Finals

10 Jun, 2009 |

Rolling through finals. So far I've passed the finals we've had, and pretty well. Now I just have to get through Pathophysiology and Pathomorphology. I'm much more worried about morph then phys. I've done pretty well in Pathophys, but morph is hard. I've made enough points to take the final, but I'm spending this week and next week studying everyday.

I think this year was the busiest year so far, but wasn't much harder then last year. In the past everyone was worried about Microbiology on top of the other classes. Except this year, in order to cut back on cheating, they had all the tests except the final as written short answers. That made us have to study a lot just to pass each test. Because of that, when it came to the final we barely had to revise anything.

Phys isn't so bad, at least not in my group. The teacher does an excellent job explaining things. I'm going to revise my notes and his lecturs before that final. I'm pretty confident that I'll do okay.

Morph on the other hand is a strange beast. I'm not quite sure what to expect from that final. I'd go into details about the class, but I'd rather not right now. Needless to say, it's not my best subject.

Well, back to studying.

-John

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On Swine flu...

29 Apr, 2009 | Leave comment - 1

For everyone who doesn't know, please do not go to your doctor wanting antibiotics for the flu.
It doesn't work.
Flu is caused by a virus, not a bacteria. What you want are antiviral drugs.
For further reading:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm

-John

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Tired...

02 Apr, 2009 |

I'm well aware of the fact that I have not updated this site in months, but let me tell you. Being in class from 8AM until 7PM is no fun. By the time I get home, all I want to do is sleep.
Today, we got to see very sick children in the infectious disease ward of a hospital that's being closed for nefarious reasons. The story goes that this 100+ year old hospital, dedicated to the underprivileged sick children in Lodz from its onset, is literally collapsing. The truth, however, may not be so. It seems that the city has sold the rights to the land and they want it bulldozed down and turned into something else.

Yesterday we had patients, and last night they were evacuated for their safety. This morning during classes there were camera crews and protesters. The doctor teaching us today was nearly in tears explaining to us what happened. She really was very upset about what would happen to her department and the children.

Other things I've done:
Made several cultures in microbiology, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Both of which were Gram stained to perfection. Our teacher kept both slides. I'm quite proud of that. Examined several patients including some premature babies, a down syndrome baby, a girl with some form of congenital osteoporosis, a baby with a very bad staph infection, another with a bad heart murmur (I can't remember if it was a VSD or PDA now though) and lots of things that I can't even remember right now.

I'm actually doing pretty well I think. The only class I'm having trouble with is Pathomorphology. It gets me down sometimes, but I have to remind myself that I am doing good in everything else. Everything else being Pathophysiology, Pharmocology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology (which we actually finished last semester), and I think I'm okay in clinicals. I'm a little apprehensive with patients, but I try to follow the doctors examples as best I can.

So yes, for those that visit wondering what I'm up to, I'd like to you know:
I've been really busy
And tired.

-John

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Hi!

23 Jan, 2009 |

Yes I'm well aware about my inability to update this site as much as I probably should. Unfortunately I'm extremely busy with exams right now, so I still don't really have time to write. However, I have a link! So you can go and read another medical blog I found and I really agree with just about everything he writes.

DB's Medical Rants

Enjoy!
-John

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Twitter

07 Jan, 2009 | Leave comment - 1

I've added my Twitter feed to my webpage on the left there.
It's a quick and easy way for me to post short messages and pictures from my phone. You can also sign up for a Twitter account and receive updates whenever I update. If you add me, let me know and I can add you!

-John

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Wow

22 Dec, 2008 |

No updates in awhile, but to be honest I've been extremely busy.
It's finally The Holidays over here and I'm spending my time relaxing and unwinding. Only a few short weeks, then it's time to buckle down for finals and other things.

All-in-all, I'm really enjoying this year. It's a lot of hard work, but I actually feel like I'm doing medical stuff, not just reading books. Wondering around a hospital with a lapcoat, stethoscope, and badge really makes you feel like you're accomplishing things. When you're stomping around trying to find the best place to grab a coke and passing patients, the look that some of them give you is worth all the trouble. There's the small shimmer of respect from some of them; yeah they probably know you're still a student, but they also know that you mean business. You're here with a purpose other then getting well, and some day they may rely on you.

It's an awesome feelings, I gotta tell you.

-John

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