Happiness is...

Having a giggle fit at one in the morning with a five year old boy who bumped his head while being silly.


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STI testing

There are pros and cons to testing. One con is that your results may not match your partner's.

TFLN

(214): Nothing says love like couples STD testing
(972): Nothing says breakup like the results


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And the exam nightmares begin

Even in my dreams, I would rather hunt zombies than study for the exam.

Right now I'm regretting not doing the MCCQE part 2, if only because it would have forced me to start studying a heck of a lot sooner. It also wouldn't have been so shocking to me to find out there is a day of OSCEs as well as the day of SOOs.

This is the second time they're running the CCFP exam this way. It was run in the fall, no problems from what I can tell from my friends who wrote. That gives me hope that it won't be the gong show that the first computer based MCAT was.

So, this nightmare was one of those that make you feel totally helpless. The usual high school crap. I have been studying, but for some reason, haven't written any exams for the past two years and even miss the final exams. I'm looking at never being a doctor again, ever. Not only have I not written exams, I seem to have entirely missed several classes and was never able to find the text books. And, for some reason, I've moved back into my parents' home, along with all my siblings. There is no place for me to study and too many chores to get any studying in. Then, out of nowhere, zombie apocalypse. And I'm relieved? WTF.

I've been interested to see how different residents are choosing to study for this exam.

Some are studying at least 12 hours a week. Coming together in groups weekly and preparing their 99 problems to discuss with each other. Others aren't studying at all.

I'm just trying to stay on top of my clinic work, study when and if I get time.

I've stocked up on herbal tea. I've set up 3 study areas in the house. I have a back up cafe I can use plus the clinic when it's shut.

I've got this.

How can someone who moves as quickly as you do be so big?

It's hard not to be offended when patients make comments about my body size. It's something that I am incredibly self conscious about, like most folks who struggle with their weight. 

So far, most comments have been fairly benign, but some patients are unwilling to discuss their concerns about their weight with me because they don't believe that I am a valuable source of advice. I think more than most of my colleagues, I'm on top of this information.

The Obesity Society publishes a monthly journal which I read and pull out the most relevant information for my patients. I'm looking at what may and may not work for my patients' health. That I'm not doing the same for myself is, well, it's hard to talk about.

When NJ Governor Chris Christie was considering running for president, he received considerable criticism about his ability to run a country when he couldn't control his own weight. The Obesity Society published this statement about fat bias.

This statement resonates with me.

A person’s body weight provides no indication of an individual’s character, credentials, talents, leadership, or contributions to society. To suggest that Governor Christie’s body weight discounts and discredits his ability to be an effective political candidate is inappropriate, unjust and wrong.
Caution should be taken in making assumptions about a person’s lifestyle behaviors based on physical appearance alone. Individuals who are not struggling with their weight are not necessarily healthy. A lean body does not reveal whether or not a person smokes cigarettes, drinks excessive alcohol, eats a balanced diet, exercises regularly, or wears a seat belt. To single out a political candidate on the basis of body weight is discriminatory. 
The criticism of Governor Christie is an unfortunate example of the weight bias and stigmatization that is pervasive in North American society. The prevalence of weight discrimination in the United States has increased by 66% in the past decade, and is now on par with rates of racial discrimination.

I think that a large part of why it provokes an emotional response in me is because I have just as much weight discrimination against myself as anyone else does.

Good dictation words

I use the word nefarious as often as possible in dictations.



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