First day excitement

5am and I'm awake.

Not nerves or excitement but that's just me, being awake early.
Having been on Amitriptyline for nerve pain due to my slipped discs (the tablets didn't work by the way) I found I was having trouble waking in the mornings. Yet since I stopped I wake and I'm like BOOM! Wide awake.  So I'm here, writing a blog to you guys when I can still see the moon in the sky.

Like most of us, I kind of always struggle to prioritise.  Like, I love writing here and on my other blogs yet I also need to edit some videos, get a look at what the day has in store, maybe eat something and possibly do a little house work/walk the dog?

This is definitely something I need to get over.  I do achieve a lot yet for me, I always want more and must work harder on living in the NOW.  It's important, I know that as well as anyone.  However, just for today I will focus on getting myself to university and looking as good as I think I can look, sort everything I need to take and generally go with the flow.

Staying after class, I will be taking my laptop in to get some work done.  When I appear at home I do house work and get called Mum.  I love my home life but if I want to achieve more, there is no question but to crack on and do it.

I'm excited.

The course content looks amazing for this year.
Epidemeology
Immunology
Cells and systems
Research skills

I have yet to find a love within research but if I want to be Dr Usher I will need to.  Damn that looks good in text.  Dr Usher.


So for research we have an amazing tutor who is funny, energetic and passionate about his work. I have a good feeling things could not be better.

In a blog post very soon I will be writing about my possible studies in the future, looking at PhD and Masters degrees.

Meanwhile, I will post back here later for you guys and let you know how things went!

Wish me luck!

Year 2 begins - freshers week

Where did the summer go?

We sure had some fun as a family.  We needed it.  I certainly needed it.

Camping, Majorca, days out at theme parks, attempted days at the beach (traffic stopped us in our tracks).

Not only did I shockingly go and get myself engaged over the holidays but I also managed to sort some health issues out too.

More about that over on my other blog



Worrying about going back to Uni started a few weeks ago yet now, I'm super excited and charged up!
You see, the timetables came in. Lots of Epidemeology, (can't spell that yet!) Immunology, physiology, human nutrition etc.  Right up my street!
I'm fairly sure where I would like my career path to go now.  Dealing with allergies I'm thinking.

Sadly, I'm not feeling physically very well but emotionally I'm on top of things. Definitely turned a corner and long may it continue. The palpitations are rare these last few days.

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Yesterday I collected my daughter from college early and we went into Uni to get lunch and walk around the freshers fair. This is where I discovered I have been upgraded to a Senior student ambassador! Pay rise n all :)

I'm excited to get back in the saddle. I think i'm going to nail it this year! All while being mum of the year and uber organised in work and home life.  

Speaking to Jill today, we will wait for each other and sit together tomorrow which is lovely.  Jack isn't in tomorrow as he is away on holiday somewhere very exotic.  He also got engaged over the summer! Must be something in the water.

7 weeks today I will be landing in Jamaica with a wedding dress in my luggage.  That's exciting!!!

Goodbye curly hair, hello straight.  Hello make up.  And nice smart clothes.  Goodbye flip flops and hello heels....

Summer, you were wonderful.

Brain cells, wake up please.

Day 1, year 2, kisses and hugs

Everyone seemed pleased to see each other today.  The first day back.

There was no anxiety inside me (thank you, 8 week blood sugar diet) and not a sign of a palpitation.  Although I used a few breathing exercises.

Still, I was fine.


So as a new day dawns, I shook out my hair, wore my crazy flower print trousers (dressed it up a bit with a black jacket though) and popped on my high heels.
Up early with the twins in tow, I took them to college.  So proud of them.

Proceeding to work myself for an hour before uni, I decided to head into Asda to buy flowers for my client who is poorly just now and also for Dad to pop on the grave.  I'd have a strong word with Dad about bringing me luck!


Sun shining, I was feeling ready.

