Here are the two textbooks which I believe are essential (for Australian OUM students anyway):
1. General Practice by John Murtagh
2. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1
1. General Practice by John Murtagh
2. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Saturday, September 12, 2015
AMC MCQ prep
I am beginning to prep for the AMC MCQ exam. I said I wasn't going to start yet, but I am not feeling confident in my abilities of an almost-doctor that I want to have a focused kind of "revision" of actual "what to do" when treating patients so I figured AMC prep might help me have some sort of plan.
I've been looking around the net and I think I'll do the HEAL bridging course, but not yet. It's 6 weeks so that it a trouble in the first place as I only get annual leave in 4 week blocks.
RACGPs has a 10-week fully online course but it's really only a MCQ question bank and I resent having to pay $2000 for 400 questions. Maybe I'll do it once I graduate. For now there are plenty of free resources around to keep me occupied.
This is my current strategy:
I have John Murtagh's General Practice text book that I'm using as my core text. There are 141 topic it! Too many to tackle cover-to-cover.
I have the RACGP list of top 30 conditions treated by GPs. I will list them for you:
I've been looking around the net and I think I'll do the HEAL bridging course, but not yet. It's 6 weeks so that it a trouble in the first place as I only get annual leave in 4 week blocks.
RACGPs has a 10-week fully online course but it's really only a MCQ question bank and I resent having to pay $2000 for 400 questions. Maybe I'll do it once I graduate. For now there are plenty of free resources around to keep me occupied.
This is my current strategy:
I have John Murtagh's General Practice text book that I'm using as my core text. There are 141 topic it! Too many to tackle cover-to-cover.
I have the RACGP list of top 30 conditions treated by GPs. I will list them for you:
- hypertension
- immunisation
- acute URTI
- depression
- diabetes
- lipid disorders
- general check-up
- osteoarthritis
- back complaint
- prescription
- oesophageal disease
- female genital check-up
- acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis
- asthma
- anxiety
- test results
- UTI
- dermatitis
- pregnancy
- sleep disturbance
- sinusitis
- gastroenteritis
- vitamin/nutritional deficiency
- malignant neoplasm of the skin
- abnormal test results
- atrial fibrillation/flutter
- oral contraception
- solar ketosis/sunburn
- ischaemic heart disease
- virus
So, I think knowing the top 30 conditions is essential, but also are the rare but life-threatening conditions.
Murtagh's has clinical boxes with an asclepius listing medical conditions which are important to know so I hope to go through those too.
On Facebook, I've liked the https://www.facebook.com/AMCprep page. They put up free AMC MCQs, only one every few weeks, but if you go to their page all the old ones are listed so you can work your way through those before you pay the $100 a month or whatever it is on their website.
So I'm beginning with that and hope to complete by the end of the year.
There's also a few things on YouTube if you hunt around.
I also have to hunt around for my next lot of placements.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Stress and motherhood and placements: the update
I wanted to quickly update on where I am right now with my stress, motherhood, and my clinical placements.
Stress: much, much better. So it turns out that after 8 years as a paramedic I do have some PTSD which motherhood and an unfortunate incident triggered. I was also living in a place where I felt unsafe. I will NEVER put myself or my children in that situation again. I have returned back to work and MY house now and things are so much better. The stress at work is completely manageable, but if something happens that makes me feel the personal security of my child is threatened, I have a strong, physiological response (shaking, racing heartbeat). I know I have some work to do on this because I'd like to do some travel etc and I can't always control my environment. It has been a horrible time in my life and it has made me realise the safety of my nest is paramount.
Motherhood: It's getting easier now Bubby is 13 months. She's a bit easier to manage these days. Being back at work has helped me feel more "normal", and I schedule one day a month for myself where she goes to daycare and I do my own thing. She's in daycare 2-3 days per week which is perfect for all of us. This won't be the case when I do my next clinical placement, which I'm a bit worried about. Today, for example, I took the day off work sick (I was really crook yesterday and a bit better today but still sent her to daycare). I am getting everything done in one day lol. I also get everything done at work in my downtime between jobs.
Placements: I have 32 weeks to go. I need: O+G (8 weeks), surgery (4 weeks), IM (12 weeks), and 8 weeks of electives. I am currently speaking to four local hospitals that all sound promising. I have until March 2017 to complete all these plus my final MCQ exam and OSCE. Then I'm done! I am hoping to be done next year though and then look at internships.
Internships: so, if I do my AMC in time I can apply to Australian hospitals for internship. If not, I have to wait until the following year. I am HAPPY to take an extra year to prep for AMC and get a good score, also to work a bit longer as an ambo and maybe save some money before I drop down from senior paramedic to junior doctor. I'm looking at internship in Australia, Samoa, or NZ at this stage.
Here's the thing: I'm 8 years in my job. We get 4 months long service leave at 10 years, which you may take early (from 8.5 years) if you intend to stay until 10 years. I am thinking about potentially doing my internship in Samoa (or elsewhere) while on LSL (8 months half-pay, plus accrued annual leave). That's the game plan atm. I will also see what is around in Australia and what is best for the family. My partner loves the idea of living overseas for a year. I, however, "like" the idea of a sibling for my daughter and there's no way I'm going to be pregnant or have a baby as a medical student (again) or in Samoa. And as I'm 37, I'm running out of time (and for anyone who says I can have a baby at 42, I think they're mad).
Goals: visualise with me here please! (Hey, I wanted to add you really need to write down your goals so you can work towards them, otherwise who do you know here you're going...?)
Stress: much, much better. So it turns out that after 8 years as a paramedic I do have some PTSD which motherhood and an unfortunate incident triggered. I was also living in a place where I felt unsafe. I will NEVER put myself or my children in that situation again. I have returned back to work and MY house now and things are so much better. The stress at work is completely manageable, but if something happens that makes me feel the personal security of my child is threatened, I have a strong, physiological response (shaking, racing heartbeat). I know I have some work to do on this because I'd like to do some travel etc and I can't always control my environment. It has been a horrible time in my life and it has made me realise the safety of my nest is paramount.
Motherhood: It's getting easier now Bubby is 13 months. She's a bit easier to manage these days. Being back at work has helped me feel more "normal", and I schedule one day a month for myself where she goes to daycare and I do my own thing. She's in daycare 2-3 days per week which is perfect for all of us. This won't be the case when I do my next clinical placement, which I'm a bit worried about. Today, for example, I took the day off work sick (I was really crook yesterday and a bit better today but still sent her to daycare). I am getting everything done in one day lol. I also get everything done at work in my downtime between jobs.
Placements: I have 32 weeks to go. I need: O+G (8 weeks), surgery (4 weeks), IM (12 weeks), and 8 weeks of electives. I am currently speaking to four local hospitals that all sound promising. I have until March 2017 to complete all these plus my final MCQ exam and OSCE. Then I'm done! I am hoping to be done next year though and then look at internships.
