It's been a long time since I've posted (which I've noticed is becoming a trend). Today is the 1st of December, and I'm just now returning from the Thanksgiving holiday. I had a four-day holiday weekend, and it was much needed. I absolutely loved spending time with my family and my boyfriend's family, eating food, laughing, and then Christmas shopping :) The month of December is absolutely my most favorite time of year! Ask anyone who knows me - I love the Christmas music, movies, baking, family, friends, buying gifts for loved ones, lights, decorations, the list literally goes on and on :) But now on to my journey of becoming a doctor!
Since the last time I posted, I finished up Pediatrics. I spent the month of September on the Complex Care service at Riley Hospital. I absolutely loved it as much as I loved the outpatient month. When I got my grade for my pediatrics rotation, I had such great comments from attendings and residents that it was amazing to me to hear what they had to say. One comment told me that the world would benefit if I became a pediatrician! :) It's so nice to hear good comments when you work so hard but yet have no idea how you are actually doing. After pediatrics, I did a month of neurology. I spent 2 weeks on inpatient pediatrics neuro at Riley and then 2 weeks on an adult outpatient service. Again, I loved the peds inpatient service. I got to learn a lot about seizures, but I also got to see a few more "interesting" and difficult to diagnose neurological problems. The adult service was a little too slow for my taste. Many times, patients wouldn't show up for appointments. I have loved neurology since my Neuroscience class my first year of medical school, and I have even debated becoming a neurologist. I think that after my neuro clinical rotation, I realized that as much as I love neuro, I think that I would miss treating cardiac problems or autoimmune problems, etc. I just finished a month of inpatient psychiatry. I saw patients who had ranges of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It was a very interesting month, and I learned a lot. The patients taught me more than I could have imagined.
Last week, I just switched to Internal Medicine, starting this month with the inpatient service. I am working at a hospital seeing only adult patients, treating a variety of diseases. I had two days of orientation, and so I only had one real day of work before the holiday. During the morning rounds, we saw patients in their 50s-80s. As soon as I got into the cafeteria for lunch, I saw a little girl about 2 or 3 years old walking with these little winter boots and sweater on, and right away I got this huge smile on my face. I realized that I absolutely, positively miss pediatrics already! I'm going to give Internal Medicine a chance, because if I like it I would go into either Med-Peds as I've mentioned before, or maybe even Family Medicine. However, if I continue to feel as I do right now, I feel as though I could be happiest going into Pediatrics. I had a meeting with a Med-Peds physician in November, and I remember a question she asked me that really hit me hard. She said "you first have to ask yourself a couple of questions. 1 - could you see yourself practicing medicine and never seeing kids in your practice?" I obviously said no - I love kiddos way too much. She then asked "the second question is whether you could see yourself practicing medicine without treating adults." And that question I really have been thinking about recently. I do like adults, and I enjoy working with the elderly population. However, I think I could see myself treating only kids. I like the diseases of kids much better - I've always been a fan of genetics and developmental biology, and those tend to be the major factors in the peds population. That's a big contrast to adults with hypertension and diabetes who mostly are stubborn and don't listen to your advice. I still have some time to decide, and next month I will be doing outpatient medicine, where I see patients similar to a family doctor again. There are just many things to think about....
During November, I did my "month of thankfulness" but I wanted to share it on this blog. So before I end this blog, which is rather short, I'd like to say what I'm thankful for - 1 for each day of the month (in no particular order).
1. My patients. I couldn't imagine doing any other job in my future than being a physician, and the patients are the reason why.
2. Good friends and good company. Days with friends are much needed in the midst of medical school!
3. My amazing boyfriend. We have been together for 3 years, and each day I love him more. I wouldn't be where I am without him.
4. My family and the amazing support they have given me throughout the years, especially in the last 3 years that I've been away at medical school.
5. Education. This goes along similar with my patients, but the academic side of education is something that is much taken for granted.
6. A place to live.
7. Food. #6 and 7 are taken for granted so often, and after seeing how others live in Haiti, I could never take these two for granted again.
8. Oakley. My cat has helped me survive 3 years of medical school, and he is the best pet and friend I could ask for :)
9. Children. Their spirits are so pure, their words are so hilarious; I just love everything about the kiddos.
10. Having a car to help me drive to and from home.
11. Freedom and living in the U.S. of A.
12. Books. Since the age of 4, I've been sucked into the worlds of many authors, and I'm easily willing to admit that reading is my favorite thing to do.
13. Laughter. It's easy to get wrapped up in all the things going wrong in the world, but laughter and joy are two things that make you realize the goodness of people.
14. Heat. During the cold winter months, I'm thankful to have running heat while so many others are unfortunately braving the cold :(
15. Clothing.
16. Health. So many people's health is taken away in a single moment. Be thankful every day.
17. Weekends - having some free time away from work and being able to relax and recuperate for the next week.
18. Coffee!!! Especially Starbucks and peppermint mochas :)
19. Showers.
20. Blankets.
21. Photos and the memories they contain.
22. Going home for the holidays and being able to see my hometown, friends, and family.
23. My pets at my mom's house that I've known since I was a kid - Conner, Lexi, Spike, and Buster.
24. Football :) especially the Colts
25. Snow!
26. Music (especially Christmas music ;))
27. The beauty of nature. Just take time one day to look around at the sky, the trees, the stars.. even in the dead of winter, I can't help but admire the world.
28. Thanksgiving Day - family, food, and all the things to be thankful for.
29. Church- Blake and I recently have found a new church with his parents, and I love the feeling of having a church to worship and give thanks in.
30. God. Without whom, none of the above would even exist. I can never give enough thanks for the blessings I have been given through the grace of God.
Until next time, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :)
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