To drink coffee or not drink coffee?  I headed to the university starbucks.  Everyone was in there.  Yet I felt ok. Two of my favourite people who aren't the closest two buddies walked in right behind me with beaming smiles and hugs and kisses, that was lovely!  I felt at home.

Jill was waiting outside the lecture theatre when I rocked up.  Looking stylish in her own crazy was as she always does.   Definitely a personality in there!  Bless her.  Happy to see her. Deafness was terrible for me today (feeling all blocked somewhere) and we agreed to sit at the front (we always do).  As the lecturers arrived, I realised this was a treat to get them all in the same room at the same time - what I loved about those guys is they are really funny together!  Watching them filled me with absolute smiles inside and outside.  Brilliant.  These guys are geniuses.

I've loved my summer but I feel ready to be back.  Not much has changed.  Although realising that all of us now know what lies ahead and we still chose to come back is amazing.

Warnings were given that this year is going to be massively harder.  Yet I'm sure that the subjects are going to be super interesting and that will kind of make things easier.

Erasamus was spoken about lots which is  a European exchange programme where you spend the summer or a year studying abroad.  As nutrition students we goto Spain.  The idea makes my eyes light up but in reality, the food, crohns etc won't make things easy.  Besides, I'm away on holiday with Mum and the twins next summer.  Exciting to hear about though.  Then comes the work placement ideas.

Again, interesting we were told to consider what Masters or PhD programmes we may be interested in.  Well, there's a thought.  I'm guessing the time is likely to fly by.....

Timetables are in!

Seems I was the first to notice that the timetables had been published.

Deciding everyone else must have seen this I didn't mention to anyone except the two people who have become most important to me.  I'll change their names to Jack and Jill haha to protect their privacy.

Feeling that we would have all been in touch far more than we were, there was some disappointment but the type where you are sure your friends are there for you if you need them, yet you just feel busy and kind of forget to text.

Knowing this, I am still safe in the knowledge that we will all prop each other up during the coming terms.  For sure.  We all have different skills to bring to our group.  Not sure I would be so excited to return without those two.

So the timetable is all over the place again, changing from week to week.

Filling in my paper diary with timings,  I began to dread the year ahead, knowing it was going to get technical, scientific and tricky.  Yet as I read the words 'immunology' and 'research skills' I couldn't help but feel a little excited.  There was something about illness (getting well, more specifically) that excites me.

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In my own news, for whatever long winded reason, I tested my fasting blood sugars.

They were 5.5mmol/l - if you look this up on the type of websites I respect, it seems this is cause for slight concern.  Bordering on pre-diabetes.

A myriad of feelings overwhelmed me like a surfer under a wave.  

So began the research.  Taking me back to those days when I was diagnosed with crohns disease.  

In the past 2 weeks i have learnt so so much and I'm excited to face this head on and get to grips with what I need to do to lower that blood sugar.  Also, loosing weight which will be wonderful as it's just in time for my trip of a lifetime to Jamaica! More on that in another post, I think.

The next post will have details of my meeting last night with my PA(!)  Super helpful!

Chronic disease epidemiology

What is chronic disease epidemiology?

It is a way of investigating a link between dietary behaviour and chronic diseases.

Epidemiological studies used:

* 24 hours recall
* Diet history
* Food frequency questionnaire

Types of chronic disease:

* type 2 diabetes
* Heart disease
* Stroke

Ways to investigate the link between dietary behaviour and chronic diseases

* Anthropometric
 Using body weight, height, skin folds, waist and hip circumference

* Biochemical tests

Blood, urine, faeces, tissues are rested to deter subclinical deficiencies

* Clinical observation

Observation of pallor,  hair, nails, skin, eyes, lips, mouth , muscles, joints

* Dietary assessment

Obtain report of food items consumed, portion sizes, frequency, calculation of nutritional intake

Stages of change model

The stages of change model is often used in nutrition and dietetics.

What does Stages of Change model mean?

It begins with building a solid foundation of recovery.

There are 5 steps:

1.  Pre contemplation

This is where the patient is not actively looking for change.  Perhaps they were not aware of needing a change or have no desire to change.

