Naija M.D.

I thought I would like it a lot more

temitope — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:05:52 +0000

Granted , you are not expected to like every rotation that you participate in during your third year, you still want to learn something from it anyways. I felt this way about my ob/gyn rotation and pediatric rotation. During my ob/gyn rotation , I was so sure that I would shed a tear after every baby was born whether it was a vaginal delivery or a c-section, I only thought of bring in life or should I say helping to bring in life. I also expected that studying for it would be so much fun and it would come so easy. I was completely wrong. The first time I saw a vaginal delivery I thought oh my gosh what a wonderful miracle of life the other 8th or 9th time I would think to myself , come out already. It was still interesting and breathtaking to see a baby born but sometimes it just took a lot longer than I expected. Since, I have already told my readers that I have absolutely no interest in surgery, the surgical aspect of ob/gyn was tedious for me. My first observation or should I say my first few observations were interesting and informative but the rests after that was just boring to me. I saw quite a few D&C’s (dilatation and curettage), and after observing so many I began to think I could do one which was probably wrong but that didn’t stop me. The time I enjoyed the most was while i was in clinic for two weeks. During this time, i confirmed to myself that I definitely want to go into a an area of medicine that allows for continuous care. I enjoyed interacting with my patients and learning about prenatal care. Like I do with every rotation, I do my best and hope that I have made a good impression. I also got to practice my spanish quite a bit during this rotation.

Now, I am in my pediatric rotation, well in the third out of six weeks. I spent 1 week in the pediatric clinic interacting with patients from a few days old to teenagers. I came across quite a bit that was discomforting. one thing that stood out to me was a mother rolling her eyes at the attending when she attempted to advise her on things that she could do at home to reduce her child’s weight. As much as there are news reports, newspaper articles, talk shows and many more informative outlets about obesity and how it is now become an epidemic some people stll just don’t get it. I did my best to reiterate to many patients the best way I could but the fact is that if we think we are dealing with so much hypertension, so much diabetes, so much heart disease right now, it doesn’t compare to what will be dealing with in the future if nothing changes. I also met with a lot of young girls that were already sexually active and felt very uncomfortable about talking to them about Plan B (emergency contraception) but it was required and I had to get comfortable with that very quickly. I also spent a week in the pediatric emergency room. During my time here I just felt that the emergency room was been abused. Kids were brought to the emergency room for the slightest thing, people would stay in the waiting room for hours because their 10year old child had an episode of vomiting the day before. I had to makesure that I didn’t have the craziest looks on my face because frankly I was in disbelief that they don’t see anything wrong with keeping their child out of school, taking time off work because of 1 episode of vomitting. I do realize that some of this cases turn out to be serious cases but majority of the time they were just sent home. At one point I asked one of the parents why didn’t you go to your primary care physician and she told me it was because the appointment they had available was not till the following week and and the physician told her that if she can’t wait till then to go to the emergency room…hmm… I will say no more about that.

I am now in the nursery, and will be there for a week. I had to get comfortable today doing the newborn exams which i think I am now okay with. Will see how it goes.

Stay Blessed!

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Are medical specialty personality tests for real?

temitope — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:53:46 +0000

I hate it when I haven’t blogged in a while because I always feel like I need to make an excuse for not blogging. I always wonder that am I just that busy that I don’t have time to blog? Actually, the truth is most times when something exciting/interesting happens during my day I can’t blog about it soon enough and so I forget and when I think about blogging I sometimes just don’t have anything interesting to share so I just don’t.This past weekend I went back to Minnesota to spend time with my family. I had missed my 1 year old nephew so much that I thought about my reunion with him several times during my flight. When I got home, he was already in his bed but he was just sitting. It was dark in the room and I walked in and said “Hey Ayo” he tried to make out the person saying his name in the dark and when he did he reached out to me that was so special. It was such a warm welcome. I can’t wait to see him again.

