{dandelion}.... a wish to be a better pharmacist

It's been little over a year since I have started my career.... and I have began to contemplate whether this was the right profession for me?  Do I love being a pharmacist? Is it rewarding?

I won't lie, I have had my tough days where I had to put in numerous $5 into this jar....

The concept of the jar was to limit myself from venting about work for more than 5 minutes. Each time I went over 5 minutes, I had to put $5 into the jar.  If I got to a certain amount I had reconsider if I should continue with my job.  Well good thing, I never reached that amount :)  

To answer the questions, I don't regret becoming a pharmacist & it is truly rewarding. I do have to say it's not always easy and it comes with its challenges and frustrations.

Looking back, I got into the professions, because I wanted to help my grandmother out with her numerous amount of medications.  It was overwhelming for my parents & aunt/uncles, because English was a 2nd language, and thus Medical Lingo a 3rd language for them.  My grandmother passed away during my 2nd year of pharmacy school, before I was able to help her with  any of her medications.

Thus, I constantly find myself treating my patient as if they were my family members.  For instances, I will never forget a few patients that have taught me a few important lessons:

1) A retired pharmacist who passed away a year ago taught me {Humility}.  I remember I used to explain to her the drug drug interactions & dosing of her medications.  Later, I read in a palliative care notes, that she was a retired pharmacist.  I asked her why she didn't just tell me, she stated that she didn't mind & that she was helping me learn.  I smiled and thanked her. I still remember the day I read her death note and cried, just to quickly realized that she was no longer in pain.

2) A deaf patient who taught me {Patience}.   My usual 20 minute initial phone consult turned into a 90 minute in person consultation with an American Sign Language Interpreter.   On future office visits, he taught me patience as I attempted to use my medical sign language I learned for him along with writing certain items down.  At the end of one of the conversation, he signed to me "improved" & "thank you", which really made my day, because I knew I had made a difference.

3) A difficult to managed patient taught me {Compassion}.  I attempted to give her instructions over the phone like my other patients, but she never understood the instructions.  Lastly, I resorted to having her bring in a pill box for me to fill.   On her 2nd visit, she brought me these:

Two toy flashlights along with her pillboxes.  She said "Thank You" for helping her with her medications & that she wanted me to have it!   On the way out she gave me a hug and said "I appreciate you for all of your help".  I was kind of shocked and had no idea she was going to hug me, so I stood there like a deer in headlights before I realized to say "Your welcome"  

These are just some of the examples that have touched me during my year of practice.  

 So the title of this blog is Dandelions.  Why? I love dandelions, because I associate them with making a wish & having hope.  

So today, I wish to be a better pharmacist & that my patients get well soon :)

This is a card I made for one of my sick patients with a LIVESTRONG bracelet.

To many more years, memories, and lessons to come :)  

 [Humility] [Patience] & [Compassion] 

Juice Cleansing: Why Not?

WHY the Juice Cleanse ? 

1) the hype, of course: why not try a cleanse that suppose to be detoxify you & make you have better skin
2) feeling bleh & tired after my foodie trip to New York & Chicago ... i think the amount of food i ate was kind of grossed i gained 5lbs and it took me nearly 1 month to lose it all, so to boost my energy 
3) attending a bachelorette party with a possible party & being in a bridesmaid in a wedding i wanted to also look my best, so to lose a little weight 

Which company did I go with and why?  Punch Bowl

1) Cost: simply because it was cheaper than most company appx $60  ($50 with my neighbor discount yayee) for 5 bottle of juices + 1 booster (E3live, Spirulina, Raw Coconut water) + Aloe Vera + Almond Milk + Evening Primrose 
2) Convenience: they open at 730am & I work in a nearby hospital and my shift starts at 9am
3) Customizable: Christiana actually customize the juices to what i wanted to achieve out of the juice cleanse: detox, getting rid of being bloated from toxins, & wanting better skin 
3) Love the staff & juices: it's a normal a go to spot for me a few times a week 

Now to share my journey :)  

Day 1 

- So knowing that I was going to do the juice cleanse, I actually ate a little bit less the day before in anticipation, so that my body wouldn't be in shock when I did the juice cleanse which i would totally recommend doing!

- I picked up these goodies (All served in a glass container) each morning along with a 1 gallon glass jug of alkaline water 
- It's important if you are doing this during the weekday that you have a fridge to store all the cold pressed juices because you don't want it to go bad! 
- The first day for me was the easiest i didn't really feel that hungry.  In fact i didn't finish all the almond milk and only took a taste on #5.   
- Surprisingly with the amount of juices i was drinking i still was thirsty and ended up drinking a little bit more than a gallon of water that day! 
- I am seriously in <3 with their juices! My favorite were the Ardent Greens & Zeus Juice.  The Zeus Juice actually made me smile :D 
- Feeling:  great!  Slightly hungry & i actually missed chewing so i chewed on gum! 

Day 2 

-I woke up feeling great, I actually did have more energy & woke up earlier 
-Throughout the day, I do have to admit this was the hardest day for me, I thought of cheating multiple times, but forced myself not too
-I started getting headaches around 4pm b/c of hunger so I darted to the fridge for the almond milk which helped!  
-This was the day i realized that the juice cleansing was a little harder than I imagine & socially in the states things involved around meals so i had to cancel some dinner plans with my friends
- I had to take a nap after work because i felt a little drained, but after the nap i felt better! 
-Feeling:  HUNGRY with slight headache!  The hardest day of the juice cleanse!
-Weight loss: 2lb

Last day of the Juice Cleanse! 