2.  Contemplation

The patient is beginning to wonder if there may be an issue needs addressing.  Is there  a problem here or not?

3.  Preparation

A plan is being developed to address the problem.

4.  Action

New behaviours are beginning to be implemented to address the problem.  This typically lasts 3-6 months.

5.  Maintenance

Symptom free behaviour continuing the good work!

Confounding factors

Within nutrition, confounding factors play a large part in trials.

The relationship between disease and exposure can experience confounding.  IE Alcohol drinkers.  Do they suffer more heart disease than non alcohol drinkers?
As smoking is often associated with alcohol consumption, is it possible that alcohol drinkers may have more heart disease but due to smoking as opposed to drinking alcohol?  This would be confounding.

Therefore, the relationship between alcohol and heart disease could be due to some confounding variable.

RCTs - Randomised control trials

Placebos are used in randomised control trials to limit the potential for any bias.

Blind controls as used in cases where subjects do not know if they belong to the placebo group or not.

Double blind controls happen where neither the subject being tested or the investigators are aware wh his in the placebo group.

Case control and cohort studies

What are case control studies and cohort studies?

What does this mean in clinical nutrition?

Case control studies are observational studies in which two existing groups (differing in outcome) are identified and compared on the basis of a casual attribute.

Group 1 - Has the condition or disease plus another factor.
Group 2 - Does not have the disease but has the same factor.

Cohort studies uses a group of people who share a common defining characteristic such as graduation or birth etc.
An analysis over time of risk factors of people who do not have a disease but uses correlations to determine the absolute risk.

What is Scientific bias?

Scientific bias is a systematic error.  It gives an association that is not true.

In nutrition there are 5 main types of bias which can be found within studies:

Measurement bias - Poorly measured or improperly measured tests. Such as machines not been correctly calibrated for example.

Interviewer Bias - The outcome of the results is shaped by the belief of the interviewer.  For example, should the interviewer feel there would be a benefit from the test, they will impress upon the subject their own bias.

Selection bias - Proper randomisation of subjects is not achieved.

Social acceptability bias - Survey respondents will answer questions in a manner which will be viewed favourably by others.  Some people change their habits to encourage a better view of themselves.  If there was an exercise questionnaire,  subjects may be inclined to increase their exercise for better opinions of themselves.

Recall bias - Inaccurate recollections by study participants.  It is not always easy to remember.  IF subjects were asked to write down what the had eaten earlier in the day, they might well not remember.

Bias Mind map.

Epidemiology and exam help

Epidemiology - this is the one I felt would be common sense. I felt this would be simple and straight forward.

No.

Not so.

Yikes.

To help me revise (no, hang on, to learn) I am going to try writing blog posts.  Pray to God this will help you guys too.  Let me know if it helps any of you...so, ok, here we go.

Epidemiology is 'the study of the occurrence and distribution of health related events, stats and processed in specified populations, including the study of determinates influencing such precesses and the application of this knowledge to control relevant health problems.' (Porto M. A dictionary of Epidemiology)

Distribution means the frequency and pattern of health events in a population.
Population is a group of people with a common characteristic.
Determinants are factors or events that influence health.

Epidemiology is a tool used by governments to determine investigations into public health.

Common terms used are

Sporadic - a disease which occurs occasionally and often irregularly
Endemic - Constant presence of disease within a given population.
Epidemic - above the expected level of occurrence of disease
Pandemic - an epidemic weidspread over several countries or continents.

Morbidity: any departure from a state of physiological or physiological well being.
Mortality: a number of reported deaths in a population in a specific time period.

Analytical Epidemiology - Basic question - "Is exposure and disease linked?"

Research questions/hypothesis - Do persons with exposure have higher levels of disease than persons without exposure?

3 major factors in epidemiology:
social factors
lifestyle factors
personal characteristics

Measure of disease frequency: Incidence = number of new cases of disease the developed during a specified period of time.
Prevalence - number of existing cases of disease at a given point of time or during a period of time.