Before I left last Friday, I was discussing with two of my colleagues at LICH about picking a specialty for our medical careers. One of them mentioned that she had taken a personality test online. I thought it was kind of interesting so I decided to answer the 131 questions on http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/specialties/ and see what my results would be. JIC you didn’t know I am strongly thinking about specializing in nephrology. Nothing else has really piqued my interest yet but I am keeping an open mind. So, it took me about 25minutes to answer the questions. I wanted to do it pretty fast so that I wouldn’t really have time to second guess myself. I was very surprised when I read my top 3 suggested specialties: 1) Urology 2) General Surgery and 3) Orthopedics. I couldn’t believe it especially because I really didn’t enjoy my surgery rotation. Don’t get me wrong I worked my hardest and I learned all I could in those 12 weeks but the experience wasn’t a joyous one for me. Some of the attending I worked with were really great. I just didn’t feel surgery fit my personality at all. I was even very surprised when one of the residents I was working with said to me that I would make a surgeon. I just thought to myself, you don’t know me well enough to say that. Over the weekend, I wondered how the people around you while you are doing your rotations really influence what specialty you do end up in. The people I am referring to are those that you come across with on a daily basis during the rotation. During my surgery rotation, I didn’t particularly care so much for the OR staff. A lot of them just seemed so bitter. This might be because I got yelled at a couple times I am not sure. I got yelled at my Dr. S a couple times as well but I really enjoyed working with him. I didn’t expect to be an expert in the operating room as far as preparing for surgery but I felt that the OR staff did. I wasn’t the only one that got yelled at. Granted, some of us did deserve it but most of us didn’t. In trying to teach someone, I don’t believe yelling enforces anything. It might even cause the person to build some sort of a resistance to what you are trying to teach. During my 2 week orthopedic rotation, the residents were marvelous, even on their bad days. They were always kind to medical students and they just seemed to be happy with themselves and their chosen specialty. I had a nice experience with my urology rotation as well. I actually briefly thought about it but then was discouraged when I found that to become an urologist you are required to do a couple years of general surgery. When I thought about being a medical doctor, infectious diseases was what I always thought about doing but after my second year I couldn’t even stand the thought of it. So, it is a good thing that we have our clinical years to really help us decided where we think we fit the best.

Nephrology at LICH has been really great. I almost feel spoiled. I feel like I am given enough responsibilities to actually get the most out of this rotation. Dr. K is a great teacher even on days he’s not in the best mood. Today, wasn’t bad at all I was supposed to do a consult first thing this morning and being the diligent student I am, I was there early enough to do the consult before fellows started arriving. Unfortunately for me there was no longer a need for the consult because the patient expired last night. My fellow made a comment saying at least the patient thought you about contrast induced nephropathy before he expired. This was true as I had to read about it before I actually saw the patient. The two other patients I was called to do consults on today both her nephrotic syndrome and I am still in the process of picking which diagnosis among my differentials is the best fit. All this I said was just to let you know that I am still enjoying nephrology and hope to continue to.

BTW, #10 on that personality test was Psychiatry. If I had to rank psychiatry it would definitely be #46 which was the last no on the test. I was very emotional during my psych rotation and I couldn’t quite figure out why. I was usually on the verge of tears after interview my patients. The attending and residents were great though. So that’s all that I have going on now that’s interesting. I hope something more interesting comes along tomorrow so I have a reason to blog.

Stay Blessed!

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Just because

temitope — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:54:24 +0000

I always hate it when I haven’t blogged in a while. I usually would ask myself “have you really been that busy?” and the answer to that is usually no. I am on the plane on the way back to New York from Minnesota. Wanted to see my mom one more time before she headed back to Nigeria. It was nice to go home but I don’t like very short trips or very long ones. While on a short trip I always feel rushed and whole on a long one I always feel like I want my me time.

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Don’t be fooled like I was…. hehe :)

temitope — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:47:40 +0000

Don’t be fooled like I was for almost a year I thought this two individuals were the same person. If you know me very well you know there are certain things that I am very proud of myself for besides my educational accomplishments that is. I pride myself for knowing so much about celebrities especially actors. I can always remember a name, movies they’ve been and stuff like that. I remember last year while I was still in Grenada and I watched the movie “no country for old men” my roommate asked me if I knew who was playing the part of Anton, I could have sworn she said it was the guy from Grey’s anatomy Jeffery Morgan. I was so impressed by his transformation I had a little bit more respect for him whenever he made an appearance on Grey’s. Since then I have also seen him in the movie with Uma Thurman called the Accidental Husband. Anyways, I was giving him all this respect and applauding him for his oscar win for No country for old men until today when I watched the movie Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona. As I watched I was thinking to myself this guy’s good, he’s an American guy playing a Spanish guy in such a convincing way. I once again couldn’t believe the transformation. So while watching the movie I decided to google this movie and found out the name of the guy in this movie was Javier Bardem. I was thinking that name doesn’t sound familiar at all. So I google ‘No country for old men’ and saw that Javier Bardem also played in that movie. I then decided to google ‘Javier Bardem in Grey’s anatomy’ , in one of the results that came up I saw celebrity look alikes Javier Bardem and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. I couldn’t believe it. I had been fooled. I even remember asking my sister to guess who played Anton in No country.. and ofcourse she couldn’t guess so I told her it was the same guy from Grey’s anatomy. Hehe. I called Gilda when I found all this out and she had a good laugh and said you know they do look very alike. in the picture on the top left to the left is Jeffrey and to the right is Javier. Wow my realization was so funny I had to blog about it before I finished the movie Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona.

