http://www.head-rush.com/ en-us 2008-09-03T21:21:04-08:00 2008-09-03T21:51:23-08:00 For my rotation in Addiction Medicine in Hawaii next spring, I have had to jump through hoops of fire in order to have my application "complete." They have needed letters of good standing, transcripts, board scores, and... proof of immunizations. Flea shots, distemper, ... yadda yadda yadda. Ordinarily this is no big deal: this is the usual stuff you need to go to pretty much any school in the US. And because I am thorough (OK, a tiny bit OCD), I actually had new titers drawn in June to prove that I was in fact immune to the things I am supposed to be immunized against. (Turns out I had blown through all my HepB antibodies in 3 years -- scary stuff -- so I am restarting that series... but I digress.) However, for my rotation, the school in Hawaii wanted DATES from when I got my ORIGINAL vaccines. As in, the kind I got when I was 1. Yes, 40-year-old info! Are they serious??? This is age discrimination! I don't even think paper existed when I was a child! As you can well imagine, I only mildly flipped out ... where the hell was I supposed to get THAT info?? As it is, I think I blew through 3 pediatricians as a child (all died during my reign of terror - ages 2-4), and was cursing that no way in hell would I ever be able to find that out. All was lost, I thought. I'm going to be... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001290.html Conversations with my mother LA 2008-09-03T21:21:04-08:00 I am STILL getting people coming to this site by searching on the phrase h e a d i n v a g i n a. And Yes, I know I am only perpetuating it by adding it to the site again. But seriously. Is life for you people THAT deprived? Dear god. So, I'm thinking of trying a bizarre phrase of the month just to see, experimentally, what it does to my traffic. So, this month's phrase, courtesy of the Monkey In Chief herself, Beth, is "monkey pessary" ... (Oh for fuck's sake, go look it up...)... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001289.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-27T22:24:08-08:00 Last night Beth and I made what's become an annual pilgrimage to see the Dave Matthews Band. We last saw DMB at Hollywood Bowl, which was astonishing. It has become my favorite venue, hands down. The acoustics are incomparable. And we are planning to head north to see him perform at the Gorge and do a little camping as well. Last night, however, we saw them perform at Staples Center. It was a great show, despite the sad overtones as the group's sax player passed away yesterday. But as always, it was an amazing performance. That said, here's the setlist from last night: Bartender Proudest Monkey (YAY!!!) Satellite So Damn Lucky Eh Hee Water Into Wine Burning Down The House Dancing Nancies Loving Wings The Maker Sledgehammer Grey Street Dreaming Tree Crash Into Me Everyday Anyone Seen The Bridge Too Much Intro Ants Marching Encore: Sister Corn Bread Two Step I was a little bummed they didn't play Crush which is my favorite DMB song and has special meaning to me. But they played some great cover songs including Burning Down the House and Sledgehammer. I've been a long time Peter Gabriel fan and have probably seen him in concert more than any other artist. And who doesn't love Talking Heads?? I must say though that despite a fantastic show, I was unimpressed with the acoustics at Staples. I was surprised at how inadequate it seemed. I dont think the venue was a particularly good location for DMB, as they... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001288.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-20T10:58:31-08:00 I can once again breathe. I killed that pig! My last exam of medical school!! I took Step 2 of the Boards today - a hellatious 8-hour, 400 question beast. Ugh. But its done, and it's behind me. Now I can watch the damn Olympics!! And go to the beach every weekend... and exhale. Yes, Beth, you can exhale, too. Monkey juice???... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001287.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-13T20:46:30-08:00 Holy shitttttt... (I still get chills thinking about it -- this whole doctor thing. Wow.)... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001286.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-10T23:02:50-08:00 Yes, I take my Step 2 of the boards this Wednesday. Hence the stress. Unlike many others, I did not have a vacation the weeks leading into my exam. Oh no, I had to go and choose Pediatric Fucking ER (which I love, don't get me wrong) the weeks leading up to the exam. My schedule is so erratic, it's hard finding more than 4 hour blocks to study. Sigh... I'll get through it. Somehow. I can remember fretting madly over the MCAT. Seems so trivial now. (It WASN'T.) And I am sure my propensity to stress over exams has not diminished. But I'm certain the amount I bitch has most definitely been reduced. You shoulda seen me 4 years ago. I was an insufferable pain in the ass. (Yes, I am aware of that NOW.) It's just that, now, I know I'll be a doctor in 8 months. (!!! holy shit!!!) I just want to make sure I'll be a decent one. OK, done procrastinating. More questions. (Peri... it's just not the same when we're not sitting face to face on the deck or at the table drinking coffee and sobbing softly together... I hope Jade and Sara and Chris are pleased with themselves! ;)... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001285.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-10T22:52:48-08:00 Menstruatng monkey ass pheromones must die.... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001284.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-05T21:45:36-08:00 Every have one of those days when everyone pretty much sucks and altruism seems like a nice notion but really is a crock of shit? Yeah, well I'm there. Feeling jaded and tortured. Maybe it's PMS, maybe it's premenopausal crap, or maybe it's just people in general. But right now I want to punch someone in the neck. (no one in particular. just the first person to cross me... or just cross my path.) (Have I mentioned I am sleep deprived and studying for boards??? Yes, maybe that DOES have something to do with it.)... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001283.