look under your car!

ok. today I don't really have an actual disease. Well, I guess it is one. But I have to put it out there just in case. Because this could really be legit....I'm so serious.

I guess you can say I'm paranoid. Just a little bit, because apparently normal people don't have these kind of thoughts. Anyways, what I am trying to say is that I have this irrational fear of having my achilles' tendon slashed. Yes, you read right.

Why?

Because one day someone told me this story about how people wait under your car for you after you've gone to the grocery store or something so that your hands are full. Then, while you are unlocking your car, they cut your achilles' tendon and take your keys and purse and take your car! And you can't go anywhere because achillles' tendon is cut!

So of course I believed them. And now I can add this to one of my many fears. You should probably start thinking about stuff like this just in case. I mean, it doesn't hurt to be a little prepared, right??

Anyways, today I was back at the hospital. It was a bit slow, unlike last week, but somehow the time still went by fairly quickly. So that is always good!!! Hopefully the rest of the week goes by quickly too since I am going home on Friday for Spring Break.

So I know that wasn't super exciting, but since I'm not constantly studying all the time and my leg hasn't hurt in a while to claim a blood clot, I'm having to rely on mental disorders. Sometimes those are even more interesting, right??

Hopefully something exciting (in a good way) happens and y'all can read about it!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
--Ally

while at lauren's...

So I'm at Lauren's house right now waiting for the Oscars to start and for yummy food to be ready! So while all of that is going on, I am going to update you on the past week of my life.

First things first, I passed HESI!!! Yay!!! That means I'm done with tests and officially graduating in May!! Needless to say, I am super excited!!!!

Secondly, I started my preceptorship!! I work Monday-Thursday 3-11 pm so I am busy!! And to get all my hours in, I am working three 12-hour shifts from 7pm to 7am!! It has been such an adventure! I wish I could go into detail about everything I've been doing and the people who are there. But, I would be breaking HIPAA (confidentiality policy) and going into all these things that would take many many paragraphs to describe. So if you are really interested, I can email you my first week in detail (( :

Ok, so right now I have a bad headache. And when I think headache, I automatically think brain cancer. DUH. I know the odds are pretty small, but it doesn't change my mind about wanting an MRI of my head. I wish I could just get an MRI. Too bad the hospital won't just let you come in for a random scan. Maybe one day I can change the law and make that possible. Who knows?!? I've told people before that I just want to get an MRI of my whole body just so that doctors can find stuff. And if they don't, then I can stop freaking out. Unless symptoms of some disease pop up. Then I would def need another one!!!

Oh and I was about to post this when I saw that you can label your posts....cool!!!

I'm going to end this like I do my end-of-shift reports:
Have a great shift and thanks for listening!
Or in this case, thanks for reading!!!

Ally

i think you're craaaaazy

Right now I am taking what is supposed to be small study break, but I am not really sure how short it will be.

I mean, I've been reading my HESI book pretty much all day. I was at the library before it even opened. That's true dedication. Thankfully, Lauren was there and then Hannah also showed up and we had a good time.

One of the bad things was that we couldn't watch the US hockey team play. That's probably why they lost. However, Lauren's mom was faithfully texting us updates all throughout the game. Maybe next winter Olympics??

Today I've been studying for OB and Peds. Since I am not pregnant, a fetus, or a child, I couldn't really relate to any of the conditions I read about. I mean, I'm sure that if I was pregnant I could definitely find multiple symptoms. Thankfully I don't have to worry about that for a long time. Like forever. Yay!!

So then I remembered what I was reading last night--Mental Health. And it technically counts for today because it was after midnight when I made all the connections. I found out that I fit the criteria for "depersonalization disorder." At least according to me.

Let me tell you about it. Or the little that my book talks about.
--temporary loss of one's reality and ability to feel and express emotions (not so sure about this.....)

--client expresses a fear of "going crazy" (ask Kenneth or Lauren about this....it's pretty much how I've been describing myself lately)

--client describes a sense of "strangeness" in the surrounding environment (ALL the time)

Other than this, it doesn't really say much. I mean, it just talks about having mood swings, anxiety, alcohol or drug use, and other lame stuff like that. Mainly I just relate to the feeling of going crazy. Soo true about my life lately.

Anyways, I hope all this studying pays off tomorrow! Pray for all of the 5th semester nursing students at Alabama. We need to dominate HESI!!

Oh, and my mom got to talk to my grandparents in Chile, and everyone is ok!!!

Thanks everyone!!!!!!

blog???

So today there was an earthquake in Chile, which is where I was born and where all my family is. The earthquake was 8.8 which means it's pretty big. It also lasted around 45 seconds, which is more than enough time to cause huge chaos. Thankfully, we have gotten in touch (mainly through facebook) with my family. We are still waiting to hear from one of my aunts, who lives in Santiago (the capital). This might take a while since electricity and phone lines are all down there. I am so glad to know that I have God to rely on when things like this happen and that it's ok that I can't he be there because He is there. And He definitely can do more than I can!!!

Ok, so that was a great first introductory paragraph for my first blog EVER. Well, that's not exactly true, since I posted something like last week and just never told anyone about it (( :

The main reason I am starting this is to satisfy my friends' requests that I start a blog where I talk about all the diseases I think I have. Being a nursing major has really opened my eyes to all the things that can go wrong in my body and needless to say, I find something different almost daily. And while friends say that I am somewhat hypochondriac (which is the one thing I don't claim to have), they still encourage me by getting me to write this.

Studying for HESI (the exit exam we nursing majors must take and pass to graduate) has elicited countless diseases that are calling my name. Today, while studying with Lauren, one really stood out: Pericarditis.

What is pericarditis??
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Pericarditis
Basically the sac your heart is in becomes inflammed and it's hard for your heart to beat. NOT FUN.

Anyways, my book says that symptoms include:
Sudden severe pain--check
Pericardial friction rub--not sure....I'll get Alicia to check it out
Fever--had one last week.

Plus, the book also says that the causes are MI, trauma, neoplasm, connective tissue disease, heart surgery, IDIOPATHIC (how can I not think I have it when it can just come from nowhere?!?), and infections.

I am pretty sure I had a super bad cold last week. And idiopathic says it all.

Anyways, I am sure that my symptoms will disappear and new ones will call for a new disease waiting to be blogged about.

Oh, and although I guess I should have written this earlier, here's a disclaimer:
I am not taking any of these diseases lightly or making a joke out of them.
Some of these things are really serious and if you really think you have a disease that I mention from now on, go to the doctor! It could be serious!
My disease paranoia is just one of my many flaws. Or entertainment.

Another day full of studying comes tomorrow, so who knows what my body will tell me!!!

Thanks for reading!!!