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9/11

Dropped off for a month due to crazy hecticness. Learned my lesson on self care and balance. I have one more exam before I get a little break now but it’s a massive exam. And the two exams this week were so stress inducing. It’s that time in the semester where I feel like a shell of myself just trying to get through the day. But also I’m enjoying peds clinic and am seeing patients now. I’m feeling comfortable. Tho I don’t know if peds is a good fit for me, I do love working with kiddos though.

I went to the gym for the first time in ages today and I took a nap 👏

Tomorrow will be the beginning of my marathon to my exam in 5 days. It’s a lot.

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8/28

Slept in a bit, group study on cancer biology. Group class on clinical reasoning through low back pain complaints. Got home and read a chapter. Went to the store and bought a cinnamon broom to hang up.

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8/27

Did clinic today, saw lots of newborns on my peds rotation. Came home and studied cancer biology. Met with another student then took the evening to rest up, cook a whole food meal and clean the house a bit. Now going to bed early ☺️

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8-26

Exam day! 90% which is a huge win!

Notes for next time though: start written notes sooner, it helps me more, less flashcards. Make sure to be keeping track of pharm and micro as it comes making it easier to section it out mentally

Either way the grind don’t stop! Spent some quality time with my husband and hung out with friends, but I also had to prepare for clinic tomorrow, and look up some common viral infections in peds.

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8/24

Just another test cramming today. Woke up at 5:30, showered, and began studying. Took a break around noon to get some tea. And then again at 3:30 and 8 to drive my husband and pick him up. Now it’s nearly midnight and I’m calling it a night. Even though not every weekend is like this in medical school, they still come and go. My back hurts from being craned over my laptop and notes. My hands hurt from typing. I didn’t realize how little I ate and drank today (which is why *pro-tip* get some electrolyte drinks for your study seshs esp if your consuming caffeine, I always forget to drink while studying) .

And tomorrow I’ll wake up at the crack of dawn and do it again. But I’m in a field I always dreamed of and have the ability to help others in ways I couldn’t imagine. And work hard play hard

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8/23

Almost was late to class cause I got sucked into studying pharm. my pharm guide for this exam is almost finished (and is like 20 pages 🤪). Group study on various common derm. Practiced oral reports. And then went to grand rounds.

Got home and did another couple hours of flashcards and practice quizzes. I made myself stop at 7 to get chores done and decompress a bit before this weekend of cramming. We are all about balance this year 🧘🏻‍♀️

Idk how med school can cram so much into your brain but still you feel so dumb. And why can’t I pronounce a single word. I just learned how to properly say “candida”.

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Medical School Journey

Big focus on pharm

Little focus on bugs 🦠

Studied at cafe then at home for a bit

Feeling a little under the weather so let myself nap as long as I needed to

Lots of flashcards on MSK and neuro

Got Thai with my husband

Reviewed

Antiepileptics, local anesthetics, general anesthetics, muscarinic antagonists, cholimimetics, neuromuscular blocking agents, dopamine agonists, comt inhibitors, mao-b inhibitors

Listeria, neisserias, haeomphilus

While it’s hard to catch a break the week before an exam, I always find 4-5 days before taking time to rest and sleep in always helps me pull off my final stretch of studying

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Medical School Journey

Meeting with my advisors, talking about boards 😱

Group study in arthritic diseases and skin/subcut infections 😰

Grabbed sushi for lunch 🍣

Practiced back pain physical therapy 🩻

Legit knocked out without taking my scrubs off when I came home 😴

Woke up to meal prep and make banana bread 🍌

Did chores- mopped, dishes, laundry, dust, scrub kitchen 🧼

Did some flashcards on musculoskeletal disease 💪🦴

Reviewed

Rheumatoid, psoriatic, reactive, osteo and septic arthritis, common derm conditions, cellulitis, fasciitis, gangrene, osteoporosis and osteopetrosis

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Medical School Journey

I ran a Call of Cthulhu homebrew game with my friends and it’s the first time I ever did anything like that, it went super well and I’m proud of myself for getting out of my comfort zone

Flashcards for 8 chapters 💪

Did about 200 flashcards today 🗒️

Started making tables for pharm and micro 💊

Went to gym, did rock climbing and treadmill 🪨

Fixed my windshield myself 🔧

I’m trying to keep it together but my exams are coming soon so after today this week is going to be cramming 😵

Reviewed

- Gout/Pseudogout, Osteoarthritis, Radiculopathies, Myopathies, Gonnorheae

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Medical School Journey

First off the last couple weeks have been SO hectic! I feel like such a dummy in clinicals but I know that’s part of the learning process. If I wasn’t a dummy I wouldn’t be in school right now.

Second this school year started off at a 10/10 pace! The amount of pharm and micro is insane.

Also I’m doing an MPH and that ramped up too in the middle of all of it but…

Today

- Group study on meningitis, antiviral and antibacterial 🦠

- Little talk on pulse ox vs partial pressure vs hemoglobin and what numbers go up and down and why 💨

- Did review quiz on vertebral anatomy 🩻

- Made peds milestone guide for my clinicals 👶

- Prepared for a DnD session I’m running tomorrow, never done it before but I’m trying to push myself out of my comfort zone more 🎲

- Planned my next couple weeks so I can feasibly get my work done before finals week 😱 already in cram mode

Reviewed

- Meningitis, Encephalitis, Antivirals, Antibacterials, Drug Resistance, like so many bacteria and viruses I can’t even think.

