Tonsils...in the Brain?!?

Sorry I haven't written in a while.  I really haven't had much to say, besides how med school manages to make even the most simple things difficult - if you think tying your shoes is easy, we should talk; I bet they could write a test on it that we would all fail.    It has been a tough semester so far.  We have had two tests every week for a while, now...and neuroanatomy is not getting any easier.  We had a lab today on the cerebellum (part of the brain - for coordination of movements), and it was like starting over from the beginning; we didn't know what anything was (because we've all been studying for our imminent exams).    During our neuro lecture this morning, our professor was talking about different kinds of lesions (damage) in the cerebellum, and what affects they have on the body (loss of coordination in arms and legs...).  She said that the tonsils can herniate through the foramen magnum (the big hole at the base of your skull that your spinal column extends through) and that this is really bad and can kill you.  I kept wondering what in the world she was talking about.  We have learned about three different kinds of tonsils, and I knew she wasn't referring to any of those...but I was at a loss.  It wasn't until later, when I was studying for lab, that I learned the cerebellum has "tonsils" too; now that I know where they are, it makes perfect sense that they can herniate and compress the brainstem.    Jen

A New Year, a New Semester

Today was our third day of classes.  One noticeable difference this semester is that I didn't show up exhausted for the first day of class (following a really long week of orientation).  No matter, it is only Wednesday and I am already really tired; it feels like we started 3 weeks ago...    My class schedule consists of: Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Clinical Skills, Clinical Epidemiology and OMM II.  They offered a few electives this semester, and I am really interested in a couple of them...but they must be crazy...    Neuro has a reputation for being ridiculously hard - 33 people failed last year (1/3 of the class).  I really like the way the lab is set up; they put us in groups, give us brains and brain stems and have professors and second year med students move from group to group helping us identify structures and answering questions.  I think they are trying to build our confidence, so we fall that much harder when exam time rolls around...  Unfortunately, I'm not kidding - everyone, even other professors, has warned us about it.    Back to the real world...  I visited my second grade buddy today at lunch.  He started out pretty shy, but has become really talkative.  For just a moment, I could imagine him as a young adult with every opportunity available to him...I hope he really is that fortunate.    Jen

Ready for a Break

Wow...I am exhausted!!  We finished our last final today, and I am glad the semester is over.  I really thought they couldn't make the tests any harder than they have been all semester...lesson learned.  I think I'm going to have to remediate anatomy and histo next summer (I don't have my grades, yet), but they'll be much easier the second time.  I'm just happy I passed biochem...  We were all a little worried about diagnostic imaging (the supposedly "easy" class); we were all wondering what happens if you fail a class you can't make up (I don't know why there is no make-up - maybe because they're still working out the kinks).  There were only 67 points for the class (30 on the midterm and 37 on the final).  The last 21 questions on the final were all T/F...and all of the answers were true.  It really freaked us all out; we all panicked during the exam - thinking that there was no way all the answers could be true, and the profs were going to think we were idiots for answering true on all of the questions.  I read each question at least 3 times...    Tonight is the Holiday Ball, which is like med school prom...with alcohol...this ought to be interesting.  We're all really excited.  Now it's time for a nap...otherwise, I'll be asleep by 8pm.   Jen

It's Been a While...

