Today was a good day at the psych hospital. We started off with my supervisor telling us about how he once was interviewed for the national enquirer and Maxim magazine about water intoxication and polydypsia and how it was medically dangerous. He said that after the article came out with a guy with huge muscles injecting water into his arm in the photo accompanying the piece, he decided to never do that again. He then said that during that time he told his medical student as a joke that Julia Roberts called him because she wanted help with her water drinking addiction... and the student didn't know who Julia Roberts was!!! We spent a good while laughing about how he could go on Oprah or write a column for the newspaper.

I interviewed my first patient of my psych rotation yesterday and then another today - I am working on a locked ward and the people are quite sick so sometimes it's hard to interview them because they're quite delusional. I think I did an alright job of re-directing though. My resident is really nice and supportive, which has been great. Plus, I got an hour and a half for lunch today, which isn't too shabby.

I've been to the gym 3 times this week which is a vast improvement over the last six weeks of going approximately zero times. I'm gonna be buff I tell you!

My CaRMS application is so random. My research includes:

1. Signal processing in EMG - is correlation-based averaging best?
2. Finite element analysis of the human sclera - a pilot study
3. Biomechanical properties of the porcine anterior lens capsule
4. At your cervix: what teens need to know about the pelvic exam
5. The ___ hospital sexuality survey: What role do mental health professionals see sexuality having in psychiatric well being

I guess I can say I explored lots of options... ophthalmology, radiology, public health, psychiatry... it makes you look back and what you've done and say "why don't I remember any of that"!

Dreary days

Oh my have I ever had a hard time getting out of bed these last few days. Daylight savings time please come and rescue me. Plus, it's been raining non-stop which doesn't help.

I really want a sunrise alarm clock which slowly starts turning on a light in your bedroom 15 minutes before you get up.



I think it would be such a better way to get up because when I was on ortho surgery and I had to get up at 5 I was able to do it because it was light outside. Unfortunately, they're expensive! Maybe I'll ask for one for christmas.

Today I started psychiatry... and by started I mean that I did 2 hours of psych and then having teaching this afternoon after which I do not need to return to the ward. Basically, it's pretty easy so far which is good because I have a lot of CaRMS and psych reading to do! The patients here are extreme examples of different psych diagnoses and even the two patients I did see this morning have been pretty intense. My resident is really really nice and that's good. I think I'm going to have to try out my mental status exam tomorrow! Better read up on that! appearance, affect, mood, speech, um... can't remember any of the rest of them! Oops!

Anyway, had a good weekend but again it was too short. Bought a new grown up coat that I hope will last the remainder of my life because it was expensive.

Finally going back to the gym today! It's been too long...

NBME is DONE!

Now I have to start concentrating on CaRMS. I have done all of my documents and reference letter things but now I actually have to start filling in the application! This is going to be tedious. Plus, I have to write my personal letters... which is hard. I have an example from my friend Andy and his is really good and mine are so far blank. Maybe I'll get inspired this weekend!

I admitted a really nice patient last week with a really nice family. As I'm on subspecialty, I don't actually take care of the patients I admit while on call but I always try to drop in on them and see how they're doing. So, that's what I'm on my way to do now after I pick up my car from its 700 dollar break job.

I also have to book my hotel room for family medicine forum. So much to do, so little time.

rash gone. exam tomorrow. freaking out.

I HATE THIS RASH!

I have a fine papular non-red, non-itchy rash all over my face and neck. Anyone have any ideas? I'm systemically well, haven't changed detergent or makeup or cream... face isn't bothered just bumpy.

fear

Ok... I confess... I am very afraid of the dentist. I have had lots of negative, painful dentist/orthodontist experiences and it makes me a little bit mouth-shy. I finally called a dentist in the city where my medical school is to get an appointment. This is a big step for me. I was flossing my teeth tonight and a bit of filling disintegrated into my mouth... that is worrisome. So, I shoved a mirror into my mouth to take a look and I think I'm missing a bit of filling form a molar. So, now I'm in the process of getting a new dentist. I hope they're gentle.

I have no idea how to get time off from school to actually GO to the dentist so I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I don't even know how long it takes to get a dental appointment. I guess sending the first email is the first step though... eek. I wish they gave ativan at the dentist.

Ok, I just finished my presentation for rounds tomorrow on neonatal lupus. It's a crapper but I just can't look at it for ONE MORE SECOND. So i'm going to have dinner now. And maybe a glass of wine.

Ben just left. We had a fantastic weekend. We went for a really nice hike in a conservation area near my house (university house), make spanakopita in enormous quantities, read books, snuggled, made curtains, went shopping and washed cars (well, Ben washed our cars while I studied). I hate it when weekends like this end. It's a small glimpse into what our life will hopefully someday be like and then it's taken away again by stupid school.

I have the internal medicine NBME exam a week friday and I have to do a presentation for rheumatology rounds tomorrow which I was told about on Thursday and haven't started. If anyone has any really great review articles on neonatal lupus, let me know.

Now I am 27.

happy birthday to me.

I live in a tree.

I smell like a monkey...

but I don't drink my own pee.

The age old question: is reading the book as good as reading the book and taking notes? Because, when your'e short on time, reading is a lot faster. But taking notes helps keep the eyes open.

Great weekends

Great weekends make for sad Sundays. Had a great pseudo Thanksgiving today (my Dad's away next week so we did it early) with family and pie and cake. Mmmm. Went to a really funny comedy show last night with Ben which was a really fun date. We haven't gone out just the two of us for a while so it was really good to actually go and do something instead of staying in and watching TV and complaining about how we never go anywhere. Ben called me tonight with some financial woes related to having spent a lot of money getting rid of his old car (much more than we both thought it would cost) and spending a moderate amount of money setting up house and getting the internet and things. Good thing I have some money set aside so all will be ok. Thankfully my parents are very financially supportive of us both (thanks Mom and Dad) and we can help each other out of semi-crises like these.

I also went and got my veil and tiara on Saturday (did i put in here that I got my wedding dress 2 weekends ago?). I'm glad to have these things organized but on the other hand, sad that the experience of shopping for them is over. I really want the wedding to come quicker, but I'm sure in a year's time it will have seemed to go quickly.

Anyway, I"d better go read some rheumatology to prepare for tomorrow's new block!

Studying for my medicine NBME is going very slowly. Much too slowly. I'm just so busy with CaRMS stuff and being on nephrology which is quite a busy service that I get bogged down. I really need to get some work done this weekend but I find it very hard when Ben's around because I don't get to see him during the week.

My family is celebrating thanksgiving and my mom's birthday this weekend. Happy birthday mimsy!