Internships: so, if I do my AMC in time I can apply to Australian hospitals for internship. If not, I have to wait until the following year. I am HAPPY to take an extra year to prep for AMC and get a good score, also to work a bit longer as an ambo and maybe save some money before I drop down from senior paramedic to junior doctor. I'm looking at internship in Australia, Samoa, or NZ at this stage.
Here's the thing: I'm 8 years in my job. We get 4 months long service leave at 10 years, which you may take early (from 8.5 years) if you intend to stay until 10 years. I am thinking about potentially doing my internship in Samoa (or elsewhere) while on LSL (8 months half-pay, plus accrued annual leave). That's the game plan atm. I will also see what is around in Australia and what is best for the family. My partner loves the idea of living overseas for a year. I, however, "like" the idea of a sibling for my daughter and there's no way I'm going to be pregnant or have a baby as a medical student (again) or in Samoa. And as I'm 37, I'm running out of time (and for anyone who says I can have a baby at 42, I think they're mad).
Goals: visualise with me here please! (Hey, I wanted to add you really need to write down your goals so you can work towards them, otherwise who do you know here you're going...?)
- Graduate from med school mid-2016
- AMC exam early 2017
- Apply for internships in 2017 for 2018 start
- 2018 first year as a doctor, Bubby will be 3-4 years old and in kinder. I will be 40!!!
- I will be 40, but look and feel 30!
- Internship local and do a year as dr overseas after, or the inverse
OUM - my thoughts now from this perspective
Hi Guys,
Well, here are my thoughts on OUM now I'm in my final year.
I'm actually a LOT more positive about the course than in previous years. Probably because I'm not as stressed, isolated, and full of self-doubt as in the beginning. Those were all things only I could control, but I believe there are steps current and future students can take to help alleviate some of the symptoms of being a distance student in a non-traditional med school. Her are some quick tips:
Well, here are my thoughts on OUM now I'm in my final year.
I'm actually a LOT more positive about the course than in previous years. Probably because I'm not as stressed, isolated, and full of self-doubt as in the beginning. Those were all things only I could control, but I believe there are steps current and future students can take to help alleviate some of the symptoms of being a distance student in a non-traditional med school. Her are some quick tips:
- meet a least one other student face-to-face and become their "buddy/wingman" during the course
- phone other students to chat (vent) privately one-on-one
- participate in the student union and fb groups
- don't get sucked into the negativity - its all too easy when you're stressed
- remember why you started the degree in the first place
- remember no medical degree is perfect: if in doubt, find someone from another, traditional med school and ask
- remember why you chose OUM in the first place (and own it)
- keep your eye on the prize
It also helps to be able to talk to faculty members to get word straight from the horse's mouth.
To recap, these were my reasons for studying at OUM:
- I didn't want to relocate to another state and my grades were never going to be good enough for the local university
- When I did the cold, hard maths, OUM was cheaper than the place I was offered interstate
- I was a brand-new paramedic and wanted on-road experience before changing career trajectory
- I wasn't really sure I wanted to become a doctor as I loved paramedicine so much. This way, I could keep my job and simply drop-out of med school if I changed my mind
- I didn't want to stop working full-time and go back to living off two-minute noodles and share housing. I REALLY didn't want to do that for another 4 years
- Getting medical degree was more about learning medicine and challenging myself than it was about where I got my degree from
- My intentions were to work as a doctor overseas in areas of extreme poverty, thus where I went to medical school was relatively irrelevant
- My studying-style is more suited to distance learning. I can read a textbook and retain the information MUCH faster than I can sitting in lectures
- I like to be different
Hope this helps some of you xxx
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Stress Management and clinical placement after-hours
Stress
In an almost ironic fashion when contrasted against my last post, this post is about Stress Management.
It turns out, from a DASS assessment, I have severe stress. Funny about that, because I don't feel stressed. Even though I have good reason to be stressed. I have been feeling irritable and frustrated. Mental health can be funny like that and irritability can be a symptom of chronic depression and/or anxiety.
Exercising regularly has some good evidence for its effects on stress. This morning I began my now daily goal of 20-30 minutes of exercise each morning. This sounds like a massive commitment to me, but I think I just needed a really good reason to prioritise my fitness. One of the problems is obviously I'm quite time-poor, but the other one is that I actually feel really good. I don't feel unfit or unwell or any need to do exercise (other than stress management).
Clinical placement after-hours
I am currently at the hospital after-hours (after 5pm) doing my clinical placement in paediatrics. Tonight, we have no patients admitted to the ward, There are 4 in special care nursery, all doing fine. The ED has my number, and so does the Paeds Reg. So, I'm up on the ward just getting some study in. I'm behind. As usual.
I have one topic a day to cover during my rotations (5 a week). So, for example, tonight I'm covering asthma which has a 30 minute lecture to watch, and the entire chapter of childhood asthma in Nelsons Textbook of Paediatrics, which is pretty substantial. That on top of your day on the ward, and, oh yeh, that little thing called "a life" outside of medicine.
I really wish I had decided to have a life before I decided to get this far into medicine.
In an almost ironic fashion when contrasted against my last post, this post is about Stress Management.
It turns out, from a DASS assessment, I have severe stress. Funny about that, because I don't feel stressed. Even though I have good reason to be stressed. I have been feeling irritable and frustrated. Mental health can be funny like that and irritability can be a symptom of chronic depression and/or anxiety.
Exercising regularly has some good evidence for its effects on stress. This morning I began my now daily goal of 20-30 minutes of exercise each morning. This sounds like a massive commitment to me, but I think I just needed a really good reason to prioritise my fitness. One of the problems is obviously I'm quite time-poor, but the other one is that I actually feel really good. I don't feel unfit or unwell or any need to do exercise (other than stress management).
Clinical placement after-hours
I am currently at the hospital after-hours (after 5pm) doing my clinical placement in paediatrics. Tonight, we have no patients admitted to the ward, There are 4 in special care nursery, all doing fine. The ED has my number, and so does the Paeds Reg. So, I'm up on the ward just getting some study in. I'm behind. As usual.
I have one topic a day to cover during my rotations (5 a week). So, for example, tonight I'm covering asthma which has a 30 minute lecture to watch, and the entire chapter of childhood asthma in Nelsons Textbook of Paediatrics, which is pretty substantial. That on top of your day on the ward, and, oh yeh, that little thing called "a life" outside of medicine.
I really wish I had decided to have a life before I decided to get this far into medicine.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Mothers in Medical School
Have you checked out the blog Mothers in Medicine? (Good for Fathers in Careers too.)
I started reading it when I was thinking about going into medicine (and medical school) and how that might fit with my future desire to have children.
Well, now I'm living it. The MiM website is very US-based, and I think the general conditions for medical students and junior doctors in Australia isn't quite so tough.
The other things is that I tend to do most of my hospital rotations in rural areas. The workload is much less and therefore the demands and expectations for staff/students to live every waking moment in the hospital is also less.
