Three weeks into second year, and already it is "exam time." I have three exams this coming week - Pharmacology, Intro to Pathology, and Ear/Nose/Throat (also known as Otolaryngology).
Things that have amused me about second year:
1) My friends like to bake to de-stress = lots of goodies for me lately
2) The first years think I know things. This makes me giggle on the inside.
3) I recently adopted two kittens, Gracie and Boo. Gracie had surgery for a patent ductus arteriosus before I adopted her - and I actually know what this is and how to treat it in human babies!
4) My friend and I started working out every day at 7am - jogging every other day, doing yoga the opposite days. I never knew that mornings could actually be enjoyable! Crazy. Also I love seeing people in workout clothes throughout the day, and rather than thinking "I should do that later" I now get to think "I already did that today!"
5) A guy in my class asked during the breast cancer lecture if there was breast tissue connecting the two breasts - now we all know who's never gone to second base...
Things that have not amused me about second year:
1) Lectures last all day long, and then, being a leader of Christian Medical Association and the OB/GYN Interest Group, in addition to having a life, means my master plan of just working every day until 6 or 7pm, like a normal person with a job, is not going to cut it this year.
2) One of my cats pooped in my laundry basket. I had to do emergency laundry at 1am when I got home from studying on a Friday night. Maybe adopting the kittens wasn't the best idea...
3) I realized dating during medical school is apparently really hard... and I kind of doubt it gets easier. I now reference Scrubs: Hide the Crazy
4) Grades. Remember when I complained last year about how I lacked motivation and just wished I could be graded? I take it all back, I'm a heinous liar.
Oh good. My pros outweigh my cons. Thank you to the boy in the front row of lecture.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
second year
Ways in which my life will change tomorrow:
1) I will now rate everything in life by honors/high pass/pass/fail. And by life, I mean school, and by school I mean what will now be my life - the reasoning's a little circular. It's strange, going from a year of pass/fail back to being graded again, but I'm honestly kind of looking forward to it. I feel like an elementary school student who just wishes she could receive her "Music" and "PE" grades in letter grades instead of "superior" and... Hmm I don't remember what the other options were. "Excellent"? "Inferior"? "Tries hard but still can't sing/catch a ball"?
2) I will cease complaining about being bored and commence complaining about having no time to be bored.
3) I have to start calling myself a "second year medical student" which means admitting that I might know something about medicine. I'm a little scared.
4) I will be more well-rested (in theory) because our classes start 30 minutes later than first year! (I guess I could also just not go to class and get plenty of rest... but the theory is still a really nice thought.
Not sure what else will happen this year. But I'm about to go to orientation - maybe I will find out!
Friday, August 3, 2012
summer
If nothing else, this summer has proved that I am an unfaithful blogger. So I will write a summary post here, and yet again promise to blog more often.
I spent this summer doing a "primary care preceptorship" which I prefer to call "Shadowing Version 2.0" or "Being a 3rd year with a good excuse not to know anything". For the past eight weeks I have mostly worked with a pediatric hospitalist, but I also spent a couple weeks at non-for-profit pediatric clinic. A pediatric hospitalist is a doctor who has done a pediatric residency who, instead of going into an office setting or specializing further, works in multiple different hospital settings. It is a relatively new specialty. I mostly spent time in the newborn nursery and the emergency room. I shadowed a number of different hospitalists and asked them all "what made you decide to be a hospitalist?" and the answers were always surprisingly similar - more flexible hours and you don't have to deal with the business side of medicine as much. Some doctors mentioned how they like dealing with the sicker kids but didn't necessarily want to specialize.
What I love about pediatricians, though, is that if you love kids, they will love you. I've always loved working with kids, and this summer has persuaded me that I would love doing pediatrics. You may be surprised to hear this, but kids smell way better than adults! In spite of the poop, pee and vomit, kids always seem to be cleaner. And their shampoo smells nicer. When I say adult, you may be thinking of yourself, and you may be saying "I shower every day!" Well, I hate to break it to you, but the few adults I met in the hospital over the past year did not smell very good. I'd take a poopy diaper over an adult who hasn't showered in a week any day.
I'm not set on it or anything - don't worry, I'm keeping my mind open! - but for most specialties, you can generally choose between adults or kids, and I definitely choose kids. Yay one choice down.
