Becky's Blog

Holy Monkeys!

2006-05-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of my paycheck. Of course, it is all gone now because we had to catch up some bills that were late. I was so excited that I almost made a copy of it. It was more than Ben makes in a week when he works 12 hours of overtime and I only worked 25 hours.

I haven't worked on my thesis at all this week again. I really need to motivate myself. I work tomorrow, Friday and Sunday so I won't be writing those days.

I did it!

2006-05-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

I got through my first days at work. The first day I just followed another vet around and learned my way around. The second day I jumped right in with a dog with some kind of abdominal neoplasia (cancer) that the owners elected to euthanize. It sucked. I also diagnosed parvo in a puppy that day. He is doing well. Yesterday the highlights were bloody diarrhea and a rattlesnake bite! I didn't realise the amount of think-on-your-feet emergency stuff I would get.

I made it through though. I am starting to get used to being called doctor. Although one client told me I didn't look old enough to be a doctor. I thanked her but didn't tell her how old I really am. I am off until Thursday now. I signed up for about 25 hours a week because I need the money. I will write on my thesis today some but probably more tomorrow.

Oh, one of the assistants there asked me "Was vet school hard?" How do you think I answered that? I laughed of course!

Rambling...

2006-05-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

http://spaces.msn.com/petpeeves6003/ This is an interesting site by an er vet. I found it when I should have been writing.

I have been out of school for about 2 weeks now. I can't stop thinking about my last patient. Her name was Gracie. She was a 5 year old female Golden Retriever who presented with severe hypercalcemia. The first thing a vet should think of for hypercalcemia in a dog with this signalment is lymphoma. The differentials are lymphoma, lymphoma, lymphoma, hyperparathyroidism, lymphoma, renal failure, lymphoma... You get the picture! I took care of her during my last weekend on clinics. I basically just stabilized her with fluids, monitored her blood pressure, and tried to get her to eat. The problem was that she came in on emergency that Friday night and everything was closed so we couldn't ultrasound or do any other diagnostics until Monday. Her owners were great and very concerned. When I transferred her case that Monday morning to the new senior I called them and told them I would not be contacting them anymore. Well, diagnostics revealed advanced, metastatic lymphoma. Stage 3b. Bad. The owners said they wouldn't mind me calling them instead of the new student but I didn't want to piss the student off by doing it. I can't help but think about her and wonder if I should have been the one to call her owners. Or if I should have just called them a few days after she went home to see how she was doing.

She was a great dog.

2006-05-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I take my jurisprudence exam today. I wonder how long until I get the results of that. I also got a problem fixed that was preventing me from enrolling in any classes this summer.

I was bored enough yesterday to start a blog for my cat. Yes, Purrsevil now has his own blog. I imagine he will keep his up about as much as I do! http://www.catster.com/pet_page.php?i=317501&j=t Visit him and give him a treat!!

I wrote the first 2 paragraphs earlier. I got the license. I am KS's newest licensed veterinarian. Acutally I got it just in time to renew for next year. At least it is only $20. Another thing to frame and put on a wall I guess. Is that what people do with it?

I did it!

2006-05-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

I called Dr. Carder and we decided I would start working this Friday from 1pm to 11pm. Two 10 hour days a week until the end of the summer when I will supposedly have my thesis done. That will give us some income anyway. We need to get some bills paid off then think about buying a house closer to Topeka. Oh, and Ben needs a vehicle that runs!

I am so nervous. It is daunting to think that now I am the one responsible for my paitents. I can't blame a clinician for being slow or wanting so many expensive diagnostics.

Sorry!

2006-05-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

I have been the worst at keeping up with this blog! I am really going to try and post every couple of days or so. I really don't have much going on right now until I start work around June 5th. I am supposed to be writing my thesis but I have taken the past couple days off. I graduated finally so I can claim my DVM but I won't get my MS until December.

I got a job in Topeka at www.stonehousevet.com as an associate veterinarian. I can't wait to start because I really need the money. I guess that means I need to update the title on this blog also!

