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

Another Med School Joke

This one is from our Histo prof...   Three vampires go to a bar.  Waitress: (to the first vampire) "What would you like to drink?" 1st Vampire: "I vant a glass of blood" Waitress: (to the second vampire) "What do you want to drink?" 2nd Vampire: "I vould like a glass of blood" Waitress: (to the third vampire) "And, what can I bring you to drink?" 3rd Vampire: "I vant a glass of platelets" The waitress goes to the bartender to place the order and says "two bloods, and one blood lite"

More Cool Running Stuff

I know, I'm getting all crazy - two Blogs in one day (I should be studying)...  We learned a really cool technique in OMM today.  It's called muscle energy (a lot of physical therapists use it); it's one of the methods of treating restriction of motion.  Everything we learned today just happens to be perfect for runners - it all focuses on range of motion in the legs.  I sure am learning a lot about running lately...maybe that's a hint...  I'm going to use it on Brett to help get him ready for the run this Saturday; he's going to do great, by the way.  He has been working very hard.    Jen

Does That Count as Good Stress?

One of our anatomy professors always puts questions at the end of her power points; if she is lecturing the next day, and if she gives a quiz - it is usually over one of her questions from the previous lecture.  We had one of her quizzes this morning...when I got to answer C, I recognized it as the right answer - so I keyed it in on my key pad.  We have 10 seconds to answer and I had a few seconds left, so I thought I would read the other two choices.  When I read the answer for E, I panicked; I thought -crap! that's right, too!  I thought about changing my answer, but I knew that C was also right; then I ran out of time.  Both answers were right - she was trying to give us a better chance of getting the point (I think she feels a little sorry for us; we must look desperate for every point - I know I am).    Jen

Learning About Running...in Anatomy?

I am so exhausted...and my head hurts...but midterms are over (sigh).  I don't have anymore tests for 1 1/2 weeks!  That means I can actually study anatomy tonight (in case we have a quiz tomorrow).  I am really far behind in anatomy...and histo is really confusing right now - I did get two bonus points today, though :-)   Brett has been finding lots of new recipes to try for dinner; I get excited, and can hardly wait to find out what is for dinner each night; I've been thinking about it all day.  We celebrated our 6th anniversary on Sunday night with a bottle of champagne and one of his tasty dinners.  We both think it's a pretty big deal that anyone could put up with either of us for that long.    Brett is running in The Tulsa Run on Saturday.  I wanted to run it, but I haven't been keeping up with my running lately.  No need to get onto me, Dr. W, I haven't given up on running - I'm just taking a rest, for my sanity.  I'll be cheering Brett on from the sidelines, with Meredith - she has been working so hard for the run, but has a stress fracture :-(    I learned some interesting info in anatomy today that relates to running...  Why men tend to be faster runners than women (I've always wondered): Women have wider pelvis bones (for childbirth), our femurs (long bones in upper legs) have a greater angle (between the hip and knee).  This makes us less effecient runners.  The really fast female runners tend to have narrow hips.  This greater angle of the femur also makes women 4-6 times more susceptible to knee injuries (than men).    Jen

Trust Me, I'm Not a Doctor

We got a lecture today about our performance on the diagnostic imaging test...apparently it was as bad as we all thought (we don't have our scores yet).  Our prof said that we obviously don't know where the pancreas is...that the head is near the duodenum (first part of the small intestine) and the tail is near the hilum of the spleen (where the arteries/veins enter the spleen).  The good news is that I got both of those questions right.  We did not cover that in DI, but we just dissected it in anatomy - I'm not sure how most of the class missed it...  He went on to say that they (the professors) have failed us, and that he is sorry...it made me feel like crap...and I don't even know if I failed.    In anatomy lab, we're dissecting the pelvis.  My group is observing (the other half of the class is dissecting - we take turns), but it is still an unpleasant area to work on.  The next test is in 2 weeks, and we have almost 700 structures to learn for lab, plus lecture.  I can't even think about that now...   We're covering nutrition in depth in biochem, so that's really interesting (even for two straight hours).  Unfortunately, it isn't on this test.  Our current prof does his research in nutrition, so he is reporting the results of lots of "fancy" studies from "fancy" med schools (Harvard, Stanford...).  Apparently, Harvard is on the cutting edge of nutrition.  So, I feel like I need to lecture you all about eating enough Omega 3 fatty acids...  Eat lots of fish (as long as it wasn't corn-fed), walnuts, flax seeds, free-range or Eggland's Best eggs, or take supplements...it helps control cholesterol and it's anti-inflammatory.  You don't need to know what that means (trust me, or ask Brett - the details are boring, unless you're a science geek), just that Harvard (and lots of other smart people) think that's what you should be doing...   Time to study more biochem...   Jen

