[Emma]

Just got word that one of my images was rejected. I knew it was on the edge but I honestly thought it would be ok. Nope. So now someone will have to repeat it tomorrow and I feel bad about that. Even better, tomorrow we are supposed to do our self performance reviews. Sigh

[Severine]

Try to give yourself a break. You're dealing with serious health issues and you're under a lot of pressure. Everyone misses the mark once in a while, all the more so when their stress levels are high. 

 

Everything will be okay. A year from now, you'll be enjoying the benefits of the work you're doing now on your health, but you won't even remember the rejected image.

 

Be kind to yourself  ❤️ 

[Emma]

CEs still not done. Don’t wanna do pathology. That stuff is gross.

Gym today. Cable machine. Increased the weights from last time.

 

 Diversity sucks.

 Had patient last night who spoke no English.  

Okay. 
Any family available to translate? No, no family at all.
Okay. 

Google translate can save the day.
What language does she speak? No one in the entire building knows what language she speaks.
Okay.

Google translate can’t help.
Communication? Impossible.

 And this is in the San Francisco Bay Area, a very diverse area. And no one could even identify her language.

 Diversity sucks. 

[Emma]

Thank you for your kind words Séverine, but I will so remember that rejected image. I remember ALL my rejected images. This is the first in a very very long time, where  it actually was my fault and I should have repeated it before I left. The other rejections were because the patient was uncooperative or combative or had severe muscle contractions and I just couldn’t  get a decent image no matter what I did.
Fortunately, this was not a life or death thing for the patient, and the delay to have it repeated and corrected was not a huge deal. I won’t get written up or anything, I just feel bad about screwing up so badly. Medical field has much higher expectations for perfection than your average career. 
 I have a month to do that performance review so I’m going to wait awhile and do it when this memory isn’t so fresh.  
Everything will be okay.

[Severine]

1 hour ago, Emma said:

Thank you for your kind words Séverine, but I will so remember that rejected image. I remember ALL my rejected images. This is the first in a very very long time, where  it actually was my fault and I should have repeated it before I left. The other rejections were because the patient was uncooperative or combative or had severe muscle contractions and I just couldn’t  get a decent image no matter what I did.
Fortunately, this was not a life or death thing for the patient, and the delay to have it repeated and corrected was not a huge deal. I won’t get written up or anything, I just feel bad about screwing up so badly. Medical field has much higher expectations for perfection than your average career. 
 I have a month to do that performance review so I’m going to wait awhile and do it when this memory isn’t so fresh.  
Everything will be okay.

 

Apologies for misspeaking! I shouldn't have predicted what you would feel/know/remember. And I'm sorry you work in such a high-pressure environment, although of course given how crucial your work is, I understand why you and your colleagues are held to standards most of us couldn't imagine. I still think you're doing an impressive job juggling so many things, and I am glad this won't get you into any professional trouble  ❤️ 

 

Also, thank you for helping take care of people. I have had some extremely stressful imaging appointments (both during my cancer diagnosis/treatment, and in the yearly followups since), and when I have someone who is kind and professional, it makes a huge difference. 

[Emma]

Two more chapters done in pathology. Not too bad this time. Ten to go. Emma, why did you choose pathology if it grosses you out so much? The title of the book is « basic musculoskeletal imaging ». Where does it say anything about pathology? Nowhere, that’s where.  Aaagh! I thought it would be a good review of positioning, was not expecting pathology. 
 Otherwise a lazy day off. Laundry, homework and not much else actually.

[Emma]

What I learned this week.

 I really like it when my house is clean and tidy, and my to do list is short. I feel in control and not living in chaos. It is a good feeling. Is this what I like so much about  staying in hotels?

 Caffeine raises my blood sugar. Especially in the morning. I was wondering why my sugar was spiking so high in the morning even when I ate absolutely no carbs. So I tried an experiment, decaf tea. No spike, even when I did have carbs for breakfast. A couple of days later, regular tea and no carbs and spike. Official studies were inconclusive and contradictory so I went to Reddit. For some people caffeine lowers their blood sugar, for some it raises the sugar, and for some there is no effect. So caffeine and blood sugar is a totally individual response, which is why the studies are contradictory.

 Gym is not going great. Squats and lunges are hurting the incision in my groin still. It’s going to be a few more weeks before it heals completely. My lower back is also hurting and I’m not sure why.

 Homework this week: two more chapters of pathology, treat your own back by robin McKenzie and gym class, minus squats and lunges.