Block 2 Week 8 (#9)

A significantly better week than last week. I had gone home the weekend and tried not to think about Medicine at all. It’s depressing to wake up and your first thought be medicine but I suppose that’s the life of a med student!I managed to have a good relax and have a cuddle with all the pets as well as seeing my old friends. We had a good catch up over a cafe breakfast, though sometimes I do feel detached from them, I know they have my back and I have theirs.
Monday

I managed to wake up “not tired” for the first time in forever. I guess the break had done me some good. Managed to make it through the morning lectures. My brain stops after 25 minutes (and its funny because it literally is that time every lecture) and for them to keep going 40 minutes after that does not d me any good. However, I managed to make notes for the first time in a while and although most of it has gone over my head, I am not worried.

We had the usual CBL and Anatomy sessions in the afternoon. Turns out everyone is as confused with the larynx and thorax as I am. However, our seminar made the lightbulb turn on for most of us with the use of a simple 3D paper model. It explained a lot that a single picture alone could not.

The evening brought something I had been looking forward to for a while. We went and practised suturing for the first time! The session was run by the Surgical Society and I practised inserting Simple Interrupted Stitches into a section of pig skin (the closest to human skin we can get). I also tried out a verticle mattress which was hard put produced a better cosmetic look than the simple interrupted. I need to work on my spacing of the stitch as I kept getting an overlap of the skin, it’s harder than it looks!

I also need to get used to holding the needle holders in the correct manner and not like you would hold scissors as I kept reverting back to this hold.

Tuesday

Tuesday brought about the visit of my first patient! Ok, there were no clinical skills involved but we travelled to the patient’s house and interviewed them about their condition. They were lovely and offered us some biscuits and coffee whilst we quizzed them on their condition. I was nervous but that quickly disappeared and the hour flew by. We then went to interview a charity that supports people with the condition we had seen and finally a nurse who cares for these types of patients in the hospital. ( I am sorry this is vague but I don’t want to risk breaching confidentiality).

I really enjoyed this long but interesting day. I was nice to finally get out of the lecture hall and I am excited to go back and present our case next week. I really enjoy these days as it reminds us why we chose medicine in the first place as although the science behind it all is interesting, it’s easy to lose sight of the end goal.

In the evening I had my student seminar where we went over what were apparently the “two worst lectures” in the entire year and now they are easier to understand. To say the student seminars are worth their weight in gold would be underselling them.

Finally, a couple of us headed into Coventry to see the new Fantastic Beasts film. IT WAS AMAZING. Abhi and I, just as equally crazy about Potter could not sit still during the trailers and I struggled to pick my jaw up off the floor at the end… who could have seen that plot twist coming ?!?!
Wednesday

Today was our day off and I’ve allowed myself a little lie in as I am just permanently shattered nowadays. I got to the MTC at 10:30 and prepared for a productive day… Except that didn’t happen.

I got one lecture done and just sat and started at the computer screen for the rest. Really need to re-think how I’m studying.

In the evening we had a Paediatric Neurology evening which was brilliant. The talks were really interesting and although I don’t see myself going into epilepsy – or was nice to hear from professionals in the neuro field. I wanted to ask a few questions but by the time it had finished I had been in the med school for 9 hours and I was ready to head home. Maybe next time.
Thursday

I got talking to our lovely cleaners in Tocil today so I was slightly later to the MTC than I would have liked to have been but I have tried out a new form of lecture review and it’s going well meaning that I might end up actually catching up on the 17 lectures I am behind on.

We also had a new case in CBL and I ended up being chair which meant that I had control of the session. I hadn’t really wanted to do it because I know I have the tendency to become a bit of a dictator but I think it went surprisingly well and we received some amazing feedback from our facilitator! I also got to do a bit of teaching on coronary arteries which meant having to learn them for myself in the split second before teaching them – with the aid of a dodgy diagram. However, I actually enjoyed this! I love teaching and it has got me thinking about medical education but that’s a thought I need to abandon for now.

I had clinical skills in the evening examining the thyroid exam. Again, I had will running us through the motions and again I found that I understood what was going on so much better than when I originally went into the session. We had a practise exam after and I managed to nearly tick all the boxes…. bonus!
Friday

A normal day at the hospital today. My Friday crew decided to break off into a different room for clinical skills so we decided to listen to Christmas music (less of we decided and I forced it upon them) during cardiac examinations. It was nice just to sit in a quiet room to do the examination that rather than shouting over the top of the general babble in the room. We got some cheesy pictures (more of my face because apparently my facial expressions when I could hear the heart were hilarious ….)

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Saturday

Time off !! I had my cousins wedding today and it was incredible to hang out with my cousins all day. We had a hilarious day especially at the wedding breakfast where we earnt our namesake as the Blackpool table. My cousin had given everyone a Krispy Kreme doughnut as a wedding favour which was demolished in 5 minutes at our table despite having just 20 minutes before been hunting down mini – beefburger canapes.

It was an incredible evening and I was glad to see all my family again.

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Sunday

Met with my best friend Rosie this morning and headed to the Almanack to spend my neuro soc prize! They had booked us in at 11:30 which apparently was too late for breakfast but they were happy to fit us in for lunch and the food was AMAZING. I’ve never been so happy to eat something my entire life. We had a good catch up but I was very aware of getting back to the Med School to do some much-needed work so unfortunately had to cut it short.

We are decorating the flat tonight so I won’t be at the uni too long. I got to have a preview of my medic uncles powerpoint and it actually made me love psychology again and I was recommended a book, of which I will probably never get round to reading but we can hope ! 😀

I feel like I have my spark back again (only took a week) and I am getting back on the horse. I am proud of myself for dragging myself through this week, not long till the most important birthday of the enitre year calling for lights to go up and cake to be eaten ….. my birthday 😉