Surf, Turf and Veins

I know it's been a while, I know. I don't feel like it so much, but it must be that I have less free time on this rotation than I did on the last. That being the case, my ramblings have been fewer and lower in quality and length.

don't judge me.

Let's bring you up to speed...

On the slave labor front, I've been in Cardiothoracic Surgery for 3 and a half weeks now, and love it. I'm still getting to do more and more everyday. I had no grand illusions that I would be doing too much during the actual surgery, I mean, it's heart surgery!

I knew I wouldn't be doing much more than watching and helping close at the end, if I was lucky. And I knew for certain that I wouldn't be harvesting the Great Saphenous vein for the graft conduits....

but then again, I've been doing much more than expected these past few weeks. After I finished helping Dr. Gately open, I switched sides to watch Alec take the saphenous vein. He was midway through, about at the point where he'd switch tips on the scope so he can cauterize any side-chains of the vein, and then extract it from the leg...

It was right then, in a moment of silence (save for the music playing in the background) that was shattered by Alec's voice, "Here, you do this. I'm bored." As he hands me the scope.

YES!

He wasn't bored, he was just being nice, giving me an opportunity to become familiar with the equipment. In the process, he made my day.

It came easy to me, it's like playing a video game. Just watch the screen, and react with your hands. It's like the medical nerd's version of Nintendo Wii. And we nerds happen to think it's much more fun.

So, in a nutshell, that's work lately.

On the extended work front, they let me attend a free (St. Jude Medical sponsored) dinner last night, (with a 'pro St. Jude prosthetic valve' lecture, of course.)

WORTH IT.

"I could get used to this." I thought while watching my free Fillet Mignon arrive to the table, preceded by appetizers, a salad, and followed by a wonderful dessert; homemade cheesecake and a chocolate ganash.

Apparently, El Gaucho is the most expensive steak house in the city. I can't tell you if this is true for certain, but the food sure made a case for that argument, as did the service. As soon as I walked into our private room, a man in a tuxedo asked if I'd like something to drink.

"Why yes I would, how about an IPA..."

It was a good evening.

Though I seem to be more busy this rotation, I did carve out time for fun this past weekend. I went surfing with my roommate, Ryan, near Canon beach on Saturday. It was a beautiful day at the coast, at least where we were. It was my first time surfing, and I did manage to catch quite a few waves. I'm hooked.

The only problem is that I must have zipped up my wetsuit with a kink in the neck somewhere, because it managed to rub off a good part of my skin on the back right side of my neck. It looks ridiculous, and kind of hurts still.

I hope it heals up enough by Saturday, cuz I'd love to go again.

That night I met up with a Minneapolis friend who was in town, and got to spend the next day with her too. Had a great time...

I guess that's all for now folks... I'm in need of food, and I think my chicken has got to be thawed by now.

Sorry for the lack of insight, wit, humor and life lesson... but I'm fresh outta those right now. Maybe later.

cn