The start of something new.

Wow, what a week it has been! I don't know where to start... all i know is i have survived my first week in the hospitals and it was such a hectic/exciting/overwhelming/challenging week to start with! I had a nice weekend last week, Kyle and i went to Bunbury and to a friends 21st birthday at Barbados. It was really nice to see her again and a few other familiar faces who i haven't seen for so long, some i didn't even recognize before half the night was over! I left before it started to get very rowdy when the others got into the dancing and drinking mode, i have never really understood the enjoyment of trying to dance when you barely recognise the person next to you in a drunken state and nor do i think i ever will and nor do i want to. I'm not one for the parties and drinks and i'm not going to be... give me a catch up with friends over coffee any day! I had a really nice chat to Kyle in the car though, it was nice to have company driving and we hadn't had a good chat for a while. We talked about our hopes for the year and where our lives would take us. I am usually a very goal orientated person but i realised over the past few months i haven't really set any and i feel a little lost. Maybe its because i no longer have the responsibilities of working at College or because i'm not track running which i have missed this season. Sure i have things i need to work on for med and improving my studies for the year but otherwise there is a little blank spot. I still mentioned my goals for my fitness and running wherever they will take me, i would just love to run in an Australian competition what ever that may involve but feel like life is getting more hectic and challenging to do so, have i used up my opportunities? But Kyle is so positive and helped me get the feeling again and the fire inside to believe that anything is possible, thank you Kyle :)

I have taken a gym appraisal and set up a weights routine to help build up my muscle tone and increase my strength. Funnily enough the guy who made it for me was called Kyle! He seemes a little lost when i told him what i wanted as most girls want to lose weight and do cardio work, but i wanted strength and tone. But i am excited to get into the weights! (so long as i can fit in the time to). I have been set 4 days of 40 minute workouts - 1. shoulders and chest, 2. legs, 3. back and 4. arms. I have almost done a full set of each in the past week but it'll take a few weeks to get into a good routine and balance it with my runs and classes. It is exciting though i have always wanted to do weights!

So Monday.... i was nervous but excited! We had an orientation morning and prety much ran laps around the hospital and got our Sit Charles GairdnerID cards. Then we met our team of doctors - MU3 with Dr Ayaar and Dr Devapaar. They are really nice and informative and ask you questions which doesn't feel so interrogating! We followed them for ward rounds and i suddenly realised how much i have forgotten or do not know, i felt so naive and out of it!! The days are basically ward rounds of Acute Assessment Units at 8am then self directed history taking and physical examinations with patients, tutorials and lectures in the hospital teaching area and home by 4 or 5. I am exhausted by the end and hungry as we barely have time to eat! So trying to fit in exercise i had a few 5.30/6am wake ups, no wonder i was exhausted by Wednesday!

We went to out patient clinics and had tutorials besides the patients beds. Hospitals are a scary place, there are so different to GP settings where we have been before, we are looking at the sickest people in the population and they have all the signs we have only read about for severe diseases and conditions. We had a neruological tute with patients and conducted neurology examinations on them, most could not talk, were confused, some could not coordinate their movements or feel pin pricks. It is amazing on a medical learning side but i feel so sorry for the patients. Unfortunately quite a few have advanced cancer and secondary metastases to the brain which is causing their neurological symptoms. Unfortunately one man we are following is deteriorating fast, i wonder if he is still with us after the weekend.

By Tuesday afternoon i felt so overwhelmed and was having a little panic not knowing anything, but i refused to let that get in the way of valentines day and had a wonderful night out with Kyle! He said i choose where to go for dinner and i thought of Giardini's in Leederville as my friend Lexi likes it there, and it was funny but awesome to see Lex was there too with her dad!! Kyle and i also went to Green and Co where we went on our first date and had a coffee, then he surprised me and took me bowling as he remembered i had wanted to go for a while. We had so much fun and both got 2 strikes!! Needless to say i felt so much better afterwards, a great night in great company wins everytime :)

I feel like i have not done the week justice, i cannot explain how it has been in detail, but i hope this next week goes well, i want to do well. I have a phlebotomy session taking blood from patients tomorrow morning 8am which i am a little nervous about, but hopefully after a few i will be able to do it with my eyes closed (maybe :P). Wish me luck!