I found a great link for comical support: http://www.squidoo.com/howtodateamedstudent

1. Don’t expect to see them. Ever.

2. Accept the fact they will have many affairs. With their books.

3. Learn to hide your “ew, gross” reactions when they tell you all the stuff you never wanted to know about your bodily functions.

4. Support them when freak out over each test and then come home after, upset because they failed-and gently remind them after they get their well above passing grade how unnecessary the “I’m going to fail out of medical school and never become a doctor” dramatics are.

5. Each week they will have a new illness. Some will be extremely rare, others will be more mundane. Doesn’t matter. They will be certain they have it (no second opinions necessary). Med school can, and will, turn even the sanest into a hypochondriac. Date them for long enough, and you’ll become one too.

6. There will be weeks you’ll forget you even have a boyfriend-friends will ask how he is and you’ll say, “What? Who? Oh….right. He’s well…I think?”

7. They’ll make you hyper-aware that germs are everywhere and on everything. Even though you used to walk into your home with your shoes on, and sit on your bed in the same clothes you just wore while riding the subway, or sat on a public bench in, you’ll become far too disgusted to ever do it again. Believe me, it’s going to get bad…you’ll watch yourself transform into the anal retentive person you swore you’d never become. And when you witness others perform these same acts that, before you began dating your med student, you spent your entire life doing too, you’ll wince and wonder, “Ew! How can they do that? Don’t they know how many germs and bacteria they’re spreading??!”

8. Romantic date = Pho take-out in front of the TV on their 10 minute study break.

9. A vacation together consists of a trip down the street to Walgreens for new highlighters and printer paper.

10. Their study habits will make you feel like a complete slacker. For them, hitting the books 8-to-10 hours a day is not uncommon, nor difficult. You’ll wonder how you ever managed to pass school on your meager one hour of studying per night.

11. They’re expected to know everything. Everything! The name of the 8 billion-lettered, German sounding cell that lives in the depths of your inner ear, the technical term for the “no one’s ever heard of this disease” disease that exists only on one foot of the Southern tip of the African continent. But ask them if your knee is swollen, or what you should do to tame your mucous-filled cough, or why the heck your head feels like someone’s been drilling through it for oil for two weeks straight, and they won’t have a clue.

12. “My brain’s filled with so much information, I can’t be expected to remember THAT!” will be the standard excuse for forgetting anniversaries, birthdays, and, if you get this far, probably the birth of your first child.

13. You’ll need friends with unending patience who pretend never to get sick of listening to your endless venting and complaints. Or, you’ll need to pay a therapist who will pretend never to get sick of listening to your endless venting and complaints.

14. Be prepared to move.. a LOT through the upcoming years, and maybe even across the country. Unless you meet them after they have already started med school, then you may only need to move once%u2026 or maybe not at all, depending on where they are in their medical track.

15. Don’t ask, or if you do, expect them to remember anything but what is coming up on the next test. And don’t expect them to remember a lot of what you talk to them about, either.

16. Expect them to talk about medicine all the time. No matter what. No matter who they are around. Nothing anymore is normal, it all has medical connotations.

17. While watching House (or other favorite medical drama), they will try and solve the “unsolvable” medical mystery.

One of my interests as a RN is diabetes prevention and care.  Recently I came across a wonderful resource: The National Diabetes Education Program.  This site not only provides statistics for the health care worker but it also provides resources for patients and their families.  

Working with patients the one thing I have found is a lack of education.  We, as health care professionals, are really good at giving patients their drugs and educating them on how to take those drugs.  We are AWFUL at condition education.  It is important to remember our patients are not stupid- they have the ability to learn and may be more motivated to take care of themselves if they understand a part of the pathophysiology of their disease.  

