Here we go.

I have not updated in a while and for this, I apologize and will try to keep this entry focused on interesting events.

I will pick up where I left off...LAST Monday. That day, I spent a half-day in ophthalmology. You can probably imagine what that was like...eyeglass prescriptions, glaucoma patients, candidates for cataract surgery. It was not too terribly thrilling, but the doctor I was with was very nice and told me that ophthalmologists have a great lifestyle. After I got done there, my dad and stepmother took me out to eat.

Tuesday, I shadowed a pediatrician. That was actually interesting. I saw a lot of sick kids, obviously. But I also got to see some babies getting check-ups and vaccinations and regular things like that, and I loved being around the babies. They just made me feel happy. I saw so many young mothers, though. Several of them were still in high school and just seemed so lost. The doctor had to be really patient with them, and also with several of the parents I saw who spoke no English or very broken English. If I took anything away from the day, it's that children are a LOT of work. They have to come for check-ups very often when they're little, get all of their vaccinations, buy all of these specific medicines and products, etc. And there are all of these little tips the doctor would give out, like putting Karo syrup in a baby's milk bottle. I was thinking, "People are supposed to know this stuff?!" Funny story: an older boy (probably about 11) came in with his mom with pretty normal complaints of a sore throat, coughing, etc. The doctor asked if they'd been in the water recently, and the mother said, "Yes, my boyfriend took us to the beach on vacation last week," and the little boy immediately says, "I thought you said he was your husband!" And the mother tries to stay composed, but just sputters out, "Well, soon-to-be. Fiance." She just looked down into her lap after that. I had to try SO HARD not to laugh. Kids say the darndest things.

Next day was Endocrinology. It's basically a specialty that deals with anything involving hormones. You see a lot of diabetes patients and people with thyroid problems. I actually enjoyed it. That day, I was frustrated with people who would not listen to the doctor. Now, I'm not saying you should just blindly follow anything a physician tells you. You shouldn't. But a VERY young person (early 20s) we saw that day REFUSED A BIOPSY of a lump in her throat because she said she was needle-phobic (even though she's had two epidurals before). Her next appointment is in three months. I do not see how a person sleeps at night knowing they might have cancer...I guess patience is a virtue I am going to have to learn, because I wanted to shake her, and I don't hear of many doctors shaking their patients.

Next two days...ER. That Thursday was interesting at least (nothing went on that Friday morning). Thursday, I worked from 3PM 'till 11PM and saw a near-drowning, a drug OD, a (catatonic) schizophrenic, and a man in a tractor accident. WHOA. I also learned that ER doctors are not on call. You would think they are, but since they are scheduled around the clock, no one ever gets called in. I actually enjoyed working at night, but I think I would feel differently if I had a family.

I will blog about this week's adventures starting tomorrow so it's not too overwhelming. Haha. But at the moment, I am scared. I'm going back to summer school in July to take Chemistry II. Chemistry is so hard for me that I won't have time for a job, and that is really awful. I can't afford to not have a job, and I even told my mother the other day that I can't stand not working. I have worked since I was 16 years old. But she and I both know that if I work and take that class at the same time, I will probably fail the class, which would be a waste of time and money. I just feel so guilty, though...I NEED to work. I can't afford not to. But I can't afford not to get into medical school in two years, either, if that's what I'm planning to do with my life. It's just a sucky situation. I'm really dreading going back to my house and getting the internet and cable turned back on...they told me they are going to charge me some kind of activation fee for a reason I don't understand, since everything is activated, I thought. I am going to ask why, but I feel like no matter what, there are people just ripping me off everywhere I go. Bills just suck. But I HAVE to pay them, and I can't get rid of them. Except for putting them in the shredder, which means they would just reappear later and be more expensive the next time.

Yes, I do need a nap.