Posts Tagged ‘Med School’
Hello Lovelies!
I haven’t been able to blog because school blows! I wonder why the seniors always say my present class is a lounging class. It’s one of three things;
1. I’m too lazy.
2. The seniors were over efficient.
3. The curriculum has been modified.
I’ll like to go with number 3.
In as much as I am lazy, I’m extremely willing to learn and with my daddy as my motivating factor, I have to know as many things as possible because pops and I are practically on the same turf now. It’s just a pity that he expected me to have been able to set an IV line all by myself. Only if he knew that things have changed. Medilag now is not the same as Medilag of the 80s.
I started my Junior Clerkship earlier last month with my Paediatrics rotation and I wrote my end of posting exam yesterday (June 6th). It was fine. Thanks for asking. I really hope to ace it because my scores now account for a percentage for my final year scores.
Pediatrics posting was long and difficult and my friends in other postings claimed to have it tougher. I really hope they’re wrong because I can’t imagine anything worse than that.
During a whole week of my Pediatrics rotation, My group was on call in the Children’s emergency room. We observed, clerked, Did Anthropometry, hung around and all but we didn’t smell a single signature. The emergency room is fun quite alright but how will I get signed up for exams if I don’t make the attendance? Ain’t nobody got time for going to school without getting signatures.
If not for the Doctor-Patient confidentiality, I would’ve shared many of the interesting cases I saw while in pediatrics.
Honestly, we should all be grateful for our lives. Now I know why people say that if you want to appreciate your life more, visit the hospital. It’s true; we just go about our daily activities like it’s nothing but some others are clinging to life with the help of machines and all sorts. It’s not that they sinned differently from us, they just turned out to be unfortunate.
Another thing is this illiteracy thing. I wish to elaborate about it in a different post.
Anyways, I was able to hustle as many signatures as possible even though I couldn’t make 75% of the expected which is required to sit for final year exams.
With Pediatrics done and dusted, I’m moving on to Obs & Gynae. The dreaded. We had our first lecture today (Friday the 7th) with the HOD being our first lecturer. It was a 3-hour long lecture but I enjoyed every bit of it. A humorous lecturer never goes wrong.
Let’s call him ‘Prof’. Prof gave us a lecture on ‘Unwanted Pregnancy, Unsafe Abortion, Gender, Gender Equity, Gender Equality, Abortion Law, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights’. Such a mouthful. I can make a copy of my notes for you if you want. It was a very educative yet entertaining lecture with so many illustrations that had us reeling with laughter. Prof proved to be very knowledgeable and very in sync with the happenings of our time. He Kept on using such exclamations as ‘EZIOKWU!’ And ‘OMUNOLO’. At some point, he called someone a cannulated dog. The only downside of the lecture was that I couldn’t answer any of his questions correctly and he threatened to report me to my mummy.
So, during the lecture, Prof dropped so many side bars some of which I penned down and decided to share with you guys. Tell me what you think;
– Two basic activities as constant as the Northern Star in Medical Student’s Hostel since 1962; Reading and sex.
– Concerning Unprotected Sex, If you cannot be good, be careful.
– Only two sets of people are allowed to color riot; Children and musicians.
– Your socks should approximate the color of your trousers,
– Albert Mithuli was a South African Doctor and Author who wrote the book ‘ Let My People Go‘concerning the South African Apartheid. (Medical Students that gun for passes and not distinctions or credits are referred to as Albert Mithuli’
– In Igboland, A last born (only) son is more relevant and cherished than his elder sisters.
– It is the right of every woman to decide any pregnancy she carries to term but a Nigerian woman has no such right.
– People talk about Morality and Principles but act on self interest. As is the case of pastors who preach on the podium that abortion is murder and still present their daughters in the hospital for abortions because they can’t bear the shame and ridicule. (Reminds me of when they say you’re Pro-life until you get pregnant and an atheist until the plane is crash landing.)
– Nigerians take hook, line and sinker what they are told in church. Take what they learn in church and act under the guise of religion.
– A Nigerian pastor was banned from South Africa after he went on a crusade and told some HIV patients to throw away their anti-retrovirals for they were healed. They later died.
– Nigerians are so much ripped off that Pastors make them donate hard earned money to the founding of Church Colleges And Universities they can’t afford to send their children to. So sad.
– Nigerian boys are brought up to think that A Dinner date guarantees them sex.
– Mike Tyson acted like a Nigerian boy and paid for it dearly.
There was more but I couldn’t capture them all.
What do you guys think?
With that Said, I was placed in the Reproduction Medicine and Fertility Unit. I hope it turns out to be fun! Lets get some people pregnant!
