Feels like home.

No, the OR does not feel home and probably never will. BUT, the hospital where I am working, Georgetown Community Hospital does feel like home. Where is home? I have moved around a lot in the past couple years, but my hometown, and the place that will always feel like home is Lawrenceburg, IN.

Growing up my dad had his surgery practice at Dearborn County Hospital. It is a small hospital and when things get too complicated or traumatic, the patients get sent to Cincinnati. This is how Georgetown is...and I honestly LOVE the small town feel. Don't get me wrong, Gtown is capable of quite a few surgical procedures (ortho, eye, general, ENT etc.), but they do not do any cardio or vascular, and all traumas get sent to UK.

When you walk into Gtown, there is always a friendly face to greet you at the welcome desk and ask what they can do to help you or where you need to go. As a student, I cannot overstate how much easier this makes your first day. I didn't wander down some sterile hallway and have to ask multiple nurses where the heck I was, little mister greeter just directed me to exactly where I needed to go. I was given a full tour of the hospital, told who to get scrubs from, where the locker rooms are, where to get scrub hats and shoe covers. The little things make such a difference.

I'm sure it sounds silly, but I just feel at home here. I feel like I'm in Dearborn County where everyone knows you and is happy to see ya. I look forward to going to work every day because I have been treated so kindly and since Gtown doesn't have many medical students, the staff get excited when students are around....much different experience than I had last month. Also, the communication is good. If I am supposed to follow someone else or go be with anesthesia they are told ahead of time so when I show up I don't get the "who are you and why are you here" looks.

So, thank you Georgetown for a nice couple days. Your kindness is greatly appreciated by this little PA student who doesn't know what to do with her hands.

Work Hard, Play Hard Part 1

One of the hardest things in grad school is learning to balance your school life, social life, personal life, family life etc. It isn't super easy, especially being from out of state. It is difficult to make it to everything, but I do my very best. If you are ALL school 24/7 you will go insane, so here are some fun pictures from the last month. I want to do this every month for multiple reasons 1. To show the world that I actually do have some what of a life every now and then. 2. To remind myself that even though there are some really stressful days, there are some really fun and enjoyable days too. I'm very thankful to have a loving and understanding family and supportive friends who are always there to grab dinner or a cocktail with when I'm at the breaking point or have something to celebrate.

                           Amanda's Western Bridal Shower, can't wait for your big day!!

           Fourth of July cook out with the girls. Steph and Adam were the cornhole champs.

                         Shock Top Saturday with my brother and cousin at the lake house.

                                                           Lake Tippecanoe

 Sometimes when you start for your 1st rotation and are studying for the bar exam, you need some cosmic bowling and a ridiculous cover band to make life better. Love that she is in Indianapolis for good now.

 Swings with my niece, Reagan. Still bitter that she can say Adam's name ("Ado") before mine. So adorable.

 Trail ride with my man, Chief. Aren't all paint horses named Chief? Is that some sort of rule?

                                         Weekend at Hueston Woods with my better half.

Women's Health Wrap Up

Well, that went by quickly. Women's Health is over. Came back for End of Clerkship (EOC) lectures and exams. Feels good to have my first Exam Master test under my belt. These exams are just ruthless. You know it's bad when you only have to get a 60% to pass and anything above that makes you jump for joy and scream to the heavens with excitement. Just rude.

Anyways, I actually loved Women's Health a lot more than I anticipated....other than the OB aspect. Just not for me. The precious angel babies that come into this world are darling and adorable but the process of getting them here just....isn't. I need to mentally recover from some of those images. The GYN primary care aspect of Women's Health is more my pace. Don't worry there is much more to it than speculum exams....every woman's worst nightmare. We actually did a lot of primary care such as TSH, routine labs, cholesterol, health maintenance etc. I like the idea of being in a "specialty" that is also geared towards preventive care and working with women. Having your patients feel comfortable with you and talk to you about things they don't feel like they can say to anyone else is pretty rewarding.

Next Up....Surgery. I made a deal with a friend that every day I can make it without contaminating myself I get a treat from Dairy Queen. Surgery is also terrifying to me and to be honest I'm glad its one of my first rotations so I can get it over with, know that I can handle it, and then hopefully put that chapter, and its ridiculous attire and rules about touching things, behind me. <<<world's biggest run on sentence.

Whoa Baby Part 3

Annnddddd I'm done. I have barely done any OB this rotation and let me tell ya that is fine with me. The first experience was a couple C-sections, the second time was an afternoon doing ultrasounds, and this third and final time was a vaginal delivery and an attempted external cephalic version. I've said it before, I cannot keep seeing all this if I am ever expected to have my own kids. Surrogate, anyone?

