Preterm Nostalgia

This is it friends.  The last time I will wipe down my unit.  The last time I will bag my instrument cassette.  The last time I will get an HHx/OD/Scale check (not so sad about that one).  The last time I will treat patients based off requirements.  The last time I will be in this unit with Karen and Leigh.  I could go on, obviously.

Today was a super fun day for me.  It didn't work out for anybody to come in this morning (and I really did put forth some effort) so I got organized, got ready for the afternoon, got my patient list ready for Chelsea, tallied up all my requirements, got my Black Bean Dip ready for our luncheon, took Alexander's test :), and soaked it all in.

There was WAY too much yummy food at our Potluck lunch today.  Yummy.  Thanks everyone.

My Dad came in this afternoon.  I was somewhat resistant to the idea of doing a new HH, and full charting just for one cleaning, but I'm glad we did it.  It was fun.  It got SUPER hot here in the afternoon though.  Wow.  To chart restorations my Dad looked in the handheld mirror and the #5 mirror and told me what each tooth had.  Julie saw it, it was awesome.

VA Farewell

Love Connie

Love Katie

Helping Hands

All these prego girls.

After a small walking journey, we got to The Pie!

The Chedda Pull Aparts = YUMMY!

Pizza Pizza!

3 Day at the VA

It has been quite awhile since I saw 3 patients at the VA.  It has been really nice to finish my morning patient BARELY after the last 9:30 pt has been seated, thereby leaving my AMPLE time for relaxation before lunch.  Today, however, I was not so lucky.  Done to early.  :)  I saw some really nice people though.  I need to do some hand strengthening exercises (thankfully my hubband spent WAY too much money on some grip things so I can use those) because my hand was cramping like MAD on my morning pt.  To give myself a break I would pretend to be switching instruments or wiping something off on gauze, but really I was just resting.  How embarrasing is that?  I only took 2 PA's today, but next week I am going to get a MeChel Day (8 PA's and 2 Q of a III - lucky dog, thanks to Karen pt swapping) and be sitting pretty.  My patient in the afternoon was brand spankin new, needed pano, bwx, and full charting.  He was a 1B and yes I was the last one done, HOWEVER he had a lingual bar from hades, so I am using that to defend myself.

One of my grievances in school is that we treat patients who are mild-severe periodontally involved, but when we get out into the world of General Practice (where most of us are going, at least at first) we will be seeing LOTS of braces and lingual bars.  Well, how many of my Class III patients do you think have a lingual bar?  Seriously, put your guess in the comment section.  In other words, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CLEAN A LINGUAL BAR!  

Shaney Laney

I can't NOT start my post with Professor Perry.  He just throws you for a loop.  I think it is his goal.  In fact, I know it is his goal.  And doggonnit, he got me today.  I can usually keep my cool under pressure, but my poor morning patient assuredly thought he had the idiot of the world working on him, because that is what I sounded like.

"Blood?  Inflammation?  Cytokines? Neutrophils? Water? Inflammation? Edema? Heat? Redness? Swelling?  Swelling?  Biofilm? Water flushing?  Elliptical?  Metal Rods?" and on and on for 20 minutes.  Yeah, that instilled confidence in my morning patient man.

I mostly can't wait for our Mini Perry Pod-Wrap to hear what secrets he tells ONLY his three week disciples. 

On a funnier note, my afternoon Class IV patient cancelled.  "I want to get this done, but I just can't come in."  Ok, fine.  When I asked how is quad I cleaned 3 weeks ago is, he shared the following VERY SLOWLY, "I'm actually quite comfortable with what you've done.  However, something interesting has been happening.  I keep trying to talk with my mouth closed."  Me - "Oh really?  That does sound interesting." "Yes, it is quite hard to explain.  It's like . . . my lips are closed . . . and my back teeth aren't touching . . . and . . . it's hard to explain."  We were having a good laugh about that at lunch.  This is also the patient who asked, "Are you going to CUT my GUMS?"

So since he cancelled I tried calling a family that Mr. S-sauce had given me.  The conversation went a little something like this . . .