2006-02-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

I have been off for a week and still have not even looked at my thesis! What is wrong with me? Why such a lack of motivation? I don't really have anything exciting to talk about. Sorry. I lead kinda a boring life. I started looking around for available jobs. If anyone sees anything good please let me know.

2006-02-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

I have been utterly bad about keeping up on this blog. I think I am going to have to make a special point of updating it at least once a week.

I passed my boards. I was so scared and shaky when I got the results that I could barely open the envelope. Now I have to start looking for jobs!

I called in to work/school today because I felt like crap all weekend. I went to the doctor and got some antibiotics for a sinus infection but I still feel guilty for calling in. I told Ben that it must be my strong German work ethic that makes me feel guilty. He disagreed. He said that if I were german enough I would also be organized. In fact, he said I was the complete polar opposite of organized. How rude!:)

One more week of ag practices rotation. I still have to give my presentation. I chose swine reproduction as my topic. I am really not looking forward to giving it. I have to finish it up today before I go back to school tomorrow. Then, starting next week, I have 3 weeks off! I have to write my thesis.

Only 3 more rotaions left after that. I can't wait to be done with school and bring home a real paycheck.

2006-01-21T23:37:00.000-08:00

It has been way too long since my last post. I have been exceedingly lazy and unmotivated since taking boards. I seem to stress every day about if I failed or not. I just want to know! I am going to be super humiliated if I fail. I think I will tell everyone that I passed just so nobody will know.

I just got off of a 3 week rotation off. I was supposed to be working on my thesis. You can all guess how that went. I am on Ag field service next week for 3 weeks. Then I have 3 weeks off again to work on my thesis for real. What a nightmare! Then I have Orthopedic Surgery, Exotics, and Small Animal Internal Medicine left. Those are busy and hectic rotations so I hope I can make it through.

I am in dire need of encouragement right now. Woe is me!!!

2005-12-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

Rough week. Took (probably failed) my boards, Ben had his surgery, overnight ICU... I am so worn out. Seriously, I probably did fail my boards. They consist of 6 sections with 60 questions each. It took me about 4 1/2 hours to take. But, I had a migraine through the first 2 sections and couldn't see the damn screen!!! I am so pissed about it. At least I didn't spend a butt-load of time studying for it as I will probably be retaking it in April.

Oh yeah, Jordan was sick at home for 2 days this week! Ben had surgery on his wrist today with a bone graft from his hip. He says his hip is what hurts the most though. He will be out of work for at least 6 weeks. I have no idea what we will do if money gets tight! Christmas is gonna suck though. Jordan won't be getting much because we have so many other people to buy for.

2005-10-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that it IS kinda embarrasing that she still likes the Backstreet Boys!!!

2005-10-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

I still haven't studied for boards. I am taking them on Dec 6th in Topeka. I really need to get my butt in gear and start studying for them. We have a board review session tonight from 7:30 to 9:30 or 10. The topic is equine medicine. I hope that will help!

I am on equine rotation now. It is not as bad as I thought it would be! It is kinda fun, although we are not really busy right now. In a way I am glad of that since I am not really a horse person.

Oh, I got my anesthesia grade today. I was so happy! I thought for sure I would get a low C at the best since there were several days when I seemed to screw everything up. I ended up with an 85%. I had several "meets expectations" checked and even some "exceeds expectations." That was a very stressful rotation! I had two migraines within a weeks time during the second week.

Here is a link to my sisters web site. She actually gets paid for doing hers (by the school). I have to wonder about one comment that she made... Mom is a good cook??? I don't remember her cooking, she must have started that AFTER I moved out:)

http://www.erau.edu/pr/journals/st3.html

>^;;^<

2005-08-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

Okay. I went through and deleted a bunch of spam-type newsy stuff in my comments section from the other day. Maybe I will have time to go back later and clear out some more if it appears.

