RN2B...er RN!

NURSING SCHOOL IS DONE!

I have a few weeks off before I start working. I went to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

I did a bit of shopping as usual and Saturday we went to see the Visa USA Gymnastics Championships (Nationals). We saw the Sr Women's Final for All-Around and Event Finals.

It was AMAZING to see live. Reminded me of when a friend of mine and I went to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics.

I am glad that Shawn Johnson won, along with Nastia Liukin in 2nd place. I feel bad that Jana Bieger is being so poorly scored. Ridiculous!

Well, I should change the title of my blog as I am now DONE with nursing school! I am not quite an RN yet, still have to write the OIIQ Board exam and Practical in September (20-22nd). For now I am a CPNP : Candidate to the Practice of Nursing Profession .

But much closer than when I started this blog... and I can FINALLY wear whatever colour scrubs I want! WOOT!

I realize now that I forgot to update my post about my EMG and Nerve Conduction.

1) Yes it hurt in some spots, the first needle insertion I did not feel at all... the others I did!
2) The Nerve conduction part pinches and surprised me by that!

I was so tired that Friday, having been up since 5:30AM b/c I had my OSCEs that morning for school. I was only being picke up at 4PM from he neuro's office and I was done by 2:40PM, and had my Grad dance that night at 8PM! My neuro is sweet, she let me take a nap in the waiting room even after they were closed (she was still there doing work). I needed that nap too. I was up for 21 hrs that day!

She (neuro) did my right arm (3 spots), one spot in my left arm (deltoid only), and my right leg.

Well, the culprit to the shoulder weakness may very well be the Zanaflex I take, so am now no longer taking it. Damn! I liked it, it worked well for my leg.. too well I guess!




On the plus side, it may help me with the hypotension (low blood pressure) I have, Zanaflex tends to lower BP and mine is already low so of course the Zanaflex complicated it all the more. It may have also been weakening parts of my lower body more than needed too. My neuro increased my Baclofen from 60mg to 80mg to compensate for the lack of Zanaflex, but I seriously am noticing more spasticity. NOT HAPPY! I should be getting more Botox soon so that'll help.







On a side note: I am going to the USA for 3-4 days, VT, NH and MA. And I may be going to see USA Gymnastics National Champs in Boston on Saturday! YIPPEE!

In honor of the SATC movie I bought a PINK & Sparkley drink shaker pictured below and a nice set of Martini glasses!

Well, I made it through the written final, the OSCEs and the EMG test my neuro did. Had the grad dinner/dance last night and it was great! It still doesn't feel real though.. I feel like I should be studying or something...

Well, this is it! Last week of "school". Feels weird to think that after this week I will no longer need to think about studying, at least for a while! I will have to study for the OIIQ exam in September and no doubt I will have in-service and classes to study for once I start working in June, but really, i's not like school.. not like going to classes and doing clinicals. This is it! 3 years of hard work done and finished with!

I have my written final on Thursday and the OSCEs on Friday, both in the morning (so any of you out there who read this CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR ME!)

On another note... I had an MRI a few weeks back after I had seen my neuro in the ER because I had had some major weakening of my right arm (well deltoid and triceps). Kind of scary considering the TM attach 4 years ago was sudden and unforeseen. Of course, me being me, I freak out and think Oh great! I have MS... there goes 3 years of nursing school and hard work!

So had the MRI of brain/spine (C and T) and it's CLEAR! Yippee! Ok, so now what? My neuro has decided she was to perform an EMG.

"Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording physiologic properties of muscles at rest and while contracting. EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph, to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyograph detects the electrical potential generated by muscle cells when these cells contract, and also when the cells are at rest."

Sound like fun? Ya, didn't think so! I had at one point wanted one for my "bad" arm, the LOBPI to see what exactly was affected, but figured OUCH! No way! Sticking a needle into an area that is already hypersensitive would not be a great idea.. At least my right side isn't hypersensitive (much).

She called to tell me it's set for FRIDAY! Yup! THIS Friday.. same as my exam (OSCE). In the afternoon though... then that night I have the Grad 2008 dinner/dance! I just hope I am functional, if not, just prop me in a corner and give me a glass of something alcoholic! I plan on celebrating, one way or the other! LOL (No, I don't drink much, but really, it doesn't take much!)

I will post more about the EMG and dance and post pics of either one or BOTH events!

Nursing School Friends 2005-2008

This is where I will be working.. for money.. no longer a student! Big hospital, where even after 3 months of internship I still get lost!

I will be working on he same floor too, Cardiac Surgery/Neurosurgery.

2004
2008
It's been 4 years since I was "hit" with Transverse Myelitis and paralyzed at T1 (and down). It's been like being on a roller coaster, ups and downs, and sometimes scary.
I went from being completely paralyzed from the mid-chest down to being paralyzed on the left side with the left leg being the most affected. Plenty of other functions don't work well (bowel, bladder, intercostal muscles...) and I have pain 24/7 and am a walking pharmacy, BUT, for the most part I don't let it get me down or stop me from doing what I want to be doing. Sure I have days (more lately) when I am sad and frustrated and wish it had never happened. But I can't change it and figure I have 2 choices... crawl in bed and do NOTHING or continue living the life I choose to live. I've never been one to give up or sit still for long, so I choose to live.

