What, you have never heard of this kind of child abuse before? I learned about this term last week and my preceptor and I had a good laugh about this. Especially because Taco Bell is on the list of places in which you may take your child to diabeat them and it happens to be his favorite. Anyways, all jokes aside, childhood obesity is a big problem...no pun intended.
Sure, you hear about it on TV and Michelle Obama has her big campaign about healthy eating, but until you really see how weight affects these kids socially as well as physically it doesn't really register. My poor sweet patient last week was actually removed from public school because he was getting into verbal confrontations with his peers due to bullying. Yes, he has other social issues that I'm sure contribute to the bullying, but his weight is a major factor. I wanted so badly for him to have a thyroid issue (that sounds bad, but can be fixed with a pill) or something to attribute his weight to....all labs were normal. He swears he only eats popcorn once a week and drinks water, but his home life is unstable at best you know that just simply isn't true. It breaks your heart, really.
How is a kid supposed to be healthy when mom/grandma/aunt/cousin/every other family member who is "mom" (whole different issue, I won't even go there this time) keeps the fridge stocked with Kool-aid and Dr. Pepper? Hello, I would drink it too! If I don't have any self control how is an 11 yr old going to be able to say hmmm yeah forget the delicious purple Kool-Aid a nice glass of tap water sounds delightful. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, DUH. Parents have to get with the program to help their sweet babies. I understand that eating healthy is expensive, and that Dr. Pepper is delicious and so are Doritos....but just, stop. Stop buying it. Period. Your precious child is suffering inside and out because they 1. Do not have a good example to follow from their parental role models 2. Do not know how to make healthy choices 3. Get diabeaten every night when you take them to McDonalds 4. They consider video games exercise (Yes, I have had kids tell me they play video games for exercise). These 4 problems can be fixed so easily if everyone just jumps on the healthy bus and puts down the remote controls and the nuggets. Don't get me wrong, I love a good nugget like the rest of America, but moderation is real ya'll. Maybe nuggets once a week instead of every night? Also, I know seafood is super healthy but I don't eat things that swim so I feel ya little ones on not wanting to eat salmon or other forms of cat food. Chicken, turkey, pork are all things that can be cooked outside of a deep fryer my friends.
Sorry, that was an extensive rant. I have just participated in far too many referrals for nutrition consults in the last 2 weeks. It really isn't okay. And thank goodness for RDs and nutrition specialists who can help these families make lifestyle changes to help their kids. I can't take watching these kids hang their heads in disgust over their weight, it truly is the saddest thing.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
A softened heart.
Ummmmm children are precious little angel babies and I love them. Yes, my peds rotation has me brainwashed into wanting a litter of kids.
Adam and I have had a lot of conversations about children lately... Do we want to have children? If so, when? How many? To be honest, I am not one of those people who feels they were "born to a be a mother." I have never had much experience or exposure to kids.I lack motherly instincts and children make me so nervous. I look at them like they are these little fragile objects that I'm afraid to touch or I will break them. I never know what to do to make them happy and take it personal when I make them cry. Yes, I have a gorgeous niece who I adore, but didn't know if I wanted children of my own.
Well, I'm not even 2 weeks into Peds and now I'm 85% sure I want children, which trust me is a big increase. The love between a mother and child when the child is in such a vulnerable place (dr's office) is pretty indescribable. I want that love and my heart aches to hold all the babies. It is so exciting to watch the kids reach big milestones and become a "big boy who goes potty."
Bottomline, I am just absolutely loving pediatrics and it has really opened my eyes to the joy and innocence of children and now my mom will likely have grand kids someday so I'm sure she is pumped.
Also, the attitudes these babes have KILLS me. The sassier they are at a young age, the better. Makes me laugh so hard.
Example:
Me:"Okay, open real big and say AHH."
4yo: Opens big, no tongue, no AH.
Me: "Can you say AHHH please?"
4yo: looks at me like I'm incredibly foolish and says, "Um, no. I'm only 4." Watch out for this one, world she's coming for ya.
Adam and I have had a lot of conversations about children lately... Do we want to have children? If so, when? How many? To be honest, I am not one of those people who feels they were "born to a be a mother." I have never had much experience or exposure to kids.I lack motherly instincts and children make me so nervous. I look at them like they are these little fragile objects that I'm afraid to touch or I will break them. I never know what to do to make them happy and take it personal when I make them cry. Yes, I have a gorgeous niece who I adore, but didn't know if I wanted children of my own.
Well, I'm not even 2 weeks into Peds and now I'm 85% sure I want children, which trust me is a big increase. The love between a mother and child when the child is in such a vulnerable place (dr's office) is pretty indescribable. I want that love and my heart aches to hold all the babies. It is so exciting to watch the kids reach big milestones and become a "big boy who goes potty."