Anyway, Jordan is okay now. She was a little upset initially after discovering the body. Sparkles was alive when we left this morning around 8 and we got back around noon. We found her dead in her cage around 2. Anyone need a bag of pine bedding and some vitamin C tablets? I will keep the cage in case I ever need it but I can loan it to anyone if needed.

I have a paper on fowl cholera due on Wednesday that I need to get working on.

2005-08-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Sparkles (Jordan's guinea pig) died today. We buried her in the backyard.

2005-08-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am not one for large animals but Ag is even slower than I thought it could be! We started out with 2 patients in house - a cuter than hell 20,000$ calf and a very nice bull - and have only had 6 additional cows pass through since Monday. They were presented for lameness so basically we ran them through the chute, put them on the tilt table, and trimmed their feet +/- bandaging for any wounds or deep hoof cracks. It makes for a very long day when 7 of us are sitting around. We end up just having rounds all day and reliving all the lectures we sat through the first 3 years!

2005-08-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Derm is slow this week! The first two weeks we were actually fairly busy - for derm. Now I feel like I spend most of my time just sitting around. Next week I start my first rotation in food animal. I am sure that it will also be pretty slow and I will do a lot of sitting around there also. I am going to the Topeka Zoo tomorrow with the Exotics service so that will be my excitement for the week.

This week the freshman are following us around on clinics. I remember when I was a freshman I thought the seniors were amazingly smart and knew everything! Now that I am a senior I realize how not-smart they were and how they did not know everything. Well, most of them anyway! I am just basing that whole comment on myself and my own general lack of knowledge. I got an A in necropsy though. That kinda balances out the C I got in soft tissue surgery. Apparantely I am better (more competant somehow?) with the dead animals!

Black Wednesday (my birthday) passed without incident. I noticed a new wrinkle though. No gray hairs yet so that is a plus.

2005-08-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

I got most of the list done this week. Finally, I have time to take a breath. Went out to eat last night with Nina, Heather, Rebecca, etc. It was pretty fun. We started out talking about how much we hate the vet school gossip and then ended up gossiping!

On a sadder note, I am almost 31. 10 days till my b-day. I think I will wear black that day. As my mother so kindly reminded me - I am almost 40 now. Thanks mom.

2005-07-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

Boy, I am not keeping up on this am I? I am on necropsy now so you would think that I had lots of time, however, I jinxed this rotation also. It is actually busy for us. Some good news is that I finally got my stats homeworks done. I put them in Ben's truck so he could turn them in for me tomorrow after he is done with work. That is a weight off of me. Unless, of course, I fail or get a D. Then I would have to retake it. That would make me miserable!

To do list for the week: 1: necropsy case presentation on Friday. I haven't even started on this yet since I have been working so hard on my stats. 2: respond to Dr. C's email and attach my lit review. My references section is messed up so I need time to fix it. 3: return the video's for that ANOVA stats class. 4: ICU backup Friday night from midnight to 7:30am. I have bad luck so I will probably get called in. 5: review Dermatology notes because I start that rotation on Monday. 6: Make 5-layer chip dip for Friday and buy bagels for Friday morning. We are having a "food day" to celebrate getting through the latest rotation. 7: Enjoy at least 1/2 day off. We are supposed to have a "family day" this weekend and all do something together. Any suggestions?

2005-07-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Sorry I am not keeping up on this very well. My VEGF assays did not go well. My CV's were all over the place and my plate drift is huge. It will all be over later today since I am leaving here around noon for Dulles airport. I will be back in Manhattan by 10:30!!

See ya all then.

2005-06-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am about to start my VEGF assay on my pregnant cat urine. Everyone keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck! I will need it for sure.

2005-06-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I am out in VA now. I should have all my data by the weekend. I found the samples I need to run today and tomorrow I am going to do some pipette practicing since it has been a year since I have done any. I think I will run my assays on Friday. Then after that I need to write, write and then write some more.

Hello Jordan! I am not sure you will read this but I wanted to let you know I missed you and will see you in 2 weeks. Be good and do what you are told.