I am Not Falling for that Again...

We took our radiology (diagnostic imaging) midterm today (there is only a midterm and final).  We have been told the entire semester not to stress over this class, and that we hardly need to study - just come to class and listen.  The test was supposed to be "very easy", "almost laughable" and "see spot go".  Of course, no one studied very much...    During the test, I felt like a complete moron (this is a very famililar feeling for me), and was convinced that I was going to be the first, and only, person to ever fail DI.  I barely know what I'm looking at on any radiograph...  To my relief (somewhat), practically everyone else felt the same.  We have several profs for this class, and they all told us specific material that we would be tested over...but only about half of that material was actually on the test.  The other half included material that they barely mentioned and, definitely, did not emphasize (and maybe some material that wasn't mentioned??).  So, the very valuable lesson I have learned from this is that "easy" in med school is not the same "easy" that I'm used to.    Jen

Midterms...

I can't believe we are already halfway through the semester.  I only have two more histo and anatomy tests, and three more biochem tests (plus OMM and radiology).  I'm still not sure what to think of Biochem; it's hard to know, since we have so many professors who teach and test differently.    My histo test this morning went much better than the first one (huge sigh of relief)...I still have plenty of room for improvement, but I'm happy with my progress.  I'm also starting to get used to being tired all the time.  I was up late studying last night but, surprisingly, I have felt pretty good all day (except for a few pre-test jitters).  Plus, I feel a little less stupid today (I know that's poor grammar, but you get the point).    I'm taking most of tonight off from studying, and it feels really weird.  Today at lunch, I didn't have anything that needed my immediate attention and I felt a little lost, like I should be juggling eight different tasks.  It was funny; I couldn't just sit there and eat lunch - I had to find something else to do...   Jen

Lots of Bad Days...and More to Come

So far, I've had many more bad days than good...  Med school actually induces anxiety and depression; maybe they want us to be able to relate to our future patients.  Yesterday, I experienced the most anxiety I have ever had; I thought I was going to have a panic attack during anatomy lab.  I went home after class and cried...poor Brett...he tries to help me, but I'm the only one that can pass my tests and that's all I want - just to pass.    We got our anatomy scores back today.  40% of the class failed...and I am one of them.  The rumor is that they made the test harder, because our class average was really high and they had to bring it down (we have a lot of really smart people)...but that's just a rumor.  I think it's just part of med school.    On the brighter side (yes there is one, however dim it may be)...we took our OMM midterm today, and I definitely passed that one.  It was a really easy test, though; I would, literally, go home if I couldn't pass it.    Well, I'm off to find an anatomy tutor...apparently I really need one.   Jen

They are Very Tricky

I took my second anatomy test this afternoon.  As predictable, it was awful.  For the lab portion, we have one minute, at each of 50 stations, to identify whatever is tagged.  I'm sure I made several mistakes, but this one is really frustrating...the thoracic duct was labeled as a "vessel", which generally means it is a vein (but vessel is also correct in this case).  When I first looked at it, I immediately thought "thoracic duct"...but then I looked at the tag, which confused me.  I ended up writing down a vein that I knew was a wrong answer.  The worst part is that last night I told a classmate that if they labeled anything that low it was the thoracic duct, because it couldn't be anything else.  I had a similar "incident" on the first lab practical; they pulled the trachea out from the muscles in one of the cadavers, and tagged a muscle that was now behind the trachea.  I knew the muscle, but totally panicked and made up a name.  I knew it was wrong, because I invented it...but I wrote it down anyway.  Maybe the professors got a good laugh out of it. I love it here...I feel dumber every day Jen

