#medical hacks

[shestudiesmedicine]

Good morning, StudyBlr community!

Some of you have been asking about time management and my study schedule. I have made an infographic with my latest study time. I will explain a bit down here. This schedule is for when I have no classes or any pending university activity. 📖🧠🪄📆⏰

7:00-8:00 Exercise or just going for a walk for natural light exposure. Then have a healthy breakfast (fruits, protein and at least for me COFFEE or matcha)

8:00-13:30 Pomodoro I of 50:10. I use time blocking and the pomodoro technique. The first one allows me to set an intention and goals per block of time. The pomodoro I use is 50 minutes of focused work and 10 minutes of relax (getting up, stretching or just talking to a friend for that amount of time)

13:30 Lunch and sometimes a power nap max. of 20 minutes.

15:00-19:00 Pomodoro II of 50:10.

19:00-21:00 Leisure time with my partner and family. Talk about our days and have dinner.

21:00-22:00 Revise some flashcards before bedtime and also I check at least one of the lectures coming up.

I never stay up late studying unless I am overwhelmed and stressed. I take my sleep hygiene super serious and I sleep 7-8 hours.

How about you? How do you plan your long study days?

Sending you a warm hug. Stay blessed and efficient! I believe in you, I believe we can thrive!

Iveth🌻

[rosesandthorns44]

Why did nobody ever tell me that one can rip the godforsaken push-and-turn cap off of pill bottles, and there is a perfectly functional, easy to open cap underneath???

What sorcery is this?!?!

Who knew about this and didn't tell the rest of us???

[enjolraspermettendo]

I see often videos of owners having to force pills down their pets throat, and as a former owner of a dog who had to take ~5 pills every day I understand the struggle. Sometimes pills are flavoured and don't pose an issue, for example my late dog's heart pills were flavoured and she loved them, but not many are and pets can be unbelievably stubborn and inventive when it comes to avoiding taking meds (there was a particular pill, for example, that my dog would pretend to eat and then spit out behind a pot)

However if you have an elderly dog or a very sick one, or simply you are nor comfortable doing it, forcing the pill down their throat isn't really a good option. For this reason me and my mum came up with a method through trial and error, our vet approved and started using it for his more delicate patients. If you are thinking of using this method maybe ask your vet if it could affect in any way how the medication works.

So basically, what you want to do is smash the pill into a powder. You can either do it with another blunt object (for a while we used a paperweight) or a pill crusher (our vet gifted us one after we told him of the method). They look like this if you don't know them and they're a life changer.

After that you are going to add a little bit of water, just enough to make it into a paste. Put the paste inside of a syringe without the needle.

What you want to do is basically put the syringe's end in your pet's mouth, preferably between their teeth if you can. Then you slowly inject the medication in their mouth, bit by bit. Basically, being an almost liquid paste they will automatically lick it, even if trying to spit it out, and being not solid they won't be able to spit it out.

And finally, the most important step: pet your animal, kiss their little forehead and tell them how much you love them.

[thatsbelievable]

[linastudyblrsblog]

Four weeks already in the operating room with anaesthesiology department 👩‍⚕️

a literary discovered a new word even tho it’s not my first time in the OR , what makes the difference is being there from the beginning to the end of anaesthesia and making sure the patient is stable throughout the procedure

[consolecadet]

Disappointing, but utterly unsurprising that DRM is an issue for CPAP users. . .but very cool that a developer is doing something about it

[macgyvermedical]

Probably Bad Advice, But Good to Know if You Use Needles:

Are you someone who self-injects a medication that doesn't come in a pre-loaded syringe? A trans guy on T perhaps? Someone who uses insulin?

Let me ask you a question you probably haven't been asked before: Do you like your needle?

I have been on testoterone for 9 years now. I have used almost all the needles. I'm also a nurse, so not only have I used them on myself, but I've used them on other people. I teach a class of people how to use them at least once per month.

I have preferences.

So I want to arm you with information about the types of needles available to you and how to get them if you want something different than you currently have.

Aspects of the Needle:

Gauge: Gauge is the "thickness" of the needle. Larger numbers mean a smaller size needle. For example, a 14-gauge is horrifyingly large, while 36 is so teeny you can barely see it.

You may think you always want the smallest needle, but what you really want is the smallest needle your medication can easily pass through. I once injected penicillin G into someone with a 25 gauge and it took over a minute. Horrible experience, 0/10. Insulin is really thin, though, and can go through a 30 or 32-gauge pretty easily.

The smallest size for testosterone or other hormones packed in cottonseed oil I'd recommend would be a 25-gauge. I have had pharmacists argue with me that I couldn't possibly inject testosterone through this small of a needle. But I have never had a problem with it.