2005-06-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you this Nina... I saw a Series of Unfortunate Events Magic 8 ball at Waldenbooks today and I thought of you:) The things were all depressing though so I didn't get it. Granted they were funny, but I think you need cheeriness after anesthesia rotation.

2005-06-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

That was a great cheer! Sorry about the gender crisis Nina!

I am so tired right now. I am just glad that this rotation is over. Just when you get into a groove the 3rd week of the rotation it is time for a new one. That was a fun bday dinner Nina. It was great to get out of the house and clinics for a while. We should do that more often.

Next week I go to DC to try and finish getting my data. I hope everything goes well. This rotation was exhausting with all the ICU cases I had last week. I am still recovering. I work ICU on Sunday and then am done. So... I got to do 2 spays and a neuter on this rotation. Funny things really. The 1st spay I got off of linea alba on so it was very bloody due to the muscle I cut through. The neuter had a big huge seroma form in the scrotum - it looked like he still had his "eggs" when I sent him home. And to top it off, the dog I spayed today was pregnant! It was just as much of a shock for me as it was for the owners. Can't anything ever go smoothly for once?? Why does McMurphy's Law seem to rule my life???

2005-06-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

Nina, Nina, she's our man!
If she can't do it!
NO ONE can!

That's the only cheer I could think of for you! Maybe tomorrow I can make up a haiku about it or something.

I signed up for a dental on Monday and a spay on Friday and hopefully this time the clients show up. At least I know the dental will! It sucks to not have a case. I did get to watch the PDA surgery today and also a nephrectomy but it would have been better if I would have had my own case. Got my pet health grade today.

2005-05-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

The stats thing is still not solved. I booked a flight to DC for June 21 and will fly back on July 5. It was $333 and Dr. C said he would reimburse me. I may need to stay at a hotel on some days so that will cost extra money.

I am on soft tissue surgery rotation now for 3 weeks. The case I signed up for - a spay- was a no-show today so now I am case-less until I sign up for another one on Thursday. Tues and Thurs are receiving days and M, W, and F are surgery days. I will just have to watch other surgeries tomorrow. That is okay I guess because there is a PDA (patent ductus arteriosis) (heart stuff) surgery tomorrow that I would like to watch.

Go Nina!!! You will be great at this!

2005-05-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

I had my own Cardiology case today but unfortunately it turned out not to be a true cardio problem. Signalment = 9 year-old female spayed Great Dane. Presenting complaint = exercise intolerance and weight loss. The referring DVM sent some radiographs with the clients and thought she saw a mass on the heart and also thought the heart looked big. Also some bloodwork done by her showed elevated liver enzymes and decreased BUN. So, looking at the rads I didn't see any abnormalities on the heart but noted some nodules in the lungs and there also appeared to be some superimposed on the heart. We did an echo (cardiac ultrasound) and didn't see any abnormalities other than some aortic and pulmonic insuffiency which were probably degenerative changes common in old great danes - but not a problem at this point. We repeated the rads and saw multiple nodules in both lungs that were consistent with metastatic neoplasia (cancer that had spread). She was such a sweet dog and it really sucked having to tell the owners what we found. Fortunately we had warned them of this when they dropped her off in the morning so they had a couple hours to ponder the idea. One of the clients was obviously in the denial stage of grief because she kept asking Dr. X to prove to her that what she saw on the rads were actually metastatic nodules. She kept wanting to know how many doctors looked at the rads and how Dr. X could know what they are.

Dr. X is a radiology resident who is on a 2 wk cardio rotation right now, but didn't tell the owners that. She dealt with it very well, and told them that at least 5 doctors had looked at the rads and they all concurred. We told her not to worry that they thought she was inept, and that they probably just thought she was too pretty to be a doctor!

Anyway they elected to take the dog home and let her live until quality of life declines. Since whatever cancer it was had already spread to the lungs not much could have been done anyway.

Pet Health tomorrow from 8 - 11am which should be all vaccines and annual exams, then I am emergency backup from 3pm Saturday - 8am Sunday.