I also study my degree by distance, so that makes "class" time flexible to suit my family schedule.
I also set boundaries. I say: "Sorry, but I am only available during these times" or "I need to know my roster in advance to work around daycare". I am unapologetic about being a mother and child/childcare commitments and the importance of these in my life and that they are second to my medical career (I realise I said: "sorry" and "unapologetic" in the same thought, but I think you get my point).
Does this mean I can still become a world-class cardiologist? I'm really not sure about that. Perhaps. But I'm not interested that. What I want out of this degree and career is something more lifestyle- and family-friendly. I'm thinking GP-land as it's much more flexible and shorter training (you can do it part-time, for example) and is more likely to fit around childcare hours, although if I decide I REALLY want to do Emergency Medicine then I'm sure I'll figure it out (nanny/au pair/baby sitter etc).
Anyway, there are a few positives for juggling both a baby and a career, and here are some of mine. It makes you:
I started reading it when I was thinking about going into medicine (and medical school) and how that might fit with my future desire to have children.
Well, now I'm living it. The MiM website is very US-based, and I think the general conditions for medical students and junior doctors in Australia isn't quite so tough.
The other things is that I tend to do most of my hospital rotations in rural areas. The workload is much less and therefore the demands and expectations for staff/students to live every waking moment in the hospital is also less.
I also study my degree by distance, so that makes "class" time flexible to suit my family schedule.
I also set boundaries. I say: "Sorry, but I am only available during these times" or "I need to know my roster in advance to work around daycare". I am unapologetic about being a mother and child/childcare commitments and the importance of these in my life and that they are second to my medical career (I realise I said: "sorry" and "unapologetic" in the same thought, but I think you get my point).
Does this mean I can still become a world-class cardiologist? I'm really not sure about that. Perhaps. But I'm not interested that. What I want out of this degree and career is something more lifestyle- and family-friendly. I'm thinking GP-land as it's much more flexible and shorter training (you can do it part-time, for example) and is more likely to fit around childcare hours, although if I decide I REALLY want to do Emergency Medicine then I'm sure I'll figure it out (nanny/au pair/baby sitter etc).
Anyway, there are a few positives for juggling both a baby and a career, and here are some of mine. It makes you:
- More motivated. You do it for them as well as yourself.
- More time efficient. No time to spare procrastinating.
- Focus on the essentials (see above).
- Appreciate the time you have both with and away from baby.
- Forget the woes of the hospital when you get home, and vice-versa.
- Put the important things into perspective more easily.
- Work harder to be a better role model.
- Better at multi-tasking.
- More creative with how you get stuff done (phone calls in the car, for example).
Monday, April 6, 2015
I'm back!
For now.
And so much had changed since I last blogged.
Exciting news:
I completed my pre-clinical studies and am now doing my clinical rotations!
Yay for me!
I'm about a third of the way through my clinical rotations so I am really happy to be on the downward slope of this medical degree.
I found out I can take a little longer to complete my degree than I initially thought, so this has taken a lot of pressure off as I thought I was running out of time.
Also... I've had a baby! Yay! I have a beautiful baby girl. She is doing great. It has been "interesting" juggling a baby, being a new mum, and medical school. Somehow I've found a pretty great balance. I've had a year off work on maternity leave so that has helped the time logistics so far but I'm planning on returning in the next few weeks to my old paramedic job so I just have to have a bit of faith that everything in my life with fit into a 24-hour day.
I'm currently typing this as my baby naps and in-between Emergency Medicine lectures. Sadly, I have to keep sitting exams during my clinical modules but I'm finding everything far more easier now I'm out of pre-clinical years.
One good thing about having a baby is that I find it a lot easier to re-prioritise things to suit her. I mean, I find it easier to just get things done when I need to in the small amount of times that I have, I go to bed earlier (out of necessity as she gets up so early), I eat better as she is modelling my behaviour, and I generally don't place my entire happiness and success on whether I do well in this course or not. For me, now, I'm more relaxed into it. I'll be happy to graduate. Whatever happens after that is a bonus. I'm a mum first now, and medicine, I'm sorry, will just have to be happy taking a back seat.
I'm still a vegan. Baby is too apart from her formula (you can't purchase commercially available formula in Australia). My pregnancy went really well. Baby was due the week of my final pre-clinical exam! I took the exam early and she came late. I'm so glad I ate healthy during pregnancy as she is just perfect.
Baby is awake so I hope to be brave enough to blog more.
Good luck everyone pursuing their dreams x
And so much had changed since I last blogged.
Exciting news:
I completed my pre-clinical studies and am now doing my clinical rotations!
Yay for me!
I'm about a third of the way through my clinical rotations so I am really happy to be on the downward slope of this medical degree.
I found out I can take a little longer to complete my degree than I initially thought, so this has taken a lot of pressure off as I thought I was running out of time.
Also... I've had a baby! Yay! I have a beautiful baby girl. She is doing great. It has been "interesting" juggling a baby, being a new mum, and medical school. Somehow I've found a pretty great balance. I've had a year off work on maternity leave so that has helped the time logistics so far but I'm planning on returning in the next few weeks to my old paramedic job so I just have to have a bit of faith that everything in my life with fit into a 24-hour day.
I'm currently typing this as my baby naps and in-between Emergency Medicine lectures. Sadly, I have to keep sitting exams during my clinical modules but I'm finding everything far more easier now I'm out of pre-clinical years.
One good thing about having a baby is that I find it a lot easier to re-prioritise things to suit her. I mean, I find it easier to just get things done when I need to in the small amount of times that I have, I go to bed earlier (out of necessity as she gets up so early), I eat better as she is modelling my behaviour, and I generally don't place my entire happiness and success on whether I do well in this course or not. For me, now, I'm more relaxed into it. I'll be happy to graduate. Whatever happens after that is a bonus. I'm a mum first now, and medicine, I'm sorry, will just have to be happy taking a back seat.
I'm still a vegan. Baby is too apart from her formula (you can't purchase commercially available formula in Australia). My pregnancy went really well. Baby was due the week of my final pre-clinical exam! I took the exam early and she came late. I'm so glad I ate healthy during pregnancy as she is just perfect.
Baby is awake so I hope to be brave enough to blog more.
Good luck everyone pursuing their dreams x
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Closing the blog - wrap up
I thought I'd write a post and leave it up for a few weeks letting you all know I am closing this blog! I'm so sorry!
Why? Um, personal reasons. Let's just say I've had some privacy issues lately. I have other areas in my life apart from this blog (shock, huh?) and I figure the best way to control everything and protect my privacy is to basically stop being on the net. There's other things I want to do as well, and I need to downsize, once again, my life to something more manageable. Sort of a spring cleaning of sorts.
I did want to finish this blog with a final post saying that I'm pretty optimistic for my future in med school and that of OUM. My grades are where they're supposed to be, my finances are flowing nicely, and I'm only a few months away from escaping pre-clinical and getting into my clinical rotations.
