Well, due to the fact that I am still up at 11:30 pm, and that I haven't posted since April, I thought I'd go ahead and make an entry.  I've destressed since exams were over and had a week or so off before my first clinical rotation. I just finished two weeks of radiology. It was pretty decent, too. I was able to solidify some things I learned in class, learned how to position animals for various shots, and learned a heck of a lot from the radiology residents on how to interpret radiographs .  On the down side, I saw a lot of poor animals that had cancer that were being treated, and a few horses w/ major fractures that had to be euthanized

I have a community classroom block next, which consists of going to the shelter for two weeks and spaying and neutering adoptable pets.  It's usually pretty fun, but I'm afraid I may come back with another kitten, which I do not need, as I have 4 already.

Nothing much happening in the personal life, except that I had my appendix removed on Friday the 13th. I woke up w/ some pretty bad pain, so I decided to go to the hospital. I went to the VA since I can go there for free. Well, I told them that I thought I had acute appendicitis. I sat there for over 4 1/2 hours until I was seen. I had not eaten since the night before, so I was starving! So after they see me, they thought I had appendicitis (yes, I had told them this almost 5 hours ago at this point  - good thing it didn't rupture). So....I couldn't eat anything or even drink water b/c I would have to go to surgery. That is...after my CT to diagnose it for sure. So I'm allergic to shellfish and so they assume you are allergic to iodine. This is what is used for contrast in the CT, so I had to take major steroids and IV benadryl before I drank the contrast and then got some IV during the scan. I'm telling YOU, that Benadryl is some shit! My BP went down and my heart rate dropped to 42. I was trying to talk and slurring my words all around. It was all I could do to not pass out. It causes your vessels to dilate, so less blood was getting to my brain - hence the slurred speech and light-headedness.

Well, I get wheeled to the CT. The guy tells me that since I've had allergic reactions to food before, and since I'm allergic to shellfish that I could very well die when he gives me the contrast, even if I have had the steroids. Then, he shoves the consent form at me and asks me to sign it. I told him I wanted to confer w/ the MD again. So he says they can't diagnose w/out it, so I go ahead and sign it. I'm lying there thinking I could be dead w/in a few seconds, so I start reciting the alphabet - how stupid - but by the time I'm starting to get hot (a side effect), and I'm down to W, I figure I'm golden

I get back to the ER and they confirm I have appendicitis. My appendix should be as big as the two end pinky finger joints and it's 6 inches long. I get my induction meds at midnight. So it was 15 hours after I showed up at the ER, and 21 hours since I had gotten the first pains. I finally get into my room after recovery and those people would NOT leave me alone. How does anyone get rest in the hospital? I finally told them on day #2 that I was getting out of there. I had headaches the next two days and I felt like crap, but at least I could sleep w/out interruption. I went back to school on Tuesday and walked a lot, so the CO2 they pumped me up with finally dissipated.  I never really had any pain from the surgery itself.

On a positive note, I've also lost 17 pounds since school has been out. I'm really trying to eat a lot more healthy since I'm not under so much pressure. The pets are pretty healthy as of late, which is great. I also bought 3 more new goats, which I am boarding. What a sucker!

Anyways, hope this has been a decent update. Thanks to anyone who has read this far!

Ciao!

Very sorry to read about the hosptial ordeal - at least it's over now. I hope you are having a nice Memorial Day weekend. I'm working on Monday, but that's OK, it beats unemployment.