Friday, November 02, 2007

Pathophysiology if Phun

Phun, yes that is the word. Do not question it, just accept it.

Soooo, just finished my midterm for Patho and I think it went well (I'm sitting in the commons now outside Eric's last class listening to some crazy 18 year olds making really weird rap music...sort of sounds like armpit music and raspberrys, but it's all right because they're cool).

Eric wants me to promise that I won't post anything too disgusting, but I have to admit that I think the most interesting things I have learned have to be some of the most disgusting. For instance, did you know that with an electrical burn that the electrical charge will follow the nerve all the way until it terminates? It burns the tissue and causes necrosis all the way along the nerve which is not visible until basically the dead tissue eats it way out to the surface or becomes so infected that they need to do a fasciotomy to relieve the pressure (aka they cut you open). I have some great pictures...but I won't use them all up just yet. Gross hey?

I was thinking about that the other day. They actually have wound healing nurse specialists. Their job is to look after patients with wounds that are difficult to heal. Some people live with open decubitus ulcers for over a year before they close by secondary intention. Can you imagine what kind of agony they must go through? A gaping hole over their sacrum for a year? I can not fathom it myself. So who knows? Maybe I could look at doing something like that. I am beginning to develop an iron gut...if I can ever figure out what I want to be when I grow up, maybe that will be it.

In the mean time, my near future goals consist of washing the dog (who smells) and doing some laundry (so we don't smell) and then washing some dishes (which really smell!). Gots to right a journal tonight...another chapter in the "This is how I am feeling about you feeling about me thinking and feeling about you feeling" emotional-introspective-oh-please-don't-make-me-write-another-one journal for my nursing clinical course *sigh*. My last one was about the importance of accurate clinical documentation, maybe I'll write this one on the importance of not over emotionally-analyzing every aspect of my life :) Somehow I doubt that will go over well. Oh well, onward and forwards, if anyone thinks of some morally/ethically/tear jerking issue that needs writing about I would be pleased to hear it.

Until next time, Cheers.
-Rebecca