OUM keeps improving the way they do things and I'm happy with what they're doing right now and the few things they have lined up in the pipe works.
My health has seemed to have survived being back for a term. I have some really exciting things coming up in the next 12 months outside of med school as well, so I'm somehow maintaining this work-life-study-health balance. Things are so much easier when you're healthy.
I've really enjoyed writing this blog. Thank you so much for your support along the way.
OUM has a Facebook page which is an easy way to ask questions, and remember that if you ask, OUM will try and put you in contact with current students so you can ask anything you want to know.
My last bit of advice is to remember that the really big things in life often come with big sacrifices. I doubt I'd want to be a doctor so much if it was "easy". However, the important things in life are rarely the "big" things. Take time to smell the roses, swallow your pride work on relationships, look after your health as a priority, help other people discover their own dreams, and remember life is short and it's a journey - it's ok to make mistakes, change your mind, look like a fool, and try again. You don't get final points in the nursing home or hospital bed for being perfect.
Take care of yourselves.
Why? Um, personal reasons. Let's just say I've had some privacy issues lately. I have other areas in my life apart from this blog (shock, huh?) and I figure the best way to control everything and protect my privacy is to basically stop being on the net. There's other things I want to do as well, and I need to downsize, once again, my life to something more manageable. Sort of a spring cleaning of sorts.
I did want to finish this blog with a final post saying that I'm pretty optimistic for my future in med school and that of OUM. My grades are where they're supposed to be, my finances are flowing nicely, and I'm only a few months away from escaping pre-clinical and getting into my clinical rotations.
OUM keeps improving the way they do things and I'm happy with what they're doing right now and the few things they have lined up in the pipe works.
My health has seemed to have survived being back for a term. I have some really exciting things coming up in the next 12 months outside of med school as well, so I'm somehow maintaining this work-life-study-health balance. Things are so much easier when you're healthy.
I've really enjoyed writing this blog. Thank you so much for your support along the way.
OUM has a Facebook page which is an easy way to ask questions, and remember that if you ask, OUM will try and put you in contact with current students so you can ask anything you want to know.
My last bit of advice is to remember that the really big things in life often come with big sacrifices. I doubt I'd want to be a doctor so much if it was "easy". However, the important things in life are rarely the "big" things. Take time to smell the roses, swallow your pride work on relationships, look after your health as a priority, help other people discover their own dreams, and remember life is short and it's a journey - it's ok to make mistakes, change your mind, look like a fool, and try again. You don't get final points in the nursing home or hospital bed for being perfect.
Take care of yourselves.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Week 6
Well I'm in my final case-based week for Renal. Whew. It's actually been ok for me this term so I feel a lot more encouraged. I can't say I'm getting the bast grades in the world but I at least feel it is possible for me to pass with a grade >75%. For me, I think that is acceptable.
I'm also feeling well financially which is such a huge component of studying somewhere like OUM. I thnnk I have what it takes to finish off my pre-clinical module back-to-back and be done with them by June 2014, and then take a few months to prepare for the Step 1. Excitement!
We've been really busy at work this week so I haven't been able to do as much as I want. I woldn't be so worried except for the fact I am planning one being away for the weekend for a taekwon-do tournament so I doubt I'll be able to catch up then. But it's only Wednesday now.
Ok I hae to go learn everything about renal calculi (nephrolithiasis).
I'm also feeling well financially which is such a huge component of studying somewhere like OUM. I thnnk I have what it takes to finish off my pre-clinical module back-to-back and be done with them by June 2014, and then take a few months to prepare for the Step 1. Excitement!
We've been really busy at work this week so I haven't been able to do as much as I want. I woldn't be so worried except for the fact I am planning one being away for the weekend for a taekwon-do tournament so I doubt I'll be able to catch up then. But it's only Wednesday now.
Ok I hae to go learn everything about renal calculi (nephrolithiasis).
Monday, September 9, 2013
Last day of acids/bases (Week 5)
Today is my last day to study for the quiz tonight. It's acids and bases week. I'm at a point where I understand everything to a basical level, no problems, but those tricky questions that require a deeper level of undertanding are probably gonna get me.
I've added a couple new links of the Resources Page for which there should be a visible tab up the top right now (I change the blog layout occasionally to keep things fresh).
That's it. Back to cramming with:
I've added a couple new links of the Resources Page for which there should be a visible tab up the top right now (I change the blog layout occasionally to keep things fresh).
That's it. Back to cramming with:
- First Aid for the Basic Sciences Organ Systems
- The Renal System At A Glance
- First Aid for the USMLE Step 1
- Lecture notes
- Lecture recordings
- Skimming readings
- Looking at the clinical vignettes from the case study
- Kaplan vids
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Week 5 of Renal
I'm nearing the home stretch of Renal. Well, I'm only just over half way of the 8 weeks, but my case study weeks finish next week.
I have had a massive weekend with the election and my friends birthday and my birthday and been so busy at work so I'm really not looking forward to the quiz tomorrow at all.
So I'm doing some cramming tonight and tomorrow bascially, and crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
I did ok last week but I really wanted to do better this week and now I'm just hoping to pass.
The good thing is - I'mstaying well and my stress kevels are being well managed. I just forgot how frustrating it can be to have to juggle both work and study when study requires SO much time. Oh well, that's my choice and I just have to accept my grades wont be as good as they could've been had I not had to work. But that's my path.
Monday, September 2, 2013
St John Ambulance induction.
I'm nearing the end of Week 4 with some last minute study at work today and my quiz tonight while I'm on-call (so I hope I don't get disturbed).
This week went ok but I felt I lost too much time somehow. Firstly, on Tuesday at work I think I spent too much time talking to my work colleague, after-all, it was my first shift back in 8 weeks. Wednesday it took my just about all day to go and do the grocery shopping (not sure how), plus I had a sleep-in to make up for lost sleep Monday night.
And yesterday I spent all day at the St John Ambulance Induction Training so I can do placements with them as a student doctor. Idid study on the train on the way there but too tired on the way back plus I was sitting facing backwards which make me motion sick! How I function as a paramedic I do not know.
I already spent a day with SJA doing my Level 1 First Aid, which I think is ridiculous considering I'm a qualified ALS paramedic, but anyway. We did CPR and defib again (just the automatic defib device) and made sure we could make our slings look good lol
Well it should all be worth it as I am doing my first duty at the Rhianna concert in a few weeks, and then I can start putting my name down for the MAT team duties (Medical Assessment Team) which consists of only health care professionals (doctors, nurses, and paramedics) and health care students and looks after things beyond the first aid scope.
Personally, I love doing a bit of first aid because we rarely do minor stuff in ambulance and I get perplexed when someone asks me what to do about a simple sprain, for example.
Anyway, I have to go finish my learnings on fluids and electrolytes. I think I'm spending too much time on acids and bases which is next week but somehow popped up on this week's learning objectives too.