The other thing this summer did is give me hope. The first year of med school was hard for me. I didn't feel any passion for my classes. I struggled to create a life that kept me inspired and made me want to get out of bed in the morning. But this summer was wonderful - I loved being in the hospital, I loved working with the babies, I loved reading about diseases in between patients. I really loved wearing scrubs all the time. And I felt confident - I felt good about what I was doing. One of the highlights of my summer is the other day when my preceptor told another doctor that he thought I was operating on a third to fourth year level. It is really encouraging to know that while doing well on these stupid tests and paying attention in the classroom may be a struggle for me, I have the potential to be really good at what I will be doing for the rest of my life (after this year). I hope I can keep that in mind as I try to learn a terrifying amount of knowledge over the next ten months. I hope I can remember that the more I learn (and truly ingrain, rather than memorize in the short term for a test) the better I can serve my future patients.
I spent this summer doing a "primary care preceptorship" which I prefer to call "Shadowing Version 2.0" or "Being a 3rd year with a good excuse not to know anything". For the past eight weeks I have mostly worked with a pediatric hospitalist, but I also spent a couple weeks at non-for-profit pediatric clinic. A pediatric hospitalist is a doctor who has done a pediatric residency who, instead of going into an office setting or specializing further, works in multiple different hospital settings. It is a relatively new specialty. I mostly spent time in the newborn nursery and the emergency room. I shadowed a number of different hospitalists and asked them all "what made you decide to be a hospitalist?" and the answers were always surprisingly similar - more flexible hours and you don't have to deal with the business side of medicine as much. Some doctors mentioned how they like dealing with the sicker kids but didn't necessarily want to specialize.
What I love about pediatricians, though, is that if you love kids, they will love you. I've always loved working with kids, and this summer has persuaded me that I would love doing pediatrics. You may be surprised to hear this, but kids smell way better than adults! In spite of the poop, pee and vomit, kids always seem to be cleaner. And their shampoo smells nicer. When I say adult, you may be thinking of yourself, and you may be saying "I shower every day!" Well, I hate to break it to you, but the few adults I met in the hospital over the past year did not smell very good. I'd take a poopy diaper over an adult who hasn't showered in a week any day.
I'm not set on it or anything - don't worry, I'm keeping my mind open! - but for most specialties, you can generally choose between adults or kids, and I definitely choose kids. Yay one choice down.
The other thing this summer did is give me hope. The first year of med school was hard for me. I didn't feel any passion for my classes. I struggled to create a life that kept me inspired and made me want to get out of bed in the morning. But this summer was wonderful - I loved being in the hospital, I loved working with the babies, I loved reading about diseases in between patients. I really loved wearing scrubs all the time. And I felt confident - I felt good about what I was doing. One of the highlights of my summer is the other day when my preceptor told another doctor that he thought I was operating on a third to fourth year level. It is really encouraging to know that while doing well on these stupid tests and paying attention in the classroom may be a struggle for me, I have the potential to be really good at what I will be doing for the rest of my life (after this year). I hope I can keep that in mind as I try to learn a terrifying amount of knowledge over the next ten months. I hope I can remember that the more I learn (and truly ingrain, rather than memorize in the short term for a test) the better I can serve my future patients.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
cross one specialty off
Quick update - the past four weeks have been great. Spring break was relaxing and spending time with my family was fun. I stayed pretty relaxed even after Neuro block started - took a few naps, read a few books, went out a little too often. I thought neuro block was awesome - until this week, when I finally forced myself to study seriously for our exam tomorrow. And this is what I get! Do those arrows look like they are pointing to anything to you? They don't even look like blobs to me. Fun fact - there is a part of your brain, in the visual cortex, that scientists have named (rather accurately I think) "blobs" and "interblobs." I wish I were kidding.
I thought this picture from a practice exam best illustrated my pain. Let's just leave it with I will never become a neurosurgeon...
Thursday, March 22, 2012
marathon
Never have I spent so many days in a row studying until midnight. I began on Sunday, March 11 and tomorrow night will be my last hurrah before Immunology on Friday morning. My earliest night was 10:30pm, my latest 2pm. I never knew I had such stamina, but I guess you just do what you have to do. My roommate probably only knows I exist from the daily coffee grounds I leave in the coffee maker. I have learned a lot though - I now know how to diagnose myself with study-induced Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic disorder where people suffer from insatiable hunger, so much so that they will literally eat garbage. Hehe, sorry if you don't find this joke funny. In my study-induced stupor, I find it hilarious.
Things that made these past two weeks better:
Seoul Taco Food Truck coming to the medical campus on Monday. If you have never had a Korean taco, your life is even sadder than mine has been lately.
The website http://whatshouldwecallme.tumblr.com. The "random" button has provided me with endless entertainment.
My friend pronouncing me to be "kebodoctor."
Gchat. It, sadly, reminds me another world exists outside the med school.
This beautiful weather. Although it is a little warm for my taste, it makes my walk to school wonderful each day.
Coffee. Coffee. Chocolate. Coffee. I finally drink it black.
My friends. Aw that's a little sappy, sorry.
