Clinical exam number 1

I'm on a super high right now. I feel like jumping on a trampoline. Think I drank too much coffee and I'm kind of addicted to coke now. Anyway more about my first clinical exam.

was super nervous right before my exam. My heart was pounding since I woke up but when I saw the examiner, I suddenly became really calm. Don't know who my examiners were but one of them looked really familiar. He started chatting with me as I walked towards my first case. Kind of reminded me of my driving exam, the examiner was talking to me the entire time until I thought he forgot to test me. Anyway, since I passed my driving test, I should be able to pass this clinical right? He asked me what long case I was getting. Paeds long. so do you like paeds long or short? I'm happy with what I got. So you are one of those who want to do paediatrics? No sir. I'm not intending of doing paeds. Then why do you prefer paeds? I wanted to say because there are fewer types of long cases for paeds and it's easier to spot what will come out and I get a break between my med short and surgery exam. But I didn't because it would sound like I'm a slacker. So I said, I like paeds because I enjoy being around children as they are cute.

yup. Children are really cute but THAT'S NOT WHY YOU WANT TO DO PAEDS LONG!!! I sounded like a BIMBO!!!!!! And this all happened before I even saw my first patient. Anyway my first case was a woman was a massive hepatomegaly and a curious mass in the left iliac fossa. I happily said that I think it's a colorectal cancer and metastases to the liver. After lots of digging, I finally said polycystic kidney disease with polycystic liver. And then the examiner said, can the diagnosis be polycystic liver disease when there is such a huge hepatomegaly? So, the clever little me said, yes because massive cystic hepatomegaly can occur especially in women and it is not common in man. (the patient was a woman btw) And the examiner eyes nearly popped out, are you sure?? Yes, sir, I'm sure. I read it in the book.

Ok then I went onto the next case. And IN THE MIDDLE of my examination of the cranial nerves, the same examiner asked me, where did you read the polycystic liver information from? Baliga, sir. 250 cases in clinical medicine. And he actually copied down the book name!!!! I almost fainted on the spot. Then after my exam, I couldn't find a single person who heard of this fact. But I really read it and I can prove it!!

Page 323 of Baliga.
Unlike renal cyst formation, liver cysts seem to be influenced by female hormones. Whilst men and women have the same frequecy of liver cysts, massive liver cysts are almost exclusively found in women. Mr Baliga, you better be correct because only you seem to know about this fact.

My examiners were really nice. Can't complain much, but they should be looking at me examine the cranial nerves and not thinking about what I said in the previous case!! Second case was ok, screwed up my third case though. it was a massive pleural effusion but I said it was consolidation. Whatever.

my pre-auricular sinus is infected. Because I'm super neurotic and I keep squeezing the sebum with my dirty fingers whenever I study so it got infected. I don't know what are the complications, but judging by it's location, I might get otitis media and become deaf. Or get meningitis/ brain abscess and become stupid (not that I'm smart now), or just get disseminated sepsis and die. Whatever.

my Funky cg12

the theory papers have finally ended. It has been a long 5 years. was just looking through my old photos of med school and feeling a little nostalgic. anything to get away from studying...some of my favourite photos



This was our christmas-theme 2004 Christmas party at wendy's house. It was one of our funnest party! We had loads of fun dressing up and everybody really put in a lot of effort.



then somebody had this great idea of us going around to sing Christmas carols. So we all went downstairs in our outrageous costumes and sang to people on their way home. I think many of them thought we were crazy, but it was extremely fun. This photo, although a little blur, shows pinakin the shepherd trying to conduct the group which included 2 other shepherds, a fairy, a gingerbread man, a reindeer, 2 santarinas and I think the last one is a Christmas tree.



This is a rare photo of my entire cg. There'll always be somebody missing in our photos. We all dressed up red-carpet-ready for my glitz and glamour party at the hard rock cafe for my 23rd birthday. It's nice to see everybody all dressed up. Actually, we all look so good everyday! =)


This is wendy's ethnic birthday party. I was the Cheena-girl and wendy was the ethnic girl. I can't remember what the others wore but I think we were the two best-dressed AGAIN.




Charlie's angels at von's retro birthday party. I was quite embarrassed by my outfit cos it was really quite retro. Bought the dress when i was in secondary school and it was perfect for the party!



Wayne (i think) photoshopped this photo. Hilarious!

This is a special note to pinakin. THANK YOU FOR STARTING MY CAR FOR ME THE OTHER DAY. WITHOUT YOUR HELP, I WOULD HAVE JUST SAT AT THE CARPARK AND CRIED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! and thanks to nathan and kok pin for offering to push-start my car.

The highlight of my med school was the trip to India. Didn't think it was going to be fun initially, but i really enjoyed myself. This is the whole group at some park.





Goa. Who can forget goa? I always wanted to try parasailing and I finally got the chance. It was superbly fun but it ended way too soon.


There are so many photos that i like, i can't decide which to put up. But this has to be my favourite photo of all. It captured the essence of India to the core! Although I will NEVER EVER travel in the general cabin again, it's quite an experience. But once is definitely enough.

Med school is coming to an end...in 10 days time. I can't believe it. Been striving to get into med school all my life. Ok maybe not my whole life, but since i was in secondary 2 when i chose to do triple science. Seriously. My goal when i was a mere 14 year old was to get into med school. Hopefully i will pass. I'm sure the rest of my cg will pass because they're all so smart and hardworking. They won't just pass, they'll definitely do very well. Wonder what working life will bring for all of us, which posting we'll do, which specialty we end up eventually. But one thing I know, we'll remain in contact always. Hehe. Sounds corny but it's true. Heck! We're almost like family!

my brain is LEAKY!

I've finally concluded. I HAVE A LEAKY BRAIN! it just doesn't allow me to store anymore information. For every word i read, a whole paragraph of words will leak out! I'm having muscle ache from all the heavy books that i bring in and out, up and down from the shelves. I have infiltrated my entire house. There is not a place without a book or a fly-away note.

I'm afraid yet i'm doing everything except study! Got time to book air tickets, surf the net, watch the oscars (Dolly Parton's waist is sooooooooo tiny!! It's about the size of my one thigh!), and even blog! And i think my alarm clock is running out of battery. Hope it'll ring tomorrow. And my tire has a nail in it!! Somebody drove over a nail right before my exam!! If my tire punctures tomorrow, i'm going to murder somebody!


The lucky thing is, my registration number for the exam is 88. It means lucky right? yup, lots of luck to me! and everybody else taking the exam tm!