Pancakes for Breakfast

A med school analogy...   They give you three pancakes for breakfast everyday.  At first it doesn't seem too bad, but then you start to get sick of pancakes.  Of course, you're supposed to eat them all before the test; if you don't, you have 60 pancakes to eat the morning of the test.    Those must be some really big pancakes...that you have to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner...7 days a week.  If we're talking about regular pancakes, I say bring it on.  I may hate pancakes for the rest of my life, but it sounds like a good alternative.    Jen

I'm glad I didn't know...

I would have never signed up for this if I had known what it would be like...but I am lucky to be here, and (in some sick way) I am enjoying it (a little).  Every day I go through the same range of emotions; I feel like a complete idiot (several times a day), I believe that there is no way I can actually do this (again, several times a day), and then I convince myself that I can (or I at least have to try).  And then there is the exhaustion, frustration (because my brain doesn't want to hold anymore information), and fear of failing...  Today was pretty tough.  I feel like "the slow medical student", and like school is kicking my butt (really hard).  I'm told this is all normal...what is this...a cult??    They say that you'll probably graduate, if you're still here in December (statistically).  So that's my goal - forget about GPA, or any additional work.  I can live with being the dumbest person in my class - someone has to do it.  I have never been such an under achiever before...   Jen

Procrastinating...

There are 5 stages that we go through every time we study for a test.  I'm still in the first one...for now...   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcdRT0Xv2RU   Jen

It's Orange Friday!

I get to go to the OSU game tomorrow, and I'm really excited!  Two of my classmates are going with us.  We have a biochem test on Tuesday, so we're going to study on the way there while Brett plays chauffeur.  That will probably be the most exciting hour of his whole day...  We are going to quiz each other, and we decided that Brett can try to guess some of the answers (so he can feel included)...it will be like a game show (great idea, Annie!).  Speaking of Brett, he has been incredible!  He makes me dinner, buys the groceries, washes the laundry, and buys me flowers.  He just keeps surprising me....  Tonight he has a surprise dinner planned.  It's funny, but I know my entire class feels this way too...I look forward to the smallest things...a tv show, a lunch break - sometimes just getting the full 10 minute break between lectures (we very frequently get shorted, because class runs over).  So something as big as a "surprise dinner", or a football game with friends is a huge reward, and it's close enough that it feels real.  Christmas break feels like a lifetime away... Jen

"Here, have a heart"

That's what one of our professors said as she handed me our cadaver's heart.  It's pretty amazing when you think about how much the heart does, and that it never gets to rest.  There are so many things that have to go exactly as planned...and that's just one part of the body.    We're also dissecting the lungs; two of the cadaver's had lung cancer - it had metastasized and there are tumors attached to the inside of the rib cage (one of those was a surprise - not listed as the cause of death).  We're learning about how cancer develops - it's weird that we can understand how it happens.  Our bodies are an intricate combination of delicate structures and exact reactions, yet we have so much resilience.  Even science proves that we can't be the result of some random accident.    Jen

Random Thoughts...

My study carrel feels like a jail cell...Dr. Page warned me about this...   We had our first mini practical for OMM today.  It was easy.  Finally, something easy in med school!!  I just realized that we have our second histo test and 2 midterms the second week in October; that's going to be a fun week.    They changed the radiology class drastically from last year, so none of us really knows what to expect.  We only have lecture once a week, the professors fly through the images, and we're not really sure what we're looking at...I have a feeling this is either going to be pretty easy, or really hard.    We sure do see a lot of abnormalities, considering we are supposed to be learning what is normal...and I love how all the profs act like we can absorb everything they say, and immediately translate it into a diagnosis.  They know we can't possibly know everything, but they have really good poker faces...   Jen

What Happens When...

