Ten thousand reasons

Maggot infested wounds
Subarachnoid bleeds
Popping abscesses
Renal colic or rupturing aorta?
Frequnt cannabis users who wont stop throwing up and taking cold showers.
Old people who have fallen down and split their head open.
Trauma and car accidents.
Unexplained blood loss.
And some more disturbing things.

These are some of the highlights from the first few weeks. I've enjoyed it until today when I had my first deteriorating patient, and then it became stressful. Fortunately I didn't have to make the decisions and have become reasonably good at putting biggish jelcos in in a hurry. I'm not sure why I used to have issues, I just seem to have engaged the zone now. I've only had one patient properly defeat me on the jelco front recently - and that's because they literally had no veins left after many rounds of chemo.

So what have I learned so far from ED? The teaching has after all been really good.
1. Don't think about what it probably is - rule out all the things that will kill the patient now.
2. If after doing step 1, all the bad things are ruled out. You can confirm your clinical suspicion.
3. Don't jump to conclusions or get stuck thinking about one diagnosis.
4. Don't feel bad when you fail at all three steps prior to this step.
5. ED doctors do a lot more PRs than GPs. I didn't think that was going to be the case, but i've stopped being phased at least.
6. If I had been in charge of patients I would have missed a lot of serious things. Thank goodness I'm still the student.

Although I feel like I'm progressing and my skills are improving. I just feel so amateur and I wonder if I'll ever be good enough to be a real grown-up doctor. Its a very scary prospect.

The last cackle of summer

It only seems like yesterday. There's every chance this could be a dream, though I know in my heart it is not. That first day of ashes cricket. It started the day after my exams finished. Joy beyond words. Packing up the Mannum mansion to the sights and sounds of Australia pummeling England.

After a long and wonderful summer of cricket, the five test series has wrapped up. I've spent a lot of time splayed on the couch watching. Engrossed. Such a thrill to see a whitewash. But now it feels as though those carefree days of summer are gone. Almost symbolically, the Aussies have wrapped up England two days ahead of schedule. As if they knew I had to go back to uni tomorrow, and couldn't be on the couch to watch them.

Goodbye summer. I'll miss you!

2013 Recap

A recap all seems so meaningless now.

2013 was the year that I moved to the country and studied medicine in preparation for passing my barrier exams. Ultimately I passed, and passed well. I made a great group of friends, who all passed and did well too.

It seems strange, given that many of the blogs I have written this year were gripes about various things. But I've had a great 2013. Maybe I wouldn't want to do all the exam prep again, but on the whole? Everything else was fantastic.

Uni goes back in a few days. I have achieved my goal of becoming relaxed, in preperation for the new academic year. All the hallmarks of stress that usually befall me have lifted and I'm so very happy with how life is going. Amen!

I do have some resolutions for this coming year. I've never made any before - so why not do them in bulk? Lots are cliche, involving exercise and becoming a man mountain. But the rest are unique and truly me. I shall keep them close to my chest ;)

So I wish you all a pleasant 2014. Keep safe - as I'm starting the year in the emergency department and wouldn't want to inflict myself upon you.

Blessings!

Raging.

I can tell the year is over, because I have been to the dentist. My classical post-exam tooth examination. I always feel compelled to get the damage from the pre-exam bruxism and Jaw-clenching checked out. Once I know it's all okay I can quit somatising my pain there, and focus on other locations. Haha! The trip was a raging success though.

I intend to write an entry sooner or later describing the journey that was third year, but right now I'm enjoying having a holiday.

It's funny though, I got a glimpse in to what next year will be like. I was ducking back to the hospital to shred many pages of confidential material, when I joined in and saw a few patients for kicks. Not having the weight of impending exams just made the interaction that much more enjoyable. I am really looking forward to next year, in what will hopefully be an excellent year of learning through application.

I realise that sounds super nerdy - but my goal for next year is: Don't be a horrible intern.

Oh the places you'll go!

Exams - over.

Farewells - said.

House - nearly empty.

Proper update - coming.

" I meant what I said – you have been a great group because you have been “a group” and helped each other along the way – that’s important and will be so throughout your careers – I hope you can all relax for a bit over the next month and look forward to next year and beyond – remember take care of yourselves and your families , take care of your colleagues and take care of your patients . I hope you will all look back on the year with positive thoughts and am sure  your experiences will make you “great”  Doctors " 

Possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever said about a group I've been in. I can't believe it's all over. More on that soon. But for now, thanks for listening to my gripes throughout the course of the year.

I hear drunken teenagers

There's a delightful irony about this. Here I am sitting my final exam of medical school, ten years to the day from when I sat my final exam in high school.

And tomorrow, if only for a few minutes. I will be partying it up in the very same location that i was a decade a go(then quickly leaving so not to be accused of being a toolie.)

Party on Wayne! One of the Adelaide Uni fifth years, do hang in till the two minute mark at least.

E*X*A*M 4077

 Some days I wish i had become a helicopter pilot. How can you not have fun as a helicopter pilot?

With one day till the hands on exam, and three days till the written. I've hit the limit. Nothing more will go in. I am at the 'listen to loud music and band my head' stage of revision.

I hope that will be enough to pass! Here's an insight in to something i don't know very well.