Time flies when you're having fun. At least that's how the saying goes. Honestly, it flies even when you're not exactly enjoying yourself but are just busy. Four weeks into the third year already, and I've finished one complete rotation. I seriously don't know where the time went. Did I have fun? I'm not sure I would put it squarely into the "fun" category....but I will say Neurology was better than I expected. The hours weren't as bad as I thought and the physicians were all super nice.
I will say though, it was quite an adjustment from sitting on my butt for 12 hours studying to standing 12 hours rounding on patients, trying to identify where the lesion is in the brain on stroke patients or why exactly patient so-and-so was fainting. Four short weeks was definitely not enough to master neurology, and I still somewhat feel quite clueless, but I think I can honestly say that I am more comfortable with patients and more importantly, the attendings.
I was so nervous the first day we were getting patients I almost threw up at home and again on the drive to the hospital. I felt like most of my fellow students were all "excited" to finally get out into the wards (the hospitals) but I actually felt way more nervous than excited. I think I feel more comfortable studying behind books, which made me seriously wonder what the heck I was doing here in medical school. I felt like the only introvert in a sea of extroverts. I do think it takes more of an effort for me to pipe up in front of the attendings and show off my extremely limited knowledge, but I think I'm getting there.
I'm even getting more confident driving! The streets of Chicago are waay crazier than Colorado. Traffic on the highways pretty much don't move, from 1pm onwards to about 7. (Don't people need to work??? Why are the highways so crowded so early?) People don't say thank you when you let them in, and taxi drivers especially will honk at you if you don't start driving the instant the light turns green. I've even seen two people yelling at each other from their cars because I guess one cut the other off. It makes me homesick for the Denver suburbs, or even North Chicago, something I truly thought I'd never say.
But through it all, in the past four weeks, if someone asks me where the lesion is, at least I can figure it out. About 2/3 the time.
2 comments:
so you passed!!!! right??! you passed you passed~~~~ congrats :D I'm proud of you! my med school roommate said her trauma and OBGYN experiences were the worst, have you done those? (but she's 3rd year going on 4th)
I miss driving in CO too... roads in bmore are shit. there are holes everywhere and scary black ppl wiping your windows at stop lights and asking for money X_x
Haha yes, Frances, I did indeed pass, as did my friends :)
Noooo don't tell me trauma was the worst, that's what I'm doing right now!!
I hate the scary people asking for money, but at least here they don't wipe the windows....why don't these crazy cities fix the potholes!!!!
I hope you're having a great time in Taiwan and spending time with your family before the craziness of school starts up again.
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