You take a bunch of type A people, put them in a high stress environment (higher than normal), and expect them to perform in ways that seem impossible?  You create a very emotional environment...and med school is born...  It's only been a month, but it is normal (and perfectly okay) to cry at school.  It doesn't matter if you're in the middle of class (just don't disrupt the lecture), or in between classes (hey, we're type A; we can have a total break down, and be ready for the next class in 10 minutes).  I felt like crying right before the first histo test...    We've already had one classmate quit (he would've made a great doctor), and many others have seriously considered quitting.  They encourage us to support each other, because (no matter what your situation, or how you're doing so far) we all understand how this can break a person.  Everyone knows that med school is hard...but it is much harder than I expected.  No worries...that's normal, too.  I try to remind myself that they are very careful in the selection process - meaning that if they accept you, they know you can do it (some days that actually makes me feel better).  Now it's up to each of us to finish.   I don't even feel like a med student yet, but I do feel like I've been here a while...   Jen

Today was a Good Day

OSU is helping with the Cleveland Health Fair tomorrow, and I am working at the blood pressure booth in the morning.  I am really excited; maybe this will help me remember why I am putting myself through this...    I slept really well the last three nights, and felt great this morning (for the first time since school started).  I am still tired, but that is a vast improvement from the fatigue.    I think I have finally figured med school out...if you memorize all the notes before class you will probably get the bonus point (if there is one), and (even more importantly) you will understand what they are saying (since they go over everything at warp speed).  If you read over the notes and pay attention in class, you will be really lucky to get the bonus point (but you will still learn a little).  Of course, the catch is that you don't always have time to review the notes before class; even if you do, sometimes they post the notes right before class starts.  If you want to do well on the test, you have to memorize everything they give you (which is ridiculous), and I'm pretty sure they don't quite give us all the info they test on in histo (he has to make sure no one ever makes a 100%).  At this point I just want to pass...   Jen

Long Week

I know it's only Wednesday, but it has been a really long week and it's not getting any shorter...  My back has been hurting for a couple days now.  It must be the heavy books.  I need to find a second year who needs to practice some OMM. Happy Birthday John!!! Jen

Stinky

Brett has "lovingly" nicknamed me stinky.  On top of that, I smell dead people wherever I go...good times.  Brett fessed up that it's happening to him too.    In the first 4 weeks of school I have learned that my right clavicle is bigger than my left (because I'm right-handed), how to locate my PSIS (just above butt), and how it feels to study relentlessly, learn a lot and still fail a test :-(   I also just said a bad word trying to pronounce an anatomical structure (at least I caught it before I said it in anatomy lab).    They say that every test in med school is like a final (you cover the same amount of material in 3-4 weeks that you cover in 4 months in undergrad).  I'm really getting that now...  Of course the material is different...my undergrad biochem class was the hardest class then, and it's the easiest now...   Everyone says that the first month is the hardest...does that mean it's magically going to get better this week??  I really hope so.    Jen

Drowning

I haven't even been here for a full month, and I'm already failing med school...  The histo test completely blindsided me; I have never taken a test like that before.  I took the lecture portion first.  The questions were ridiculous...I was second guessing the ones I thought I knew, wondering if he was tricking me.  I felt like I literally didn't know anything (and I studied really hard).  I keep wondering if anyone has ever made a "zero".  By the time I got to the lab test, my brain was mushy; I didn't know my right from my left (I couldn't even tell the difference between a plasma cell and a mast cell, and forget about what they secrete).    Before the test this morning, I was hoping (praying) for a passing grade; now I'm just hoping for a "high F".    Jen

