Adventure, or Lack Thereof

So I've had several days of whirlwind since my step2 ck.

Thurs: Step 2 CK. Long, long, long test (9 hours!) that wasn't as bad as I was thinking but not as easy as I was hoping. NBME has some type of psychic powers to put what you don't know ALL.OVER. the test. For me? about 10-15 acid/base disturbances and various questions that involved a baseline interpretation. Ugh. I suck at acid/base. When ph, CO2, O2 and Bicarb are all wonky and nothing makes sense (low ph, low CO2, low Bicarb I have NO IDEA what is going on) I just shut down. Hopefully I have improved my score (my goal is unrealistic like always and I'll be very happy to be at least 20 points higher than my step 1)

Friday: Relax/rehearsal dinner for my friend's wedding. Everything went swimmingly except my dad's best friend died. He was cherished by our family and we all felt as if he was part of the family.

Sat: Friend's wedding with an awesome reception! I think I spent about 2 hours on the dance floor, and sweat about 30% of my total body fluids. Fabulous time! I woke up sore on sun morning (and thirsty!)

Sun and Mon: wake and funeral for Papa. He will be greatly missed. I don't think my dad knows quite to do with himself which makes me sad. He was a wonderful person and I know that I will miss him (he was the best 80 year old smart ass on the planet :) )

Tues: hang out with cupcake queen who is back from Honduras! Just chillin and got some groceries

Wed: yet to be decided

Thurs: I START MY PATHOLOGY ROTATION! sooooooooo excited!!!! Kinda nervous knowing I need to make a good impression and work to get some letters. But finally so happy to be doing what I want.

So, unfortunately, I never did go on an adventure. I didn't want to miss saying goodbye to Papa. I have August off, so there will be plenty of time for adventures then and later in the year. I plan on going to St. Louis and Boston for some fun times. Or wherever I will float.

It's going to be a great year!

352 to go

25 y/o G0 female presents to clinic with intermittent palpitations, diaphoresis, stomach pain, SOB, dizziness, and feeling of impending doom. She has had 1 similar episode 1 year prior. BP registers 180/70 and 112/57 on two separate times during the visit. Patient appears anxious and continuously looks around the room nervously. PE is unremarkable. What is the best next step in management?

A. 24 hour urine metanephrines
B. TSH, free T4 levels
C. Prescribe Bupropion and schedule a f/u visit in 2 weeks
D.Frequent follow ups
E. no further management

352 questions to go (8 blocks of 44 questions each I believe) and it'll all be over! Then for an adventure, destination still unknown.

Good luck to all those that have yet to take Step! I'll be done at about 6 pm tomorrow. Mix of can't wait and OMGI'MNOTREADYHOLYHELL!!!!

Ready or not! T-17 hours.

Stigmata of the Brain

5 more days of study time left before I take Step 2. I seriously think my brain quit this bitch about Monday. Now whenever I try to read something I start staring at the pages and thinking of birds. If I try to push past the images of birds, I get the vague feeling my brain is beginning to liquefy in my skull, then tries to make it's escape through my eyeballs. So now I'm just left sitting with a book open, staring out a window/toward the wall/creepily at people with just the sound of crickets echoing in my head.

Onto better topics, I GET TO PUPPY SIT AGAIN! Yes, Red and Blue (my two favorite dogs in the whole world! I'm going to be sad when 4th year is over and I won't be able to come see them) for a whole 24 hours! I'm so excited. I missed the nighttime snuggles. Then tomorrow I start plant sitting for my future Surgeon friend. That'll last a whole week just about. Then THURSDAY is step, Friday is rehearsal dinner and Sat wedding of a dear college friend of mine. Then Sunday I leave for some adventure. either Dallas to visit Dr. Pathologist, or going to Pittsburgh with another friend of mine to crash her family vacay. Either way I'm getting AWAY from Jackson for a bit. Details on my adventure to follow.

So I suppose now I'm off to go and play with my buddies! I'm so happy! then maybe some more review and then MOVIE tonight. So excited. Hope everyone is enjoying their "vacation". See you on the flip side of crazy.

Mundane Ramblings

So I just finished my entire USMLE World question bank. And I still feel unprepared for this stupid test. There is something very scary for me, thinking that the results of this ONE test can have such a big influence on my career. It makes me sick thinking about it. Hopefully I just do better on 2 than I did on 1. My real goal is to improve my score about 40 points (but I know that's unrealistic), but we'll see. I always try to shoot for the stars.

I have had very few mental breakdowns, possibly because my study effort this time around is less than optimal. Although I did have a rough couple of days that involved public indecency, the fiancee of an ex, and just plain annoying family members. I appreciate all my friends who put up with me when I have my little breakdowns (and sometimes my ethanol-induced ramblings).Otherwise it's study, study, study. Nothing too exciting in my life right now.

