Lifestyle

May 31, 2019

May Q+A

I LOVE interacting with you guys. Seriously. When you fill my DMs with questions and comments, it fills my heart so much! The problem… I have trouble keeping them organized and getting to all of the questions.

So… I’m going to do a monthly Q+A on my blog! This can be a place where you come when you’re curious, and each month I’ll remind you to submit your questions for the next month. Ask ANYTHING.

Here. We. Go.

When did you guys move to California?

Chris was born in San Bernardino, so he is a California boy (lucky me). I moved to California when I started residency in 2013. Holy crap it feels like yesterday. California has it’s negatives, but I’ve been blessed to live in and experience some amazing cities. I moved to Long Beach initially, then Laguna Beach for two years, Dana Point for one year, and found my true love in Newport Beach, where Chris and I live now.

Favorite store to shop:

Tough question! Nordstrom is by far my most frequented location because they have such a huge, affordable selection. But truthfully… I love to find cute pieces at random boutiques. Some of my favorites in the area are Vici, OPT, and Planet Blue. I’m a huge fan of Anthropologie too!

Who watches EMS while you guys travel or if you are both at work?

Now that I’m no longer a resident, and Chris doesn’t have to be at work for two days at a time, we can manage her being in her kennel for up to 10 hours on some days. One of us is home by that time and because of my schedule flexibility, she has a lot of time outside of the kennel. When we travel, she has a favorite auntie who watches her and takes her everywhere. I wrote all about having a french bulldog here.

How is practicing EM in California?

I think this answer will always depend on where in California you practice. I work at a community hospital that has been around in the community for a long time. I love the people I work with, but the patient population in our city can be very challenging. Most people think of gunshot wounds and people lacking medical care as challenging. Well challenging to me, is serving an affluent population made up of educated, well doctored (and living into their 100’s), sometimes entitled and demanding people. It was tough to break into the medical field in California, it’s very competitive. I am SO thankful to be here, but it does have it’s challenges.

How many shifts do EM doctors get per week and how long do they last?

This depends on the needs of your group, and how many shifts you want to work. I choose to do 12-14 a month for many reasons. One being, I have been working a lot of night shifts these past 3 years so the transition is hard and I need more days off. Second being I REALLY enjoy time off and more time at work to make money will not make me any happier than I am with a few more days off a month. Our shifts are 8 hours of seeing patients but typically we are there 10 hours. In residency we did 12 hour shifts… I can’t even imagine a day like that anymore!

I’m a student doctor marrying a police officer soon. What is the most challenging thing as a doctor’s wife?

Yikes! I FEEL YOU. Police officer + doctor = chaos. In a good way if you’re soulmates, of course. Thank you both for what you do. I think it depends on what area of medicine you go into, as to what the biggest challenge will be. You can read Chris’ blog post about being married to medicine here.

What is your everyday makeup routine and what products do you use?

I keep my makeup routine as basic as possible. I hate spending time in front of the mirror doing my makeup, probably because my hair always gives me a run for my money so I spend my time doing that. I use concealer, bronzer, eyebrow powder, and mascara religiously. That’s about all I use for my everyday look. Some of my daily products linked here.

What kind of car do you have?

I drive a Lexus RC 200T. It’s rad. The most fun car I have ever had, and basically a gift to myself when I finished training.

Any tips on USMLE, residency programs for IMGs?

I am not super well versed in resources for International Medicine Grads. I don’t know anyone personally that has gone through this process. I will say that any residency program is going to want dedication and a reason for why you want to be there. I used some of these tactics when applying to competitive California residencies. Be persistent but not annoying. It’s hard. Get to know someone at the program, shadow there, talk to them, ask questions, show interest, show your value and commitment.

What is your favorite part of EM life?

Emergency Medicine allows you to have the best of ALL worlds. I meet great people, terrible people, sick people, healthy people, young and old, happy and sad, challenging and easy. It has made me this person who can handle anything. I take everything with a grain of salt. Most things don’t scare me and I may make others’ problems seem like they’re not problems… because they likely aren’t! It truly puts life (and free time) into perspective. I am SO grateful for that. Oh, and the schedule is flexible! Not perfect, but flexible.

How did you and Chris meet?

Chris and I met in the hallway of the Emergency Department where I trained in residency, on my very last day of residency. He brought one of his medics in for a potential needle stick and I was the doctor to see him. Long story short, he Facebook friended me 5 minutes after they left. I accepted, and the rest was history! We got engaged in that same hallway.