Like Living in a Bubble

We can wear scrubs to class every day, if we want, and there are certain times we have to wear them.  So, I've been wearing them 4 days a week (those are the days I have to either change into my anatomy scrubs (yes, I have a special set because they smell so terrible), or wear scrubs to OMM lab.  It's actually really awesome, because I don't have to pick out what I am going to wear (except Fridays) and it's like wearing your jammies to class.    This morning I could smell the "cadaver smell" in our office, and I think my car is starting to get that smell...    I also bought a new backpack (from the bookstore at school - who knew they carried that stuff?  Doesn't everyone already have a backpack??).  This is how exciting my life is now...I think there have been a half a dozen hurricanes, an upcoming presidential election with VP nominations (finally), and something about Houston having to evacuate...but I'm completely protected from that outside world.  It's like I'm living in a bubble...   Jen

Joke

Why wouldn't the skeleton cross the road?

Because he didn't have any guts

Jen

One of Those Days...

This morning, I locked my key in the car (luckily, I was still at home and I just had to find the extra key).  I had to do OMM (manipulation) during lunch - we each have two of those during each semester; so now I'm starving (it was pretty interesting, though).  The zipper on my backpack broke.  I've been fighting with this zipper for years, so it was coming...  Well, things could definitely be worse...I'm still here.   We have to learn the dreaded brachial plexus, which is a very complicated mess of nerves...but I found a really cool PowerPoint that simplifies it, so I'm hoping that will help me learn it much faster.  I think we might have a quiz on it tomorrow...   We've started dissecting the chest and arm in anatomy lab.  There is a pretty thick layer of fat over the upper arm in our cadaver (considering she was so thin).  We have to be careful when removing that fat, because there are superficial nerves and veins that we want to preserve.  One of our profs showed us a technique of rubbing the fat with the handle of the probe, so that it kind of melts and sloughs off - it looks vile, and almost initiates my gag reflex.  Oh well, time to go get dinner.   Jen

Welcome to Med School

Anatomy just kicked my a**   Jen

Learning to Swim

I'll probably sink through the next two exams, but I think I'm starting to figure out how I need to study.  Part of what makes the first round of tests so tough is that we have no idea what to expect.  I think they tried to ease us in with biochem; they gave us review questions that were a similar style to the test questions.    We have a pretty good idea of how the lab practical will go tomorrow...we have to identify 50 structures out of over 300 (if you leave out an important description, like left superior or posterior belly of...you miss it; if you spell it wrong...you miss it).  The tricky part is that you can barely see some of the structures, and you are supposed to know what it is based on location.  Plus, some of the cadavers have variations from the norm and we are expected to be able to figure that out.  And then there's the smell...two of the cadavers smell pretty bad; one of them was embalmed incorrectly, and they are going to replace it after this test.   None of us have any idea what the lecture questions will be like, and we are overwhelmed with material and sources of information.  One classmate compared it to a crap shoot...  I haven't heard of anyone who feels prepared for this test...that makes me feel a little better.   Jen

"I see dead people"

Well, that's a given...apparently, I also smell like dead people (see, you guys don't miss me as much as you thought you did).  Brett has been complaning of a "funny smell" in our upstairs office for about a week (where I do most of my at-home studying); everytime he goes in that room he says it "stinks", and he proceeds to look for the source of the offensive odor.  Of course, he never finds anything...and I can't smell it.    The first week of school I could tell if someone had been in the lab, and I still occassionally get random whiffs of that lovely odor (even when I haven't been in the lab for a couple of days).  A few times, I even thought my food tasted like it (that just goes to show how much affect smell has on taste).  That smell doesn't wash out - I can smell it in my lab scrubs and coat fresh out of the dryer.  It looks like Brett has a very long, smelly semester ahead of him...   Jen

Friday!