Them: "Beuno!"
 Me: "Beuno!"  Is this Carlos?
Them: "No, wrong number."
Me: "What about Lizeth?"
Them: "Oh yes, she is here.  She is driving."
Me: "This is Marianne from the Weber State Hygiene Clinic wondering if anyone could come in this afternoon at 12:30?"
Them: "yes"
Me: "You could?  Sweet!"
Them: "Do you speak Spanish?"
Me: "No."

Anyway, we went on to have MeChel tell him in Spanish to come today at 12:30, then he said "Bye!" and we thought everything was good.

Well, when we get back to clinic I had Mr. S-Sauce call him.  Don't worry, he lives in ARIZONA.  Hmmm, yeah maybe he could have made it in the next 30 minutes.  Oh man.  So Chris came in at 1:15 and had to be gone by 2:15.  I'm glad Chris came in, and he did need a cleaning, but it's just so sad to be in such a big hurry and have to pay $32 when I could do it at home.  sigh.  Oh well.

Really?

I am FLOORED by certain instructors and what they think is appropriate in clinic.  Watching your favorite sitcom, with the volume up LOUD in the Instructor pod, laughing your head off, as if you're not there getting paid to HELP students LEARN?!?!?  And when I have to wait 5 minutes for you to check my radiographs so you can "quickly" look at your friends facebook pictures from the weekend?  Seriously?  Not a fan.  At all.  So frustrating.  At least TRY to pretend that you care or TRY to appear as if you are doing something pertinent to your job.  Real good example, real good.  I am so tempted to name drop, but I think I'll try to show some maturity that this person obviously cannot.  And I know instructors say they read these blogs, but I don't believe it.  We'll see if anything comes of this outburst (don't plan on it). 

The above behaviors made today's clinic less than desirable. I'm sure it's just me, but I get a little irritated by certain things.  Like sitting around with half the clinic chit chatting when others are finishing charts and cleaning up rooms.  I think we can help each other.  I think when half the clinic gets done WAY early and the other half get done on time/late the first half as already mentally checked out, so they're either not aware or not in the mood to get up and help.  I am SO appreciative to those who remain cognizant of others and continually help.

I treated a 1B in the morning and did 3 sealants and 2 PE's (the worst ones in my opinion) in the afternoon.  HUGE thank you to Michelle for letting me see her sealant patient, that helps me a TON.  Not a super productive day, but I'm losing steam mentally in clinic.  Should I admit that openly on my blog?  Sure.  Let's be honest.  Like I said, I'm sure no instructor will read this anyway.

Trousers

Hello.  Today I made a revolutionary decision.  I wore Trouser Socks that my mother gave me for Easter some years ago.  They were awesome.  My feet were un-anesthetized.  They hurt a bit by the end of the day, but it was certainly a step up from last week.

Photo Credit: MeChel

Photo Credit: MeChel

I am VERY sorrowful to tell you that I was flexing in that second pic.  Wow, Chris is right I need to exercise more often.  And if that bulge above the sock don't prove it then you are in denial.

Today turned out to be fine.  Class V in the morning, who has worked his way up from Class II/III last year.  Very positive sign for him and his systemic health.  BOTCHED some vertical radiographs on this patient, retook some good horizontal ones which got lost in the computer system based on my idiosity not to open a new template. Dumbies.

Lunch - no dessert, but I did go get a flu shot with Sarah and Kristie, thanks for the prompt Sarah!

Then I saw a 1B.  That's right a 1B.  I thought for sure she would have had more perio than that!  When we walked in from lunch I knew she was my patient.  She was very overweight and I assumed that she was on lots of medications (I was right).  When I called to make and confirm the appt I spoke with her mother, which I thought was odd for a 25 year old.  This is my first clue that something was a little off.  I was a tich worried that she wouldn't be comfortable or able to be accommodated in clinic, but it turned out good and great.  She was very easy and fun to get along with, and as you know she ended up being a 1B and even though I took my dear sweet time during HH and radiographs, I did finish her.  My largest mistake of today was that I did NOT do a blood glucose on her even though she A) She has diabetes B) Had not taken her blood glucose that day C) Was ok with me doing it.  I just couldn't get up the mental energy to go get the stuff.  Lame, I know.

