Crutch Incompetent

Prior to going to surgery I went and rented a pair of crutches from the local Smith's. From working in the E.R. I have learned that crutches are a large expense added to your bill. Smith's allows me to rent crutches for 30 bucks and get all of my money back when I return them. I teach people how to use crutches every day. I got my pair home and found that they made a better weapon than an assistance for walking (and I thought that I had grace and skills). I am lucky because I only had to use them yesterday, although I might need them when I go back to work.
So far the after math of the surgery has not been bad. I did almost pass out a couple of times yesterday. One was a beautiful sight where I had to lie of the kitchen floor for 45 minutes...luck for me children do not drop food on the floor in quite the abundance as they did in the past. I have also been faithfully participating in my exercises, because I am bound and determined to be out and running again.

Hunger and Thirst

The big surgery day is tomorrow, at 1 pm. I can't eat after 11 pm tonight. The funny thing about being told that you can't eat is that all you want to do is eat then. Working in the E.R. I see this on a daily basis. Patients come in stating that they have not eaten in three days, then suddenly they want me to get them a meal. What is that about? It seems that no one can eat at home, but they are magic fumes in the E.R. that simulates that appetite. The first thing that everyone asks for is a drink. Then by 30 minutes of being in the E.R. (with 1 liter of fluid going into their arm through an I.V.), they are really angry that I won't give them a drink because they are dehydrated. Hhhmmm. Perhaps I am going to personally be experiencing the anger after 11 pm tonight and I will be more sympathetic, but it get really old when I am at work. For future reference of those individuals who go to the E.R., no food or drinks in case something is really wrong with you and you need to have a procedure or surgery.

Sorry about the soap box. I am feeling ravenous, I best go eat.

Clinicals Completed

I finished all of my hours of clinicals for school last Thursday, which was a huge relief. Now I am supposed to be working on my paper that I need to turn in to be published. Instead, I have picked up a bunch of hours at work. Anything to get out of homework! Well, actually, I need to pay for the MRI I had on my knee and the surgery I am having next week. I would also like to attend my graduation. I figure that maybe I will finish the paper the week that I am layed-up after the surgery. Otherwise, things are going well. Many of the jobs that I applied for want to talk to me after I have taken my boards.

Job Searching

Well, I did not get either of the jobs that I was hoping for so I am once again searching. I have applied for jobs everywhere, but not really in Utah....there are not really any that don't require night shifts. I am hoping to be a day person. I will keep you all posted, but I think that it will be weeks or even months before I have any real news.

Knee Surgery

I went to the orthopedic surgeon today and it is inevitable...knee surgery. I am going to be having arthroscopic surgery on my knee to remove the large cyst forming in my knee on October 28th. I am excited about the prospect of being able to exercise again, but a little nervous about it not working and about recovery time. I also don't like how much I think that it is going to cost me. That is going to give me several days of just working on my paper for school. They wanted to do the surgery this next week, but I told them that I needed to finish my clinical hours first. I will be done next week. Yeah!

Is No News Good News?

The interview that I had went well, I think. The problem is that one always feels that their interview went well and then they don't get the job. I think that my downfall with this job is that I don't graduate until December and it will take into January before I get a DEA number (number that allows and individuals to prescribe narcotics) and to pass the board and get a license. I am just waiting to see what is decided. I think that if someone else comes along and can start sooner, then they will get the job because Winter is the busiest season in a pediatrics office. Runny noses, vomit, earaches, difficulty breathing....a pediatricians dream, or nightmare if understaffed.
Knee news: I had my MRI. I was kind of skeptical about how bad my knee really hurt, so I ran around the Layton Clinic parking lot to make sure that it really hurt before I went in to get the MRI. The test shows a cyst in my knee if a build up of some fluid. I am not sure what that means for me. I asked some of the doctors in the ER and they told me that I still can't exercise, even though no tendons or ligaments are injured. It is very frustrating for me, but I am hoping for good news. I head to the orthopedic surgeon next Monday. The doctors office visit have extended my school clinical hours until the 22nd of October.