Lately, school has been rough. We have certain requirements, we have to see a certain number of patients with certain conditions. As the end of the term looms I don't feel I'll be able to find get through all of these patients before the end of the term.

Starting a health blog. http://tehdoktorfitness.blogspot.com

Slow Start.

Today did not start off good, it did not start off bad. It had trouble starting off at all.

I woke up later than I had planned, due to the weeks lack of sleep. I left for Laramie and soon after I got there found out that I couldn't hang out with the Black Pope, since he was under the weather and sorely in need of a nap. I found out my parents were also taking the afternoon to nap, and I couldn't really get a hold of anyone else. So, I ended up meandering around Laramie for about 2-3 hours trying to occupy my time. I stopped by the good ol' Hastings and the Bead Shop downtown. I also checked out the new UW library building, it looks snazzy. After a few hours HSPB says he is feeling refreshed so I head on over and hang out at his place for most of the afternoon. It was great to shoot the breeze and just spend time with him, Les Fleur, Gina, and their sister. As an added bonus I got to share some of HSBP's workout material and Fleur fed us yummy rice puddings.

After dinner at the Flock Hall I went to visit my parents real quick. They were having dinner next door with my Grandpa. We chatted for just a little bit and then I went to JJ's bar to see my friend Will DJ. It was great fun, he did a whole bunch of 80's mixes and I even convinced my Bunny to come and dance a little. I found out that Will and his wife Tanya are having a baby and that it's due very soon, yay me for being out of the loop. After the show we four went to Shari's and had some food and talked for a while to wind down the evening.

Finally Bunny and I came home to Cheyenne and my story ends. Slow start, happy ending.

Takes Forever

I am to the point in learning clinic, where all my patients are on either their second or their second or third visit. this is how things work during our first term. Right around this time everyone will be finishing their first few patients. Even though we are starting to finish patients, we still realize it takes us forever to get through their checkup, x-rays, and cleanings, and that really drives us nuts.

I got up today, with the intention of hemming a friend's skirt, heading off to Laramie, seeing that friend's research presentation, and coming back to Cheyenne. It started off as planned. I got out of bed and began to hem the skirt. After the skirt was done I showered and got ready to go to Laramie. I fueled up my car at a gas station right by the exit and then headed off. About half of the way there I realized I had left the skirt by the door at home, but did not have time to go back and get it. I arrived in Laramie and watched my friend Rose give a nice presentation on her memoir project. After that I went to a late lunch/early dinner with Rose and my friend Brittanny(who was also at the presentation), and our friend Anna. We had loads of fun and I was so happy to see all of them. Afterwards Anna and Rose went to make some roommate arrangements and Britt and I went to hang out and prepare for Dram Prom. I went with Britt to the Dram Prom for a little while and then made my way back to Cheyenne. I forgot to mention that both the drive to Laramie and the drive back were through some wonderfuly shitty weather, such as fog, rain, snow and wind. At the end of it all I made it home to my lovely wife, and reflected here about my day's adventure.

heavy week

This last week was heavy on learning experiences. In clinic, I saw many more patients than the previous week, I even began a debridement(cleaning) on one of them. I learned how to use several new devices including an air powder polisher, which is like a sandblaster that uses water air and baking soda to remove stain and debris from tooth surfaces. I also learned how to perform pit and fissure sealants, which involves polishing the tooth to remove debris, etching the enamel to prep it for a sealant, and then applying a polymer with silicate particles embedded in it, followed by a UV light to make it set. The process is tricky at best because it must be done on a totally dry surface. Let me tell you, making and maintaining a totally dry surface anywhere in the mouth requires some work.

:) First Patient

Today I had my first patient appointment. All in all things went well, considering my inexperience. I may be able to finish my care for that patient on their next visit, which is pretty standard for our first couple of weeks.

I would have had my first patients yesterday, but I had a positive skin PPD test for tuberculosis and I had to wait on chest radiographs to confirm that I do not have TB, before I could see any patients. Luckily there were two of my fellow students with empty chairs yesterday so they took the patients I could not see while waiting for my test results.