I am so glad it's Friday!  Friday night is "date night", so Brett and I actually get to talk for more than a few minutes.   The first home OSU football game is tomorrow - Go Pokes!!...and I will be studying anatomy :-(  I think I will get to go to 2 or 3 games this year, though :-)    I've decided that medical schools are a secret branch of the military (everyone always says the military breaks you down, then builds you back up the way they want you).  That's why they try to fail as many of us as possible on the first anatomy and histology tests; the second years say they are trying to humble us.  It's really not necessary, though; I think most of us already feel humbled....    Jen

"That's Jacked Up"

Try not to be offended if your doctor ever tells you that something about you is "jacked up".  That's an actual medical term; I know this, because they taught it to us in school.  The first year you learn what is normal, so that later you can identify what is "jacked up".   I officially passed my first med school test.  No time to celebrate, though...onto anatomy.  I love how the pictures in anatomy books are so colorful, clear and concise - and everything is exactly where and how it should be; it is nothing like that in lab.  Sometimes it's hard to tell if you're looking at a nerve or an artery (they aren't really bright red and bright yellow, as Netter's (anatomy book) would have you believe).    We did a small lab review today (for the practical portion of the test on Monday).  It's a really good feeling when you can't name the structure in front of you.  Probably most of my class is a little panic-stricken (but the second years keep telling us that the first histo test is the snake that's going to bite us all).  I vaguely remember being really, really excited to start school...   Jen

Post Test

I think I passed the first test - I probably got a "C", which is fine with me.  70 is considered "passing" in every class; 69 is "failing".  We should get our scores in 1 - 2 days.  He had some very tricky questions, and I think I made several mistakes...it will be interesting to see the answers. 

 

I have already started getting ready for our anatomy test...6 days and counting (really, closer to 5).  We have a lecture and a lab portion.  I think the lecture part will be the hardest - there is an incredible amount of information. 

 

Brett is bringing me dinner tonight at the school - yay (I'm starving)!!  He's such a great husband!

 

Jen

First Test

Tomorrow morning is our first test (biochem).  I'm starting to get a little nervous...there are only 30 questions.  The more I study, the less I feel like I know; I just realize how much I still don't have memorized.  I am meeting with a group of classmates this afternoon to review biochem, then we are going to the anatomy lab to identify structures on cadavers (that is the next test - next Monday).  So, the vicious cycle has already begun...we live our lives one exam to the next.  Tomorrow night I start prepping for anatomy.

 

Jen

Guilty Pleasures

I have two: sleep and not studying.  I'm not staying up all night studying, or anything like that; I go to bed at a reasonable time - I just don't get restful sleep every night.  In fact, I have had very few nights of restful sleep since orientation started 3 weeks ago.  Every Saturday morning, I realize how tired I am.  I feel like I am thinking about school all night, and when I'm not actually thinking about it I'm dreaming about it.  I've already failed a few tests, and didn't even show up for one...forgot about it. 

 

Speaking of tests...I think I might be a little overconfident about biochem.  I have seen almost all of the material before, so it is familiar (but I definitely don't remember the details).  I have also realized that I don't hate biochem at all; I hate memorizing structures and reactions and having to draw them on tests (all very useless in the real world, unless you are a chemist, or teach it).  We don't have to draw any structures for this class = much happier students. 

 

Jen  

I Can't Believe the Second Week is Already Over

This is pretty much how we all feel about the first test (biochem) on Tuesday...except, we're not actually biting our fingers...

Biochem did get a lot more interesting today - our professor is already tying in some clinical correlations - different sources of insulin, sickle cell disease, digestion and blood clotting.

In anatomy, we are learning about Horner's Syndrome (among many, many, other things). A typical symptom of this syndrome is one very slow reacting pupil (slow to dilate). Dr. W taught me that a tumor is one of the possible causes of this syndrome. Disclaimer: this is a very simplified explanation, and is meant for entertainment purposes only. It is in no way intended to replace the advice, or counsel of a licensed physician. Hey, if I can't pass med school, maybe I should go to law school...

Jen

Second Year Mentors

Each first year student, or MS1 (medical student, year 1) gets a second year mentor.  Some of the mentors are very helpful and give great advice, others not so much.  My mentor is awesome!!  She loaned me all of her books from first semester (so I didn't have to buy very many), and has given me a ton of great advice (now I just have to apply it all). 

