A *test* day in the life of a med student

 Fell asleep around 4 am last night...got up at 6 am to do some last minute prep for a my 8 am exam.  Potential for nap in about 4 hours!  Just gotta.....

=)

Test started and as expected, there was 3 questions on the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers!  Now, I know that's probably not really interesting to you unless you've had stomach ulcers, but I took this picture in class when they gave the lecture on the bacteria and I figured if I don't share it here, no one will ever see it.  Sad, right?  Whatever, I'm a nerd.  I admit it.  Anyway, the yellow things in the picture are the bacteria.  Everything else is your stomach lining. Medical art is pretty cool. =)

After the exam, I tried to convince my roommate that he needed a puppy.  Yes, I used the word need.  I don't think he's actually gonna get one, but I somehow managed to get him into the pet store!  They didn't have puppies to play with today, but they DID have this bunny.  I loved it and probably would've tried to convince my roommate that we needed this too, but (a) he was too busy getting bit by a ferret and (b) I saw little poop balls and all cute points were then null and void.

After the pet store expedition, we had to go back to class.  Our lecture was on ethics and religion in medicine.  We had 5 guest speakers: a buddhist, a hindu, a rabbi, a priest, and a molana.  It sounds like the start of a bad joke, huh?  It was a little interesting, but mostly I wasn't paying attention bc (a) I never got my nap, (b) a student in my class began to get philosophical about the uselessness of hope and I was sure if I listened I'd get gas, and (c) the following text message conversation happened with someone from an unknown number:

Unknown: You are the dumbest person in the entire free world.
Me: Likely.  Who is this?
Unknown:  Sorry that message was meant for Classmate's first name dumbass Classmate's last name.
Me:  No problem.  That's fair.  Still.  Who is this?

Unknown: His sister in law.

 ...That is all I have to say on the matter.

THEN, my baby sister took me to a yummy and fun dinner which provided me the strength I needed to....study and clean my room.  It just sparkles, doesn't it?

Next test is Friday.  I'm hoping it's another day like today.

Foundation and Applications of Clinical Reasoning Test tomorrow

As a first year med student you don't learn all that much clinical information.  What little clinical information you do learn is usually only given to you to illustrate some basic anatomical/physiological/histological/biochemical/microbiological concept...EXCEPT in the final I have tomorrow.  I usually can't diagnose anyone with anything other than the common cold or muscular problems with any sort certainty, however if you suspect you have any of the following ailments, I'm your diagnotician!!  WOOP WOOP!!

• Complement deficiency
• Arnold Chiari malformation
• SCID
• Horner's syndrome
• Clostridium botulinum infection
• Incontinence
• Necrotizing fasciitis (DO NOT GOOGLE THIS...unless you have a strong stomach)
• Brain hemorrhages
• Measles
• Strabismus
• Meningitis
• GERD
• Herpes
• Gallstones
• Bacterial respiratory infection
• Infective endocarditis
• Thyroid disease
• Viral respiratory infection
• Helicobacter pylori infection
• Sheehan syndrome

So basically we're looking a some basic stuff....and of course a few zebra cases.  If you suspect any of the aforementioned diseases....HOLLA ATCHA GIRL!  And I'll refer you to a specialist. =)

The Peanuts: Ode to the Single Lady (Take 2)

Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends

For any of you considering going into med school, here's a little piece of advice that will save you a lot of time:  DON'T BE FRIENDS WITH YOUR CLASSMATES.  You also should most definitely not date within your class, but that is a different story for a different time.  Med school is like high school without curfews.  I'm not gonna go into details bc that would make me as dumb and childish as my "colleagues" (yes...they make sure we call each other that here)...BUT I will tell you this.  Trust me: 95% of the people you are friends with in med school are not really your friends.  The remaining 5% that are the ones who you don't actually study with or share material with. The ones you talk about non-scholastic stuff to.  They MIGHT be your friends.  But proceed with caution  This is the rarity based on the theme of "gunner-ism", or worse "sniper-ism" that you will encounter in your courses.

Your real friends will continue to be the ones you've always had.  The ones you rush off to see as soon as schools over. Even if they live in Gainesville, Tampa, LA, NC, Naples, or TX. (Or soon Barcelona.) The ones who have played with your hair while you've cried on their lap watching Mulan.  The family who listens to you yell and complain about your med school friends for 30 minutes when they really just called cuz they missed you.  The dad who begs you to let him provide an ipad for you bc he thinks it'll help you.  The sisters who never question why you can't talk on the phone, but are ready to drop what they're doing to listen.  The friends who jump on the opportunity to see you when they visit or when you ask them to lunch bc they legitimately love you and try their best to understand your lack of time.  DO NOT IGNORE THESE PEOPLE.  If it's a choice between med school friends and pre-existing friends/family....always ALWAYS choose pre-existing friends and family. 

Save yourself the emotional push and pull of med school friends.  You want your heart to be intact and your altruism to be at the forefront on your list of qualities when you enter your career.  (And on the rare occasion when you get to see your pre-existing friends and family.)

Never take an aspirin while holding a dead gorilla head.

I learned that as well as many other random real life pearls while studying for today's microbio exam.  Try to avoid inhaling rat excrement.  Black vomit is always a bad sign.  Oh yes and despite safe practices and abstinence, everyone (yes EVERYONE) has STDs...Just from being living and breathing.  Don't worry, you'll never notice and you'll probably never show signs, but rest assured at least one of your friends knows ; )

Winter semester is almost over!!!  Only 2.5 short weeks until those butt clowns I go to school with can no longer ask me "What's this test gonna be like?", "Did that teacher give you a hint?", etc.  I will be...drumroll....A NORMAL MEDICAL STUDENT!!!  That's also an oxymoron.  The downside to that is that my classes that begin on May 10th will be grossly more intense, but you know what I'm totally ready to get started.  The sooner I start, the sooner I"ll be done and in clinics! Time is totally flying.

In other news...  There is none.  I studied the entire weekend...lol.  I miss you guys!  I'll make up for my lack of communication over the past few months and the future few months by providing FREE HEALTHCARE when I'm done.  =)

Rachem's right

I'm really more of a green person. 

Expect an update later today.  Right now I'm all about microbiology.  =)

Primum non nocere

We'll see...

Well here goes...  My first attempt at blogging.  This will probably be somewhat similar to every attempt I've ever made at having a journal: write without fail for a few days and then forget or get stressed out over it and stop caring.   

Your mind is probably filled with questions like: "Why am I here?  Why is this happening?"  I understand the confusion...  Allow me to explain.  Med school owns me.  From the hours of about 7 am to 1 am the next day, I'm at the mercy of the body, learning about its processes, and itching to learn how to fix it.  I can only really socialize through text randomly throughout the day and the occasional 1 am phone call (which oddly, only my LA loves appreciate...lol).  So I'm hoping that I can catch you all up on my life through this.  I hope you'll comment, email, or even make you're own blog about your life.  They make great 5 minute library break material for me!

btw - I complain about the lack of free time and lack of a social life, but let me tell you, there is NO WHERE I'd rather be right now than in med school.  I'm tired, prematurely aging, and probably getting fat, but this is my niche.  It's making me lose all concept of socially appropriate conversation, but I'm loving it. <3

If you received this site from me personally, it means that I like you better than everyone on facebook.  =)

If you wondered upon it by chance, I'm so sorry.  =)  Hope you enjoy it anyway! lol

Love, gatshadoc