Wow. Over four months have passed since my last post. I apologize to all those who have stopped by looking for a new post only to be disappointed. Also, I want to say Thank You to all readers for your continued support and emails. I look forward to writing on a more regular basis once classes are over (3 more weeks!). At that time, I will have time to devote to writing again. Much has happened over the past four months that I want to document and share with you.
Second year is a beast. The schedule has been relentless. The volume of information. . . obscene.
I have eighteen days of lecture, one quiz and three exams remaining before I begin some major USMLE Step 1 studying. I will be taking the Step 1 in early/mid-June. If you're a praying person, Pray for me! Otherwise, please send positive thoughts and energy my way.
As the school year comes to a close, I am feeling very much alive. I've established a regular sleep schedule that allows me to get to class on time when I need to (and I'm much more productive), I'm feeling healthy (eating right, exercising and all that jazz), I'm getting my weekly dose of TV (ANTM and Oprah's Big Give), spring is here (the weather was gorgeous today), and I have an international medical mission to look forward to over the summer.
Again, thank you for stopping by.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Blepharospasm
Less than 12 hours from now, I will be taking yet another set of examinations. As usually, I am not concerned about the first, which focuses on diseases covered during small group discussions, but I am concerned about the second. The second exam tomorrow is another customized NBME exam. Though, I did well on the first customized NBME, I'm worried that the faculty "went easy" on us since it was the first one.
My gut is telling me that the faculty is going to go to the opposite extreme this time -- that they've selected the toughest questions from the available pool. My gut's telling me that I don't know the material well enough to execute another knock out performance. Then again, my lactose intolerant gut may just be cursing me for that scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream I just ate.
Why did I do that? Why??
But, I know I'm really stressed about this exam because my eyelids keep twitching. That's right, my left upper lid and, sometimes, my right lower lid have lost their mind. It's the most annoying thing I've ever experienced. Every now and then, I have to stop reading because the twitching is so out of control!
I decided to look further into this eye twitching, so I looked up "eyelid twitch" on the trusty MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia and discovered a great new medical term: blepharospasm. Blepharospasm is the repeated, rhythmic contraction of the eyelid muscles. It's most commonly caused by fatigue, stress and caffeine. Check, check, and check.
Apparently, it can get to the point where the eyelids actually close and then re-open, i.e., you blink. Let's hope it doesn't get to that point. I don't want the professors, or fellow classmates, thinking that I'm winking at them. Though, now I have a good excuse for when I'm in one of Dr. F's lectures. "No, I'm not winking at you. I have blepharospasm."
My gut is telling me that the faculty is going to go to the opposite extreme this time -- that they've selected the toughest questions from the available pool. My gut's telling me that I don't know the material well enough to execute another knock out performance. Then again, my lactose intolerant gut may just be cursing me for that scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream I just ate.
Why did I do that? Why??
But, I know I'm really stressed about this exam because my eyelids keep twitching. That's right, my left upper lid and, sometimes, my right lower lid have lost their mind. It's the most annoying thing I've ever experienced. Every now and then, I have to stop reading because the twitching is so out of control!
I decided to look further into this eye twitching, so I looked up "eyelid twitch" on the trusty MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia and discovered a great new medical term: blepharospasm. Blepharospasm is the repeated, rhythmic contraction of the eyelid muscles. It's most commonly caused by fatigue, stress and caffeine. Check, check, and check.
Apparently, it can get to the point where the eyelids actually close and then re-open, i.e., you blink. Let's hope it doesn't get to that point. I don't want the professors, or fellow classmates, thinking that I'm winking at them. Though, now I have a good excuse for when I'm in one of Dr. F's lectures. "No, I'm not winking at you. I have blepharospasm."
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Recognition
Everyone enjoys having their hard work acknowledged. It boosts morale. That's why I think an honor and awards ceremony, like the one held by my school this week, is so important.
As medical students, we live crazy, often unhealthy, lives. It's a life full of sacrifices and one that you have to go through to truly understand and appreciate. With all the time spent in lecture and lab and small group discussions, not to mention the countless hours spent studying, it's easy to lose sight of where you're going. After listening to two distinguished speakers who have been where I am now, however, I feel reinvigorated. I can once again see where my hard work could lead if I just keep at it.
Although the ceremony ran long, as these types of events tend to do, I was pleasantly surprised by how inspirational it was. My class all but swept the awards. Watching the top 5 or so students in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years go up for their awards made me want to work harder so that I too could receive one of the big awards (cash prizes are nice, y'all) before I graduate. I guess it was the spark I needed to get my competitive side burning again.
Being surrounded by these amazing physicians and future physicians me realize how much I can and already have accomplished. After all, we made it to medical school and are still here. (And, I was presented with an award (sans cash, but nice plaque) in recognition of my work over the summer. ) As one of the presenters said, "You all get so blinded by the workload and exams and sleepless nights that you can't see how high you're already flying."
As medical students, we live crazy, often unhealthy, lives. It's a life full of sacrifices and one that you have to go through to truly understand and appreciate. With all the time spent in lecture and lab and small group discussions, not to mention the countless hours spent studying, it's easy to lose sight of where you're going. After listening to two distinguished speakers who have been where I am now, however, I feel reinvigorated. I can once again see where my hard work could lead if I just keep at it.
Although the ceremony ran long, as these types of events tend to do, I was pleasantly surprised by how inspirational it was. My class all but swept the awards. Watching the top 5 or so students in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years go up for their awards made me want to work harder so that I too could receive one of the big awards (cash prizes are nice, y'all) before I graduate. I guess it was the spark I needed to get my competitive side burning again.