This week went ok but I felt I lost too much time somehow. Firstly, on Tuesday at work I think I spent too much time talking to my work colleague, after-all, it was my first shift back in 8 weeks. Wednesday it took my just about all day to go and do the grocery shopping (not sure how), plus I had a sleep-in to make up for lost sleep Monday night.
And yesterday I spent all day at the St John Ambulance Induction Training so I can do placements with them as a student doctor. Idid study on the train on the way there but too tired on the way back plus I was sitting facing backwards which make me motion sick! How I function as a paramedic I do not know.
I already spent a day with SJA doing my Level 1 First Aid, which I think is ridiculous considering I'm a qualified ALS paramedic, but anyway. We did CPR and defib again (just the automatic defib device) and made sure we could make our slings look good lol
Well it should all be worth it as I am doing my first duty at the Rhianna concert in a few weeks, and then I can start putting my name down for the MAT team duties (Medical Assessment Team) which consists of only health care professionals (doctors, nurses, and paramedics) and health care students and looks after things beyond the first aid scope.
Personally, I love doing a bit of first aid because we rarely do minor stuff in ambulance and I get perplexed when someone asks me what to do about a simple sprain, for example.
Anyway, I have to go finish my learnings on fluids and electrolytes. I think I'm spending too much time on acids and bases which is next week but somehow popped up on this week's learning objectives too.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Week 4, here I come
I have a renewed sense of optimism and energy starting Week 4 today.
I really began it yesterday afternoon (Monday) after my quiz to try and get some reading of the case done before the first lecture at 8am on Tuesdays.
I had a big headache and felt tired so I went back to bed for a few hours this afternoon. I have been slack with my diet and eating bread again and drinking a bit of coffee and I really must stop that before I return to work on Thursday.
I sat down tonight with my little exercise journal. I have two weeks until a taekwon-do competition in Mildura, and then only two weeks after that is the Australian Masters Games in Geelong. I went to tkd training last night and I have lost a serious amount of fitness over the past 3 or so weeks. It's scary! I am very motivated to go to training as much as possible, therefore I must study a good 10 hours during the day. Training takes up a huge chunk of time as it's such a long drive to our club and we go to the gym for an hour beforehand to work on cardio, strength, and stretching. The 1.5 hour classes are technique-focused.
Anyway, it's all fluids and electrolytes this week so there is heaps of physiology to understand. I like physiol, but this week is truly daunting.
This is what I'm doing right now:
I really began it yesterday afternoon (Monday) after my quiz to try and get some reading of the case done before the first lecture at 8am on Tuesdays.
I had a big headache and felt tired so I went back to bed for a few hours this afternoon. I have been slack with my diet and eating bread again and drinking a bit of coffee and I really must stop that before I return to work on Thursday.
I sat down tonight with my little exercise journal. I have two weeks until a taekwon-do competition in Mildura, and then only two weeks after that is the Australian Masters Games in Geelong. I went to tkd training last night and I have lost a serious amount of fitness over the past 3 or so weeks. It's scary! I am very motivated to go to training as much as possible, therefore I must study a good 10 hours during the day. Training takes up a huge chunk of time as it's such a long drive to our club and we go to the gym for an hour beforehand to work on cardio, strength, and stretching. The 1.5 hour classes are technique-focused.
Anyway, it's all fluids and electrolytes this week so there is heaps of physiology to understand. I like physiol, but this week is truly daunting.
This is what I'm doing right now:
- This week's learning objectives (this week they came with the answers. Not sure if it was a mistake? Normally it's just a question format, ie "What are the fluid compartments of the body?")
- This week's case. It's MASSIVE. There's about 4 actual clinical vignettes and 25 pages of information attached with it.
- Revision of lecture and slides. I just can't pay attention for 1.5 hours straight so I am trying to go over them again. I have a second lecture on Thursday morning. I feel the quiz questions are covered well in the lectures in this module.
- Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology - the appropriate chapters in the renal section on fluid and electrolytes and also diuretics
- Dr Najeeb lectures on fluids and diuretics.
- Then, I have 3 required readings to do
- USMLEWorld QBank renal physiology questions
- cross-referencing in First Aid and Kaplan revision sources that I have
Monday, August 26, 2013
Thank you Jesus, Thank you Buddha, Thank you Old Gods
Phew. I just got 80% on my quiz.
I really, REALLY needed a confidence boost and a good score like that was just what I required.
Massive PHEW.
I forgot to write last week that I realised I had TWO lectures per week, not just one. I missed the second one for the first two weeks, but luckily they've changed the policy so you can watch the recordings if you miss them. I have no idea how I didn't realise it before week 3. I was really kicking myself, I felt so down on myself: "Oh you can't even figure out when your lectures are, let alone pass the course".
So far, I've gotten over 80% in all my modules except Neuro (due to illness), so I shouldn't really be so hard on myself. I have written about this before, but I will say it again, med school can be really hard for a lot of students becuase they come from a previous background of everything being easy for them. I know for me, even if I didn't study much in other courses, I could still 'wing' and exam and still do quite well. This is NOT the case for med school at all. It is one of the reasons why I wanted to do med, to really push myself and do something that did require me to put in a little effort. It can be uncomfortable at times, and I question my abilities ALL the time. I don't know why. I should be more confident. I heard that being confident can boost your IQ by 10%!
I'm also really really glad to have gotten a good score this week because now I can stop telling myself:
1. You only did well in the Week 1 quiz because the first week is always the easiest
2. You only did well in the Week 1 quiz becasue you can do ok for short periods, but do not have the stamina for a long course
3. Even if you didn't have technical issues in the Week 2 quiz, you still would have failed it any way
4. The academic coordinator thinks your a liar and you made up the technical problems with the quiz and when you fail the 3rd one as well this will prove it to him
Gee it sounds like I'm really negative. I'm actually a really positive person. My old cranky GP who didn't think I could make it in med school was right about one thing: it really does require a lot of strength.
I really, REALLY needed a confidence boost and a good score like that was just what I required.
Massive PHEW.
I forgot to write last week that I realised I had TWO lectures per week, not just one. I missed the second one for the first two weeks, but luckily they've changed the policy so you can watch the recordings if you miss them. I have no idea how I didn't realise it before week 3. I was really kicking myself, I felt so down on myself: "Oh you can't even figure out when your lectures are, let alone pass the course".
So far, I've gotten over 80% in all my modules except Neuro (due to illness), so I shouldn't really be so hard on myself. I have written about this before, but I will say it again, med school can be really hard for a lot of students becuase they come from a previous background of everything being easy for them. I know for me, even if I didn't study much in other courses, I could still 'wing' and exam and still do quite well. This is NOT the case for med school at all. It is one of the reasons why I wanted to do med, to really push myself and do something that did require me to put in a little effort. It can be uncomfortable at times, and I question my abilities ALL the time. I don't know why. I should be more confident. I heard that being confident can boost your IQ by 10%!
