reflection.

As is my usual fashion, I find myself blogging the day before an exam.  This exam is big to me--it's the ob/gyn shelf.  One of the few exams I actually feel some pull to honor.  So why am I doing this you ask?  Well, I've been studying my ass for two months (or, one could argue, a few years), and I need a break.

The past two months have been a rollercoaster for a variety of reasons.  My OB/GYN rotation has offered me some serious highs and lows. 

Highest High: Leaving the hospital, day-one, knowing I had found my home in medicine.

Lowest Low: Finding myself up against a wall due to my hospital's religious doctrine.

I suppose when you find your niche, everything feels a bit more intense.  Studying feels purposeful--you are finally immersed in the kind of information you hope to share with patients.  Presentations come with passion because you truly want to influence the future of the field.  Exhaustion comes with elation rather than depression.  Never have I been both awake AND happy at 4AM--until 4AM meant catching a new babe!

Even the rankest of odors, which I assure you are either the province of OB/GYN or Forensic Pathology, will not drive me away.  When I walk in to an exam room and the smell of Bacterial Vaginosis smacks me in the face, rather than run away, I can't wait to assure the woman that the nasty discharge that's driving her up a wall is not an STI.  That's how I know I love OB/GYN.  That's how others know I am slightly cray-cray.

The typical personal statement for OB/GYN mentions that the field is great because it's a nice mix of surgery and primary care--agreed.  Oddly, I ended up loving the surgeries (although it will be a lot better when they actually let me do some the cutting and sewing).  However, I think I have found my home in OB because I love how much patients can get out of some basic education.  Since I spend my free time making education blog posts, you may have some inkling about how much I love to educate--it's true.  I can spend an extra twenty minutes explaining to a teenager how/why women are more susceptible to STIs and HIV.  She leaves my office better equipped to deal with her sex life and I (hopefully) won't have to manage her Pelvic Inflammatory Disease down the road!  Win.  Win.  Win-win I tell you.

There have been a lot of times over the past few months where I have jotted down some notes for blog posts.  Actually, almost once a day.  I apologize for the crappy follow-through, but at the end of these longer-than-usual days, I just want to hug my dog and kiss my love.  You can't fault me, right?  There are a few stories that stick out in my mind, however, and I think they are important to share.  Anticipate those over the weekend (I HAVE A FREE WEEKEND PEOPLE!). 

I hope everyone is well!  I apologize if you went to the URL and found a dead page!  Someone in Lebanon stole my credit card info and was trying to buy gas, so I had to cancel the debit account that was automatically linked to this account for payment.  Whoops!  Back up and running, though!

Peace & Placenta!