Day 3  

-I woke up feeling okay, I think my body was starting to get adjusted to not eating 
-Drove to the juice spot & Christiana added some rice powder to the almond milk to provide me with some more protein & combat the hunger
-It was a lot easier I still felt hungry during some parts 
-I still got a headache at around 4pm, which i took a Tylenol (Acetaminophen) promptly which helped a lot & I wish i had done it on Day 2. 
-As I was describing to people why I was doing a juice cleanse I realized that i had  low self-esteem & that I would start working on just learning to love myself, my skin, & weight! 
-Feeling:  HAPPY b/c one more day till REAL food, but with more energy & clearer skin 
-Weight loss: 1lb 


After the Juice Cleanse 
1) I was extremely happy I was able to do it :)  Took some strong will power & avoiding some social events 
2) Clearer Skin & More energy & Flatter stomach & Detoxify  - goal accomplished 
3) Total Weight loss: 3.4lbs, but you do gain some of it back when you start eating 
4) Self-Accomplishment & realization made me a happier person 
5) My stomach did hurt a little bit when I started eating again, so i had to take it easy in adding solid food back into my diet 

Benefits 
-Clearer Skin, More Energy, Detoxify your body of all the thing we eat! 

Cons
-Headache which can be treated with Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 
-Flatulence some ppl may experience this & the aloe vera juice taken at night is meant to be a laxative/colon cleanser

Tips: 
-Plan on taking it easy while on the juice cleanse: no marathon training etc
-Handy Fridge while at work and home  
-Wean yourself of caffeine if your an avid drinker because you may get caffeine  
-Available bathroom because I did have to pee more often! 

Let me know if anyone has any specific questions or comments :)   

[Live] [Jump] [Fall] [Love] [Learn] [LEAP]

Life has ways of surprising you.

My dominoes may not fall perfectly, but I will work hard in putting them ALL back into place :D

Sometimes the thing you think u hate the most, u end up loving

Sometimes life has it's own way of kicking u in the butt,just so that it can see how much u can handle 

Sometimes your gut tells you to give up, but your heart keeps you there

Sometimes the hardest decision in your life, is really the easiest, b/c at least u had choices

Sometimes the right easy choice STARES at you in the face, but you choose the more challenging one 

Life is full of surprises.  We can work to line up those dominoes, but eventually they will fall.  

Yesterday is the past.  Today is the present.  Tomorrow is the future.  

[Live] [Jump] [Fall] 
[Love] [LEAP] [Fall] but keep living and leaping even if it means you fall 1,000 times before you succeed![Live] [Love] [Be Happy]

Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 12 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer a year.  

I recently started my oncology (cancer) rotation, at first i was a little bit scared of the field, but I turned out to love it!

Things I have learned from oncology patients, nurses, physicans, and pharmacists:
1) [To be strong!] Patients undergo all of these chemotherapy (cancer) drugs, and unfortunately also experience the side effects including hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhea, and etc, yet everyday they are still fighting and smiling.

2) [Love] These patients are ordinary people that run marathon, teach middle school students, and laugh at silly jokes etc.  They have husbands/wife, sisters/brothers, (grand)daughters/son.  My patients constantly show me what real love is.   These patient's significant others/loved ones accompany them to EACH chemotherapy cycle.  They CONSTANTLY show me what real love is.  

3) [Compassion] I have seen the most compassionate nurses and doctors in the oncology clinic.   They all try to create this homey and inviting environment.  I have seen nurses give hand massages to patients while administering the drug because her patients stated that the medication makes her hands cold.  

Life is too short to sweat the little stuff.   This is dedicated to all of the cancer patients and their loved ones who keep on fighting and reminds me to live life to the fullest.    

[Hope] [Love] and [Be Strong]

Leap of Faith

 Photo & Recipe: http://funfamilycrafts.com/leap-year-frog-cookies/

  Today is leap day, so ....

An extra day this year to live life to the fullest 

An extra 24 hours to reflect and learn from the past 

An extra 1440 minutes to tell family & friends how much they mean to you

An extra 86400 seconds to learn to forgive and forget 

An extra 5184000 nanoseconds to take that leap of faith & do something outside of your comfort zone

The past "leaping" year

1. Transitioning from a student to a pharmacist, every action now comes with responsibilities.

2. Learning that life is full of surprises. Things that you thought once were impossible become POSSIBLE. 

3. Meeting & becoming great friends with someone unexpectedly.

4. Believing that no matter how far your friends are they are only a phone call & a plane ride away.

5. Laughing away the year by dressing up and having fun. 

6. Living to eat but learning that sometimes the BEST macaroon is not the store bought one but the one that you and your girlfriend stayed up to painfully make :) 

7. Working and sometimes playing with the boundaries by having a little fun at work! 

So why the title "leap year"? I was born on leap day 

Since Life has a way of creeping up on us, let's take a "leap of faith". This blog is my leap of faith today - I never thought i could ever start a blog :D

Enjoy your Leap Day, February 29. In this Leap Year, I challenge you take a "leap of faith" in life Leave a comment with your leap of faith you'll take either today, tomorrow, or sometimes in the future :D