What is going to be your next car or automobile?

I have no idea! I keep feeling like I need to get a bigger vehicle in case we have children, but I am SO drawn to tiny little sports cars with two doors. We shall see!

Does Chris need to stay in the firehouse for periods of time?

He used to have a 2 days on, 4 days off schedule up until he became a Division Chief. Now he works Monday-Thursday (but brings work home regularly). It’s a trade off!

What’s your hair routine? What shampoo/conditioner do you use? Favorite products?

My hair routine is ALL over the place. Basically have no routines because of my schedule. I have a lot of hair so I push the limits on how often I wash it. Legit… I’ve gone a week before. If I work out, I try to salvage it but sometimes can’t. I use Olaplex shampoo and conditioner– it’s rich and hydrating, but a little pricey. I used Infusium for years and was happy. Currently I use all things Oribe- the dry shampoo, texturizing spray, volume spray, anti-humidity spray… you name it, I use it! I will be doing a more in depth hair post SOON!

Any advice for keeping long term relationships alive and happy in medical school?

Make time for them! Cliche answer, but it’s true. When you have free time, be all in. Don’t cut into that time by being on devices, or worrying about studying/working. Make sure that your partner knows they are still a priority.

What are your individual hobbies?

Chris has tons of hobbies! He’s a helicopter pilot, a scuba diver, runner, and loves to write. I am pretty simple. I love to have a fitness routine, travel, read for leisure, and social media of course.

Any advice for a third year medical student starting rotations in July who is interested in EM?

Network, network, network! Get to know people early on and be on time. Be eager, show interest, be helpful but not too persistent or annoying. I think if you are truly passionate about something, it will show. Target who you’d like to receive letters of recommendation from, early on. It’s really important to have a genuine connection with these people, in my opinion, because they will help you stand out in the application process. Bottom line, don’t be afraid to get in there and get dirty!

How do you find time to keep studying in medicine and be up to date?

Most of my learning and reading happens at work, or after work. It’s kind a learn-as-you-go career. I do reading at home when I have time, but it’s not like you have to sit down and study anymore. Most of your knowledge is always there, you just have to brush up on the research, which happens at department meetings, and as you see patients and learn from consultants, etc.

Do you work with DOs (doctor of osteopathy)?

I do! I feel like once you get past residency, MD vs DO doesn’t matter as much. I work at a very coveted location in Orange County, and there are multiple DOs practicing there.

How is the house hunt coming along?

The house hunt is slowly happening, but kind of at a stall right now. We are traveling to Europe in 2 months so we are taking a little break and refocusing our plan.

What can a nurse practitioner do and not do, in the ED?

Nurse practitioners function like Physician assistants. They typically see the lower acuity patients and do many of the procedures like laceration repair, abscess drainage, etc. In our Emergency Department however, they may see higher acuity patients because we operate mostly as a single coverage MD provider facility. If we are in a procedure or with a very sick patient, they help cover the entire floor during that time.

What’s on your bucket list?

Traveling to Bora Bora and writing a book.

Favorite part of your wedding?

All of it!! Honestly it was just the most magical day ever. From start to finish. Of course, saying our vows overlooking the ocean was pretty epic! But just being with Chris and enjoying both of our families and friends coming together for us, was amazing.

How do you find things to talk about after being together for a while?

Our jobs don’t make that very challenging! Really, I never have nothing to talk about. I think for those whose jobs are maybe less crazy, just making sure you have your own hobbies and goals can help with conversation with your partner.

If you weren’t a doctor, what other career would you have picked?

Most definitely an interior designer. I have zero training in this field but I would LOVE to learn. I would love to be the designer behind the catalogue photo shoots for West Elm or something like that.

What do you think about the abortion ban?

I have a lot of opinions on this topic… but I don’t know that using my platform to talk about them, is appropriate. I know the thing to do as a blogger is “use the platform”. But I asked myself “what would come from me taking a stance and announcing it to my community?” and overall my answer was- a flood of messages and opinions and judgments, probably. I’m all for this occasionally, but this topic is just too much to be talking about on stories I’d rather have a live discussion about it so people could go back and forth. Instagram just isn’t the platform for this, in my opinion.

What is your favorite mascara/do you use any lash enhancing product?

I have used Bobbi Brown, Smokey Eye for years! I used Latisse before our wedding and it worked super well, but on a regular basis I don’t use lash-enhancing products. My mom has long lashes and thankfully passed them onto me!

What made you want to become a doctor?

