My Freakishly Straight Hair

Okay. So yesterday, when I was supposed to be reading for my IC2 simulations and Micro exam, I was sitting in a salon north of Manila and let my hair stew in a cocktail of chemicals to give it a lifeless, freakishly straight body. In fairness, I brought one of my 'bayong' bags and brought Bates and Jawetz with me -- but lo and behold -- despite being chained to one of those salon chairs for three straight hours, I didn't finished all that I have to finish and ended up cramming for the exam and praying to the Microbiology gods to spare me from the yet another pitiful exam score.

The kind attendant told me that I should not wash my hair for two days. But if you live in the middle of the hustle-bustle of Manila, you too, like me, would ache for that bottle of suds and wash the pollution off. But since I spent almost four thousand to have this slick and intimidating freakishly straight hair, I fought the urge to wash my hair until Wednesday.

My freakishly straight hair and I went through a tough day today. We had IC2 - Peds simulation. I painstakingly waited for my turn to examine the peds patients -- which happened around 12:30 pm. Then I had to cram through my microbiology handouts for the exam at 3. After that, I had to attend a briefing for the US Ambassador's visit to San Beda tomorrow. I'm tired but I'm trying to read ahead on my Pharma lessons as well as IM. So much, too little time!

But well...

Anatomy of a Medical Student's Room

This is my third year of living in my own unit alone. The first year was the year when I worked in UP Diliman. I used to live in this mini condominium building along Katipunan Avenue. Just across Ateneo's Blue Eagle gym. Last year, I moved to the place I am staying now because it is nearer my new school. It's not as good as my unit before but after weighing the pros and cons, I made the big move from Katipunan to Mendiola.

My new place have gone numerous interior designing -- from my Yaya, from Mom and of course, me. And it's current design -- if one can call it 'design' is as seen above.

Introducing the anatomy of a medical student's room during exam season -- sometimes not just during the exam season. This shot is taken from the 'study' angle and not the 'kitchen' angle. Which, I believe is much, much worse.

Legend:

1. BS grad pic -- to remind me where I came from.

2. A variety of highlighters, pencils and colored pens.

3. 'Baby' Books -- Guyton's Physiology, Bates' PE and Hx Taking, Harrison's Manual of Med, Robbin's Pathological Basis of Disease, and G and A notes.

4. Robbin's Pathological Basis of Disease is the book of the night when this shot was taken. Rotates with Harrison's, Williams OB and sometimes Nelson's Peds

5. Stack of transcripts, handouts and printed powerpoint presentations.

6. The only sneak peek into my kitchen -- the microwave. Lifesaver during times sudden hypoglycemia in the middle of the night.

7. iPaq -- the PDA that's keeping track of exams, lectures and extra-curricular stuff.

8. More trans.

9. Printed calendars from MS Publisher. For easy, quick reference guide to schedules.

10. The bed. Sometimes doubles as extension of the study table, extension of the dinner table (if my books have invaded it also), couch (for when my friends come over, and yes, sometimes I sleep on it, too.

That is just part of it. Maybe next time, I can show more. But that's all for now.

Risk Factors

The council president and one of my newfound friends always tell me that I have an Alpha personality. Also known as Type-A personality. And from our Pathology lecture last week, it seems that people like me have higher incidences of having atherosclerosis. And lately, I haven't been sleeping well because of those accursed long exams. The list goes on. And to top it all, I found a new way of coping with stress -- eating. Well, it's not really uncommon, but I have been steadily gaining weight since the semester began. I seriously need to lose weight.

As the CoM's official representative to the APMCSN-NCR, I am more than required to attend this year's med student summit, this year's theme is about healthy lifestyle and the paradox of health that a medical student lives. To add insult to injury, though I am not yet board-certified (haven't taken the national licensure exams yet), I am a Dietitian. Only goes to show that my former mentor (and now, colleague) Prof. Tiangson-Bayaga was right -- being fit is easier said than done. Especially now that I always reach for those curly fries or chocolate fudge sundaes when I feel the pressure and demands of medical training.

Two weeks ago, I assessed my body's risk factors for CVD and DM and well... I don't think I need to say more. With the type of personality and body I have, I would have an express ticket to the cardiologist if I don't get my dietary habits to turn a healthy direction. Even my pulmonologist -- who I always run to when I have a cold for more than three days -- told me to lose weight. Like I said, it's easier said than done.

Yet here I am again, staying up late to revive this old blog, sitting on a stack of medical books (Robbins, Harrisons 1 and 2 and Williams to be exact), and craving for that huge slice of double chocolate cake in my ref, longing for the day when things in med school will normalize.

But then again, I guess this, together with risk factors of lifestyle diseases, is what is normal.

Before the Break...

Some reminders before the break starts:

1. Our scheduled enrollment is on the 20th of October. There will also be a late enrollment on the 29th and 30th. Please be guided accordingly.

2. I am working on having our retreat set on November 14th. Final decision will still be from the campus ministry.

3. Starting this sem break, aside from my emails, all the announcements will be posted on my blog: myopposablethumb.blogspot.com. Bookmark it already. I won't be online that much during the break and I may not be able to bring my phone everywhere. (Noah needs R and R, too. hehehe) But any important announcements will be posted there or if it is really important, you will receive it through text.

4. Reminder to those who haven't taken the NMAT yet. Deadline for application for the December exam is this November.

That'll be all for now. God bless, good luck with the last exam for the semester and enjoy the break! First day of class for the second sem: NOVEMBER 3. Mind our new sched, okay?

Huling Hirit ng Gross Ana

Hi doctors! Here's the breakdown of Gross Anatomy 5th Modulars:

Coverage of Module 5 Lecture/ 80 pts total
1] Mediastinum / Dr Aleta / 12 pts
2] Heart and coronaries / Dr Aleta / 12 pts
3] Lungs and pleura / Dr Aleta /14 pts
4] Diaphragm/ Dra Mendoza / 12 pts
5] Circulatory system/ Dr Conjares/ 15 pts
6] Radioanatomy/ Dra Sharan/ 15 pts

Lab is 80 pts also.

Histology Batches will be posted on the bulletin board either on Wednesday or Thursday.

We will collect the World Mission Sunday envelopes on Friday.

And So The Semester Ends This Way

This is the UPDATED schedule for Med 2012. (As of October 12, 2008, 7:12 pm)

Monday:
**Submission of Clinics Take-Home Exam**

8-10 Psychiatry Exam:
Theories of Human Development
Concepts of Normality
Human Sexuality
Homosexuality

10 FIRE DRILL
**You have the choice not to join the drill pero please stay out of the campus pag ganun. Kasi if you're inside, you are required to participate.

3-5 Theology Exam:
**Bring yellow paper and bibles
Pastoral Care
Rule of Saint Benedict

Tuesday:

8-10 Family and Community Medicine Exam
Read the FCM handout distributed by Sam

10-12
Histology Review
Cardio Embryology Lecture

1-3 PHYSIOLOGY
CardioPulmonary System

Wednesday:
8-10 BIOCHEMISTRY
Porphyrins and bile pigments
Hemostasis and thrombosis
Fatty acid synthesis, Beta oxidation of fatty acids, Ketogenesis
Acyglycerols and sphingolipids
Cholesterol synthesis, transport, and excretion

1-3 Neurosciences
Cranial Nerves
Descending and Ascending Pathways
Radio Neuro -- Essay

Thursday:
8-10
HISTOLOGY Lect Exam

1-5
HISTOLOGY Lab Exam

Friday:
8-10
GROSS ANATOMY Lect Exam

1-5
GROSS ANATOMY Lab Exam

God Bless everyone!