External cephalic version is a procedure that can be done when a baby is in the breech presentation after 37 weeks. For the mother it is like getting ran over by a semi, having the semi back up, then get ran over again. And this lady was a champion. If it were me I would have killed someone. And she didn't even want an epidural. Props to you girlfriend and for your sake I hope that baby does a back flip before next week.  ECV is only successful about 50% of the time, and unfortunately this one was not successful after 3 attempts. My only job during this was to supply goo for the ultra sound machine and not pass out. Mission accomplished.

The vaginal delivery was pretty flawless actually. Which is so weird to say because from the end I was at.....I will spare you the details. I think I held my breath the whole time and almost blacked out. The whole thing is so emotional. I was in a state of utter shock staring at....yeah you get it....and then just wanted to bawl my eyes out in utter joy at the sight of this perfect little angel who just came into the world. At least Adam and I are in COMPLETE agreement that if he even thinks about taking a single step past my shoulder he is in BIG trouble. You just can't come back from that.

My mother wants grandkids someday so in order for that to happen I need to stay far away from labor and delivery until it's my turn to be there.

I cannot believe I only have 3 more days of Women's Health, time is flyingggg.

Bad News.

Delivering bad news is one of the toughest parts of the medical profession. Unfortunately, I have had to witness this twice since I started my Women's Health rotation. It hurts every time, and I honestly don't see it getting any easier. I have always gotten attached to people very quickly and for my own heart's sake I have to do better about keeping an emotional distance.

1. Leiomyosarcoma: Google it. It is a rare, soft tissue malignancy and in this particular case began in the uterus. Luckily, the CT scan was negative so it has not spread which is the only real silver lining. The patient is asymptomatic and it was an incidental (blessing) finding when her uterus was sent to pathology following a hysterectomy. She will need to see a GYN oncologist in Indianapolis to manage her case and will likely join a clinical trial because these cancers historically do not respond well to chemotherapy or treatment in general. It was just so shocking to the patient and her family because she feels great, but is then told she has a rare cancer which doesn't have a good prognosis. She is a wonderful person and has an amazing attitude which will help her fight this battle.

2. Miscarriage: This couple came in for an ultrasound for their initial prenatal visit....She was 9 weeks pregnant and there was no heart beat visible on the ultra sound. They did a transvaginal ultrasound just to be sure...still no heart beat. One of the hardest parts is knowing what you are looking at on the screen and knowing the news they are about to receive and you look over at this smiling, elated couple who has no idea . Everyone in that room had a broken heart in that moment. There were tears, questions, and disbelief. I almost lost it too.

I haven't been able to get these patients off my mind this week as I wonder how they are doing after receiving such bad news less than a week ago. I hope they are coping, I hope they have someone to cry to, a shoulder to lean on, and a support system. 

Whoa baby! Part 2

It's official, I have baby fever. As long as they keep me out of C-sections and deliveries I think this fever will continue for awhile. Don't get your hopes up kids that isn't in the plan for a few years. 

My preceptor is on his way to retirement so when he goes golfing on Wednesday afternoons I get to hang out with whoever will take me...seriously it's like pass the student because who wants a student following them around all day? (answer: no one) Anyways this Wednesday I got to hang out with an ultra-sound tech to see what actually happens/what they see during the bazillion ultrasounds we order.

BABIESSSSSS!!! That is what they see. They get to see those adorable little angels before they enter this scary world and seeing those parents view those images for the first time is awesome. The It's a Boy or It's a Girl appointments are just the best and the moms come in wearing pink and the dads wear blue and it was so fun. One couple ever brought in a video camera which is just funny that people actually do that and its not just something you see on the movies. It was a good day and fortunately all the ultrasounds that afternoon were filled with happy news. 

I am so excited for whenever that day comes in the Diskey family and I will probably be over the top obnoxious and pass out pink or blue balloons to everyone I see that day.

Wardrobe Malfunction

Okay, lets be serious...the medical field needs some fashion help. Luckily my girl Steph Smiy with her blog www.whitecoatwardrobe.com is trying to help us. Anyways, lately the only accessories I have been able to work with are scrub caps and masks with face shields. Not cute, folks. Hello this is my Women's Health rotation which I figured would be my only opportunity to wear fun outfits since I am with women all day. Boo.

So on Monday I was in the OR as usual and my scrub cap started falling down over my eyes. Since I am a hot mess in the OR anyways and never know what to do with my hands I just started making these ridiculous scrunching facial expressions to try to push it back up my forehead....didn't work. See you can't touch your face once you are scrubbed in because it isn't sterile. The circulating nurse noticed my ridiculous maneuver and came over and fixed me...another embarrassing moment in the OR, whatever keep em' coming.