2005-05-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

Last week I was on Pet Health. It is very busy over there although most of the time is spent waiting for a doctor to sign for things and to complete the exam. I had 2 or 3 cases a day over there. My first case on Monday the 9th was a middle-aged female spayed dsh cat who presented for alopecia on the caudal ventral abdomen and ventral thighs. The owner also thought she saw discharge coming from an old surgery site. The cat had an anal sac resection (removal) last year around this time. I had to pick off some old dingleberries before I took the cats temp so that made her a little touchy about her butt being messed with. Needless to say, I could not see any drainage from where the surgery site would have been! I went and got the doc to look at it and long-story-short is that the woman was looking at the cats vulva and thinking that it was the old surgery site and that it had not ever healed and remained open. So, next time I don't see what the client is reporting I am going to specifically ask them what they are seeing and for them to point it out! Basically, "This is her vulva; it is what she urinates out of." The alopecia was probably psychogenic because the client had a new baby in the house but we gave a trial rx of benedryl to rule out allergies. At least I knew that the alopecia and "unhealed incision" were not at all related when I examined her! That is a step in the right direction anyway.

This week I am on cardio and it is pretty slow. At pet health I was running around and busy all day so I am not used to sitting much anymore. Tomorrow I get to see a balloon valvuloplasty done on a dog with pulmonic stenosis! Then probably another slow day there. I was done at 3:30 today! Next week is Pet Health again.

2005-05-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Now I shall officially bitch. I emailed my stats prof about the problems I am having programming sas and he still has not responded. I don't know what to do! I am officially worried and now I want to cry. All of the homeworks are due this week! Not a problem if the flippin program would work for me. I think if he doesn't respond tomorrow I will call Distance Ed and complain on Wed. After all, if I don't get this done it will revert to an F.

Lets see... Forgot to ask basic questions in my first patient exam today. Not surprising because I figured I would leave out some really basic stuff.

Now I need to finish up a paper I am writing for Chenoweth.

2005-05-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't slept in 2 days but I am finally done with the dreaded stats exams. Only I would try to complete an entire online/video class in two days. I still have the homeworks to do. I can't get my programming right for the proc glm statement and it keeps spitting error messages at me!!! I could use some help if anyone has time or knowledge to share. The 3 assignments are due next week.

I got my whit coat. I looked as big as a tank in all the pix of me though. I seriously need to lose some weight. I refuse to post any pix of me. I will update other things when I am not so tired.

2005-05-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

Nina at the ceremony. Sorry Nina, I didn't have time to email it right now. Maybe I can later.

2005-05-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Jordan (aka Annie Oakley) at the Cabela's shooting gallery in KC.

2005-05-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Jordan and Grandma.

2005-05-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Jordan and Grandma before she left at KCI.

2005-05-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Dog and Jog 2005

Last one

2005-04-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

EVER! Unless I fail surgery that is. I should be studying for my production final in 1 1/2 hours but I am pretty apathetic at this point. I think to fail the class I would need to get like a 40% so I am not really worried. I think that by using what little common sense I have I will pass the class.

After the final I pick up my pager for the year. Then I am off to KCI to pick up my mom. When we get back to Manhattan I am going to go to school to pick up my Iams cat food and check to see if I passed surgery. Grades should be posted by then. Either way, pass or fail, I am drinking A LOT of alcohol tonight:)

BYO KY

2005-04-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

They should have warned us to bring our own KY today for the surgery exam. At least then I would have been prepared. I should have made time to study more for it. Yeah, right! I even officially stayed up all night studying. Now I need to start studying for therio tomorrow.

A Funny Accident

2005-04-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ben and I went to the mall today so I could buy some appropriate clinic clothes. Normally Ben forgets to roll the windows up before he turns the car off (they are electric and the car has to be on in order to roll them up) so I decided to roll them up for him. His hand was in the window as I was rolling them up and I caught his fingers in the window. I quickly realized what had happened as he was yelling and cussing so I rolled them down as fast as I could. After what seemed like forever I couldn't help but laugh because it was just so funny! I really didn't mean to do it or be mean by laughing afterwards. I have always had this fear that something like that would happen to me so it was just so ironic.