    

Pick a Title

I have a hard enough time articulating Frances McConaughey's entire last name to begin with, so when I am in a constant dither over whether to call her Inst. Prof. Dr. or Ma'am let's just say difficult is an understatement as to how hard it is for me to SPIT IT OUT.

Frances + Me = Disaster.  Let's just accept that this is true.  I think I have found the underlying cause of this issue.  I try to be all things informal.  I think she tries to be all things formal.  It reminds me of the following quote from The Office Season 3 Episode 13.

Dwight had a big personality and I have a big personality and a lot of times when two people like that get together it can be explosive. -Phyllis

Once again at the VA today we had a little run in.  Maybe not a run in by other's perspective, but by mine it was.  Sigh, I just need to be on my BEST behavior when addressing her and no funny business because it always just ends up with me feeling like a dingle-idiot.

So Frances, I mean Prof/Inst/Mrs McConaughey I apologize.  Better luck next week.

In other news, I tx 3 patients today start to finish.  Two class V's and one class II.  Had some CRAZIES today, poor Brooke.  :(  However, if my calculations are correct we only have 3 more days at the VA this semester.  Praises.

Do the Twist

Hey VA peeps, this is the video I was telling you about.

KARLIE WEEKS DO NOT WATCH THIS UNTIL YOU ARE IN THE MOOD TO THINK 'PUMPERNICKEL MUFFIN' IS FUNNY! (Yes, I really am yelling that to you.)


Alright folks, here we are again with one more week behind us.  Hard to believe.  I had an awesome Granola lady this morning.  1B, BWX films. no retakes with a cone cut, but could still see the distal of the canine. (MIRACLE).  Got done early, etc, etc, etc.


LUNCH - Burger King with MeCh.  Used a coupon.  :)  Sat in the wet lab with all my peeps for lunch.  That is the best part of my school week.  Sitting in the wet lab, chilling and relaxing with everybody, reminiscing about patients, telling crazy stories, laughing our heads off, finding similarities and comfort from each other.  Seriously, I love it the mostest.


Back to the weekly grind.  Afternoon patient, Leigh's patient's husband, awesome guy.  Cutest little 3 year old girl wandering back and forth between Leigh and my operatories.  Generalized class III.  :) Did his OD and cleaned 2 quadrants.  Oh happy day.  Hanson was very impressed with my skills, as she should have been because she worked with me long and hard last week and I am finally getting THE TWIST!  Anyway, he was worth it.

So . . . what else can I tell you?

Alzheimer's

Yesterday afternoon, after my patient had been walked out for 30 minutes MeChel asked me who I saw in the afternoon.  I thought for like 2 minutes and could not remember.  Seriously, could not remember to save my life.  It is hard enough to keep track of my OWN patients, but I am so interested in what everybody else is seeing and doing that I try to remember it all.  Obviously it doesn't work out so well.

Morning - H-dog!  What a great guy.  Came in on less than 24 hours notice, right on time.  Tolerated supplemental digital films to get his third molars.  Got 6 remaining orthodontic brackets removed by the oh-so-special Dr. Carol Naylor, pray he will come back to be my mockboard and pray that he ends up having enough calculus clicks.  Course, we forgot to check that.  :)  But I cleaned his UR, Class III quad with no numbing.  He didn't even flinch.  wow.  I am PSYCHED to get his mouth in tip top shape, on his way to healthy gums.  :)

lunch - spaghetti with tomato sauce w/eggplant

Afternoon - 14 year old gal, just got her braces off.  Extremely inquisitive, like extremely.  Does not/will not floss.  Kind of bugged me, but I think being talked to about it makes her resist it more.  If I see her again I think I'll mention it once and then leave it alone.  Darn those teenagers.  She helped me finish up my 1B requirements and get well on my way with BWX requiements, so that was fine, but she kind of wore me out.  Would NOT tolerate the F Varnish so we did the Orange Vanilla gel (the only non-acidulated kind the clinic has).  She was just kind of high maintenance as far as patients go.

