I absolutely love general pathology.
We are learning about the different problems that you can see on necropsy and I am just smitten. Maybe it is because the teacher is so well organized, maybe because the pictures are cool, but I think a lot of it comes from how logical it is. If your heart isn't pumping correctly, then it isn't moving the blood out of your lungs as well. This means that you won't get as much oxygen to your tissues and that there will be blood pooling in your lungs. It'll be hard to breathe. That makes sense! It's like when I would solve algebra equations for the first couple of times, it just all adds up correctly.
So that is awesome, I really enjoy having a class that is so practical. We are learning a lot of terminology that shows up in the ICU and stuff so it is fun when I go into work and recognize what the words really mean.
We also have a bacteriology class that is brutally boring. Nicest prof ever. Horribly, mind-numbingly, gag-inducingly boring.
But everything else is quite literally sunshiny and happy. We have been going to the rec and the pool all the time and I am already tan. Yea, in May. That never happens!
I also got to go to a reptile handling lab for ZEW club and learned how to properly do a physical exam/restrain lizards, snakes, and turtles. It was fun to see the different kinds of reptiles some of my classmates have. Some of them were really tame and almost snuggly. I know that sounds weird, but I had an iguana snuggle into my neck and chill out and a snake try to get a little too personal and wiggle down my sleeve. Note: he was thwarted and did not ACTUALLY end up down my shirt. I came out wanting a snake and also thinking that my little bro really should get a bearded dragon. No worries mom, I am not actually getting a snake...even though it would be cool....even though it would help me become more proficient at reptile handling.....even though you said I could have whatever I wanted when I had my own house.
I had a huge breakthrough a few days ago. It wouldn't have been a big deal for anyone who has drawn a lot of blood, but for me it was huge.
I have drawn blood a few times, but every time I had someone guiding me and looking at what I was doing "oh you wanna go more medial, if you pull out a little it should be there" and that kind of thing. This time I told the tech I had only drawn blood a few times and she helped me through it. But the difference was that she was restraining the dog like she would for anyone else and couldn't see what I was doing! So I was correcting my own mistakes and completely in control. I only had to stick once and only redirected my needle once. It was such a big deal for me because drawing blood is a great skill to have and it really scares me. Slowly getting better at Vet Med.....
Let me know if there is anything you'd like to see me write about, otherwise I'll just keep updating you about my life. Hope your weather is as nice as ours :-)
