The C and the P's

Causes of Hepatomegaly can be remembered by stuff that works with C, such as cirrhosis, CCF, Cancer and then chronic hepatitis and cysts.

Ascites can be rembered by words that start with P, such as Portal Hypertension, protein loosing states, pancreatitis, pericarditis (constrictive) and something else which I can't post here as I cant read my handwriting on the piece of paper I scrawled it down on.

Hope this post counts for revision. Am going to revise for another half hour and then go for a run

Looming

Eight day untill the exam, eleven days till the "practical exam." Postins will be non existent/short untill after this time.

Headaches

I try not to put myself under to much pressure, if i do then i am likely to get stress induced headaches. However if i dont put myself under pressure then I am liable to be a lazy bum and do very little.

Currently this evening i have been doing some pharmacology revision, but started off by going over Pulmonary Embolisms. Partly because its quite common and common stuff get tested in exams, uncommon stuff does not, but also because consultant sydrome set in when being asked some fairly routine stuff on it ealier today.

The best teaching is generallly when we clerk someone beforehand and present back to a consultant/whover. This what happened to me today. Perhaps medical students should have no teaching sessions at all, except on how to take a history in the first week of medical school. After six months they could then be taught how to do some basic examinations. Alot of consultants think that medical students shouldn't even consider how to treat stuff until they have spent a significant amount of time taking histories/examining.

First exam is in two weeks. People who know me tell me I'm going to be fine if I just keep at it and cant understand my concer. I wish i had the same confidence in myself that they do in me.

Like alot of my posts this one has no real point to it. I feel that if I took the time to rewrite it, it could be amazing. Instead I have banged this out because I am tired, been on the wards/teaching for eight hours and then done some more work in the evening. I want to sleep but I know that as soon as I go to bed in half an hour that coffee I had at four to keep me awake during teaching will kick in. So instead of going to sleep I shall reluctantly get up and read Bill Bryson

Goodnight

Surviveing an Exam

Exams are looming, one of these is a particularly nasty exam that involves a random discussion with a consultant/registrar about anything of there choice. From what I have gathered this is easier to fail then the MCQ type of exam medical students must also jump through.

Thus tips on how to survive

1) ABCDE, this will get you a mark and if your really stuck then go on an hours discussion explaining what each one means.Downside is a good chance of pissing said examiner off
2) Dont say the first thing that comes into your head, knowing that snake venom can cause pancreatitis is nice, not so good is being asked to name said snake, where it comes from etc
3)"As per BNF guidelines," may work or at the least raise a smile if the examiner has a sense of humour. Easier when asked to say what antibiotics you would use, there are local, national guidelines and a conversation can be furthered by pointing this out
4) Have some structure, anyone can blurt out one or two complications of surgery. Whats more impressive and will get you more marks is to say how you would classify them before you give some examples.

This type of examination is dying out, from what i've gathered its the best way of preparing you for being being an FY1 when your consultant decides to grill you in between patients.

Bloated BBC

Absolutely love the BBC, but they do annoy me at times especially as we are all having to tighten our belts.

1) I Player, amazing, but why do they have to change the format on its website - it was fine how it was. If it aint broke, dont fix it

2)Watched Dr Who Confidential, saw that they went on a tour of the UK in a special bus to promote the new series. Why?

3) Can they stop changing the BBC logo they use for each channel in between programs

No excuse for all of the above. Completely uncalled for.

Things that upset the Fuddled Medic

Am usually able to control my emotions, was unable to do so in these situations
1. Seeing a severely ill person whose partner had been raped four days earlier, who was unable to go home and see them
2. Seeing a sixty something chap who had suffered a suspected stroke – had to wear incontinence pads
3. Talking to an eighty years old woman whose only daughter had died of breast cancer, with liver metastasis six days earlier

Very Sad

Teaching and Politics

Teaching session involved the FM presenting a patient she had clerked to a consultant. It was a relatively simple case. As a result people got easily sidetracked and the meeting descending in a spirited debate about the role of the private sector in the NHS. The consultant looked bemused and when someone apologised for the fact that our firm were now engaged in a passionate discussion he replied that it was good we were doing this. In his view medical students did not get enough time or encouragement to discuss how they wanted healthcare to be provided. Should it be the case that a few seminars/tutorials be held so that we can discuss all of this? As he said we’re the ones who are going to have to work in whatever system for the next forty odd years