Length: The ideal length depends on where you want the medication to end up. Generally, people who self-inject are trying to get medication into either fat (subcutaneous) or muscle (intramuscular). If you're injecting into fat you typically want a shorter needle (1/2-5/8th inch).

If you're injecting into muscle, take into account how much fat you have on the part of your body you're injecting into. You need a needle that can get through that fat and also get into the middle of the muscle. Someone of average body composition needs at least a 1-inch needle to get through their fat and into their muscle. Someone with little fat might only need a 5/8th inch. Someone with a lot of fat might need up to 3 inches of needle to get to their muscle. You probably want the shortest one that will do the job.

Syringe: The syringe is the actual plastic barrel and plunger setup that attaches to the needle. A lot of times these come apart from the needle by twisting- this is usually either a proprietary twist or a more universal connection called a luer-lok. The size of the syringe is based on the volume of medication you're injecting. Most doses that are a half-milliliter or more can get away with a standard 3-mL syringe. These are super easy to find.

If you're injecting less than half a milliliter, I'd ask for a u-100 insulin syringe. They break the milliliter down into 100ths, which lets you dose with extreme precision. If you take 0.45mls, it's a LOT easier to dose this in a u-100 insulin syringe than it is a 3-mL syringe.

Safety features: I am all for safety features if I'm using needles on someone else. Safety features include plastic pieces that cover the needles, or springs that pull the needle into the syringe after the plunger has been completely depressed. They let you get the needle from the patient to the sharps bin safely without accidentally stabbing anyone.

But if you're self-injecting and like to re-use your needles (which is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you do not share), they can be a pain in the butt. A lot of time, unless you specifically only use your needles one time, you're going to want ones without the safety. You just have to remember to keep your needles in a place where no one else will come into contact with them, preferably stored in isopropyl alcohol and air dried thoroughly before use. If you use them more than about 4 times they will get dull and painful, jsyk. And you need to pay special attention to cleaning your skin and the vial top carefully with isopropyl before use- scrub for 15 seconds, then let dry for 30 before running the needle through either skin or the rubber stopper. If you don't take these precautions you run the risk of getting an abscess at your injection site.

If you have the kind of safety that flips up over the needle, you can easily remove this prior to injecting just by moving it back and forth perpendicular to the syringe. It should snap off but still allow the needle cover to be replaced (which you'll want if you store your needles because it keeps them clean and sharp). The ones that suck in the needle basically you just need to get a different one. These suck in more ways than one.

Asking for Needles:

Let's say after reading this that you want to try a new needle. I will tell you right now that your doctor clicks the first needle on the drop down list unless you specify. I swear it is not weird to be like "hey, I know you wrote for a 20-gauge last time but that's a huge needle and I'd like to try a 25 instead." They probably don't know they wrote for a 20-gauge. They probably don't know what a 20-gauge looks like. You can also say something to the effect of "the safety features keep tripping when I'm drawing up my medication, and then I can't use it. Can you order a luer-lok syringe/needle combo instead?"

Eventually, you'll find the ideal combo for you. Mine is a 25-gauge, 1-inch insulin syringe with a luer-lok coupling that I use to inject 0.45mL of testosterone. I use a 20-gauge to draw up the testosterone and can easily switch the 25-gauge onto it before injecting.

According to my doctor, these do not exist, so I generally have her prescribe whatever she feels is right but then buy my needles directly from the pharmacy. Some pharmacies need a specific prescription for the needle you want, while others are fine with selling you the needles you want as long as you have a prescription for any needles, and some will sell them to you over the counter without a prescription of any kind. Shop around for the pharmacy willing to sell you a needle. At my pharmacy they're like $0.30/each but I only use one per month-ish.

[youareinlove]

i just wanna be diagnosed :/

[astriiformes]

Sending love. Hope you’re okay.

Oh! If this is because of the MRI I mentioned, fear not -- it was a totally precautionary procedure, and I already got the results and they're in the clear. It's actually another box checked on my journey to top surgery next month (!!). I'm genetically high-cancer risk and have been talking to my surgeons about an approach that will be both gender-affirming and minimize my risk of problems later on.

That said, I will take this chance to say to my followers!! If you, too, are someone with a scary family history of breast cancer and are contemplating top surgery, there are options open to you! I knew it was a real risk for me and was able to get genetic testing covered by my insurance before talking to my surgeons, and my top surgeon then talked with me about the various options I had at my initial consult. I'm specifically opting for a procedure that's a little more intense than a standard gender-affirming surgery but not quite a full double masectomy, and it will be done jointly by two surgeons, one who specializes in gender-affirming procedures and one who usually works with cancer patients and/or patients looking to have preventative surgeries.