FYI.  I love this program.  I love the people in it, I love just being unleashed to do my thing in second year and make new discoveries.  The 6 errors I had on my Class III quad wasn't so great but darn-it-all I will figure out how to use those gracey's effectively if it kills me.

98 and ¾ percent Guaranteed

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

-Dr. Seuss

That is right friends.  We are off to Great Places!  We're off and away!

Kristie Marianne McCall MeChel pod-mates for life.

Thank you all for a wonderful, beautiful, stressful, crazy, emotional, hilarious, comfortable, discouraging, early, late, and everything in between clinic this year.  I finished off clinic with a very laid back 1B, took BWX and 1PA on my good friend.  Hemsely was good to keep me cognizant of the clock and how fast I could be/should be working.  Thank the heavens above that I passed this semester.  And thanks to all of you very sweet friends who I couldn't have done it without.

Bow Chica Wow Wow

Feeling good.  Got everything done I had planned to do, barely, and with A LOT of help from my rockin' peeps.  Thank you thank you thank you.

Saw the cutest little friend Janey, who LOVED riding in the chair.

Then I saw my wonderful sista.  And completed the following: 10PAs, 4 1B Quads, Air Powder Polish PE, Diagnodent PE (p.s. the Diagnodent SUCKS and is not worth the $3000 JW paid for it) and my final sealant.  THANK YOU KELS!

By the end of clinic Vining was saying, "You're doing what?  A sealant?" Then he would look at the clock. :)

Again, can't say enough thanks to my peeps who helped me so much!

One more clinic day?  Is this even possible?

Oh yeah, I LOVED meeting with McConaughy today.  :)  She was so matter of fact and upbeat.  I want like a party to be thrown for the fact that I am going to finish my requirements.  I mean I understand that it is expected, and all I did was meet expectations (hardly exceed them), but still.  It was FREAKING HARD to meet expectations.  I think I'll throw a party for myself.  When my requirements are complete though all the ups and downs and patient no shows and crappy experiences and frustrations seem to disappear from my memory and I think . . . that wasn't so bad.

Yet Again

Remember that patient who has cancelled (gotten sick) like a billion times.  She proved herself again Sunday afternoon, by telling me she couldn't come in Monday.  :)

Very thankful to a high school friend who could come in on such short notice.  Too bad she takes care of her mouth and is only a freak-a-leaking 1B. 

I really sat down and stared at a calendar tonight . . . for a few hours and got  

Brooke-B-organized.  

 (That is pretty freaking organized, if you're unaware of the phrase.)  

I don't have much room for 1B's anymore.  Actually ZERO room for 1B's.  From here on out it has got to be something else.  I'll have 36 1B's by the end of the semester, after I finish 2 OD's.  Man Luann.  Too many.  I was able to hear back from some peeps today though who have been seen in the clinic before and are higher classifications.  HALLELUJAH!  (Shout out to Stephanie Young for the help there.)

I really got organized/stared at a calendar for multiple hours tonight.  You can all thank the Lion King - Circle of Life YouTube Video for entertaining Camden while I focused on hygiene.  These next two weeks before Spring Break may just be the death of me, but at least I can enjoy my last week of life during Spring Break. 

(REMEMBER MY BIG BIRTHDAY BASH, MARCH 15TH, CELEBRATE HOWEVER YOU LIKE, JUST THINK OF ME.)

Gug-a-Lug

Erica spent one of her few mornings off to spend the day with ME! 
("To ME!" - family home videos)

It's because she is the best . . .

at infant massage

even though she's not certified. :)

at doing makeup. course.

aunt.

I learned today (actually I have heard this before, but obviously didn't "learn" it at that time.  Hopefully I have learned it now) that I DO NOT need to scrape with as much lateral pressure as I can muster against EVERY tooth surface on a 1B.  The calculus just isn't there.  De-plaque by using the instrument on each surface, in an exploratory stroke, while checking for calculus.  Man I have wasted so much of mine and my patients time scraping where there is no need to scrape.  Of course, right when I get this in my head (hopefully) I will get a Class II or III and will need to scrape on most surfaces.  Woe is me.  What else is new?

Goal: HARDER CLASSIFICATIONS!!  Also, don't scrape where you don't need to scrape. Geez.