What a sprain!

So a week after getting back to work after my stomach flu, I managed to sprain my right ankle on the job.  I was climbing into the ambulance after a call, and I guess I didn't get full purchase on the step as my foot slipped off and I landed on the ground, ankle twisted under me.  Sigh.  Then I had to deal with being off of work and all the rigmarole to get back on the job (which I still haven't finished).  And I'm not getting much compensation from worker's comp due to the length of my time on the job, the number of hours I work, the date the doc said I could go back to work, and the requirements I have to complete to get back on the job (two more days of field training...now I have to wait for the training department to get back to me).  Sigh.  As if my money problems weren't difficult enough.

On the other hand, LOVE my first week of classes.  Psychology is more than I thought it would be, and I'm loving every minute of it.  Almost done reading the whole textbook all ready.  And Organic Chemistry is off to a good start with a review of old material... and it's nice to see how much I remember!

Pulled out my Examcrackers CDs to help me ace my MCAT.  This will add to my Kaplan class work.  And it should all help!

Still working on my medical school app.  And really need to send out a heads up to those I need to get recommendation letters from!

And with all this going on, a friend of mine is suddenly forced to move out.  He finally gets to move into his new place on Friday, but he's on disability and can't afford any thing for his house.  He has no furniture and no kitchen stuff or cleaning stuff or towels for the bathroom.  So I've been trying to help find him good resources for the necessities.

And I'm off to new adventures... week two of classes starts soon.

Countdown to Classes

Just a week or so to go before Spring classes start.  Halfway through my Psychology book already.  Fascinating stuff!  Trying to get back into Organic Chemistry ahead of time again, too.

Just relaxed a little this evening creating a "Doctor" mug on Zazzle.  Fun to do!

Finished my first Kaplan online class on Monday, prepping for my first in-class session in February by reading the first few Physics chapters.  This body in motion has to stay in motion through May 31st...the Day of the MCAT!

The new Zazzle mug:  http://www.zazzle.com/doctors_tools-168759777154133498

Working Diagnosis...The Stomach Flu

So, nothing got done last week.  On Tuesday morning, at 3:30am, I had to throw up.  Then, every hour and a half to two hours, I did so again.  I had muscle aches, headache, fever, and profound nausea.  For the first time in the throws of misery I actually thought: my differential diagnoses would be stomach virus or food poisoning.  I ended up with a working diagnosis of stomach virus.  After emailing my doctor the question of how long I could go without keeping any liquid down (and finding out about 24 hours), he prescribed me an anti-emetic.  After taking the first one, I threw up an hour and a half later...but it was the last time!  Then I spent the last week slowly adding more food into my day.  I'm still not 100%.  Bud I made it to work on Saturday and Sunday (only missing Friday)! 

So, now I've got to start getting done the stuff I didn't last week: scholarship apps, studying for OChem, studying Kaplan, writing med school app essays, requesting letters of recommendation.  All before school starts in two more weeks!  Yikes!

Anyway, best run off now and get some of this business started... :O

MCAT: First online Kaplan Diagnostic Test

So I didn't get to take my diagnostic test last Thursday as I got called into work.  I worked through the weekend, and finally had a chance to take the test on Monday, December 30th.  I scored a 23, with verbal reasoning my highest score.  My goal is a 36, and a "competitive" score for medical schools is a 31.  According to Kaplan, I need to put in a lot of hours of practice.  But then I already figured on that. I need a refresher in most of my science.  It's amazing how I learn it then promptly let it go after a test...and now have to relearn it (though it's always faster the second time)!

In addition, I picked up a book, When Doctors Don't Listen, but Leana Wen, M.D., and Joshuya Kosowsky, M.D.  This is a fantastic, must-read book!  I read most of it in one night.  It echoed a lot of the reasons I wanted to become a doctor in the first place.  They discuss the lost art of listening to a patient's narrative.  They don't agree everything should be "cookbook" medicine where everyone who mentions a hot button topic (like "chest pain") should automatically get every test for a heart attack.  Especially if the person went in saying they think it's because they lifted to much and it feel more like the pecs than deeper in the chest.  So many doctors get tunnel vision instead of considering the potential diagnoses and working on one or two.  So many people leave their doc's offices know what they don't have, but not what they DO have.  This book gives patients tools to help get their doctors to listen while the authors are also talking to doctors to get them to start listening as well.  While all the science we have is fantastic and needed, we also need to get back to the master clinicians who know how to get the patients' stories and ultimately get at least a working diagnoses.

In addition to reading, I'm also starting to put together my request letters for letters of recommendation from my professors.  Med school applications open up in May, and I need to have the letters ready by then.  I want to make sure my teachers have time to write up a good one for me.  :)

The new year is starting off busy.  Hopefully it'll be productive and positive as well!