Then the next case my mask had a face shield on it to keep bodily fluids from flying into my eyes...lovely I know. Well apparently I didn't pinch the nasal bridge area tight enough over my nose because the mask starts riding up over my eyes. Hot. Mess. Again, the nurse notices me fidgeting around with my face and being weird so she comes over and pulls my mask down, squeezes the nose part tighter, and re-ties it. Have I mentioned I need a babysitter in the OR? By the time I stop making a fool of myself it will be time to move on to the next rotation and these poor people will be left shaking their heads at how "special" I was.

On a less helpless note, I got to close up some laproscope incisions. Yeah, yeah I know they are practically invisible they are so small, but it was a small victory and those count too.

Whoa baby!

Okay, as much as I am enjoying Women's Health, it might be a good idea if I no longer witness C-sections or deliveries although there is no way that will happen. For the sake of ever having children myself, it just isn't a good idea. Ever heard the saying ignorance is bliss? Yeah, I don't need to know and see everything that happens while bringing a child into this world and then volunteer myself for that. No, thanks.

C-sections are wild. It's amazing how the patient is talking and gabbing away with her husband on one end of the table, meanwhile on the other side of that blue little curtain there is a whole lot going on that she definitely would not like to see.

Once that baby comes out though, it is just amazing. On the second case I wasn't scrubbed in and was just observing so I got to see the new mom and dad see their new little girl for the first time and I got all teared up. (Had to get it together real quick though because the whole OB team today was testy and stressed out and I did NOT need to be the sap in the corner crying over the miracle of life...even though that's what I wanted to be.)

Keeping with the theme of the blog...today, as usual, I did not know what to do with my hands. As I said the whole team was busy, post-call, and stressed and I did not have the precious angel surgical tech from Monday to hold my hand and babysit me. I sure did miss him. Princess Kaitlin needs someone to put her gloves and gown on for her, obviously. You think I'm slow now, have me maneuver all those sterile garments and it will be a half hour before I can hold an instrument or cut a suture. I definitely need to practice sterile technique...kind of difficult to put gloves on while your hands are inside the sleeves of your gown and you don't really have fingers to work with. On the first case a doctor who I haven't worked with before wanted me to try to be first assist and it literally felt like I did nothing right. I'm sure I will have many more days like today but they don't make you feel very good. Me=on the struggle bus. I finally felt useful when I was able to help the nursing staff clean and prep the OR suite for the next procedure, hey mopping floors is part of medicine too.

On a brighter note, those two C-sections lead to two beautiful, healthy baby girls and that was awesome.

Auto parts, not body parts.

Now don't get me wrong, living back at home has its perks (I have already mentioned the great snacks and mom to watch TV with)....but today was the first big CON of sorts. 

Apparently, after you have moved out, when you come back your parents will forget you were ever there and when they back out in the morning will back out full speed toward your vehicle and smash the daylights out it.... Just sayin', you've been warned.

Yes, the ever so lovely Diane gave my car some added character today. She was beyond hysterical and got so upset. It's just a car, life goes on. I once drove my car into a pond and life went on....barely, but it did. Anyways, that's another story. 

So now my dad and brother are making over/under wages on the total cost of the damage. Evan of course thinks mom is being a drama queen. She says,"Its barely driveable, parts are flapping in the breeze." Not true, I drove just fine today. 

See you soon, Mr. Insurance Adjuster. 

Oh, and mom, you are grounded. 

1 Day Down.

I SURVIVED MY FIRST DAY.

It is hard to explain how nervous I was so the fact that I am still here breathing and functioning and didn't have a heart attack is a miracle in itself.

We have a professor who regularly describes things in an odd way...he doesn't just touch or feel or move body parts. He refers to it as tugging, yanking, etc....it can kind of make you cringe (but since it is said with a KY accent it also makes you laugh). Well, today I assisted in removing the uterus during a hysterectomy and that is what came to my mind..."I'm yanking out a uterus." That is so messed up.

Well, I  still don't know what to do with my hands and just kind of flailed around during the first case. The wonderful surgical tech just took my hands and placed them where I was allowed to touch because I was afraid to touch anything. I'm sure he thought I was ridiculous but I was incredibly thankful for his help, patience, and kindness. I improved as the day went on and even got to cut some sutures and do a couple pelvic exams. By the third case Mr. Surgical Tech didn't have to instruct me 7 times on putting my gloves on and he taught me a much cooler/easier way to do it. That man deserves an award for babysitting me all day.

So now I'm home waiting for my mom to get here who also had her first day today too! She started a new job at an Urgent Care and I hope it went well. I am so happy to be living back at home for the next 22 days, mom and dad are just the best and they have the best snacks here. Also, it is Bachelorette Monday so don't forget to tune in for the drama and man tears.  Yay!