I LOVE science. I always wanted to know more about injuries and trauma. I would watch Rescue 911 (#OLD) on tv and be upset because I wanted to see the injuries in more detail, I wanted to ask questions and be there real time. I love the detective work in medicine and I LOVE meeting different people and hopefully making an impact in their lives.

How did your husband go about becoming a firefighter?

He started as an Explorer (basically shadowing), very young. He made connections that way, and worked for an ambulance company. He completed his academy as soon as he could, and climbed the ranks from there! He’s a huge leader in the field and loves teaching, so if you have specific questions, feel free to email me!

Where did you go to medical school?

The Ohio State University, Go Bucks!

What advice do you have in becoming successful and reaching life goals?

It’s not going to be easy. You can’t expect things to happen overnight. You have to keep your head down, and avoid letting the negativity creep in. Keep supportive and positive people around you, and use them.

What was your first “I made it” purchase after receiving your MD?

A black Chanel tote bag. I never owned a designer purse of this caliber and had always dreamed of owning a Chanel. It was such a cool experience complete with champagne and laughs; I will never forget it.

Favorite music?

I like a variety of music! Anything from EDM to pop to jazz to country on a hot summer day. Most commonly you can find my car Sirius radio station set to CHILL.

How many kids do you want? Baby names?

Eek! Babies! We want two kids, but we should probably get started on that soon unless we want two toddlers at once! That’s a NO for me. We want to name our children with names that start with ‘C’, so we can all have ‘C’ names. Someday we will have a boat called Majestic C’s (like seas, get it?)!

What is your favorite place you have visited together?

Maui! The Four Seasons in Maui was by far the most luxurious and beautiful place we had ever been. You can find details on our honeymoon HERE.

What are your favorite types of ED patients to see?

I LOVE a good joint reduction. I think I was an orthopedist in another life. Shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle… bring it on! It’s so satisfying and the patient feels better after you do it. I actually love the fact that it’s not about strength, but more about technicality and positioning, which is a challenge sometimes. Overall I prefer the Emergency medicine complaints that you can fix or help in some way. It leads to better patient satisfaction which is satisfying for me.

Despise: Neuro complaints! Tingling here, numbness there, all over numbness, dizziness, “I don’t feel right”… my worst nightmare!!

Have you ever thought about teaching medicine?

I actually work part time at the academic facility (UC Irvine) in Orange County, where we have residents. I love teaching them things about community medicine, but overall I prefer seeing my own patients and having full control (control freak here). As far as teaching medicine in a classroom, I’m not really into that. I do enjoy educating my patients and community on Instagram! A different way of teaching, I suppose.

Thanks for sending in all of your questions friends! I REALLY enjoy hearing from you and I hope that you’ll continue to send over your wants/needs/questions so that we can grow in this amazing community together.

Stay tuned for June Q+A!

Health

March 18, 2019

I’ll take one juice with a side of bacteria to go, please

Life on the go is never easy. You have to find the right routine that’ll keep you on time, find the right foods and drinks to keep you going, and the right attitude, of course.

I’m not really sure why I am always rushing off somewhere or another. I guess if you combine both Chris and I’s schedules, it makes perfect sense. But I still find myself scratching my head sometimes thinking, “is there an easier way?”. At this point I’ve learned to accept the madness that is our lives, with ever changing work schedules and sleep patterns.

It’s funny, even on our days off I feel like we are running around. That leads to breakfast or lunch on-the-go. We typically stick to protein bars, coffee, or a juice; something that has the appropriate nutrients to keep us going but that won’t weigh us down or make us tired. And if I can get Chris to actually ask for/want vegetables (even in juice form), that makes me a HAPPY GIRL. All photos of him in this blog post were not posed, simply a happy wife taking real time photos of his healthy choice for the day!

I don’t do juice cleanses, but I really enjoy implementing them into my daily diet because it’s an easy way to get fruit and veggies in. I will say however, I am VERY picky about which brands I purchase.

I had tried Evolution Fresh juices in the past, because we frequently stop at Starbucks and they are sold there. The accessibility of this brand is key, for me. This brand is 100% organic, gluten-free, and kosher plus the juices are cold-pressed using high pressure processing to ensure they are flavorful and safe to drink. Personally, I like to drink greens because I lack these in my diet (just being honest). Greens & Ginger and Green Devotion are my faves although the fruitier ones like their watermelon juice are great to add to lunch on a hot summer’s day.

They also came out with a Kombucha line recently, and the flavors are on point.

