Saturday, July 11, 2009

Start of a New Chapter

A week ago I started a new chapter in my medical life; 3rd year rotations. It has been a huge adjustment, but a very fulfilling one at the same time. No more speding days on end with my nose buried in a book. From now on the majority of my learning will be hands on.

When I have the time I'm going to be writing about the experiences that I have while on rotations so that I can someday look back and remember what it felt like to be just starting out.

For my first two months I am rotating through surgery (which I first saw as a curse but am now really enjoying) at one of the busiest surgical centers in the country (in terms of # of surgeries at this hospitals three sites).

13 comments:

BSpenk said...

OMG!!! the same thing is happening to me right now!! i am itching on my back like crazy and cant really put aloe on.... :( i am going nuts but ima try what u did

Anonymous said...

These steps are working for me very well:

a.) Doctor prescribed steroid "step-down" (5,4,3,2,1) pill daily blisterpack. (How appropriate that the pills are packaged n a BLISTERPACK!!!) You take the 5 pills the first day, 4 the next,etc.. My buddy took all 5 pills in one dose and his blisters/rash went away before my eyes; seemingly in minutes. Amazing.

b.) Zyrtec or Benedryl
c.) Aloe gel on the effected areas,
d.) Ibuprophen,
e.) Drink A LOT of water,
f.) No showering seem to help but I smell terrible; I can't stand myself,
g.) Stay in a cool place with a t-shirt on,
e.) Watch TV

Anonymous said...

This is the worst itch i have ever had in my life!!!!! I spent all of saturday on the lake tubbing. Didn't think I needed to put any sunscreen on. Sunday I could feel the sunburn but I didn't think it was that bad. I put cocoa butter on cause thats all I had. Then Monday night while I was driving home the unbearable itch started going through my arms, shoulders, and upper back. I tried taking a shower but that only made it worse!!! I'm 21 but this itch had me crying and wishing I could rip my skin off. The only things that seem to help a little are Benedryl, Ibprofen, Aloe lotion, Wearing a T-shirt at all times, and staying in cool areas. Nothing really makes the itch go away but I've determined that scratching only makes it itch and hurt more. Avoid scratching your burnt skin cause its the only way to keep the only somewhat bearable. I will never leave my house without putting sunscreen on when the sun is out.

Anonymous said...

The itch you are all feeling is similar to the itch/skin crawling feeling you get when. an adult male gets chicken pox.

I know, because right now i am badly sunburnt and it reminds me of when i had chicken pox only 2 months ago. I am 26.

For all of you, just know though, that the chicken pox was much worse. Imagine the itch you are feeling about twice as bad, then add a 39 deg fever. I couldn't even have showers because i was too weak to stand up. Don't forget of course you are covered head to toe in disgusting pustule things.

I am telling you all this because a lot of you are saying it's the worst time of your lives, and reading about others go through it actually helps. Well spare a thought for the unlucky few adults who catch Chicken pox because it's way worse.

Not to take it away from you all, because i am itching like a muthafucker right now, but remembering how much hell i went through 2 months ago is helping me a lot with this. I have much more tolerance now and can almost switch my mind off to it.

Anonymous said...

omg worst itch ever had the only thing that works for me is wet cloth with an ice pack and fan on high on me now just baring through the rest till it ends

Anonymous said...

I didn't even get burned badly but for the last couple days I've been up the walls. As is typical, the days I've been itchy were on my first date with my friend I like and while holding my brand new pet hedgehog. Almost left my international business class today and I can tell I'm barely sleeping tonight.

Unknown said...

This is unbearable, Finding the ice back on the burnt areas working quite well. Hope fully I will be able to sleep!!!!!!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I read these blogs everytime I itch to somewhat soothe the itch. My wife/rest of my immediate family laugh at me while im going through an episode. The only thing that seems to help me is a HOT shower, not cold. I've stood in my shower for 14 hours STRAIGHT, can't make that up. Creams, aloe, lotions only seem to make it worse. I wish I could be put in a coma until the itch is gone. DON'T SCRATCH IT, have a relaxed day!;)

Anonymous said...

i feel like ripping off my skin and just walking away or just killing myself this itch is SO BAD nothing is helping, im waiting for some drugs to kick in but nothing is helping at all!!!!

Anonymous said...

Alooha! When I went to bed, both arms were itching from bad sunburn, but after slathering it with cream, I thought I would sleep through it. However, hours later and after many trips trying various stuff, I finally was forced to turn to the internet in the early am for help because the itchy pain was getting much worse. My future advice to myself: If something is really bothering me medically, don't attempt to try stuff that might make it worse, get online first to learn what others did who dealt with the problem successfully. What really worked great for me was the spraying with white vinegar, then allowing it to air dry about 5 minutes, and to keep doing this every few hours after when the itching would start to return. Also, I took an ambian sleep pill. Both took care of the problem. Mahalo, contributors!

Anonymous said...

currently fighting off my second case of these "itchy-owies" that i've ever had. i was fortunate enought to realize that it was coming about 30 seconds before the wave of pin pricking torture arrived. what has worked for me as far as creams goes, an extra strength hydro cortizone cream.
pills, benydryl and ibuprofen really do work well.

also fortunately this burn is no where near as bad as my first experience with this. i'll never forget how unbearable it was. i dont complain about pain, i have siatic nerve issues, i've broken bones in my life, hyprflexed my spine playing football..... but nothing has been so terrible and torturous. i do remember convulsing, yelling and having tears come out of my eyes until the cream and benydryl kicked in and finally hammered my butt to sleep. .....
currently maintaining a not very itchy state, but i'm not forgetting about it yet, i know its just waiting to start again, but really try that cream, tonight that was all i used and it worked after about 15 minutes!!! also if u can, it did help me to have my shirt off.
good luck Itchers!!!! get yourselves some spf 100

Anonymous said...

You guys have said it all. It's the worst thing I have ever experience in my whole life. I will ALWAYS wear sunscreen from now on and apply it EVERYWHERE. GOD. HELP. ME.