Bottomline, I am just absolutely loving pediatrics and it has really opened my eyes to the joy and innocence of children and now my mom will likely have grand kids someday so I'm sure she is pumped.
Also, the attitudes these babes have KILLS me. The sassier they are at a young age, the better. Makes me laugh so hard.
Example:
Me:"Okay, open real big and say AHH."
4yo: Opens big, no tongue, no AH.
Me: "Can you say AHHH please?"
4yo: looks at me like I'm incredibly foolish and says, "Um, no. I'm only 4." Watch out for this one, world she's coming for ya.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
From one end to the other.
So, since my lost post (sorry I am the most inconsistent blogger of all time), I have started and finished geriatrics and started pediatrics. From one age spectrum to the other.
Brief summary of geriatrics as follows:
I did not have the "typical" geriatrics rotation as it got changed last second. It was actually more comparable to internal medicine, they just assigned me to all the elderly patients. I worked in the hospital setting on the internal medicine team seeing consults and post-op patients and managing their chronic medical problems while in the hospital. While I did see a couple cases of delirium, it was more healthy older adults who were there for elective hip replacements....However on some days I would get a stroke patient with underlying dementia, or have some caregiving issues, chronic wounds etc. All in all it was a pretty low key rotation hence the lack of blog posts. I was at Methodist Hospital and had another great experience there, just a wonderful hospital.
Although I will say one thing; their new healthy initiative to get people to eat better is a great idea, buttttttt kind of a debbie downer. If I want to get a Kit-Kat dang it that should be possible. If you want a grilled cheese in the cafeteria, it will be more expensive than the baked salmon that will leave you smelling like cat food all day. Now that's just rude. Oh, and then they park the Ritter's frozen custard cart out front, is that healthy? Nope but it sure is delicious and needs to return more frequently.
I went back to Lexington for my geriatrics exam and Part 1 of our exit exam for graduation. Geriatrics exam was fine, but boy was that exit exam EXHAUSTING. Like, drenched in sweat exhausting. And margaritas with chips and queso were totally necessary afterwards. And a puff of albuterol to go along with that. We find out sometime this week if we passed, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed because my asthma can't handle another round of that torture. No, thank you PA school that was not nice.
Well, I have just started pediatrics and I was terrified. I honestly looked at kids like animals or aliens because I just have ZERO experience with them. I have a little precious angel niece but I see her for a couple hours at a time every couple months or so and that's about all the experience I have. After day one, I am in love. These little babies are just so innocent its hard not to find joy all throughout the day. Sure, my ears are ringing from all the screaming and crying but they are only sad for a second and there is NOTHING a Thomas the Train sticker can't fix. Looking forward to all the days to come with these kiddos.
Brief summary of geriatrics as follows:
I did not have the "typical" geriatrics rotation as it got changed last second. It was actually more comparable to internal medicine, they just assigned me to all the elderly patients. I worked in the hospital setting on the internal medicine team seeing consults and post-op patients and managing their chronic medical problems while in the hospital. While I did see a couple cases of delirium, it was more healthy older adults who were there for elective hip replacements....However on some days I would get a stroke patient with underlying dementia, or have some caregiving issues, chronic wounds etc. All in all it was a pretty low key rotation hence the lack of blog posts. I was at Methodist Hospital and had another great experience there, just a wonderful hospital.
Although I will say one thing; their new healthy initiative to get people to eat better is a great idea, buttttttt kind of a debbie downer. If I want to get a Kit-Kat dang it that should be possible. If you want a grilled cheese in the cafeteria, it will be more expensive than the baked salmon that will leave you smelling like cat food all day. Now that's just rude. Oh, and then they park the Ritter's frozen custard cart out front, is that healthy? Nope but it sure is delicious and needs to return more frequently.
I went back to Lexington for my geriatrics exam and Part 1 of our exit exam for graduation. Geriatrics exam was fine, but boy was that exit exam EXHAUSTING. Like, drenched in sweat exhausting. And margaritas with chips and queso were totally necessary afterwards. And a puff of albuterol to go along with that. We find out sometime this week if we passed, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed because my asthma can't handle another round of that torture. No, thank you PA school that was not nice.
Well, I have just started pediatrics and I was terrified. I honestly looked at kids like animals or aliens because I just have ZERO experience with them. I have a little precious angel niece but I see her for a couple hours at a time every couple months or so and that's about all the experience I have. After day one, I am in love. These little babies are just so innocent its hard not to find joy all throughout the day. Sure, my ears are ringing from all the screaming and crying but they are only sad for a second and there is NOTHING a Thomas the Train sticker can't fix. Looking forward to all the days to come with these kiddos.
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