This site highlights the ABC’s of diabetes prevention: A1C, Blood Pressure and Cholesterol.  If we manage these factors we are less likely to develop diabetes.  This is huge, as diabetes costs our health care system over $116 billion annually (these are the direct health care costs- total health care costs are about $174 billion dollars per year).  (http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes-facts/index.aspx#cost)

I would love to hear from other nurses, physicians, etc. about their experiences with diabetic patients and what they have learned.  Feel free to share!

I have met someone and, for the first time EVER I am truly happy.  It’s funny.  I never had a “type” but he is definitely it.  And I adore him.   I won’t drop L bombs for a while (unless that L bomb is a like) but I really do like him a lot.

And I didn’t meet him online.

I discovered this article: Five super foods for nurses

Not only does this remind me that I do burn a lot during work but it also reminds me that it is important to eat for the safety of my patients and to prevent  problems with my blood sugars.  I definitely feel a difference at the end of the day if I have had my cheese and crackers vs if I have not.  

Tomorrow I am working a 12 hour shift.  In commemoration of this article I will bring hummus, snow peas and tomatoes, crackers and cheese and cocoa almonds.  And probably some fruit (apple or orange).  I will drink as much water as possible (plus a vitamin water, probably) and space out my coffee.  . . maybeeee…

Go nursing!

Tomorrow begins my zero tolerance for night time sugar.  I’m going to listen to my body and feed it lots of whole grains, lean proteins, veggies and fruits.  I’m going to eat well without obsession.  I am sick of feeling bad about myself.

How will I accomplish such a feat?  Be forgiving, for one.  If I crave that night time snack, I will try to distract myself with candles or deep breathing first.  Then I may try a cup of tea.  If all else fails, zero deprivation.

Tomorrow I begin total body workouts- I refuse to ignore my arm strength any longer.  Lunges will happen.  Bicep curls will happen.  Triceps extensions will happen.  This is the year of power.  Now is the time.

So no more cool whip in the fridge.  No more sugar free hot chocolate.  Variety is the spice of life.  Homemade oatmeal cookies are optional.

What spurred this?  I was annoyed with my roommate, mostly because we were both pissy and she was drinking a beer (one of the beers that I had bought…).  I don’t mind if she drinks my beers, so long as she buys some, once in a while.  Alas Katie, get over it and stop using food to stop your annoyances.

I have not held many relationships in my life.  When I was younger I had no real desire in a relationship- I was preoccupied with all of life’s stresses.  However, in more recent years my interests have peaked.  Unfortunately, my relationships have not gone well.  I think a part of this is because I try so hard to please people, even if that person is not right for me.  Ultimately I eventually end up breaking off the relationship, either premature or after dragging the relationship out.

My most recent relationship was different, however.  Yes I was still trying to please the other, but I am human as well.  I have strong morals but I make mistakes.  I am human.

Breaking up with him was very hard- it is rare for me to be in an “established” relationship and, in this relationship, we were not established.  But labels are no more important than the actions to foliow and, at least while we were together, we were in a “relationship”.

Last night I was going to tell him.  I had to tell him that we needed to be friends.  Unfortunately, however, my senses were dulled by the beverages consumed at the post work party and thereafter. I had been cold to him most of the night but at some point, the alcohol consumed and I became affectionate once again. Unable to drive, I stayed over his house.  I remember thinking to myself “ok but only sleeping”- next time I should express my thoughts.

Needless to say I committed what I consider to be a moral crime.  And today, I broke the news over the phone.  User?  Spineless?  Slut?  These are all words that he may be thinking.  I just hope one day he forgives me and gives me a call.  Until then, thank god for the new job because I doubt I would be able to handle any more awkward situations.

So let’s re-examine.  Why did I eat these Joe-O’s.  Well, as said previously, I didn’t eat enough throughout the day.  I also ate a filling, soy-based dinner with rice and home made coleslaw. 

Two hours later, and some gas, I was again hungry.  I chose some carrots and hummus, a yogurt and 4 Joe-Oe’s.  

