The Unhappy Triad

For those of you thinking Tom Brady and a torn ACL, MCL and Meniscus, you must've been with me in spirit this week in Gross Anatomy.  I was thinking more along the lines of lecture overload, sleep and food deprivation.  Several times this week we had 4 2 hour lectures and/or gross anatomy lab. Let's just say that I'm thankful that it takes me 3.5 minutes to walk home at noon and take a nap.  My theory is you have to utilize your time wisely.  I can eat in class, but I definitely shouldn't be sleeping.
When I'm not asleep or thinking about when I can squeeze in a power nap, I'm ransacking the snack bag in my locker. Contents: gold fish, pringles, craisins, milano double chocolate cookies, little yogis oatmeal raisin bars, nature's valley granola & sweet and salty nut bars, peanut butter cookies, animal crackers, dorritos (I'm addicted I just can't help it), gummi bears, and this week: mango, bananas, and strawberries- finally some fruit! I don't leave the house without my water bottle; thanks to the public health professional in me I've been tapping into Nashville's high quality H2O from the faucet, and on occasion Yoo-hoo or Muscle Milk Vanilla Light. All pictured in last week's post courtesy of my care package from my big sis!
Daily, for about 30 seconds I realize I'm finally in med school and I'm filled with joy. When I snap out of it and realize class is moving right along, I'm thankful for the brief reprieve and try to block out the "blissful ignorance of how much I really don't know" as my classmate Nick calls it.  It's anything but funny when you stop and think about how much information they inundate us with, but you'd be so glad to know that despite my intense/serious nature, I've been managing the overwhelming stress that comes with this new lifestyle with poise and grace :)                    
I will complete the 9 Week Insanity workout program on Sunday and project a somewhat normal workout routine for the foreseeable future.  It's so nice to have a 3 bedroom home, where the spare room serves as a gym/office. I spend most of my time in the house detangling my hair, working out, and whisking away the family of kittens that have taken over my backyard and hood of my housemates car.  I don't feed them but my neighbor does, so you can imagine how at home they feel.  Those fury felines do put a smile on my face every morning though.  I've figured out a way to Android app wifi from my phone onto my computer (gratis), and as you can probably tell from the time, it's WAY past my bed time. It's been a very long week, and the quizzes just keep coming. Friday's after class have shaped up to be my try a new restaurant/break from studying time so if you have any suggestions, please send them my way. Scoutmob, Groupon, and Living Social lookout!

If you're still wondering what's up with the unhappy triad, take a peak at the x-rays/images below: a partial or complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral/medial meniscus in the knee.

Torn ACL

Torn MCL

Torn Meniscus

P.S. My prof. calls it "The Unholy Triad", which to me is counter-intuitive considering our schools' mission is: "Worship of God through service to Mankind."

Friday the 13th

Today was quiz day for both Biochemistry and Gross Anatomy.  Despite all of the hullabaloo, I aced them both. But before you say I knew it, admittedly they were both unusually easy.  I attribute my success at this juncture to hard work, however my good friend Allen says "If I only had 1/10th of your brainpower, determination and focus----I'd dazzle this place w/my brilliance."  We got out early and I finally had the chance to run some errands.  When I got home I was greeted by a sumptuous care package from my one and only SISTAH- tanx for dat one boss, really appreciate it!  Just before I fled the med school beat, my housemate Nicole informed me that today was Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A.  In exchange for fully dressing like a cow, dinner was on one of Nashville's finest food chains.  Pictured below you'll find our tissue paper spotted outfits and remnants of our supper.  Life is good.

P.S. If you call me after 5pm CST, I'm probably in the library. Dr. Michael Tinglin, pharmacist and dear friend of 10 years says, "Don't call while [your] studying.  That $hit is annoying. It's inappropriate, just text [me]." 'Nough said. Thanks Ting.

Let the count down begin

White Coat Measurements

The Meharry Bookstore personnel will measure freshman students for white coats Monday, July 16, 2012.

 Day #1: Gross Anatomy

You are what you sleep....

As I sit and munch on an overpriced cup of fruit at our school's cafe, I can't help but think of ways to keep myself awake in the coming 2 hours of a Biochemistry lecture.  Did I mention that we already had 2hrs of Biochem this morning? And 2hrs of the Gluteal Region in Gross Anatomy? It's virtually impossible to sit from 8-12 and retain some of which seems like minutia, but I'm giving it my best. I've learned that when my eyes feel heavy, and my mind drifts off to what's for dinner, it's time to snack on something.  The key is not eating too heavy a breakfast or lunch in order to be alert while satiating your raving appetite from the mounds of reading/studying.  I plan to venture to the farmers market in the next few days to replace my dorrito and fruit snack munchies with fruit and nuts :) I have NOT been getting nearly enough sleep, but I am practicing napping after lectures to rest and rejuvenate before my avg 6hrs in the library.  It is encouraging to see 3rd and 4th yr meds with their coats and scopes rotating in the hospital.  As I close my eyes and walk past them I tell myself, in due time! There is a time and place for everything, and I'm glad that my hard work has paid off thus far.
I am 2016 :)

Had me at hello...

Just when you think you have it all figured out, someone changes the game! I knew back in February when I interviewed that med school was going to be SERIOUS.  Now that I've gotten the syllabi and reading lists, I've reaffirmed what I've always been afraid of: reading for hours on end and not understanding a thing! Although not a laughing matter, after reading a few pages for Gross Anatomy, I chuckled thinking "Is this really happening? Why can't I even paraphrase the main idea here? If I highlighted, these last few pages would've resembled a coloring book." Medical school is real people. And if I hear one more time, "It's fine. You'll be great! With your work ethic and ability, you can handle it"- I'll scream. It doesn't feel like that.  From where I'm standing it doesn't seem like it ever will.  I can foresee my test anxiety, reading comprehension and critical thinking skills or lack there of, all becoming problematic. Albeit, I will admit that it's early enough to get a hold on ALL of that.  When I wake up I immediately think, I have SO much work to do.  When in reality, that's not going to change for a long time.  So, I should just suck it up and think about something more beneficial like what I'm going to eat for lunch.  Not to mention it's still EXTREMELY hot here and I moved earlier in the week, so I no longer hit the gym right after class; I tackle the hurricane- my bedroom. I am happy to report that I'm still sticking to Insanity, sleeping at night, and smiling in between my mental melt downs.  With week #2 of 6 in MAPS (Mini Academic Program for Success) completed, it's hard to envision any light in this tunnel.  I would continue ranting and raving but I have a quiz in a week and I'm already behind....