I'm also really really glad to have gotten a good score this week because now I can stop telling myself:
1. You only did well in the Week 1 quiz because the first week is always the easiest
2. You only did well in the Week 1 quiz becasue you can do ok for short periods, but do not have the stamina for a long course
3. Even if you didn't have technical issues in the Week 2 quiz, you still would have failed it any way
4. The academic coordinator thinks your a liar and you made up the technical problems with the quiz and when you fail the 3rd one as well this will prove it to him
Gee it sounds like I'm really negative. I'm actually a really positive person. My old cranky GP who didn't think I could make it in med school was right about one thing: it really does require a lot of strength.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Dichotomy of knowledge
I've been using USMLEWorld QBank as an additional resource to help me prepare for my weekly quizzes, and I found http://usmle-score-correlation.blogspot.com.au website to see what my QBank score would mean on the USMLEs.
It goes like this: The stuff I'm good at, from being a paramedic, ie cardiovascular/respiratory anatomy/physiology/pathology etc, I do really well in. Enough to get into what I want to get into. The stuff I don't have a background in, ie renal, isn't even good enough to pass. I haven't dared looked at my biochem scores for a long while.
Right now, what I'm not good in is outweighing what I am - too much.
I have a lot of work to do.
I'm gonna go read the renal sections of some of the books I have on my shelf now I've completed the allocated readings. It's a Sunday afternoon and I haven't left the house for days. I take no more than an hour off a day plus meal breaks.
Oh, and PS: my academic advisor doesn't count doing the readings as "study". Apparently I'm to read 100-200 pages per week, do all the lectures and meetings, and THEN do 40 hours of extra study on top. This could be where I've been going wrong. I've been doing 40 hours total, you know, a mere 7 hours, 6 days per week.
It goes like this: The stuff I'm good at, from being a paramedic, ie cardiovascular/respiratory anatomy/physiology/pathology etc, I do really well in. Enough to get into what I want to get into. The stuff I don't have a background in, ie renal, isn't even good enough to pass. I haven't dared looked at my biochem scores for a long while.
Right now, what I'm not good in is outweighing what I am - too much.
I have a lot of work to do.
I'm gonna go read the renal sections of some of the books I have on my shelf now I've completed the allocated readings. It's a Sunday afternoon and I haven't left the house for days. I take no more than an hour off a day plus meal breaks.
Oh, and PS: my academic advisor doesn't count doing the readings as "study". Apparently I'm to read 100-200 pages per week, do all the lectures and meetings, and THEN do 40 hours of extra study on top. This could be where I've been going wrong. I've been doing 40 hours total, you know, a mere 7 hours, 6 days per week.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Some good news
The academic coordinator has allowed me to not include that last quiz in my grades due to there being problems with it. I'm so relieved I really think I would have done much better if the timer hadn't unexpectedly run-out!
So it's really up to be now to do really well on the next quizzes.
So it's really up to be now to do really well on the next quizzes.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Back at med school
I'm back studying at med school. Things are going ok so far, but my initial thoughts of having a more balanced life seem impossible now only a few weeks back. I'm beginning to wonder how other people do it.
I guess I'm already a little disheartened by my grades so far. Mostly, because I thought I was doing really good. In my mentor meetings I feel confident, like I know what I'm talking about. I read about the diseases and think "Oh yeh, I know this" and cross read other references and it all looks familiar, I actually complete the allocated readings, then all of a sudden it's quiz time and one week I do amazing, and then next really poorly. I can't make heads or tails of it.
I suppose all I can do is hope they will take me back into the MBBS program if the MD thing doesn't work out. I can't believe how negative I sound already. I guess this is a good warning to potential med students that it can be a real hit on the self esteem.
My parents are coming over from interstate to visit and I've basically had to tell them that I don't have time to spend with them. They're all like "Just one day together will be fine" and I'm seriously thinking "No, I don't even have one day". I have a really good mate's baby shower on the weekend, I promised my best friend I'd help her prepare for it by making the vegan food, and another party back in my bf's hometown and I'm basically cancelling on everyone. I feel dreadful.
To make matters worse, I feel I can't train and I'm still off work with a broken toe. Talk about feeling completely useless right now. At least I don't have major anxiety like last time or chronic fatigue.
To sum things up, I suppose things are not going well for me back at med school after all. They were last week and I didn't feel like blogging so excuse me while I vent now. I guess this is how I got into this blogging in the first place! If things keep going bad for me, then expect more posts. If you don't see any, then assume things are going well.
One positive thing is, I do have a really good academic advisor this time. She is very friendly, helpful, and supportive. Do you remember that the last one laughed at me (literally in my Skype-face) because I didn't have a solid microbio background? My new ones is all like: "Med students always put too much pressure on themselves. You can't know everything. It's ok not to do well in everything - you're still learning." I know some people prefer tough love, but I like the softer approach and gentle reassurance. I also like the fact she sounds like Oprah, although I haven't been exposed to many people with that type of accent in rural Australia.
Perhaps, one of the worst things is, I feel like I would make a really good doctor. I feel like I "get" things quickly and can work my way through diagnoses no problems. It's frustrating me that I'm stuck in the purgatory of pre-clinical.
That is all. Excuse my complaining. I'll try and end on a positive note, perhaps some sort of positive affirmation, each time to avoid the bad mental state I got myself in last time I was studying at med school. I don't want to get those grey hairs back again. It may not be original, as I need practice, but here goes:
I can do this. Whatever it takes, I have the ability.
Edit: My former mentor is mentoring me again, I've been told I have to repeat neuro at 50% tuition if I want to complete an MD (MD>75% vs MBBS>60% as I got 60) although they didn't offer it this term so I'm doing renal and seeing how I go (if I get 60-75 then I'd seriously consider changing back to MBBS if they will allow me - I haven't asked - and not worry about the USMLEs for now), and my tax return pretty much covered my tuition fees but I wasn't able to do a 12-month tuition plan until January so I have had to pay a whole module. Oh, and I broke my big toe during my taekwon-do tournament and have had the past 6 weeks off work!
I guess I'm already a little disheartened by my grades so far. Mostly, because I thought I was doing really good. In my mentor meetings I feel confident, like I know what I'm talking about. I read about the diseases and think "Oh yeh, I know this" and cross read other references and it all looks familiar, I actually complete the allocated readings, then all of a sudden it's quiz time and one week I do amazing, and then next really poorly. I can't make heads or tails of it.
I suppose all I can do is hope they will take me back into the MBBS program if the MD thing doesn't work out. I can't believe how negative I sound already. I guess this is a good warning to potential med students that it can be a real hit on the self esteem.
My parents are coming over from interstate to visit and I've basically had to tell them that I don't have time to spend with them. They're all like "Just one day together will be fine" and I'm seriously thinking "No, I don't even have one day". I have a really good mate's baby shower on the weekend, I promised my best friend I'd help her prepare for it by making the vegan food, and another party back in my bf's hometown and I'm basically cancelling on everyone. I feel dreadful.
