College and medical school took 8 years. I have spent as much time on this blog as I did in my post high school education! What has blogging done for me?
The most important benefit of blogging has come from the discipline and repetitive experience of writing. I have over 4000 posts! Writing can only improve if you practice writing. Prior to this blog I went through a period of writer's block. Blogging become the cure. My writing has improved. Or at least I hope it has.
Blogging has stimulated my thinking. Because I blog I pay attention to issues more seriously. When I read a newspaper story about medical care, or read a new medical article I wonder if there is a blogging angle. I get the opportunity to play with ideas. Through blogging play I often refine my thoughts.
Surprisingly, blogging has stimulated several academic papers. My current obsession with Fusobacterium necrophorum pharyngitis developed because I happened to write about Lemierre syndrome. This issue and other pharyngitis issues have stimulated many papers and talks on the pharyngitis paradigm. Through this blog I began once again to think seriously about a problem that I had "abandoned" for 10 years.
Blogging has stimulated my thoughts on guidelines and performance measures. I have used ideas developed on this blog for talks and papers.
But most important, blogging is fun. I find that I enjoy the creative process. Through my blogging I have "met" many wonderful writers – some actually in person. I belong to a wonderful community of medical bloggers and blog readers.
Thanks to the many readers who leave comments and those who stop me to tell me how much they enjoy my blog. Thanks to the many students and residents who seem to admire my blog. I hope that I entertain and stimulate your thinking. If I do that, I am a success.
-db
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
All the best for your continued success!
Although I may rarely comment, I read your blog every single day, and am a huge fan! Keep up the great work!
As a regular reader for 5 years, your blog has replaced the conversations in the medical lounge back in the days of yore. Thanks for all of your efforts-it is the most insightful and reasoned medical blog I have read. Congratulations.
Keep up the great work.Your blog really got me blogging and an early positive comment you made about Retired Doc’s Thoughts significantly encouraged me to continue.
Great blog. My opinion of doctors has improved a lot because of you. You are a force for good in your profession.
Congrats on eight long years. You are one of my top three daily reads.
Thanks for being an inspiration to the rest of us. Best to you.
Congratulations on 8 years of great blogging. I hope you keep it going a long time.
Congrats – and here’s to another 8 years!
I know a lot of writers and write, too. I find that what you think you are going to write often comes out very differently. The act of writing focuses your thinking, makes you ask questions which otherwise would not come to mind and may prompt the writer to see connections which are not apparent.
I quote liberally, with your permission, thank you, on my website. It is always on point. Thank you for blogging. Please don’t stop.
This is the first entry I have ever made on a site so I hope I am in the right place
. A little over 2 years a go I had a spiral scan done (it was the last day of my insurance). They found 3 nodules in my upper right lobeand my throat was in larged. At the time I was living in Colorado and the pain was almost unbearable. When we moved to Texas I was almost normal so I thought I was better. Now the situation has worstened and the hospital that I have to go through wants $2,000.00 down to have the spiral and thyroid scan done. After the lay-offs I have no insurance and now I am unable to work. I am very frustrated at this point thinking maybe doing nothing is the only option. It's funny when I had money I had all the care I needed but now that I am poor….. no one will touch me with a ten foot pole. I am in dire straights both mentally and pysically… do you have some advice for me?