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Falling asleep

temitope — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:45:06 +0000

At grand rounds right now and the speaker is talking about chronic constipation. As interesting as that might sound I can’t help falling asleep. Is it that am tired or am I just bored. It’s probably a little bit of both. So in order to stay up I decided to write a blog.

This morning when I walked out of my apartment it was snowing. I remember very cold temperatures in the forecast but I don’t remember any mention of snow. Oh well it wasn’t a great walk to the subway. I hope it doesn’t snow over the weekend or on Monday because Monday is a holiday- Martin Luther King Jr. day.

I have been pissed off soon much by the school financial aid because of a delay in my finds. As u all know most graduate students are on loans and with most medical students they actually live off their loans. My money is about 3 weeks behind and it’s starting to get really annoying. This morning when I called the last actually yelled at me saying they mailed the check and won’t put a stop on it until after 2 weeks have passed. I asked her to stop yelling and I wasn’t asking for them to stop a payment but rather if there is any way to track it. I was so pissed that she jumped to stopping a payment after two weeks which I think is also ridiculous. Customer service has gotten so bad in the last few years it’s just a terrible shame. Well to end that story I got my money today in the mail.

At work today we also had hypertension clinic. It wasn’t busy at all probably because of the weather. It was kool though. It’s just interesting that people that not compliant with their meds expect their blood pressure to be low. So when you tell them it’s high they tell you the bp monitor is lying and have u repeat it over and over again.

Just before we left work today we heard about the us airways plane that crashed/landed on the Hudson river. It’s not clear what happened but Thank God all 154 passengers and flight crew all survived.

Stay Blessed!

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Brrrrr….

temitope — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:16:55 +0000

It was very cold today. The weather guys say it’s going to get even colder. I have been wearing my thermal wear to keep warm. The walk to the subway and back home has gotten do much longer since this summer. By the time I’m half way my toes are frozen and legs ready to give up especially when I have my slacks on. Well I have no choice, it’s gonna be even worse when I start my Ob/Gyn rotation bc I will be wearing scrubs. I will be alright though. Thank God winter only lasts a few months.

I am glad that I bought the book ‘Acid-base, fluid and electrolytes made ridiculously simple’ for this rotation. After reading it a couple times I am pretty sure I will have a better handle on fluid and electrolytes. It can be so difficult at times.

Shamiere is coming to town this weekend the plan is to have some fun, I hope I will be able to figure out what we should get into.

In the news recently they have been talking about a surgeon who is suing his wife to get the kidney he donated to her back because she cheated on him. What kinda crap is that? I thought it was so ridiculous and I wasn’t alone based on what the headlines in the paper had the following day ” kidney loaner” it’s just annoying that they even give it amy airtime or pages in the paper amidst other major issues and here I am giving it some blog time hehe.

Watched the movie ‘The Express’ yesterday. It’s the movie about Ernie Davis the first black man to receive the heisman trophy. He was drafted into the NFL but never played a single game. I was so inpatient while watching the movie that I just went on wikipedia to get the scoop on what exactly happened. I know that’s kinda bad but I will catch the rest at a time when I don’t have study on my schedule.

Nothing else is going on right now. Recently reconnected with some high school friends on facebook and that was pretty cool.

Stay Blessed!

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Mind boggling conditions

temitope — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:26:06 +0000

I have to admit that nephrology is pretty interesting to me. Just using the physiology of the renal system everyday allows me to like it even more. The question is do I want to do a residency in internal med and specialize in nephrology. Well… Donno yet but it’s certainly an option. I have only done my surgery and psychiatry which I know for sure I have no interest in it. I still have of ob/gyn, pediatrics and internal med. I will see how I feel after that. So many things to think about before it’s time to make decisions. I will decide soon I hope. I have been reading a lot about electrolytes and it seems as if no matter how much I read about or how many times I read it, it just slips away. I am enjoying reading about it but I just wish I coils retain it once and for all. I had to give a presentation on acute kidney injury aka acute renal failure. I think I did very well. My next assignment is to present hyponatremia. I hope when I present it will make sense.