To make matters worse, I feel I can't train and I'm still off work with a broken toe. Talk about feeling completely useless right now. At least I don't have major anxiety like last time or chronic fatigue.
To sum things up, I suppose things are not going well for me back at med school after all. They were last week and I didn't feel like blogging so excuse me while I vent now. I guess this is how I got into this blogging in the first place! If things keep going bad for me, then expect more posts. If you don't see any, then assume things are going well.
One positive thing is, I do have a really good academic advisor this time. She is very friendly, helpful, and supportive. Do you remember that the last one laughed at me (literally in my Skype-face) because I didn't have a solid microbio background? My new ones is all like: "Med students always put too much pressure on themselves. You can't know everything. It's ok not to do well in everything - you're still learning." I know some people prefer tough love, but I like the softer approach and gentle reassurance. I also like the fact she sounds like Oprah, although I haven't been exposed to many people with that type of accent in rural Australia.
Perhaps, one of the worst things is, I feel like I would make a really good doctor. I feel like I "get" things quickly and can work my way through diagnoses no problems. It's frustrating me that I'm stuck in the purgatory of pre-clinical.
That is all. Excuse my complaining. I'll try and end on a positive note, perhaps some sort of positive affirmation, each time to avoid the bad mental state I got myself in last time I was studying at med school. I don't want to get those grey hairs back again. It may not be original, as I need practice, but here goes:
I can do this. Whatever it takes, I have the ability.
Edit: My former mentor is mentoring me again, I've been told I have to repeat neuro at 50% tuition if I want to complete an MD (MD>75% vs MBBS>60% as I got 60) although they didn't offer it this term so I'm doing renal and seeing how I go (if I get 60-75 then I'd seriously consider changing back to MBBS if they will allow me - I haven't asked - and not worry about the USMLEs for now), and my tax return pretty much covered my tuition fees but I wasn't able to do a 12-month tuition plan until January so I have had to pay a whole module. Oh, and I broke my big toe during my taekwon-do tournament and have had the past 6 weeks off work!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Money, med school, and mouth pain
I'm over two weeks with Invisalign and I've gotten used to them. They don't hurt any more and I'm actually beginning to prefer to have them in. With them in, my front tooth gap is closed and my teeth look shiny and glossy from the plastic veneer, and the scratchy button are protected. I put in my new tray next week so it will be interesting to see if they hurt again from another adjustment.
This is my last week of acting up in high duties and on the weekend I do my taekwon-do competition. After that, I'll be just going back to regular tkd training for my next belt grading, hopefully netball will begin again, and I can begin preparing to return to study.
I contacted OUM a few months ago about what to do with me, seeing my situation, and it was as if it was a bit too hard to think about that far ahead. So, next month, I will contact them again. When I know what I am doing (I return half way through a term and need to do remedial for neuro) then I can ask my previous mentor if she is willing to continue mentoring me. If she says no, I hope to get clinical rotations at her hospital so I can prove my worth once again and not completely lose the excellent contact I have for my possible future career. I hope to NOT do my first rotation there so I get some sort of experience in-hospital and not look completely clueless.
Samoa has finally opened their new training hospital and I can't wait to check it out.
I went through a period of about a week where I was meditating every morning and I had a lot of mental clarity and came up with some solutions to the clinical placements vs money problems. I am hoping to get in a least a few clinical rotations while still working full-time as an ambo. A year would be ideal. After that I will be refinancing for my last clinical rotations. I am therefore planning to either do overseas rotations/electives (4 weeks each) during my annual leave form work while still being full-time employed and/or after finishing up full-time and using some of the money for tuition fees to support myself OS. IF I left my trickiest placements (to obtain) and Samoa to the very end, I could rent out my house (ie move my stuff out and get the renter to cover my mortgage) and simply stay there seeing as Internship is guaranteed for graduates. I'd then stay on and work as a low-paid doctor over there - just enough to live reasonably comfortably in Samoa. The last piece of the puzzle is my pets. My bf can easily follow me (he's looking forward to living overseas for a year or so). I'll have to meditate more to come up with that solution for the pets. Possibly my parents would take my dog, ad the bf's parents take his dog back for a year, but I'd have to build and pay for a fence at my parents and more my dog interstate AND my folks don't really want pets due to wildlife and lifestyle but they might suck it up for a year to help me sooooooo I'm hoping the untapped powers of my subconscious can come up with something better.
If I had unlimited money then I'd have a lot more options. I could continue to have my boarder who'd look after my dog, but she alone doesn't cover the mortagage. I could possibly get a second boarder in, but then that's a bit of a long-shot finding someone appropriate but then again it is a possibility.
Every body visualise me coming into great amounts of wealth.
One good thing, apart from my epiphany, is that I will soon have enough money from my lovely tax return to cover my owed tuition fees at OUM! Hoorah. So back to the 12-month payment plan I go (hopefully).
This is my last week of acting up in high duties and on the weekend I do my taekwon-do competition. After that, I'll be just going back to regular tkd training for my next belt grading, hopefully netball will begin again, and I can begin preparing to return to study.
I contacted OUM a few months ago about what to do with me, seeing my situation, and it was as if it was a bit too hard to think about that far ahead. So, next month, I will contact them again. When I know what I am doing (I return half way through a term and need to do remedial for neuro) then I can ask my previous mentor if she is willing to continue mentoring me. If she says no, I hope to get clinical rotations at her hospital so I can prove my worth once again and not completely lose the excellent contact I have for my possible future career. I hope to NOT do my first rotation there so I get some sort of experience in-hospital and not look completely clueless.
Samoa has finally opened their new training hospital and I can't wait to check it out.
I went through a period of about a week where I was meditating every morning and I had a lot of mental clarity and came up with some solutions to the clinical placements vs money problems. I am hoping to get in a least a few clinical rotations while still working full-time as an ambo. A year would be ideal. After that I will be refinancing for my last clinical rotations. I am therefore planning to either do overseas rotations/electives (4 weeks each) during my annual leave form work while still being full-time employed and/or after finishing up full-time and using some of the money for tuition fees to support myself OS. IF I left my trickiest placements (to obtain) and Samoa to the very end, I could rent out my house (ie move my stuff out and get the renter to cover my mortgage) and simply stay there seeing as Internship is guaranteed for graduates. I'd then stay on and work as a low-paid doctor over there - just enough to live reasonably comfortably in Samoa. The last piece of the puzzle is my pets. My bf can easily follow me (he's looking forward to living overseas for a year or so). I'll have to meditate more to come up with that solution for the pets. Possibly my parents would take my dog, ad the bf's parents take his dog back for a year, but I'd have to build and pay for a fence at my parents and more my dog interstate AND my folks don't really want pets due to wildlife and lifestyle but they might suck it up for a year to help me sooooooo I'm hoping the untapped powers of my subconscious can come up with something better.
If I had unlimited money then I'd have a lot more options. I could continue to have my boarder who'd look after my dog, but she alone doesn't cover the mortagage. I could possibly get a second boarder in, but then that's a bit of a long-shot finding someone appropriate but then again it is a possibility.