Let me back up for a second. I have been drinking Kombucha for years. In my mind, it has always been a healthier way to experience a flavorful beverage without the sugar or calories. If you look around in grocery stores today, you’ll see it everywhere. It seems like a “fad”, but it really is nothing new. Kombucha has actually been around for THOUSANDS of years.

So what is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a sweetened green or black tea that is fermented using symbiotic bacteria and yeast (now we’re talking my science language, it basically means they’re friends and live together while benefiting each other). The living bacteria are said to be probiotic, which is why it gets buzz for being a “health product”. The name is reportedly derived from the Korean physician who brought fermented tea to Japan, Dr. Kombu.

What is your favorite flavor of Evolution Fresh Kombucha?

This one is tough, because Evolution Fresh offers so many great flavors. Again I would have to go with a greens base being my favorite because I know I want the extra veggies in my diet. The Spicy Greens blend has a little kick, and I’m a huge fan of spice in my diet! They also have a Ginger Lemon Honeycrisp and Pink Grapefruit blend, which are super refreshing, and would be my choice of a lunch time beverage or if I’m en route to an afternoon event.

Is Kombucha good for you?

There are phytochemicals and nutrients in the beverage that have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Kombucha is also rich in certain vitamins. Animal studies that have been done, show it could be beneficial for liver and kidney health, and may help to reduce complications of various diseases. Studies in humans have not been conclusive. Just like any other beverage or food out there, you should be checking the label! Don’t forget to check the serving size. Many drinks have 2 servings in each bottle. Evolution Fresh Kombucha has less than or equal to 5g sugar per serving and this is a huge plus for me. I tend to drink one serving (half a bottle) at a time, especially if Chris and I are sharing.

Why I drink kombucha.

I used to drink sugary juice and soda, even diet soda, but once I realized what I was consuming, I had to stop. My palate however, still wants something other than coffee or water (boring), on a regular basis. This is my way of adding a little flavor to my life, with potential health benefits included.

Is Kombucha alcoholic?

Technically, yes. But it contains so little alcohol, that you won’t feel any “buzz”. Retailers require that non-alcoholic beverages on the shelves have <0.5% alcohol.A light beer contains 2-3%, for comparison. In the past, there were some issues with certain brands having more than this allotted amount, due to improper completion of the second fermentation process, and kombucha was withdrawn from many grocery stores. Now, the process of brewing has become much more streamlined and regulatory.

Is Kombucha dangerous?

I wouldn’t recommend brewing your own Kombucha, as the process needs to be perfect and sterile. But the brands sold in stores are not dangerous. There are reports out there of lactic acidosis secondary to ingesting too much Kombucha, but in my opinion as a physician, you would have to consume VERY LARGE amounts in order to even make this a potential outcome. Stick to my usual mantra- balance and moderation, and you’ll be just fine.

I may have given up soda, but my beverage game is still strong. You can still get the nutrients you need, with an on-the-go lifestyle, while enjoying what you’re drinking. There’s just something about that unique, funky beverage that satisfies my palate, with a side of bacteria for later.

Have you tried Evolution Fresh? You can find them here.

Blog post sponsored by Evolution Fresh.

Fitness

February 25, 2018

What everybody ought to know about my fitness routine

A day in the life of Dr. Majestic, doesn’t always include a traditional workout.

Being an Emergency Medicine physician comes with frequent schedule changes and trouble sleeping, much of the time. I have learned to be creative, when it comes to my workouts.

In residency, I avoided working out completely, because I was so tired. Much of my calorie burning came from running around the hospital. I would try my best to get to the gym on my days off, but they were few and far between. Plus, I preferred to spend my days off sleeping, or doing something social!

I actually stayed pretty skinny. I didn’t gain any weight in residency despite my lack of regular fitness routine. Even though I was eating hospital food, and late night snacks on my 12-hour night shifts. I considered myself lucky. But what was happening underneath it all, was definitely not a healthy lifestyle.

Fast forward 3 years… no more residency excuses!

Just Do Something

I still struggle with finding the perfect workout schedule.

I know I’m supposed to write down goals, and keep a schedule, and honor my committments. It just doesn’t work that way for me. One minute I’ll be planning on the gym, the next minute I fall asleep on the couch because I worked a night shift the day before. There were times when I would scrap the workout all together, but I have learned to just DO SOMETHING. I may not make it to the gym like I had planned, but instead I will do a home workout. As long as I am showing up for myself, my health, and my body.

