Sikeston 3

I have not been sick alot in my life (thankfully). When I have it's usually been a pill or 2 and that is it. So it amazes me to do this rotation and find out that people are on 10+ medications. One gentleman confided in me that he took 19 pills a day. Not only does that seem to be the norm, but the majority of the people can rattle off what they are taking with out breaking a sweat. Imagine if some one could tell you a the names of 12 grocery items (in a different language), their prices, and sizes and you would have what some of these people can recite on a daily basis. Some of these people have a hard time reading... and yet they can tell you names, doses, and times. More often then not I am wondering if they are addiced.

-Andrew

Sikeston 2

Honest List I made of things that I have noticed today in the Clinic

1. Mullets (Seriously people still wear those?)
2. People are over-weight. ( Of the 25 patients I guarantee that there were at least 12 that outweighed me).
3. Drug reps (I don't have the patience for them. They are always come at inopportune times, try to dazzle you with worthless info, and just .... ugh. you just have to be there. )
4. Language (I have studied Spanish and Portuguese. My English isn't half bad either, but I don't always get Missouri-an. I honestly don't know what people are saying sometimes. At times it's like living in the twangiest Country movie you have ever seen.)
5. Manicures (Ladies will come in having been jobless for months, living off WIC & welfare, asking for handouts, and the nails on their hands will be AWESOME! Literally some of the nicest, detailed work I have ever seen. It is mind boggling.)

Despite all this, people here are some of the nicest people I have ever met, and it has been fun to talk to them.

-Andrew

Sikeston Day 1

Sunday the 12th Andrew Anderson and I made the long drive from Kirksville to Sikeston. It's about a 6.5 hour drive and we got in here about 7:30pm. We share a house with a married couple of 3rd year students and they have been really friendly and helpful. Anderson lucked out and his preceptorship is directly behind our house. (literally 100 yards away). I however, get to drive a stickshift jeep 10 minutes south. that doesn't sound too bad until you find out that I last tried to learn how when I was 17. It's been .... scary.

My Preceptor is awesome and while Family Practice is not super exciting it has been good so far. She takes the time to explain different drugs and abbreviations that I am not familiar with, and when I have felt dumb, it is usually because we haven't cover that subject, or I have forgotten it. (Not because she is trying to make me feel dumb.)

My favorite case Monday: -->Man with Bronchitis

Patient: Yeah I do really bad when it's cold
10 year old daughter: It's always cold since dads girlfriend Crystal came to live with us. She always has the AC on.
Patient: Anyways my chest has been hurting when I cough
Daughter: I (loudly) think it's cause he smokes so much.
Patient: *quiets Daughter*

His daughter was so cute about it, and here was a grown man looking increadibly sheepish as his daughter called him out for the live in girlfriend and smoking. It's funny how people act when they are caught doing something they know is wrong.

-Freeman

Round 2

I've updated our site. Notice any big differences?

-Andrew

Arizona Trip

We just got back from AZ were we had a great time visiting friends and family (and eating out at all the restaurants we missed!)

But Like they say "There's no place like home." When we got back Lily went wild, going from place to place checking out all her old things. It was like the end of Monsters, Inc were Boo finally gets home and shows everything to Scully. In fact she was determined to get into her bed right away and refused to leave it for 15 minutes or so.
(How do you say no to this face?)

Some of the fun things from AZ.....

Water park at the Mall, followed by Ice cream with cousin Saedi...

Making sure Grandpa Freeman gets to class at church

Playing piano with Aunt Jeni

And bowling with Mom!

All in all a great trip.
-Andrew