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Med School Journey

Yesterday was mostly just catching up on chores and daily life

Read 4 chapters 📚

Made flashcards for 6 chapters 🗒️

Wrote on HIV control in Sub Suharan Africa 🦠

Honestly doesn’t seem like much but took me ages ⏰

Took dogs on walk 🐕

Learned

Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, Myopathies

Reviewed

Strokes, Encephalitis, Meningitis, Listeia, Clostridium, N. Meningitidis, H.influenzae, basics of viruses

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Med School Journey

Pediatric Clinicals (so many newborns so cute😍)

Read 2 chapters 📚

Wrote on educational campaigns against vaping 💨

Flashcards on 2 chapters 🗒️

Read up on Ultrasound 🔊

Overall super chill 😌

Reviewed

Meningitis, Encephalitis

Learned

Tendinitis, Bursitis, Septic Arthritis, Osteomyelitis

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Med School Journey

Group studying on strokes 🧠

Research brainstorming 🔬

Emailed doctors to shadow ⚕️

Took a nap 😴

Read 2 chapters 📚

Made flashcards for 5 chapters 🗒️

10 practice micro questions 🦠

Reviewed neuro questions 🤓

Wrote on mental health reform 💕

Read up on pediatric history taking 📝

Reviewed

Cortical strokes, blood supply to brain, cholinomimetics and muscarinic imhinitors, meningitis

Learned

Arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and Paget disease, tips for pediatric history and exams

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Med School Journey

Somehow dove into studying as soon as I woke up and still behind today 😜

Read 4 chapters 📚

Wrote about global health care initiatives for tb 🌎

Wrote on traumatic brain injuries 🧠

Made flashcards for 5 chapters 🗒️

Folded laundry and did dishes 🧼

Studied at a cafe for a bit ☕️

10 micro practice questions 🦠

Everything shower 🚿

Made sure to take some me time for yoga 🧘🏻‍♀️

Learned

Antibacterial Resistance Mechanisms, Common Antibiotics and Antivirals

Reviewed

Parkinson’s Treatment, Huntington’s Treatment, Common Neuro Drugs

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Med School Journey

Made my husband a nice Saturday breakfast for dealing with my endless studying and disappearing to school 🍳

Picked up groceries 🍎

Took dogs on a walk 🐶

Studied at a cafe ☕️

Bought a pair of new shoes since mine are falling apart 🥿

Read 5 chapters 📚

Did 30 practice questions (did so bad on them 😬)

Made flashcards on 5 chapters 🗒️

Learned

Staph vs Strep, Varicella, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, HSV

Reviewed

Cerebral Blood Flow, Seizure Disorders, Myasthenia Gravis vs Lambert Eaton, Management of Seizures and Myasthenic Crisis

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Med School Journal:

First day orientation at clinic site 🤓

Downloaded charting software ⌨️

Picked up my husband’s new glasses 🥸

10 practice questions on neuro 🧠

Read 7 chapters 📖

Wrote discussion board on high school public health initiatives ✌️

Reviewed

~ Hearing Loss, Wernicke-Korsakoff, brachial plexus

Learned

~ Cholimimetics, Muscarinic Antagonists, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, ALS

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January Goal Update

1. Whole Food 80/20: this one was definitely a hard start. January was very busy at the beginning and my routine was constantly thrown off. But I started getting acid reflux symptoms again and so honestly eating healthy and whole food has become a necessity more than a choice so I don’t get terrible nausea all day

2. Hygiene: I’ve been enjoying this goal. My hair is looking healthier after I got back on track with taking care of it and also figuring out what products work the best. I found a sale on makeup products so I’ve been enjoying doing my makeup on school days. I bought a new fragrance that’s more my style. And my skin has been clearing up.

3. Flashcards: I’m about halfway there with this one. I have been reviewing content, but it’s difficult when I’m also trying to learn new content. I have some amazing study decks on ECG’s and drugs right now.

4. Language Learning: I have been keeping up with Duolingo, and my friend sent me a music playlist full of slow Spanish songs. But I’m always so tired when I come home, it’s hard to speak Spanish with my husband. I have been occasionally talking to my suegra in Spanish though.

5. Study Whole Heartedly: Right now I am in my “thirst for knowledge” phase of the semester. I’m rested from my break and I’m amazed I have the opportunity to learn medicine. But I’ve learned in med school that you can’t delve down every rabbit hole, especially your first year. Looking up every syndrome you come across and spending time memorizing it will fill you brain up with the little details before you grasp the big picture stuff that you need your first year. I’m working on striking a balance between the two so I can continue feeding my curiosity while allocating the right amount of time to my coursework and keep myself from burning out.

6. Climbing: This has been a bit of a bust. Beginning of January I was climbing or hiking every day until my knees started hurting and I didn’t rest like I should have. But now I’ve had to take about a week off of hiking and almost two weeks off of climbing. But today I’m going to try again and see how my body feels. We still have another 11 days of the month

7. Meditation: I haven’t kept to meditating or yoga recently. Yoga was also painful with my knees and I don’t like sitting out on too many positions so I made a habit of doing yoga poses at home. I do feel I’ve been more mindful lately and overall I’ve been able to keep my stress and preoccupied tendencies down.

8. Reading: I’ve gotten out of the habit of reading when school started (now I read textbooks before bed) so I think 3 books is a high expectation. I think I can read 2.