Vascular Surgery, Exam Anxiety and Stuff

I think I may, for the first time in my life, have some genuine academic anxiety. I’ll be writing my first set of FINAL med school finals in ten weeks. Six domains in four days: Urology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Anaesthesiology, Family Medicine, Surgery and Orthopaedics. And let’s not forget that Surgery = general + head&neck + vascular + trauma + paed surgery.

I don’t actually know how I am going to do it, given that we do not have any study leave. I will go straight from completing Ortho rotation into exams. Ten weeks is not enough to prepare for HALF OF EVERYTHING I have done in almost six years.

Also I am currently on Vascular Surgery where morning rounds start at 06:00 and evening rounds end at about 20:00 and we have one hour off for lunch. I don’t know how they expect us to LEARN anything during this time because all I find myself doing is scut and in three days the only thing I have learned is how to read and present an arteriogram properly. And that’s not enough to carry me through getting the Ch.B portion of this degree.

Click image for source. (Richard Sawdon Smith)

Surgery is not my strong domain and I have to get through these five weeks (fortunately vascular is only one of those weeks) learning a lot and doing well.

So. I might be a little scarce for longer than anticipated.

I will still be around, but a lot of my posts will probably be scheduled during times that I have a quick break. I’ll still respond to comments, albeit slowly. I’ll still read your blogs, although I might be lurking a lot more.

Submissions for guest posts (e.g. Elective Extravaganza, but really if you have something else in mind you’re welcome) are still welcomed.

I know everyone needs happy thoughts, but if you can send some my way, it would be highly appreciated.

P.S: peripheral vascular disease stinks. Sometimes literally. Control those sugars. Live healthy lives. Do it now.

This is really sweet. But losing toes to PVD still isn’t nice.