Saturday, July 19, 2003

I just got my Step 1 scores...I was in such a state trying to open the damn thing that it took me forever to rip off the stupid side panels and then I couldn't figure out where the hell my scores were because it looked like an example score sheet. So now you're experiencing the same angst that I felt but I PASSED!!! I got the average score and fairly close to the threshold for the most competitive programs but I'm just thankful I passed. So in the end, I'm glad I used up my luck on the USMLE and didn't win in Vegas (see previous entries about my theory of the distribution of luck on the space-time continuum). I can't freakin believe it! Now I can have a really happy birthday (tuesday the 22nd...checks and cash and other signs of adoration welcome...hey I'll even accept paypal). Well, I'm going to shower and get ready for Beers of the World party at my classmate's place. I'm so relieved! Everyday has had a brief moment of panic before opening my mailbox. I seriously almost cried in the stairwell up to my apartment as I looked at my score sheet. I'm a nut.
~me~ at 7:25 PM

Friday, July 18, 2003

So I told Heather about the many relatively young adults who already have missing teeth and she told me a joke: How you do know the toothbrush was invented in Rural Louisiana? Because otherwise it would be called a teethbrush. Okay, I admit, a very mean and bad joke but I did laugh. So sad. I had my annual female exam today. I like my doctor, she's quite nice. Two of my classmates have her as their attending physician for OB/GYN. Now I'm freaked that I may end up having her in the spring. I'm hoping they'll realize that the female students will have tulane doctors for their OB/GYN care. I don't think I could handle it having an attending who has already seen more of me than any other person out there. It weirded me out to have Dr. Sayes show me the HEENT and neck exam on me. In other words, I'm not examining anyone I know so don't ask. Okay I lied, I'll do pupils and ears and anything else noninvasive. I must say I like all the doctors I've seen here for my colds, gastritis, thyroid, and OB/GYN stuff. Perhaps I just luck out in who I see. Oh and while I was waiting for my turn to check out of the clinic, I flipped through my chart and guess what I found! Someone else's EEG record! Unless I had a moment where I suffered split personality and became a man with brain problems, I think it was a mistake. But with the new HIPAA policies, the record will stay in my chart and a new sheet will be attached saying it was a mistake to have the info in there because they're not allowed to remove info from a chart. I wonder what else was in there that wasn't mine...
Well, I need to eat lunch then go get my haircut.
~me~ at 1:34 PM

Tuesday, July 15, 2003

It's rather disgusting to think that one of the ways they used to diagnose Diabetes Mellitus in the old days (a long long long time ago) is to taste the urine. I mean, Diabetes Mellitus means Sweet Urine. That goes against everything you're taught about universal precautions but hey, those were the days before lovely lab equipment. Technology is nice. Actually, if you ever look up anything in a chemical book with all the properties of lab chemicals, you'll almost always see a description of the taste of the chemical...do you suppose it was hard to find lab assistants back then? Or did they use prisoners? Well good night world!

~me~ at 10:17 PM

Monday, July 14, 2003

Things I learned today:
1. it is not OK to write SOB in a patient's chart even though it stands for shortness of breath
2. Rough estimates in reading EKGs is okay
3. Even though you have to ask a bunch of questions, that doesn't mean you have to write all the answers down as spoken to you
4. I can't see crap in people's ears because I'm too short.
5. It takes more than 1 second to assess pitting edema and people with no patience will never detect it
6. Tofu scares people

Well, my dinner is about ready so I'm going to feed my face then study a bit then go to sleep. My birthday will be spent listening to people describe their illnesses. Maybe I'll get lucky and see a very disgusting bit of pathology. At least tuesdays start 30 minutes later than other days. I'm going to celebrate the following weekend.
~me~ at 7:22 PM