I apologize for my long blogging hiatus, but hopefully this post made up for it a little bit...?
Things that made these past two weeks better:
Seoul Taco Food Truck coming to the medical campus on Monday. If you have never had a Korean taco, your life is even sadder than mine has been lately.
The website http://whatshouldwecallme.tumblr.com. The "random" button has provided me with endless entertainment.
My friend pronouncing me to be "kebodoctor."
Gchat. It, sadly, reminds me another world exists outside the med school.
This beautiful weather. Although it is a little warm for my taste, it makes my walk to school wonderful each day.
Coffee. Coffee. Chocolate. Coffee. I finally drink it black.
My friends. Aw that's a little sappy, sorry.
I apologize for my long blogging hiatus, but hopefully this post made up for it a little bit...?
Sunday, January 22, 2012
birth!
On Friday, I saw a baby being born for the very first time. Don't worry, I'm not going to be super cheesy and talk about the miracle of life or something, but I think it was the best possible birth I could have observed at first, for the following reasons:
1) Mom had an epidural.
2) Baby and Mom were both healthy.
3) It was Mom's 2nd baby.
4) It was a lot cleaner than I expected, actually. Well, I guess with the exception of the amniotic fluid forming a projectile straight into the nurse's face. She probably didn't think the birth was so clean. But since I wasn't in the "line of fire," shall we say, I found it exceptionally hilarious. I know admitting this means karma might just slap me in the face with amniotic fluid someday, but it has to be said.
I took a reproductive health class in college (from an anthropology perspective, I might add), and up until this point I'd felt conflicted about hospital births. Are they actually superior to home births for healthy moms? Does hospitalization take something away from the magic of the experience? But I have to say that after observing a hospital birth in person for the very first time, I think an epidural plus someone else to clean up the mess seems pretty damn good. That's not to say that there aren't ways to improve the hospital experience for pregnant women, especially women who are not as compliant with the system as this particular family was, but I definitely saw the beauty in a hospital birth.
Also, I learned that there is no way I want the grandmas in the room when I give birth. Having them say "I see the baby's hair!" was just WAY too weird. I would probably shout "Stop looking at my va-jay-jay!" and that would be the end of that.
1) Mom had an epidural.
2) Baby and Mom were both healthy.
3) It was Mom's 2nd baby.
4) It was a lot cleaner than I expected, actually. Well, I guess with the exception of the amniotic fluid forming a projectile straight into the nurse's face. She probably didn't think the birth was so clean. But since I wasn't in the "line of fire," shall we say, I found it exceptionally hilarious. I know admitting this means karma might just slap me in the face with amniotic fluid someday, but it has to be said.
I took a reproductive health class in college (from an anthropology perspective, I might add), and up until this point I'd felt conflicted about hospital births. Are they actually superior to home births for healthy moms? Does hospitalization take something away from the magic of the experience? But I have to say that after observing a hospital birth in person for the very first time, I think an epidural plus someone else to clean up the mess seems pretty damn good. That's not to say that there aren't ways to improve the hospital experience for pregnant women, especially women who are not as compliant with the system as this particular family was, but I definitely saw the beauty in a hospital birth.
Also, I learned that there is no way I want the grandmas in the room when I give birth. Having them say "I see the baby's hair!" was just WAY too weird. I would probably shout "Stop looking at my va-jay-jay!" and that would be the end of that.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
ballet
Today I took my first ballet class in... too long. Now I just feel high on life. Maybe it's the endorphins, maybe it's the reality, but even though I know my body will be aching tomorrow, I don't care.
I am so fortunate to have the wealth, health, ability, and friends to motivate me to do something I love. To do something purely for the enjoyment of doing it. I'm glad I didn't wait too long to go back to dance - something I have loved for such a long time.
Even though I was told going in to med school that I should hold on to my passions to keep my sanity, I think I took that too lightly. I'm glad I didn't learn my lesson too late - at least I was able to walk out of class in one piece today! Do the stuff you love. Even if it's annoying to schedule. Even if you don't know how you could possibly fit it in. Do it. You'll thank yourself later.
My calves may not be thanking me right now, but my sanity sure is.
I am so fortunate to have the wealth, health, ability, and friends to motivate me to do something I love. To do something purely for the enjoyment of doing it. I'm glad I didn't wait too long to go back to dance - something I have loved for such a long time.
Even though I was told going in to med school that I should hold on to my passions to keep my sanity, I think I took that too lightly. I'm glad I didn't learn my lesson too late - at least I was able to walk out of class in one piece today! Do the stuff you love. Even if it's annoying to schedule. Even if you don't know how you could possibly fit it in. Do it. You'll thank yourself later.
My calves may not be thanking me right now, but my sanity sure is.