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-05T20:42:04-08:00 For those who asked/are interested in my 4th year schedule, here 'tis: June/July: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit July/August: Pediatric Emergency Medicine August/Sept.: Family Medicine VACATION!! Beach house in Hermosa Beach, baby! Sept./Oct.: Emergency Medicine Oct./Nov.: Infectious Disease VACATION!! In the works Nov./Dec.: Pediatric Neurology Dec./Jan.: Neurosurgery Jan./Feb: Neurology Feb./March: Radiology VACATION!!! 2 weeks!!! Sailing!!! March/April: Addiction Medicine, in Hawaii! Last day: April 24. Graduation: May 15 End of May: THE FAMILY'S VILLA ON THE AMALFI COAST, ITALY!!! June: Residency starts... TBD. :)... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001282.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-08-03T12:54:10-08:00 Just had a 5.8 quake here, about 3 miles from my house!!! Jesus, that was terrifying! Phones are down, including cell phones. I've never actually seen ground move before! At first I thought a big truck was rolling by until the patio started to shake and then Deb and I stood up to run to the center of the lawn and the whole ground was moving back and forth -- I almost fell. Here come the aftershocks... I am *still* shaking.. Check this out: Recent Earthquakes Just for the record, I am located on the Pomona/Claremont border... (top of red box) Meanwhile they are evacuating buildings in downtown... and I have to head into downtown soon for work. Hopefully that's the last of it for today. Pretty terrifying, but cool!... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001281.html LA 2008-07-29T11:55:30-08:00 I'm currently working in my pediatric emergency medicine rotation ... many, many hours. Very, very tired. And sick. Again. Natch. I went from cushy to crushed overnight. I love it though! FANTASTIC hospital and great attendings. The residents are incredibly smart - the best group I've seen thus far. They make everyone just want to perform better. I'm working 6 days a week, and today is my day off. I work 4-midnight the next 6 days (theoretically 8 hours, but usually I am there 9-10) -- the busiest shift in this ER. I'm seeing and learning a lot, and we are expected to diagnose and treat as if we are interns. It's good practice for next year - it functions like a sub-internship. So far I have diagnosed leukemia in a patient who came in with chest pain, reduced a few dislocated elbows, sutured some lacerations, and treated/managed the care of a baby with a fractured skull. Not a bad first 3 days! Now I'm off for more Board study. Test in 3 weeks.. Speaking of time: only 8.5 months left!... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001280.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-07-24T10:22:59-08:00 I am hoping to be better about chronicling the trials and tribulations of med school life during my 4th year. Obviously, I've been busy and sadly this blog has been neglected. It's pathetic in that I have had much blogworthy news! 4th year is going swimmingly thus far. I am currently working in a NICU taking care of premature infants. It's a more humane rotation in that I am not working 90 hoursa week -- more like 35, which is reasonable since I am taking Step 2 of the boards soon. I'm enjoying the preemies -- they're like little pocket-sized peanuts I just want to take home. I am currently managing 2 with very severe neurological problems (Bilateral Grade 4 Intraventricular Hemorrhage), and they are both day-to-day status. I am going to run upstairs soon to observe a head ultrsound on one of them to see if the dilation of brain ventricles has reduced. Then I'm off -- heading home to check on my very very pregnant roommate, Peri (twin girls on the way!!) to see if she is still vomiting her guts out. (Love you too, peri!) In two weeks I will be working in downtown LA for my Pediatric Emergency Medicine rotation. Then it's off to UCLA for more rotation fun -- and my beach house in Hermosa Beach! Schwing!!! Got a place right on the Strand, so bikini watching will vie for my time. (I don't care what my girlfriend says, I do NOT have a neoprene... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001279.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-07-08T10:42:13-08:00 I'm officially a senior - and 10 months away from being a doc! This is how Beth feels about that:... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001278.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-06-14T12:32:43-08:00 Life's been pretty busy the past few weeks as I am winding down my third year. In a few days I will be a 4th year med student and with that comes the stress and joy of residency applications. It also means no more tests! Well, of course, I will have my Board exams in July and September, but medical school exams will be a fond (NOT) memory. I'm currently rotating in my last internal medicine slot, and have been assigned to the Nephrology team. This was unexpected, as this type of rotation works more like a sub-internship. However, I am pleased to be learning so much about renal disease, electrolyte imbalances, cardiac and pulmonary disease, etc. It's mentally intensive but I am learning an amazing amount and have managed to get out of working weekends -- a bonus for being on the Renal Team! Initially I was supposed to work 6am to 6pm, 6 days a week - now it's only 5. Believe me, 12 hours is a BIG deal when you miss so much. (60 hours as opposed to 72/wk.) My sister scored some Sex and the City screening tix for this past week, but I had to pass as I was on call. I'm also missing the Relay for Life next weekend in CT (sorry ladies!!!!) because I initially thought I had to work. I also have tickets for the upcoming Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl for the entire weekend, but I need to wake... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001277.html Med School Diaries LA 2008-05-30T20:41:26-08:00 Schwing! Guess that means my to-do list, and 5-year plan just got a bit longer...and a lot more complicated. In a good way, of course! My mother may finally get her wish that I someday will wear her wedding dress. She'll be so happy! I think I will call her and ask -- besides, I haven't updated the Conversations with My Mother section in a while, and this ought to be a doozy.... http://www.head-rush.com/archives/001276.html LA 2008-05-15T13:24:49-08:00