Anyways not to throw my medical history at the internet, I just feel really strongly about this, in part because I've had multiple people I've talked to about my own top surgery process tell me they had similar worries and didn't know there were options for people looking to combine gender affirmation with preventative care. I want to watch out for my fellow trans and gender non-conforming folks, especially considering how much the healthcare system can suck for us, and there really are health professionals who take this sort of thing into account with their patients!

[minervadashwood]

anthony dinozzo 1000% has adhd, and i love him for it.

(also baby mcgee has asd)

[shestudiesmedicine]

Good morning, my studyblr buddies.

These past few days I have made a study space make over. I bought a tiny desk to put my computer on and to have more space for pens, post-it notes and so on.

I have my finals starting next week and, hopefully, I will be finished by June or July.

I will try to keep you posted about what has been working for my memory and to pass my exams.

Tips of the day 🪄🧠✨

Put your phone in another room with a time study tracking app. This will help you to not feel the urgent need to check it. Turn off all notifications and set a focus mode where you only receive important calls from loved ones.

Read the headings of every chapter before getting into it. This will allow you to have an overview of what it will be about.

Use books as a reliable source of information, not just internet. I am a ferocious defender of books. They go through a tough process of peer reviewing and you will have contrasted and accurate information.

If you still have doubts or do not understand something, find other sources like Amboss (for Medicine) or any youtube video of the topic. If that does not help, ask your tutor.

Be organized with your notes, stationary material and just have in your desk what you will be using during your study session.

Stay hydrated with water, teas and limit your coffee consumption for when it is necessary.

Trade spaces when you feel overwhelmed. Go to a tea shop or anywhere you feel like focusing more or changing the ambient.

Stay positive and believe in yourself, even when no one else does. Your opinion is the only one that counts because you are the only one who knows how hard it is. Celebrate small steps and victories!

Have a blessed and productive weekend! And remember to rest and have breaks 🏋🏽‍♀️🫂❤️🎊🧘🏽‍♀️

Iveth🌻

[hasarjunadoneanythingwrong]

> this is why I’m Españophobic

*hides Spanish descent on birth certificate* oh er me too!

If it makes you feel better I actually have 0 room to talk (white, mom is bri’ish dad is usa AND military) I’m mostly just being hyperbolic for an attempted humorous effect

And also bc I occasionally see these posts on reddit where (presumably spanish?) people complain about there being no/only one (don quixotic now) spanish servants like they’re the most oppressed country in the world when the continent of Africa exists and basically no country there has any canon heroic spirit so they annoy me sometimes.

[mspbandj]

Diabetes and ADHD looking for help!

Does anyone have an effective way of keeping track of injections? I have a friend with ADHD and diabetes and he often struggles to remember if hes injected or not - does anyone have any tips or tricks, like a way of marking or tallying thats ADHD friendly? Any alterations or additions to the pen itself? I was thinking a little tag or something but I dont have diabetes so I dont know what may work. Thanks in advance?

[ryanxross]

i dont use this word lightly but my roommate is the biggest narcissist ive ever fucking met and that is fucking saying something

[desertwaterwitch]

I did it! I got a shoe thing to hang next to my bed like this post suggested for spoonies!

It came with two. I got smaller ones because I can’t fit a longer one there and I don’t need a ton, anyway. Also they’re on Amazon.

I’ll go from top to bottom:

1. Hygiene (not a huge deal if I can’t always get to it)

2. Medicines for colds and all that crap that I get all the time. My immune system hates me.

3. Other things like thermometer, ibuprofen, cough drops. I need ibuprofen quite a lot for my lovely conditions.

4. Bottom left is all for nausea. I have nausea patches, Dramamine, a nose thing that doesn’t really work well, and one of my medications I use for extreme nausea when I can feel a flare up coming for one of my conditions. I am always trying to feel around for it and now it’s there. I often knock it over.

5. Fruit snacks. And other food will go there. It’s for when I need food for several conditions. I’m not going into it, but yeah.

My daily meds are in their container on my table still. And my water bottles are next to my bed on the floor. I may add something else but I don’t know if I want to have that there or not. 🧐

PS: it’s crooked but I used too many spoons to care lol

I also keep ice packs in my mini fridge next to my bed.

[spotsupstuff]

Does Ko scare Boreas?

pft, nah. the scariest thing about Ko is the state of his "body" and maybe when he gets those emotional outbursts and starts screeching out about his pain. none of that is scary one bit to Boreas, he's seen AND caused his fair share of brutal deaths of Ancients and the other thing is annoying at best to him

he's mainly angry that he has to deal with an Ancient attached to one of the more important Eo Iterator's hip even though all of them are supposed to dead