Why we insist on inducing people at 7PM I simply can't understand. Because inevitably they will deliver at 1, 2, 3 in the morning. Why don't we wake up early and induce them before clinic starts? Or in between OR cases. So we can deliver them before dinnertime and I won't have to sleep with a pager beside me?

"2 AM and I'm still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them, however you want to "

-Anna Nalick, 2AM

Actually it is just about 2AM. And I should most definitely be in bed because I need to be up at 6ish tomorrow. I don't know who on Earth thought that rural would be easy. It's not. These doctors work and work and work and work. My preceptor is regularly in the OR by 7, then doing clinic all day until past 6 in the evening, quick dinner then he'll do a labor induction, hang around and then do the epidural, run home and peek in on his kids and come back at 1 in the morning and deliver the baby. And I have to be right there beside him.

Most days I stand in awe of these superhuman docs. But not enough that I would want to BE one of them. No matter how rewarding it is delivering your own obstetrics patients AND doing your own epidurals AND doing anesthesia for all the surgeons AND running a GP clinic, how could you stand not seeing your family half the nights in a week? For one week, maybe. A month would be tough. Never would I choose to permanently shape my practice in this manner.

Our delivery tonight went quickly but she tore BAD. Which is probably why I'm awake right now ruminating.

Labels: Medical stuff

Going on rural tomorrow!

All of the students in our program have to spend one month in a rural location. We're supposed to be practicing family medicine, but really on rural, you do whatever it is that your preceptor does. From the sounds of it, mine does a mix of obstetrics (yay!), anesthesia and minor surgical procedures.

I'm really, really not a small town kind of person. Born and raised in the city. The thought of one whole month without sushi is a little scary. Call me shallow, but it's just what I'm used to. Tonight a few of us got together for a little goodbye before two of us head out on rural FM and ended up having a little discussion about what we should bring:

'I couldn't decide which shoes to bring. Because if I bring this pair of pants, then I HAVE to bring these shoes. So then I just ended up with way too many shoes. But I can't NOT bring these pants, so I'll just have to bring these shoes.'

'Do you think it's ok that I'm bringing my stilettoes? It's skirt season. I always wear my skirts with my stilettoes'

'Are you bringing your stuffed animals?'

One big SUV. One little Asian girl. Many, many bags full of clothing, books, computer, animals and food. Some much needed peace and quiet.

Labels: Rural FM

Exam in 2 hours and as usual, books are untouched but the apartment is sparkling! Well, almost. Maybe if I had one more exam the apartment would be just about immaculate.

• Catching up on all of my emails
• All financial things are in order
• Random notes and handouts have been filed away categorized by medical subspecialty
• Next year's electives are almost arranged and just need to be mailed out
• Completed packing list for rural rotation
• Facebook to the max

Ah...nothing like an exam to put the rest of my life in order...

In Lloyd at the present. Have been trying desperately hard to be good, twice daily study sessions and whatnot. The marks will tell if I was good enough.

• Quiet, quiet Easter weekend. Between me needing to study and the weather being cold-ish, neither us nor Kev's roommate and his girlfriend have gone out more than once a day. Starting to get slightly cabin-feverish
• Yay! Other couple loves food as much as we do. Last night was GREAT steaks made on the BBQ
• Worked out yesterday and used the machines for the first time in ages. Was almost crushed by the leg press. Obviously, just a tad overambitious. Am now in horrific amounts of pain
• Other couple currently watching Blood Diamond. Lots of screaming in the background, would rather not know what it's all about
• No coffee in almost 48 hours and starting to feel zombie-like. Need a Tim's. Need it now.

Random blog thoughts:

• Happy Birthday Kev!!!
• Will save all mushy sentiments for when I actually talk/see you as opposed to airing them in this rather public forum =)
• Wow, is the weather NASTY right now! More like middle of February than beginning of April! Wasn't March supposed to go out like a lamb?
• To-do list getting longer by the second. Hopefully, writing it out will motivate me to get moving on at least some of them:
• MCQ on Tuesday
  
• Prepare for psych oral on Wednesday
• So many psych history/physicals to do! Why is the on-call person never notified???
  
• Contacting rural preceptor
• Getting electives all sorted out
• Packing for rural FM
• Can't wait to get to Lloyd this weekend but MUST be good and STUDY!!! while there
  
• Keeping in touch with all the people who matter =)