Numb Thumb Update...

So tomorrow is TWO weeks... and the Thumb is STILL numb! Are you kidding me? I will be working on a patient for the first time since this happened tomorrow, I just wonder if I will be able to apply the necessary pressure for scaling because of my numbness.... Seriously, is this ever going to go away? I am scared. It feels so weird, and permanent! Anyway, just wanted to give the update. I will post when it is no longer Numb! Life is still good though!

Last VA day for 2011

Well today concluded my 5 week run at the VA... I feel like I live there, seriously! I had my rotation, then CA, then rotation, then CA, then final rotation! Way to end the semester! I seriously LOVE my VA group of girls! We have gotten so close, and it has been so fun getting to know each of them better! I have enjoyed the LONG lunches, to chat and laugh about life! I really have ended up enjoying the VA. I have learned a lot there, and have met a ton of great veterans. It is however nice to have a break from it! Lol. I am excited for my next group of girls that I get to hang out with... although Kelsey gets to be my friend all year at the VA! Lucky girl! Lol. Jamie, Jodie, Tori, and Kelsey I LOVE YOU!!! Thank you for being such amazing VA buddies and friends! You are all incredible women and hygienists! Life is good!

Boards

BOARDS!!!!!

Today in class we discussed boards! It literally made me sick! Every time we discuss it, or Alexander brings out all the board review books, I get really, really sick to my stomach. I think a lot of it is... that I truly do not feel EVEN the slightest bit prepared to complete these HUGE, life-changing exams! I KNOW my brain has been crammed full of TONS of information in such a short period of time, but trying to REMEMBER all that info is really scaring me! I honestly don't know if I am going to physically be able to handle the stress that is headed my way here in the next few months! My whole education, career, and future rides on these next few months ahead! Will I fail? Will I succeed? Please LET ME PASS!!! That is all I ask! And let me survive to walk on graduation day on APRIL 20th!!! Please! Fall semester is almost over, exciting as a break sounds, I realized today that I will be studying during the whole break. Merry Christmas to me! Oh and not to mention the hefty fees to take these exams... another Merry Christmas to me! BUT... I know this WILL ALL BE WORTH IT! Life is good friends, and being a hygienist is going to be EVEN better! :)

Numb Thumb...

Today in clinic this morning I saw a Class III that Tori so generously gave to me to finish up. She had done the OD and one Quad and let me finish the last 3 Quads. Well, let me tell you, now I know why she gave her away! She was SOOOOO hard! The calculus was so tenacious. I was literally sweating as I was working on removing the lovely black build-up. I was using more lateral pressure than I have used all year! So... the result, a few areas missed, new instrument techniques learned, and a NUMB THUMB! What the crap is that all about? Well I asked several people if this is normal... Marcy informed me that she had it happen to her several times last year and was so concerned because she would have the numbness for a couple weeks at a time! A couple weeks? Are you kidding me? But according to Costley, via Marcy, this is totally normal. Great. Awesome. This is the thumb I use to text. It feels weird now. Do I seriously have to deal with this for a couple of weeks? Wow, I must have been using some SERIOUS lateral pressure! Thanks Tori for the 3 Quads, I love you! :) And I will update in a couple weeks about the numbness of my thumb. Life is good... even with a numb thumb! :)

Productive Day at the VA

I am enjoying the VA more each time I go. Yesterday was a very productive day for me! I had two patients that each had 2 Quads of Class III to be finished. I passed off 2 PE's! And I gave my first 4 injections on an actual patient! That was fun and a little scary! I gave an IA, PSA, MSA, and ASA. I did realize that I need to review my technique for the PSA! Man that is a hard injection to get right! But it was a great day! My afternoon patient was awesome and hilarious!
I love our VA group... you girls are all amazing and really great friends! Thank you for always making me laugh!
I cannot believe the semester is almost over! My goal is to accomplish the last 4 required PE's that I have for the semester! Another goal I have is to start studying for Boards... time to start reviewing! Boy that is scary! It will be here before we know it! Either way... Life is GOOD!!!!

Finished...

Today I FINISHED required qualifications for Fall Semester. I had to get just one more 1B... which is surprising to some because I have only seen 3 1B patients this semester so far. I have seen about 70 quads of class II/V... which is crazy! I do not want any more! That seems to be all that I get at the VA. I need class III's. I just really do not know how I will get the required 36 Quads for the year in. Especially when I have only done 4 quads this semester. Alexander says it will happen. So I will have faith, since she does. :) We are almost done with our Fall semester. I cannot believe how fast it went. I have really enjoyed this semester and have not felt the stress that I felt last year. I know that next semester will be stressful due to boards. So I am enjoying this stress free time. Anyway... Life is Good! :)