I walk with a long leg brace and a cane, and sometimes use my wheelchair. I get plenty of "poor you" looks from strangers and at times odd, insensitive comments too. Whatever!

I am in my last semester of my RN program and will be graduating this May (fingers and toes crossed). I never thought I would make it, yes I wanted to, but honestly had no idea if my body would let me. So far, so good!

I thank the nurses who inspired me and encouraged me to do this. I will never forget it, it means so much to me. THANK YOU!

Enough Already Mother Nature.. we get it!
To date we have received 347cm of snow this season.. another 40 cm and we break the snowfall record of 1971 with 383cm! I for one, would NOT like to see that record broken frankly. We are supposed to have MORE snow though...





... and a pic of Bear Jr, the former outdoor kitty!

This one makes me laugh.. every time. Reminds me of the Mac adds for some reason.


Mac vs PC



And to make it even better... The UK versions, making fun of Nanny 911!



And yes.. I own a Mac and always have :)

This semester has been interesting. I am doing my internship which consists of 4 days a week of 8 hour shifts.

So far I have taken blood samples (first time) and gotten the majority of them without busting the vein in the process or just plain missing!
I have done ECGs, one on my own, and gotten a good reading.
I have perfected my PEG/NG/Dobhoff feeedings (sounds easy, but trust me, some crushed pills are pains in the butt and can really block up the tube), that and I can now do it in record time (check for residual, flush, give med, flush some more..).
I've swabbed more things for MRSA/VRE/Other than I thought possible in one month time!
I am now mostly on my own, meaning no teacher (from school) following my every move!

It's nice, we get our independence and learn better that way too I find. We are assigned to be with 2 patients right now, we'll get 3 eventually...

My feet hurt, my back aches, and I end up with a massive headache.. BUT I love it!

How cool would this be? Not just for me, but for everyone with a spinal cord injury!

Scientists believe they are close to a significant breakthrough in the treatment of spinal injuries.

The University of Cambridge team is developing a treatment which could potentially allow damaged nerve fibres to regenerate within the spinal cord.

It may also encourage the remaining undamaged nerve fibres to work more effectively.

Spinal injuries are difficult to treat because the body cannot repair damage to the brain or spinal cord.

We are very hopeful that at last we may be able to offer paralyzed patients a treatment to improve their condition
Professor James Fawcett
University of Cambridge

Although it is possible for nerves to regenerate, they are blocked by the scar tissue that forms at the site of the spinal injury.

The Cambridge team has identified a bacteria enzyme called chondroitinase which is capable of digesting molecules within scar tissue to allow some nerve fibres to regrow.

The enzyme also promotes nerve plasticity, which potentially means that remaining undamaged nerve fibres have an increased likelihood of making new connections that could bypass the area of damage.

Boosts rehabilitation

In preliminary tests, the researchers have shown that combining chondroitinase with rehabilitation produces better results than using either technique alone.

What often happens in a clinical setting is that you don't get to see the results you would have liked
Paul Smith
Spinal Injuries Association

However, trials have yet to begin in patients.

Lead researcher Professor James Fawcett said: "It is rare to find that a spinal cord is completely severed, generally there are still some nerve fibres that are undamaged.

"Chondroitinase offers us hope in two ways; firstly it allows some nerve fibres to regenerate and secondly it enables other nerves to take on the role of those fibres that cannot be repaired.

"Along with rehabilitation we are very hopeful that at last we may be able to offer paralysed patients a treatment to improve their condition."

'Ground-breaking'

Dr Yolande Harley, of the charity Action Medical Research which funded the work, said: "This is incredibly exciting, ground-breaking work, which will give new hope to people with recent spinal injuries."

Paul Smith, of the Spinal Injuries Association, said medical advances meant that spinal injuries had ceased to be the terminal conditions that they often once were, but they still had a huge impact on quality of life.

However, he warned against raising expectation before the treatment was fully tested on patients.

He said: "What often happens in a clinical setting is that you don't get to see the results you would have liked."

In the UK there are more than 40,000 people suffering from injuries to their spine, which can take the form of anything from loss of sensation to full paralysis.

The average age at the time of injury is just 19.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7240898.stm

Published: 2008/02/17 00:01:25 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

Please take a look at this site, and please feel free to purchase a T-Shirt!
This is one medical issue I have and I know the person in charge of this site, she is a wonderful mom and spokesperson to raise awareness for OBPI (Obstetrical Brachial Plaxus Injuries).
Thanks!

http://www.twolittlemonkeys.org/AboutUs.htm

Jeep Commercial on TV these days... and I found one made for Venezuela, same concept, different animals!