Medical Myths

As always, a new rotation has a very steep learning curve. After one short week in obstetrics/gynecology I feel like I've already attained enough knowledge that I can share some pearls with everyone:

Myth: Doctors are super-human beings who work incredibly long hours
Reality: I have yet to work more than 6 hours in one day (on this rotation...don't remind me about those 100 hour weeks in Internal Medicine). My doc works 9-12 and 2:30-4 so that he can go biking at lunch time. Actually...he bikes a crazy number of kms....so maybe he is super-human, he just doesn't use all his super powers on work :P

Myth: Women have a cervix.
Reality: The cervix is an old wives tale. It doesn't exist. At least that's what I tell myself so that I don't feel so bad about consistenly not being able to find it. I mean - the vagina is a finite amount of space - its got to be in there somewhere! I can find my own cervix, but I'll be damned if I can find anyone else's. (And don't act all shocked and grossed out...you know that medical students sit at home trying all these exams on themselves to try to figure them out! Except maybe the rectal exam...*shudder*) This is like some cruel professional version of Polkaroo where the doc always sees it and knows where it is, and I am left out of all the fun. And by fun I actually mean - not fun at all. Who chooses a job where everyday they have to stick their fingers...well you know...

Myth: Someone can predict when your baby is going to be born
Truth: Babies run on their own schedules. It is possible that if you stand on one foot, hold a wet finger up into the wind, dangle a coin over your belly as you chant an ancient Mayan birth song and drink the sap of 14 different trees at once through your nose, then the estimated date of birth will come to your neighbour in a dream....but probably not. Just know that at some point that thing is definitely going to come out.

Myth: Women are shy when it comes to talking about sex
Reality: I have heard things in the last week that would make a sailor blush. It's clear to me now that the reason women are afraid their boyfriends are talking about their sex lives - is because the woman are doing it and figure the men must be too! Please, I beg you, your doctor does not need to know details. Key facts is all it takes.

Lots of love
Pamela

p.s. Popular vote is leaning towards BC at this point in the Great Residency Decision of 2006. And for the one person who wrote me saying that they knew where I was going to go but didn't want to spoil the suprise for me....you are officially banned from any further voting :P

Currently Reading: Tuesdays with Morrie and also Why Do Men Have Nipples?
Currently Listening to: Otis Redding...it's my happy place :)