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while...   Finals are rapidly approaching, and it is really hard to stay focused.  I keep dreaming about Thanksgiving and Christmas break...  Our last final is on Dec. 12th (Friday), and we have a Holiday Ball that night - I can't wait!  They say it's like med school prom...   Our school has an adopted elementary.  The kids are part of the underserved, who we (the college) are trying so hard to help.  They have a mentor program, and are trying to get a mentor for every child.  They ask that you spend 30 minutes a week with your child (bring them lunch, or play with them at recess).  I just started last week (I got sucked in when I helped with an ice cream social we hosted for some of the kids) - they are all so cute!!  I am mentoring a 7 year old boy.  He is very sweet, and smart.  The hardest part is that all the kids who don't have mentors, yet, all want to play and talk to the mentors (they all want their own mentor).  Some of them will grab your arm, and try to pull you away to play with them - it's heartbreaking.  When I was leaving last week, a girl followed me and asked if she could go with me...she had never even met me.  Some of these kids are in really tough situations; they may be abused, neglected, exposed to drugs or gangs...  :-(   Today in anatomy lab our profs hemisected the cadver heads (cut them in half, from top to bottom - the brains have already been removed; that's a whole other course).  Brett asked me why they do that...my response was "to make the test harder".  The truth is that they want us to be able to identify the structures in cross-section.  Still, there is something very wrong with seeing a band saw used on a human head (or any part of the body, for that matter)...plus, it smells a little like Fritos...but I refuse to let it ruin Fritos for me...  I am getting used to the "normal" cadver smell, which is much worse than it was at the beginning of the semester; now, I only notice the particularly offensive odors.    I hope you are all doing well!!   Jen

Eeeewwwww!!!

We're dissecting the legs and feet in anatomy right now.  Every time we have to skin another part of the cadaver - I can't help but think of Silence of the Lambs...    This afternoon I was working on cleaning the structures in the lower leg, when a piece of fat landed on my lower lip.  Completely disgusted, I think I let out some sort of shriek as I headed straight for the sink (while quickly peeling my gloves off).  My dissecting partners showed immediate concern - asking if I had cut myself and if I was bleeding.  I was too frightened to speak, for fear of the fat ending up in my mouth...  They were equally appalled and entertained when they realized what had happened.    Jen

Trying to be Positive

There's only about 5 weeks left in the semester.  It's hard to believe it's already November...    Few things from "the outside world" manage to penetrate my protected world...but I made a little time to vote and watch some of the reports on the election results.  I planned to vote when the poles opened, but there was already a really long line when I got there at 6:50; so, I went back after class (at 6:00) and there was no line - it was great.  As many of you know, I was hoping McCain would win...but I'm trying to be positive...I'm sure Obama has good intentions...I'll just hold onto that for now.   I'm still trying to adjust to the demands of med school.  A few things I wish I had known before classes started: the first anatomy and biochem test are (by far) the easiest - bank some points here (cause you'll need them later), they weren't exaggerating when they (everyone) said that there is nothing that can prepare you for what is coming, and that the rules for remediation might actually apply to me (I remember thinking "I don't need to know any of this", when they covered this during orientation).  A few of us are already worried that we might have to remediate anatomy over the summer...  I'm trying to look at the positive side of that, too...it means I'll really know my anatomy (which I'll need later, anyway), and I'd much rather repeat one class over the summer, than repeat the entire first year (I think that's what happens if you fail 2 classes - see, I told you I wasn't really paying attention).    The really frustrating part is thinking about how much I am actually learning, and knowing that isn't good enough.  I can tell you where a structure is and what it does, and still miss the test question or tag in lab.  Histo is similar; I can ID a cell or organ on one slide, but not necessarily on the test slide (it doesn't help when he changes the colors - yes, they actually try to trick us).  Brett came home after seeing Dr. N yesterday (I think that was yesterday - it feels more like last week), and he said she stretched some muscle from "here" to "here", and he couldn't remember what it was called.  Without thinking, I said "the psoas (pronounced: so - as)?  I told him it's actually the psoas major and he may, or may not, have a psoas minor (as his eyes glazed over).  It's weird how much variation we all have - that some people have muscles, arteries, nerves and/or veins that most people don't have.    I'm learning lots of really cool stuff...I wonder if I'll ever have time to enjoy it...   Jen

It's All Perception

While I was at my locker this afternoon, in the dark, a classmate walked in and asked me why the lights where out.  I said that I never turn them on, as long as I can see...maybe I'm just lazy.  She responded "you're in medical school - you're not lazy".  I really liked that response...  I feel like a lazy slug when I don't want to study (even though I've been in class all day).  I have never experienced anything like med school (I am certain that it falls in it's own class).  School started a little over two months ago, but it seriously feels like a year.  Ugh...   Jen