Another day, another rotation, another year over

First of all, I was right, Vancouver was great! I didn't get to set up a fellowship, but did learn a lot and had a fun time. Spent way too much money, though. Really feel now like us hicks out in Sask are trained just as well as everyone else in the country.

Finished CV anesthesia today. Worked witht the Program Director - that was a bit stressful. He really likes to teach, but expects a lot all at the same time. He is still fun to work with though, not like one of the other attendings (what a jerk that guy is). I thought I would hate this rotation (it can be really long days with early starts and inpatients every day to see), but I actually enjoyed it. I got to do one of the things that attracted me to Anesthesia in the first place - put in lines. I love to put in lines, especially when they go in well.

July 1st marks another year of my residency and medical career over. In a way, it is a great feeling knowing that I am moving on, in another, scary. We have graduated responsibility in Anesthesia and one of these days they will say, "you are a 'senior' now, you should know that" and I will just have to admit that I don't. One good thing is that Jurgen is going to be starting to study hard soon, and I will do the same. I don't quite need to go to the same extent, but it will help both of us.

Another day over marks another rotation over, and soon, another year over. It all goes by so fast. Time flies when you are having fun!

Sunshine and conferences

We are off to Vancouver today for the Canadian Anesthesiology Society Annual Meeting. It is going to be great! Hobnobbing with all the BigWigs of Canadian anesthesia should be great. Maybe I will be able to set up a fellowship. I am looking forward to just being in Vancouver. Hopefully it is not raining. Oh well, that will not deter me from doing some major shopping on Robson street!! Need to look for a dress for my brother's wedding in August. Two times in Vancouver in two months! How did I get so lucky?! Then off to Hornby for some major relaxation.
Things have been going really well this last month. Doing Cardiac Anesthesia. I didn't know if I would like it or not. There are some really long days and it can be really stressful, but I am actually enjoying it. I have gotten quite good at all of my lines and I am really starting to understand all of the physiology behind cardiac anesthesia. It is really fascinating. The fact that we completely arrest the patient, stop their heart, and somehow manage to revive them and actually fix the problem is just incredible! No wonder Morgan wanted to do the surgery part of things.
In addition, the sun has been shining. I know you are thinking, so what? But my mood is directly related to the amount of sun I get. I was really depressed for a while there when all it did was rain. I don't think I could ever live on either of the coasts. When it is sunny I can plant stuff and sit on the deck with the girls (the kitties), but most of all I can go for a run. Maybe it isn't the sun but actually the exercise that makes a difference. Who knows. I just know I love the sun and the heat. Need to move south I think!
Finally, last but not least I am starting to feel better again. I was sick for over a month with GI problems and had lost almost 10 pounds. I was pale and anemic and people were starting to notice. I did a tone of tests and one finally came back positvie. My Celiac screen was positive. What does that mean? Well nothing yet, but I have to go for an endoscopy and have a small bowel biopsy done to confirm that I have Celiac disease. If this is the case, I can't eat anything with Gluten in it. Ie. no breads, no pasta, no cereal, no pizza, etc, unless it is made with corn or rice flour. Alas, I never really liked bread anyway, or beer for that matter! Isn't this what the South Beach diet is all about? Now I really will be able to keep all that weight off! So, not such a big deal just a pain in the ass (literally!).

Becoming a consultant

Well, it is that time of year again. The time of year when the fifth years write their exams and the rest of us think about how someday that might be us. We are closer to another year being done, closer to climbing up the ladder to consultant, and closer to the fear and excitement of writing our last and truly final exams. I am so proud of all of our fifth years who passed, and feel so saddened for those who did not. Sometimes I think you just have a bad day and no amount of preparation can help you. Nonetheless, we all hope that our preparations will be enough and we will be amoung those who have climbed the Everest of Anesthesia and completed the journey to becoming a consultant. In a months time, I will be one year closer to beginning my Everest. However, the journey has already begun.