 

I got a second bonus point in anatomy today (out of three so far), but not all of our clickers registered (so it didn't count)  :-(  We have another quiz in histo tomorrow...more studying...

 

Jen

The Pressure Builds

The pressure is definitely affecting all of us as the first exam approaches.  Our first biochem test is Sept. 2nd, and many of us (including me) have not even looked at the material outside of class.  We are far too busy trying to catch up in anatomy and histo...and I do mean "catch up".  Everyone I have talked to feels like they are one week and two days behind.  Most of the students have probably never even failed a test, and most of us will fail at least one test during our first year.  The good news is that, apparently, you can fail a test and still be in the top 20% of the class; that is what the second years in the honor society tell us, anyway.  I wonder how many tests I can fail and still pass...?  I have also talked to several second years who said they failed the entire first round of tests (and they still passed!).  So, there is still hope!

 

Speaking of grades...pretty much every student in my class graduated at the top of their class in undergrad.  Only a handful of us get to be at the top of the class here - don't hold your breath for me; at this point, I just want to graduate (without remediating - repeating a year). 

 

Time to play more catch up with anatomy...

 

Jen

Our Cadaver

Today my group finished our part of dissection for the first test; the next week of anatomy labs will be like a vacation!  We get to "observe", which means "study" for our two-hour lab period.  They have to start on the neck, which is really hard (because there are a lot of important structures crammed into such a small space).  Four of us would work on the back at the same time, but only one - two people can work on the neck at one time.

 

Our cadaver was an 80 year old woman who died of sepsis (that's an infection of the blood - if you watched The Sopranos you know that Tony had sepsis, but lived).  She was thin and had some huge lower back muscles (longissimus thoracis and multifidus muscles).  Don't feel bad if you can't pronounce those words; I can't pronounce half of the structures they give us; they tell us not to worry about pronunciation - that doesn't get us extra points.  All total, there are 11 cadavers for us to dissect and two that are already dissected (for us to use as a reference) - they smell really bad.  We have to be able to identify the structures on any cadaver, x-ray, MRI, skeleton, ect. 

 

My meal schedule has been very irregular since school started.  I eat whenever I have time, so sometimes I don't notice that I haven't eaten for a while until I get really hungry.  Apparently I'm not the only one...my whole dissecting group was famished during our dissection, and we wondered if there was something wrong with that...

 

Jen

Thank You!!

I am really enjoying the weekend - probably too much.  I studied for a couple of hours last night, but mostly vegged in front of the tv.  Then I slept for nine hours (so awesome!), and ran 10 miles this morning.  I am hoping to get a 10 mile run in almost every weekend; I want to run the Tulsa Run and maybe the half at Route 66 - we'll see... 

 

Brett is in Crested Butte with his parents (hopefully, they are all having a wonderful time).  We have designated Friday night as "date night" - starting next Friday.

 

Thank you all for the nice emails!  I am very lucky to have such a wonderful support system. 

 

Okay, now I'm procrastinating...time to get back to studying.

 

Jen

 

 

Bonus Points

I have made it through a whole week of classes, and I got home before 5:00!  I am so tired.  I was fighting to stay awake in biochem today; no one should have to think about biochem for 2 consecutive hours. 

 

We have bonus point quizzes in histo and anatomy lectures and labs.  I haven't had any in anatomy yet, but two of the profs hinted that we might have quizes Monday and Tuesday.  In histo, they ask 3 - 6 questions for 1 - 2 bonus points (you have to get 3 right to get one point, and 6 right to get two points - if you're wondering, 5 correct responses is still only worth one point.  These points are highly coveted, because they can add an entire letter grade.  They are very hard to get - I have only gotten one point so far (pretty good considering I have no idea what I'm doing, and we only have class and lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays). 