World cup is in full swing, and I am so upset because this whole step thing is putting a damper into my soccer watching! I usually make it a point to watch 3 countries: Italy (the motherland), England, and Spain (my favorite team). Italy actually plays the day I take step and I'm sad. Now, I know a lot of people think that just because it's world cup I'm watching soccer. I've actually been a soccer fan all my life. unfortunately, I never was allowed to play on an organized team, but I've always enjoyed it. I like the intricate team plays and the teamwork necessary to score a goal. The athleticism in these men is just extraordinary and most times I am just in awe of the superb work (no, I don't drool over their physique. That's why I watch rugby :) ). As I realize most people watch world cup just because "omg it's world cup you're stupid if you don't watch!", I watch it because I actually like the sport. I wish the US was as supportive of soccer as other countries. I honestly don't think we belong in the world cup, but that's a different rant.

Anyway, I'm off to go read or maybe just take the night off (which has been occuring almost every night. oops.) Good luck to everyone! Hope step 2 will be better.

Cheers!

Seasoned

So far it's been a wonderful few post-board days. I was adventurous this morning and decided to go to one of the local parks to stretch my legs. Mainly because the school gym doesn't open until 1, but I also wanted to start getting outside more. I do love me some outdoors! Unfortunately I couldn't get my stupid Ipod-nike sensor working so I had to do without. Special kid over here had to come home and figure out how to get it into un-sleep mode ( I put it in sleep mode before boards knowing I wouldn't be using it for a few weeks and tried to save some battery power). I did get a good 3 miles of mostly walk. My run ended quickly with a massive side stitch that still refuses to go away. I guess the boards inflict more than just mental anguish. alas.

Tomorrow begins STEP 2 lockdown. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I once again trudge up to campus and lock myself away in one of those classrooms to toil away at NBME practice tests, First Aid facts, and USMLE world questions until my eyeballs fall out. However, I am going to try and preserve my sanity by getting out most days to go for a walk or something. It really does help with those natural endorphins and happy neurotransmitters. I also have to get my bridesmaid dress on my body (oops) and then down to a seamstress for tailoring (double oops) so I can  be ready to go the day after my step for my friend's wedding (triple ooops!) So that can offer a good break NEXT.WEEK so I can get that done.

I hope all of my fellow classmates are enjoying some well deserved time off. I'm pretty sad knowing that I won't be seeing some of my old groupmates anymore. As we all depart our separate ways, I know that for those who are closest we'll have to make some real effort to still get together. It's also crazy to think that this time, last year, we were new, fresh, and still had some spunk. Now wise in our post M3-ness, I see how we all have turned into the M4's that we once looked up to in awe thinking "omg how do they know to do that? how do they know so much? omg they are SO.SMART". That is now us, folks. It's amazing what we all have learned and endured in the past year. Cheers to US! I can also tell that I'm not as freaked out about STEP 2 as I was about STEP 1. Some of that I believe comes from the experience of living through (and surviving) STEP 1. Now I'm just approaching this test as a pesky hurdle standing between me and my Pathology rotation in july. Again, amazing what a year does.

With that, I'm going to lay down and rot my brain with some online cable TV. I'll see everyone on the flip side, or at least with the "I can't take it anymore" sanity posts that I'm sure will be making an appearance later.

Good luck to all taking STEP 2, STEP 1, and anything in between.

...between is a funny looking word if you really look at it....

Too Serious For Numbers

Courtesy of allbleedingstops.blogspot.com

0: Hi. I am not experiencing any pain at all. I don't know why I'm even here.

1: I am completely unsure whether I am experiencing pain or itching or maybe I just have a bad taste in my mouth.

2: I probably just need a Band Aid.

3: This is distressing. I don't want this to be happening to me at all.

4: My pain is not fucking around.

5: Why is this happening to me??

6: Ow. Okay, my pain is super legit now.

7: I see Jesus coming for me and I'm scared.

8: I am experiencing a disturbing amount of pain. I might actually be dying. Please help.

9: I am almost definitely dying.

10: I am actively being mauled by a bear.

11: Blood is going to explode out of my face at any moment.

Too Serious For Numbers: You probably have ebola. It appears that you may also be suffering from Stigmata and/or pinkeye.

I was tempted to point out that the pain scale only goes to Ten but it occurs to me that if you are in fact suffering from Stigmata then (and only then) you are entitled to a pain rating higher then ten

I think this week, I'm at the "too serious for numbers". I feel as if my brain is at the verge of meltdown. and I still have three weeks to go. ::sigh:: definitely stigmata of the brain. Or maybe it's just ebola. You never know what those PhD's are doing up on the 8th floor....

One more board to go. then step 2. Then PATHOLOGY!!! ::big, happy smile:: as well as epic "go visit all your friends before you become a resident" road trips. I'm sure many stories and pictures to follow.

Oh, and there's also Eclipse, as my friend HemeOnc Doc reminded me of this morning. I'm excited about our future date.

Here's to the promised year!