Friday, January 13, 2012
want to lose your appetite?
Some things I learned in medical school this week:
1) If you're a medical student, be warned: you may be shown gross videos at any time, without warning.
People must think we signed up for this or something. Therefore, one day you may walk into your microbes afternoon lecture, unsuspecting, thinking you're going to see some cute pictures of bacteria or viruses, but no - instead you are treated to a 5-minute long video of a foot debridement. What's debridement, you ask? You really don't want to know, but since you're reading my blog, you must be expecting this just as much as I was - debridement is when you cut infected flesh to squeeze out all the pus and scrape away as much of the festering flesh as possible. Repeat that image, five times slow. And the foot just gets more misshapen and festering. And the lecturer just keeps lecturing. Most of the class is looking away, taking glances that just get worse and worse. A few are ogling the screen with what I would describe as unadulterated interest. C'mon people. This stuff is gross.
What's worse is that I know I will have to do it. In real life. With real smells. I think I just threw up in my mouth. But ugh, does that really mean I have to watch it now??
2) Please, please, please America. Stop getting fat. Obesity is a vicious cycle that not only causes medical problems, but makes them harder to treat. Again, my unsuspecting medical student mind expected to zone out a little during a lecture on the mechanics of respiratory ventilation and sleep. Instead, I watched this video with almost as much horror:
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
I don't mean to go on a soapbox. I know how hard it is to avoid eating all the amazingly tempting foods we have available to us. But if I've learned nothing else so far this year - becoming obese is one of the worst risk factors for ill health. Ok, I have to stop writing. I need to go to the gym or something.
1) If you're a medical student, be warned: you may be shown gross videos at any time, without warning.
People must think we signed up for this or something. Therefore, one day you may walk into your microbes afternoon lecture, unsuspecting, thinking you're going to see some cute pictures of bacteria or viruses, but no - instead you are treated to a 5-minute long video of a foot debridement. What's debridement, you ask? You really don't want to know, but since you're reading my blog, you must be expecting this just as much as I was - debridement is when you cut infected flesh to squeeze out all the pus and scrape away as much of the festering flesh as possible. Repeat that image, five times slow. And the foot just gets more misshapen and festering. And the lecturer just keeps lecturing. Most of the class is looking away, taking glances that just get worse and worse. A few are ogling the screen with what I would describe as unadulterated interest. C'mon people. This stuff is gross.
What's worse is that I know I will have to do it. In real life. With real smells. I think I just threw up in my mouth. But ugh, does that really mean I have to watch it now??
2) Please, please, please America. Stop getting fat. Obesity is a vicious cycle that not only causes medical problems, but makes them harder to treat. Again, my unsuspecting medical student mind expected to zone out a little during a lecture on the mechanics of respiratory ventilation and sleep. Instead, I watched this video with almost as much horror:
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
I don't mean to go on a soapbox. I know how hard it is to avoid eating all the amazingly tempting foods we have available to us. But if I've learned nothing else so far this year - becoming obese is one of the worst risk factors for ill health. Ok, I have to stop writing. I need to go to the gym or something.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
1/8 MD
And a new semester begins! I guess I shouldn't technically call it a semester, because we technically have two "blocks" this spring, one going to the end of March, and then a second in April and May. We are now done with Anatomy and Biochemistry, and in place of those two classes, we now have Immunology, Microbiology, and Genetics. Physiology, Histology, and Practice of Medicine continue.
I guess they thought we weren't busy enough last semester.
So with the new year I say farewell to having Wednesday and Friday afternoons free (if "free" means studying). I guess I shouldn't complain too much, however, because I am sitting in class right now, blogging. Sometimes I take class time to ponder whether sitting in class helps me at all - today, we were regaled with a 15 minute analogy comparing Pokemon to microbes. All I learned was which of my classmates to tease about their childhood (or perhaps current) activities...
I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions, but I do hope to improve some basic life skills. Like flossing every day. Cooking dinner on the stove (instead of the microwave) and making it to the grocery store at least once a week. Exercising a few times per week. Oh yeah, and maybe studying a little.
I guess they thought we weren't busy enough last semester.
So with the new year I say farewell to having Wednesday and Friday afternoons free (if "free" means studying). I guess I shouldn't complain too much, however, because I am sitting in class right now, blogging. Sometimes I take class time to ponder whether sitting in class helps me at all - today, we were regaled with a 15 minute analogy comparing Pokemon to microbes. All I learned was which of my classmates to tease about their childhood (or perhaps current) activities...
I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions, but I do hope to improve some basic life skills. Like flossing every day. Cooking dinner on the stove (instead of the microwave) and making it to the grocery store at least once a week. Exercising a few times per week. Oh yeah, and maybe studying a little.
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