Some of my favorite workouts

♦ Yoga

Yoga was something I had always practiced in college. I had really enjoyed learning the culture and poses. Once I got to medical school and residency, I didn’t have the time or the money for yoga classes. Instead of continuing my practice, I let it go.

Yoga was the first thing I picked back up, as soon as I could. I started going to CorePower Yoga sculpt classes, and I was IN LOVE. A heated yoga class that incorporates cardio AND weights? Sign me up! I know so many people that have accomplished their goals with yoga, in particular yoga sculpt. CorePower offers multiple class types and multiple locations, so I have bounced around to each of them, over the past couple of years.

The workout is fierce. Initially I think I am dying, but then I always feel SO GOOD after the class, and the inspiration and meditation moments associated with yoga are just what I need.

I practice yoga sculpt ~2 times weekly

More recently, I’ve gotten Chris to come with me and he has become quite the yogi!

♦ HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts

I have a love/hate relationship with them. They are quite possibly my favorite workout because they can be quick! We’re talking 25-30 minutes of go-hard, sweaty, high intensity fitness. My go-to workout because it saves time and you can do them anywhere!

25-50% of my weekly workouts are HIIT routines

My fave HIIT workout has always been Insanity. Shaun T… you always piss me off!!! But damnit you get me the results!

Chris and I bought the BeachBody workouts for $99 a year! I am so not a fan of pyramid schemes- I don’t buy into the shakes or anything, just the on demand home workout option. This includes a huge library of workouts to choose from, including ALLLLL the Insanity you could ask for. The OG Insanity was my jam back in med school. I still tap into those workouts sometimes, but they are 60 min. The newer Insanity MAX and T25 workouts are right up my alley these days, especially when I’m on night shifts.

Very few of the workouts require weights, although you can find those too. I like using minimal equipment, body weight only, and I’m done before I even realize I started! Downfall to some of the HIIT workouts are the amount of impact they can have on your joints. Plyometrics isn’t for everyone, so make sure you tailor these to your body.

♦ Running

I have a seriously difficult time with running. When I was a kid, I never did the running sports. I was a dancer, cheerleader, volleyball and softball player. Soccer, track, basketball… forget it. Therefore, I never really became great at running, especially not long distance running.

In 2008 I trained for, and completed a half marathon. I thought I was going to die. I trained so hard, for weeks, and my joints still killed me for days after the race. I have only run 5-10K’s since then! I do enjoy many parts of running, especially here in Southern California. Living by the beach, I try to take advantage of the location and run down to the boardwalk and beach at least once weekly. You can’t beat an outdoor workout overlooking the ocean! #thankful

My goals with running, are simply to complete my run without stopping! Sometimes I do the walk-run thing, but I never stop moving. My typical route consists of 4-5 miles, and once I hit about 3 miles, my knees start to remind me that they’re not happy.

10-25% of my weekly workout is running

♦ Walking

In the past, I feel like I underestimated the benefits of a nice, long walk. Walking actually burns calories similar to running! Of course the terrain and pace determines your overall results, but it is such a GREAT option for many of us.

Chris and I try to get outside for a walk together at least once weekly

I definitely dread walking, less than any other workout! Gee, I wonder why?! We try to walk at a 11-12 min/mile pace, and complete no less than 5 miles. We love to walk the beach neighborhoods and surrounding areas. Not only are we getting some vitamin D, but it gives us quality time to be without technology, and catch up with each other!

We started walking together, after Chris had surgery last year. He couldn’t do his usual sweaty workouts because would affect his cast and wound healing, so we walked all of the time! We share airpods during the walk, so we can listen to the same music but still hear each other talk 🙂

The one thing not listed, is gym time.

That’s because I no longer go to a gym! I used to go to a beautiful gym that faced the ocean, it had state of the art equipment and great amenities. But what I realized about my fitness routine, was that I never really longed to be at the gym. I enjoyed all of the other activities listed above, so much more, and the gym was a waste of money for me.

If you take anything away from this blog post, it should be that fitness and exercise don’t need to come with a huge price tag OR a huge chunk of time. You can tailor your fitness routine to YOU and what you like to do. It does not need to be forced or dreadful. As soon as I realized this simple nugget of information, my anxiety associated with a fitness routine and working out hardcore everyday, miraculously dissolved.

So even if I have to get my fitness running around at work, or reducing dislocated shoulders and hips (that can really break a sweat sometimes), I do the best that I can and accept that my fitness routine will be ever-changing and dependent on many other life factors.

How is your fitness routine unique?

Photos by Zo’e Fraley.

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