 

My group stayed after class today to finish our presentation (we get out at noon on Fridays).  It is on breast cancer; he gave us several questions and objectives.  I found a picture of some breast cancer cells to use as the slide background - I am such a nerd.  FYI - histology is the study of microscopic tissues. 

 

Jen  

Tomorrow is Friday!!

I am so excited that it is almost the weekend!  I have already survived four (very long) days of med school!  No, I'm not looking forward to vegging; I'm excited to have an entire weekend to study; in fact, I have never been this excited about studying in my whole life.  So, that's what med school does to you - it turns you into even more of a nerd... 

 

I have a great dissecting group.  We are a little ahead, which means we don't have to dissect again until Monday.  Tuesday the other half of the class (labs are divided into two groups) gets to dissect (for about a week, then it's our turn again), and we get to observe after they are done.  I am looking forward to that, because dissecting takes up so much time outside of class.  By the way, the cadavers are really greasy - it is disgusting!  I used to think that they called it gross anatomy in reference to learning the structures, but now I know it is because it is actually a very gross thing to do. 

 

Well, my studies are waiting...

 

Jen

 

 

To be continued...

That is apparently a phrase one of our professors uses to hint that the material will be on the test.  Some of the classes have multiple profs so, potentially, each test could be written/graded differently (since each person has his/her own style). 

 

I found out a few hours ago that we have group powerpoint presentation in histo that is due Monday (but he would like them to be turned in by Friday).  He mentioned that we would have a presentation on Tuesday, but didn't give much info. (tomorrow is the second lecture for that class).  I think he is trying to give us a hint...that we need to step it up. 

 

OMT is my new favorite class (osteopathic manipulation therapy).  That is where we learn how to make adjustments.  Today, we learned and practiced some stretches and breathing exercises (the point was to relax, and ease tension).  She turned out the lights at one point, had us lay down, and said that it was okay if we fell asleep (while we practiced the breathing) - a few people always do.  I'm pretty sure that will be the only class that it will ever be okay to fall asleep in...

 

Tomorrow is another long day; lots of anatomy and histology.

 

Jen

Study Break

I'm prepping for tomorrow's anatomy lecture and lab at my study carrel in the library. There are only 60 something carrels for the first and second years (about 200 students). So, several of us came in the Sunday before classes started to sign in and wait until 5 pm - when they let you choose your carrel. It's pretty nice; I have my own little desk that I can leave my things at, and no one messes with any of it. This is the first library I have ever been in that allows food and beverages - I mean snacks, meals, whatever you want.

One of the second years is holding a tutor session tonight to help us prepare for histo tomorrow. I don't know how the second years have so much free time. They are all so nice, and offer to help us anytime.

More later.

Jen

Sink or Swim

It's like someone has tied rocks around my feet.  I feel like a complete moron; I think maybe they made a mistake when they let me in...oh yeah, my hands smell and I'm tired.  I can't wait for the weekend, so I can catch up on studying - I feel so far behind (and it's only the second day!!!)  Biochemistry, which was my hardest undergrad class, was by far the easiest lecture. 

 

On the brighter side: my group is pretty much caught up on our dissections (we have skinned the back, and dissected the superficial and intermediate muscles, nerves and arteries).  That means we don't have to dissect tomorrow!!; some of the second years put together a presentation full of things they wish they had known = gold; apparently, a lot of my classmates feel the same way I do...I'm not the stupidest person here!; Brett is taking care of everything outside of school (he deserves your pity); some of my new friends voted that Brett gets to bring us dinner at school once a week (he's finding this out with all of you).

 

I hope you're all having a great week!

 

Time for bed.

 

Jen

Day one...Anatomy Lab

It didn't smell very much... I barely know what I'm doing, we are all behind, and we're moving on tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the first full day of classes. Our histology professor wants us to read 92 pages in the book, all 108 slides, plus review the note packet and answer (and memorize) the 62 questions before lecture tomorrow. Some classmates have already answered most of the questions and posted them online, so that's helpful. This should be interesting...

Jen