His hand is okay and he is laughing about it now also. It is funny isn't it???

Finals Week

2005-04-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

I did something I normally don't do... I spent the afternoon and evening at the vet med library studying for finals. My first final was Friday (the 22) in Emergency Medicine, then yesterday I had a final in Zoonoses and tomorrow is Medicine. The one I am most worried about is Tuesday for surgery.

My mom is flying in Thursday for the White Coat Ceremony on Friday. Ben's parents will probably come also. It is really not a big deal though. I plan on losing at the quiz bowl Friday morning bright and early at 9am! We are spending Sunday night at the Great Wolf Lodge in KC. It has an indoor waterpark and waterslides and stuff. I can't wait until this week is over! Except that I have to get my stats class done by May 6th.

Dreams

2005-04-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

After my recent dream about running and jogging miles through the vet hospital I decided to sign Jordan up for the 1.5K run at Dog and Jog next week. Anyone want to run with her???

I am so tired

2005-04-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

If I never see another picture of sperm again I will be happy! I just spent 3 hours organizing photos of sperm for Dr. Chenoweth. Now I need to study for the emergency final on Friday and then work on our Nutrition case due Thursday.

389 days left 'till graduation.

2005-04-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

Nobody seemed to know that I had two dogs so here is a photo of Maggie, my housedog. See, I am not just a crazy cat lady!

2005-04-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Jordan and Sierra. Jordan is on the right side of the picture.

2005-04-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

Jordan after having her face painted.

2005-04-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Jordan and Sierra performing surgery on an endangered species of bear.

Interesting Link

2005-04-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

So I was searching around on the web rather than study and I came upon this link. It has part of my family tree on it. The top tree has from 1600's on through what I think would be my great-great grandparents, Georg Schaff and Anna Mary Degele. The bottom one expands on Georg and Anna Mary's lineage. For some reason it has me listed as a family genealogist but the only reason I can think of that someone would do this is that a long time ago I posted a message on the Ancestry.com website looking for some info.

Busy day

2005-04-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Today ended up being pretty busy. When I got to school at noon Stephanie informed me that nobody had turned in our assignment for nutrition class. Needless to say I was pretty pissed off. I think I was more pissed at myself than at anyone else. I has just assumed that Mahie would be in class to turn it in and we all know what happens when you assume something... Anyway, I still don't really know why Steph didn't think to print off a copy and turn it in. All's well that ends well I guess. I had a therio lab this afternoon where we did a bull breeding soundness exam, learned some basic dystocia (hard "child"birth) techniques and looked at and palpated some female reproductive tracts.

The financial aid situation is not looking good at all. The federal limit on stafford loans is $18500 for each school year and that will cover tuition next year but will leave us no extra money to live on. I was barely awarded enough federal aid for tuition this summer and will NOT have enough left over to live on. And I need to register and pay for national boards (NAVLE) by August 8th which is $800! Basically everywhere I have applied for an "alternative" loan for the summer has turned me down. If they turned me down for $3000 for the summer then they will turn me down for fall and spring semester also. Ben may need to just stay on the night shift instead of going to days this fall because we can't afford to lose the shift differential. I will just have to count on Jordan to be good and stay out of trouble the nights that I am late at the hospital.

Another wasted morning

2005-04-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

For Pete's sake when am I going to go want to get up in the morning. I was up on time today but I reset my alarm clock and slept in some more. Maybe I will blame it on cramps. I have to be there at noon because we have a lunch meeting on AVMA-PLIT liability insurance that is required. Obviously I wasn't bright enough to call in sick to the Dean's office this morning to get an excused absence. I have a therio lab from 1 to 5 anyway so at least this will get me there on time.

New weblog

2005-04-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

Well I thought I would try this blog out for a while. It seems easy to use and is pretty idiot proof so far. It seems to be easier than the yahoo one.