Hello all!
Another week of the senior project is over...
Time is flying by! It's already week 7!!!
Anyway, enough of me ranting about how our time
is short. Allow me to try to make the most of it :)
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| My boy Gary Vee... follow him for some good motivation |
I had another week of working basically. I got
started on freshening up the data, specifically the average pre-operation IOP.
When I originally took the data, I did not standardize the pressures I took.
Some patients had data all the way out to ten years before, and some had next
to nothing. Me being silly old me, I just took what I could. Dr. McKee roasted
me and said that that must have been “a lot of work.” He recommended using
either six months prior or a year prior as a time frame, so I picked six
months. It gets a little tricky sometimes when people’s surgeries are in
different months, so the time frame shifts along with it. That took some
getting used to. But I am about halfway done with that, and I will start
getting the rest of the data after that. We are currently in the original
six-month period of February through June, so I will get the rest of the 24
month follow up as time goes on (and I know what you are thinking… yes even
past the senior project deadlines).
The most recent breakthrough in my job is that I
am now doing visual fields, which test a patient’s peripheral vision. They put
their chin in a big grey machine with a white spherical interior. Lights flash
at them while they stare at a yellow dot in the center, and they click a button
each time they see a light. A doctor can then look at the results and decipher
if the optic nerve is being damaged, i.e. our old friend glaucoma.
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| Me |
What I really have come to enjoy is spending
time with the other technicians. When we get some downtime, there is a corner
or a break room that all the techs can stand or sit and relax. Of course, I am
horribly outnumbered by women (only three men besides the doctors work in the
entire building). Somehow, though, I manage to survive. They say I am sassy,
and I am proud of that title. They seem to find me fairly entertaining too,
whether it’s my ridiculous fake dunks of charts onto tables or my absurdly
large Hydro Flask. But everyone overall is really sweet and nice and we have a
lot of fun. We all also love taking care of our patients, so the office has a
great vibe to it :)
That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading,
and see you next week!
Hi Brent!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you're making good progress on your data analysis! I don't have any pressing questions right now but I look forward to seeing how the rest of your research progresses!
Thanks for reading!
DeleteHey Brent! Loved the dunking gif! Your post seems really interesting and its great that you're able to progress on your research. With the time frame, why did you choose six months over one year?? Again great post! Can't wait to see where your data takes you!
ReplyDeleteI chose six months because I thought it would be a better representation of the heightened pressure.
DeleteHi Brent! Your research seems to be going pretty well. Has everything gone as you expected it would? Can't wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteI honestly did not have any expectations besides that the stent would work. So I guess all my expectations were realized.
DeleteHey Brent! It looks like you are putting in the work in all aspects: school, basketball, and work. Your posts are always interesting and engaging to read, because of the constant updates and humor that goes along with the serious research that is potentially life changing. And also what exactly is the average pre-occupation?
ReplyDeletePre-operation IOP is the pressure before surgery.
DeleteHello Brent! It's great to see that you're still getting work done as per usual. Is there a specific test group of results that the doctors look at and compare to see how the current patient's optic nerve is being damaged? I'm also loving the gifs; they almost always fit perfectly with what's happening and I find it hilarious. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThe OCT scans the nerve so that the doctors can look at it, if that's what you mean.
DeleteHi Brent! Your research has come a long way and seems to be going pretty well. As always, your posts are interesting to read, and I especially enjoy the gifs. I'm looking forward to next week's post and good luck with your future research. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
DeleteHi Brent! It seems like you had a good week. I don't actually have any questions for you right now but I wish you luck in freshening up all that data!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
DeleteHi Brent! Your blog has been very interesting, I especially like cumulative research you are doing. Is damage to the optic nerve progressive or a one time thing? I will be waiting for next week!
ReplyDeleteIt happens over the course of a patient's life, but usually the most damage starts occurring later in life.
DeleteHi! Seems like Dr. McKee is a cool person. Testing people's peripherals sounds really fun actually. Hope you are enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
Deletehello! thanks for the funny gifs! why did you chose six months over a year and how would it affect your data? also, how else does testing the visual fields help you expand further in your service project? thanks!
ReplyDeleteI chose six months because I thought it would be a better representation of the heightened pressure. Visual fields are the actual test to see if a patient is losing peripheral vision from glaucoma.
DeleteHey Brent!!! Your research has come a long way and I ant wait to see where this leads you next week!!! Cant wait!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
DeleteThis is awesome!! I can't wait to read about next week's blog post!!
ReplyDeleteHey! Love the awesome gifs! Would it have affected your results if you had chosen the one year prior time period rather than 6 months timeframe? Can't wait for your next blog!
ReplyDeleteIt could have slightly, but some patients don't even have IOP readings from a year before. So it could make a difference for those patients, but overall I doubt it.
Delete