seconds off of their morning commute. I can guarantee that these same people who are so worried about saving a few minutes driving will spend hours every night wasting away in front of the television. Now, if anyone of you out there reading this falls into the category I've mentioned above I mean no disrespect. But, I think you need to re-evaluate your time management skills because there needs to be some improvements made. There are the same 24 hrs in every day, let's evaluate where and how we invest our time. I'm talking about priorities people! Enough ranting for now. Like I said before, I don't normally like to complain and I don't usually let these little things get to me. I guess we all have our weak moments. I understand that these people will never change these behaviors and that's what makes life not quite as boring. Enjoy your day.

The curse of senility

To catch you up to speed I am spending the majority of my time, nose in book, reading about medical and surgical thingies. I have to admit to you that I love absolutely every minute of it but I'm affraid I've become what I used to hate. I fear that I am the nerd of the class. I have a tendency to get very good grades on all of my work and tests for the simple fact that the information fascinates me and I desire to read it instead of just being required to read it. Many of my fellow classmates are just trying to get through school and are looking forward to getting to work. I enjoy school and I fully intend on continuing my education. So what is it about most people that makes them enjoy learning/school or despise it?
Just this past week our lab class was restocking supplies and the question of, "Where are the extra trash bags?" came up. The reply was as follows and directed toward me: " I don't know, why don't you ask Mr. Know it all". The response was all in good fun and there was no harm done but the point was made that I have become the "nerdy overachiever". I might interject here to tell you that I was on the football team, basketball team, and won class royalty 3 out of the 4 years in high school. Ah, that makes me feel better. Well, anyways.. I guess my fear is that I'll wake up one day and I'll have fallen into that zone where it looks odd to wear the latest style and would actually look more appropriate to wear "office clothes" to mow the lawn and no notice would be taken of me if I wore socks with my sandals. Am I alone in this?

Ricky Martin was really on to something

Living the high life...man, that is what it's all about. I have to tell you what a tremendous difference I have felt lately now that I'm doing something I love. For the past few years I'd been earning money at jobs I can hardly tolerate. There are a lot of people who live like I did and I don't have to tell you how mentally and emotionally draining it is. Now that I actually look forward to getting up the next day I feel like a whole new person. I've never been as busy and as up to my a$$ in alligators (as some may say) but I just simply love it. I spend my ENTIRE day studying the surgical field and it just get's me all pumped up. Some of you may be thinking I'm quite the sicko and a freakazoid to boot. That may very well be the case but that seems to be what hits my happy ho ho button and I'm hitting it harder than ever. My courses are such that I'm burning through 300 flash cards a week. I wish I didn't have to kill so many trees but that just is the best way I've figured out how to study. I'm also learning about some potential ways to get the rest of my schooling paid for so I can get my M.D or D.O. for a very small price of a few years of service in a specified medical arena. Anyways, there's nothing thought provoking or deep about this entry. I just thought I'd say hello so some friends and give an update to those people out there who might read this on occasion. Well, back to the burning of trees!

Steak with a testosterone marinade

Something happens to a man when he stands next to a grill. No, not girl, but grill. Those words are closely related by lettering but worlds apart by definition. I believe that a man is in his element when standing next to a grill. We understand the grill, we relate with the grill. The grill provides for us the means to smoke meat. The grill is a vessel in which we entrust those things we hold close to our heart--food. The grill provides a chance to get outside and brave the elements. It is too fierce a creature to get tamed by the indoors so it must be kept outside like a pack of wild dogs. I remember living through a Colorado winter when the temperature that day was reading in at a balmy -10. I don't even recall the windchill but it wasn't pretty. The next thing I know I'm getting a call from a friend inviting me to a surf-and-turf at his house. Moments later we are standing outside being dealt a brutal blow by mother nature-- all for the sake of hearing the sweet, sweet sound of sizzling meat and crackling of frost bitten flesh. Ah, nothing could be finer.