Stay Blessed!

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My first day at L.I.C.H

temitope — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:34:06 +0000

It started a little frustrating yesterday morning. I woke up at 5:30am and my plan was to be outta my apartment by 6:50 to catch the E and then the F to get to brooklyn by 8:30. Crazy commute huh? that was what I was thinking. Anyway, I made it to Brooklyn and was fine until I got out of the subway. The directions I had said go west on Bergen, since I never have any idea which way is west, east, north or south I did what I would normally do which is guess. I guessed wrong and walked farther away from my intended destination. I called my friend Ami who told me that before I showed up at the hospital I had to go to the medical board office which was on Alameda street (that was what I heard) I told her to wait for me but she said she couldn’t wait because she was cold. I said fine and continued to try and find my way. Everyone I asked said something different. I got a call from my bff who also happens to be my sister. Usually when I am this disconbabulated (spelling?) I call my sis but this time she beat me to it. She said just take a cab, I told her I don’t have money to take a cab she said she would give me some and I got in a cab. I was about 5 blocks in the wrong direction but I made it to 97 Amity which was what Ami said when I heard Alameda. I got my medical clearance and had to security to get an i.d but on the security door there was a sign “No i.d’s today.” I was then sent to the Nephrology deparment and got there just in time to start my day. I was told that I would be working with Dr.B (attending) from Spain I think and Dr. B (fellow) from Russia I think. They seemed like nice people to work with. My colleague Carol and I were asked to go see consults (patients other doctors have asked a nephrologist to see). Thank God for carol because since she is almost done with her rotations she was more comforable doing consults and was very helpful. I would have been lost without her. So we saw 1 consult and then went to noon conference(free food yay!) and then went to clinic. It was a day filled with information review and getting acquainted with the hospital. We were done at 3:30pm and Carol and I walked to the train station together. Although the day started frustrating it ended pretty good.

Stay Blessed!

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Back to NYC

temitope — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:37:07 +0000

Came back to New York after a two week vacation. It felt lonely coming back that is leaving a full house and returning to an empty apartment. I will get over it soon I hope. I am so not looking forward to my next rotation. Two reasons why; I still wish I was on vacation and secondly I don’t feel like commuting all the way to Brooklyn. It’s going to take me 1:33mins if I take the E and F train. Oh well I have no choice now, here comes 6 weeks of nephrology. It was nice being at home for two weeks though. Hanging out with my nieces and nephew was too much fun.

Before I left for Minnesota on vacation I found out that I got an A on my surgery rotation which was a nce Xmas gift. I also took my psych exam which I am still waiting on the results for.

A few friends coming to NY pretty soon. Diggity will be here on Tuesday and we will be watching the ball drop together in time square and Shamiere will be coming shortly after that. The good thing about my friends coming is that they won’t be depending on me to entertain them, they can handle that themselves. I will be working while they are here so they will be more than willing to entertain themselves.

So, during my short break I got fitted for contact lenses. I got tired of putting on eye shadow just for me to pick put my glasses over them. So now I am just trying to adjust to the trial pairs they gave me, so far so good.

I got pretty upset with SGU a couple weeks ago because I requested two weeks out of my elective time off and was denied. After writing a very honest email as to why I needed those two weeks off I couldn’t believe they would deny me. They offerred that I take the two weeks off if I must and they will place me in another ob/gyn rotation after the scheduled end of my third year. I don’t believe that they will accomodate me at that time since they aren’t now so I have decided to just stick with my schedule Urgh…..

That’s it for now. Happy New Year in advance.

Stay Blessed!

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Bloggin from my iphone

temitope — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:26:40 +0000

The iPhone is the best thing so far and if you don’t own one you need to go get one. Fortunately I got mine as a gift from SuperMas. It was a very lovely gift that I received this summer. I found out today that I could actually blog from my phone, that was one thing I had been waiting for. The iPhone is good for so many things that I can’t even begin to give list them because it’s just too much. Anyway go get one if you don’t have one.
Christmas is in 4 days. I like Christmas because it celebrates the birth of Jesus but I don’t really like Christmas carols. I think the reason why is because during the Christmas season when I am riding in the car with my sis she doesn’t let me listen to any non-Christmas songs. Although this happened many years ago it’s the only reason I can think of. I am looking forward to Christmas though. My sister has a big shindig for it, we cook a lot and invite a few friends over. I do miss spending Christmas with my grandma in Nigeria
Well I think I will stop now and blog later.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Stay Blessed!

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