Every body visualise me coming into great amounts of wealth.
One good thing, apart from my epiphany, is that I will soon have enough money from my lovely tax return to cover my owed tuition fees at OUM! Hoorah. So back to the 12-month payment plan I go (hopefully).
Friday, June 21, 2013
Invisalign
I began my Invisalign treatment this week. Oh boy!
So my teeth, cosmetically, aren't that bad. But I don't like them. I had braces as a teen and over the years they have changed. I am about to click over to 35 and I feel my teeth age me most of all. And maybe my weight (I'm still a BMI of around 23. So healthy but not lean but I think I look reasonably fit and healthy). My bite is quite narrow, I have an over-bite, some lower crowding, an uppers gap, and my bite at the back is off and feels uncomfortable. Anyway, it's pretty much nay going to get worse so I decided to fix it now and not wait until I've finished med school (the original plan, for everything, is to defer all major expenses until this time).
It's taken a few months to get my first tray due to needing to get an intial consultation, seeing my dentist for a check up, getting the moods done, and then finally getting my "buttons" (small attachements points for certain teeth) and then first tray fitted.
Oh my word - the pain. They say the first few days of each new tray is painful as that's when the most amount of pressure is exerted. I've had to take pain killers and eat soft food.
The other thing is, with Invisalign, you're supposed to only taken them out for a total of an hour a day to eat, and you must brush and floss before replacing them. They're also a bit difficult to take out. All this combined means I'm only eating my 3 square meals a day. No more snacking, you're not allowed anything but cool water while wearing them. So, I'm thinking, will I lose weight? Firstly, I love to snack. And it's from hand to mouth without stopping to consider. My main meals are usually pretty good. Fruit from breakfast and lunch and a low fat cooked vegan meal for dinner (think steamed veges and rice with a tomato-based sauce) or a leafy green salad. Secondly, because of snacking my main meals aren't always that big. But the last few days with Invisalign they have been. This is what Doug Graham recommends in 80/10/10.
I'd love to get leaner for taekwondo competitions in the next few months.
Also, Invisalign makes your mouth dry and causes some pain to the tongue and gums due to sharp edges. This makes fruit smoothies and mashed veges very appealing. I'll see how I go next week when my teeth adjusts.
My boyfriend likes them. He says they make my lips more pouty. My friend at work though I'd had a lip-job done lol. You really can't see them more any more than half a meter away (normal personal space)' although I do have a slight annoying lisp atm.
I thought sleeping with them in would freak me out due to the choking hazard, but they are well and truly stuck onto my teeth due to the buttons. They take a fair bit of effort to get them out. Hence, no snacking, I don't mind brushing but I hate taking them out.
I found warm water from the shower/bath helps sooth the pain and actually I will take them out and brush them in the shower from now on as its more comfortable on my teeth. I've used some bi-carb soda to clean them (they discolour easily) but I've heard that soaking them in white vinegar works well, so ill try that when I get some vinegar!
So my teeth, cosmetically, aren't that bad. But I don't like them. I had braces as a teen and over the years they have changed. I am about to click over to 35 and I feel my teeth age me most of all. And maybe my weight (I'm still a BMI of around 23. So healthy but not lean but I think I look reasonably fit and healthy). My bite is quite narrow, I have an over-bite, some lower crowding, an uppers gap, and my bite at the back is off and feels uncomfortable. Anyway, it's pretty much nay going to get worse so I decided to fix it now and not wait until I've finished med school (the original plan, for everything, is to defer all major expenses until this time).
It's taken a few months to get my first tray due to needing to get an intial consultation, seeing my dentist for a check up, getting the moods done, and then finally getting my "buttons" (small attachements points for certain teeth) and then first tray fitted.
Oh my word - the pain. They say the first few days of each new tray is painful as that's when the most amount of pressure is exerted. I've had to take pain killers and eat soft food.
The other thing is, with Invisalign, you're supposed to only taken them out for a total of an hour a day to eat, and you must brush and floss before replacing them. They're also a bit difficult to take out. All this combined means I'm only eating my 3 square meals a day. No more snacking, you're not allowed anything but cool water while wearing them. So, I'm thinking, will I lose weight? Firstly, I love to snack. And it's from hand to mouth without stopping to consider. My main meals are usually pretty good. Fruit from breakfast and lunch and a low fat cooked vegan meal for dinner (think steamed veges and rice with a tomato-based sauce) or a leafy green salad. Secondly, because of snacking my main meals aren't always that big. But the last few days with Invisalign they have been. This is what Doug Graham recommends in 80/10/10.
I'd love to get leaner for taekwondo competitions in the next few months.
Also, Invisalign makes your mouth dry and causes some pain to the tongue and gums due to sharp edges. This makes fruit smoothies and mashed veges very appealing. I'll see how I go next week when my teeth adjusts.
My boyfriend likes them. He says they make my lips more pouty. My friend at work though I'd had a lip-job done lol. You really can't see them more any more than half a meter away (normal personal space)' although I do have a slight annoying lisp atm.
I thought sleeping with them in would freak me out due to the choking hazard, but they are well and truly stuck onto my teeth due to the buttons. They take a fair bit of effort to get them out. Hence, no snacking, I don't mind brushing but I hate taking them out.
I found warm water from the shower/bath helps sooth the pain and actually I will take them out and brush them in the shower from now on as its more comfortable on my teeth. I've used some bi-carb soda to clean them (they discolour easily) but I've heard that soaking them in white vinegar works well, so ill try that when I get some vinegar!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Life is an illusion
I am currently pondering on the idea that life is an illusion. I mean, I can easily accept that perception of things is what creates our experience of reality, but how far does the illusion really extend?
If I can change things, like the scenario and outcome, of my dreams when lucid dreaming, how come I can't do that in the so-called "awake" stage?
I'm working through Atisha's Seven Points on Mind Training, and the second one is to treat all phenomena as if they are dreams. Clearly, they are not exactly the same thing as the dreams we experience in the sleeping state, so what's the go?
Anyway, I'm Googling the fruit out out of this and I hope to come up with some answers. I've even asked my Mensa friends. Maybe I'll ask the monks in some of the Buddhist groups I'm in!
Here's a link to more on this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_in_Buddhism
And also: http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/sevenpoints.htm
If I can change things, like the scenario and outcome, of my dreams when lucid dreaming, how come I can't do that in the so-called "awake" stage?
I'm working through Atisha's Seven Points on Mind Training, and the second one is to treat all phenomena as if they are dreams. Clearly, they are not exactly the same thing as the dreams we experience in the sleeping state, so what's the go?
Anyway, I'm Googling the fruit out out of this and I hope to come up with some answers. I've even asked my Mensa friends. Maybe I'll ask the monks in some of the Buddhist groups I'm in!
Here's a link to more on this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_in_Buddhism
And also: http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/sevenpoints.htm
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