Being surrounded by these amazing physicians and future physicians me realize how much I can and already have accomplished. After all, we made it to medical school and are still here. (And, I was presented with an award (sans cash, but nice plaque) in recognition of my work over the summer. ) As one of the presenters said, "You all get so blinded by the workload and exams and sleepless nights that you can't see how high you're already flying."
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Pain
Anyone else out there suffer from chronic pain? Or experience pain on a fairly regular basis?
For well over three months now, I have been been living with pain in my hip and lower back. At first, it was just a mild pain. I was aware of it, but it didn't really bother me much. Kinda like a loud neighbor watching WWE at 1am on a weeknight. He's obnoxious, but not so annoying to make you go next door to ask him to keep it down. Lately, however, the pain has become more of a moderate pain with episodes of severe pain.
Shortly after one of my most recent exams, I made an appointment at the student clinic to see if they could tell me what was wrong. Of course, I'm thinking I have chondrosarcoma or some other ridiculous differential. After taking the history and performing the physical examination, the physician believes otherwise (shocking, I know) and sends me home with prescriptions for an anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant.
While I did experience some pain relief after taking the drugs, I had to stop taking them after the third day. Why? Because I kept waking up in a poodle* of drool, face down in my book, page stuck to my cheek. These drugs made me so drowsy, I couldn't get any studying done. So, they had to go. I can deal with the pain.
I blame the pain on medical school. Going through first year, you think you have it rough, but then you get to second year and realize first year was like water-skiing on glass. There seems to be no time to do anything else but study this year. I tried to stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan, but that didn't last long. I wake up, go to school and sit through lectures. Lectures end, I go home or to the library and sit and study. I go to bed, sleep in the fetal position (or at least I fall asleep that way) and my body has been in the same basic position all day. I need to recommit to exercising and eating well because I can't let my health deteriorate.
Also, I think I finally understand the wheeled backpacks. I know, scary! But, I'm just one muscle spasm away from buying one. I'll make it look good, though. I know I will.
* Just noticed that I wrote "poodle" instead of "puddle." LOL
For well over three months now, I have been been living with pain in my hip and lower back. At first, it was just a mild pain. I was aware of it, but it didn't really bother me much. Kinda like a loud neighbor watching WWE at 1am on a weeknight. He's obnoxious, but not so annoying to make you go next door to ask him to keep it down. Lately, however, the pain has become more of a moderate pain with episodes of severe pain.
Shortly after one of my most recent exams, I made an appointment at the student clinic to see if they could tell me what was wrong. Of course, I'm thinking I have chondrosarcoma or some other ridiculous differential. After taking the history and performing the physical examination, the physician believes otherwise (shocking, I know) and sends me home with prescriptions for an anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant.
While I did experience some pain relief after taking the drugs, I had to stop taking them after the third day. Why? Because I kept waking up in a poodle* of drool, face down in my book, page stuck to my cheek. These drugs made me so drowsy, I couldn't get any studying done. So, they had to go. I can deal with the pain.
I blame the pain on medical school. Going through first year, you think you have it rough, but then you get to second year and realize first year was like water-skiing on glass. There seems to be no time to do anything else but study this year. I tried to stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan, but that didn't last long. I wake up, go to school and sit through lectures. Lectures end, I go home or to the library and sit and study. I go to bed, sleep in the fetal position (or at least I fall asleep that way) and my body has been in the same basic position all day. I need to recommit to exercising and eating well because I can't let my health deteriorate.
Also, I think I finally understand the wheeled backpacks. I know, scary! But, I'm just one muscle spasm away from buying one. I'll make it look good, though. I know I will.
* Just noticed that I wrote "poodle" instead of "puddle." LOL
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Dr. F
Fetching. There isn't another professor that captures more interest than Dr. F. When he's scheduled to lecture, we all show up to listen. . . and stare.
Everyone's had their own private love affair with Dr. F at some point during the first year and a half of medical school. For some of us, that love affair has never ended. I mean, the man commands attention by simply walking into a room. For starters, the man is Fine: tall, handsome face, great smile, and fit. No one makes a long white coat look better. (Yet.)
Once you get past Dr. F's mesmerizing beauty, you realize that there's substance to match. There is just something special about someone who can engage you in a subject and lead you through a concept in a clear, logical manner. His lectures and PowerPoint presentations match or, dare I say, exceed those of Dr. A, oftentimes clarifying concepts taught poorly by other professors. He is the king of physical diagnosis, providing us with tips on how to discriminate between, say, ehrlichiosis and RMSF. And, he holds comprehensive reviews to make sure we are retaining the information he presents.
Essentially, Dr. F is our dream instructor. Our very own McDreamy, if you will.
Everyone's had their own private love affair with Dr. F at some point during the first year and a half of medical school. For some of us, that love affair has never ended. I mean, the man commands attention by simply walking into a room. For starters, the man is Fine: tall, handsome face, great smile, and fit. No one makes a long white coat look better. (Yet.)
Once you get past Dr. F's mesmerizing beauty, you realize that there's substance to match. There is just something special about someone who can engage you in a subject and lead you through a concept in a clear, logical manner. His lectures and PowerPoint presentations match or, dare I say, exceed those of Dr. A, oftentimes clarifying concepts taught poorly by other professors. He is the king of physical diagnosis, providing us with tips on how to discriminate between, say, ehrlichiosis and RMSF. And, he holds comprehensive reviews to make sure we are retaining the information he presents.
Essentially, Dr. F is our dream instructor. Our very own McDreamy, if you will.
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