I hope some of this may have helped, the next few blog posts go into specifics of exam questions you may find help you to revise! Good luck.

Waking up too early on Mothers Day

Mothers Day is here once again.

With my mother still here to grace us with her presence, yet my mother in law about to have her final curtains drawn on life, I can't help but wonder what is it all about.  Then I remember, I know now.

Wisdom.

Age.

Time.  

They have all taught me exactly what I should be doing with this thing called life.  I should be chasing memories and creating JOY.  And I know what that means for me and where it takes me.

To the woods, the trees, the nature. 

As a family, we are beginning to rethink things.  We want to be in the woods and grow organic vegetables, breathe good air and the like. 

What wakes me so early? Is it excitement? Stress?  Thinking?  Physical health?  I'm really not sure.  

Exams and deadlines loom all around, I feel flutters within my heart.  They frighten me.  Apparently, that coupled with the memory loss I keep experiencing and the lack of sleep all come up with anxiety, depression and stress (when you use Google).  

My old friend from London Met used to say "I like the Google very much." In her strong adorable indian accent.  I miss her.

So mothers day brings me to a place of once again being at my desk,  writing (I can't get enough of it)   and wanting to do more and more and more all of the time. There's so much there's too much.

Project proposal looms.  I'm going to love that yet I'm unclear where to start.  Watch this space, I will give you more detail and information as I can.

Meanwhile, back to looking for sellotape to wrap mums gift. That eludes me.  

Philip Bloom, Digital Creator

Meeting Philip Bloom was an honour and a pleasure yesterday.

As head cameraman of Sky news, you might be forgiven for wondering what this may have to do with science, relevant enough to add a piece of writing about it here on my pebblepad.

Heading to the Youtube space in the Google offices in London was pretty much a little dream come true.  Initially, I headed there to accompany my daughter who is at college studying creative media.  Yet with a passion for the science of nutrition,  creativity and business all rolled into one, I figured there is likely to be times when creation of a digital nature would be exciting to use.  

The dream of encouraging nations to eat better, with a clear guide of why and how it will benefit them and their lives is real.  The wonderful world wide web gives us this amazing platform to share our scientific findings.

Mr Bloom, the award winning photographer gave an amazing speech in London last night.  I was taking mental notes on his presentation skills, something super important in this years course.  When he began talking of taking the transition of shooting from DSLR camera to video camera, I did get a little lost in the nomenclature of all the different models of camera available, just as likely as the audience may have been confused on the nomenclature of a periodic table.

Nonetheless, this evening gave me a wonderful insight into what life can be like in this diverse world of digital.  Should my youtube channel get a wide enough audience to build on the 1000 subscribers I already have and head up to 10,000 then Google and Youtube extend an arm of generosity as they open up their studios for filming and their offices for writing.  Of course there is no lab in sight but I think that may be taking things one step too far with the general population.  So, now there is an inspired dream inside to continue with these studies enough to confidently make some educational laymens term videos to help spread the word of health into the nation who has ears to listen. 

Plus, there is a free barister on weekdays!

Presentation skills workshop

Attending a presentation skills workshop seemed a no brainer when the invite arrived in my inbox via the employability office. 

Many times we have been encouraged as a class to get used to the idea that we would be presenting many times over. At my last university, in year Zero, I was fortunate enough to be encouraged to speak at many of their events which were well attended by industry experts.

Most of us felt as though this was more of a practice as opposed to learning workshop, which was fine, yet I did feel I would have loved to go further into detail.  Perhaps as a mature student with experiences already I was expecting too much.  As a note to myself, I wondered how I should be learning more about my presenting skills.  Perhaps this is something I could look further into very soon. I know there will be many videos on the internet helping with the finer details of making a good presentation.

Nevertheless, this was not a waste of time as I met a couple of new students who I could now smile and wave at on campus, as well as fulfilling a requirement of attendance towards my own course credits.

Win/win.