But why did I really choose these options?  Well after dinner I had stopped myself from eating dessert in anticipation of going out later this evening.  I decided that I really didn’t feel like going out and immediately, my tension resolved itself.  That resolution manifested in eating.  So yes, it was stress and emotional eating but not in the bad stress way.  I was “rewarding” myself for making a decision.  At least I am nourished but still, habits that need to change. 

A.  I have reduced my simple sugar intake, opting for whole grains.  I still have a problem at night, in particular.  Last night I had a little bit of coffee frozen yogurt with a half of a crumbled cookie and an apple.  The night before last I had a guilt free TJ brownie made with plain greek non fat yogurt.  Yum!

I think this is a behavioral change that may take some time.  It will be increasingly important to ensure I do not skip meals so that I have less of a craving for these things.. and if I do, maybe I should examen why I am feeling this urge for sugar.

- Common triggers for me:

1. Alcohol- when I drink I tend to crave simple sugars
2. Sadness- if my day was lonely and unfulfilled, I reach for the sweet stuff
3. Anxiety- who doesn’t eat crap when they are anxious?

Now that I have identified some of my triggers,  I can work on reducing my sugar better.

B. I have definitely upped my water ante, and am drinking more decaffeinated teas.

C. Exercise is good (not an obligation) and consistent.  I read an article yesterday about how inconsistency in exercise can actually cause a person to store more fat.  That makes total sense to me- your body has a hard time dealing with unpredictability, especially concerning food and activity.  If it senses you will not have the energy to expend or the time to recover, it goes into panic and starvation mode.

I originally found this article on the Women’s Health Magazine website but I am having difficulty retrieving it.  Here is the statement from the American College of Sports Medicine (2008).  After reading this I thought about my inconsistent exercise patterns- I had increased the intensity of my running over the summer but took it down a few notches and have since returned to the ellipticals and slow, short distance running (1-2 miles, recently).  I have also noticed that I have gained weight and I wonder if this is the reason.  Interesting stuff to think about, for sure.

This week I plan on amping up my workout by using more vigorous machines and, when I do run, run longer with intervals to increase speed.  I also plan on throwing in a yoga session or two.  Last week I tried spinning… it was HARD.  However, it probably was of great benefit to my health.

I have decided I am going to make small changes in my lifestyle, nothing too drastic, to improve my overall health.

Areas in which I would like to improve AND am motivated to change:

1. My high sugar intake

2. My fear of carbohydrates, resulting in (1)

3. My reliance on coffee

4. My alcohol intake, which can be excessive, at times

5. My poor planning, leading to excess expenses (last minute dinners, anyone?)

6. My meal skipping, resulting in late night binges- needs to stop!

7. I tend to ignore my mental well being, from time to time.

How I plan on improving:

1. Eat balance meals when I am hungry and without depriving myself of food groups- CARBOHYDRATES ARE NOT BAD

2. Replace coffee with water, decaf tea or regular tea (many teas have less caffeine than coffee- green tea, white tea and oolong tea are all good options)

a) If I need coffee, make it half caffeinated in my French Press

3. Incorporate more social time, volunteering and yoga to keep myself sane

4. Exercise is a priority but not an obligation

5. Cook at least 3 dinners a week (left overs should take care of the rest)

6.  Drink less often.  Seltzer water is a great option when with friends~

a) Stop hanging around with people I know are bad for me, resulting in increased alcohol intake.

I’ll keep my readers updated on my progress.  For now, I am drinking my half-caffeinated coffee (from my press) prior to volunteering and after a good hearty workout.

* In school we are encouraged to use the term “client”.  To quote myself from a paper:

[The term client] has connotations in customer service.  While all health care providers should provide optimal care and service to their patients, client implies we (the providers) are performing a service because of the monetary value that person holds.  This idea devalues the health care system- care should be provided to anyone with a need because it is our desire to do so.  Though an idealistic viewpoint, I think many providers are apt to forget the reasons for which they chose to go into health care.  As a friend once told me: “if you want to be rich, become a lawyer.  If you want to help people, be a nurse”.