PS. Thank you guys for egging me on to keep posting. Glad to know people are interested in reading about my rather drab experiences.
Special S/o to Eyimofe, Niro and @4eyednerd.
PPS. Medicine is turning out to be really interesting. Maybe I don’t need to get that shop in Balogun market after all!
Anthropometry- Measurement and study of the human body.
Omunolo- Power has gone off.
Med Diary 23: Alhamdulilah!!
Posted on: April 12, 2013
You see guys, I’m a blessed child. I have benefitted from God’s unmerited favor (Grace) times too many to number. Many things God blesses me with, I don’t deserve but still he keeps blessing me.
Today for instance, I finished early from my Pediatrics posting and a few group members and I set out to the Student Affairs office to apply for our new student IDs when we saw our very much sought after results being pasted. There and then, I lost absolute control of my mind and body! I went cold! Cold stiff! My mind was torn between waiting till the results were done being pasted to know my fate immediately or to pursue the ID thingy and comeback to know my fate. I went with the latter anyways. I got an ataxic gait sorta and someone would’ve thought I had stroke. I was hyperventilating like hell.
Anywho, I got the ID thingy over with and came back and set my mind to accept whatever the notice board had for me…
Immediately I got to the board, I checked the list of “Students that Satisfied the Examiner in all Subjects” I made the damn list guys! I satisfied the examiners guys! My God of part one physiology pros did not fail me! I didn’t even bother checking my grades, all that mattered was that I passed.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had my mind set on at least two resists. I turned to hug my friend, Teju who was already shedding tears of joy. We cried together. Ain’t nothing better than having your friends pass too. Your joy will be complete even if you don’t share the same matric number.
I called my daddy and my daddy’s words were; “I’m proud of you baby! That’s my doctor in the making!”. I called my ‘The Lover™’ (yes, I have a boo now) next and he couldn’t stop laughing because of how I was always lamenting to him how horribly I did in all my exams.
All in all, I had an awesome result by my own standards and I am indebted to God, My Friends, Boo, Family, You Guys (My Readers) for all the encouragement and support. I can’t appreciate y’all enough.
As happy as I am, My joy is not complete. Why? I have friends that have to retake one course or the other. Not because they deserve it or because they didn’t prepare well enough or because they are sinners but because everything happens for a reason and God has his plan and purpose for everyone! Some of them obviously prepared harder and prayed harder than I did but of course, God knows best!
I’m praying to God to grant them good success.
On the BCS front, I’m too souped to care!
I’m gonna be a doctor guys!
God willing!
I love you guys!
xx
God has transformed this Girl’s Lab Coat into a Clinical Coat! Check it out! Peep the happy face too;
Med Diary 18: Whoop!
Posted on: February 2, 2013
Something I’ve learnt this past year is that God always makes a way!
Guys! My Exams got postponed till March!
Sometime ago, I mentioned how my class moved a petition for the postponement of our exams. At the time, it seemed like a really hopeless situation but it fell through; The management heard our plea.
I was already preparing myself for the struggle but two weeks extra is a gift. Like someone dashing me an oil bloc that turns out to be worth billions.
I just hope I don’t misuse this golden opportunity.
I also hope time doesn’t go all Usian Bolt on us.
I’m happy guys!
Ciao.
xx
PS. I have to give a special shout out to Banji. He singlehandedly filed our petition. Great guy.
Med Diary 16: Ovoko!
Posted on: January 18, 2013
The past few days for me have been horrible! Horrible doesn’t even exactly cut it!
I’ve been living like a lifeless zombie more or less.
They want to kill us!
‘E don be!’
The thing is that this session is supposed to last for 9 months but we’ve spent only 7 of the 9 months and they’re trying to make us write our finals before the stipulated 9 months because the college is running behind schedule.
Making us suffer for the management’s inadequacies.
My present dilemma;
Pharmacology incourse on Monday. They just brought out a list of topics from the previous incourses that are gonna surface in the incourse on Monday. Plain evil.
Microbiology department. We were scheduled to write our third incourse before the second incourse and they just can’t seem to make up their minds. Haphazardness.
Our finals are slated to Start on the 18th of February. That’s a month from today. We’ll be writing incourses till the 14th and the University rules stipulate that we should have at least a week lecture-free before any major exam. We have just 2 working days.
We had to file a petition for postponement because that arrangement is *sigh*
Some people failed to sign the petition. Trust me to sign for them.
Something appears to have died in the AC vents in my class. The stench kills.
LUTH Phenomenon; No Light, No Water, Mosquitoes. Sleepless nights.
With all the incourses in sight, I can’t take my time out to revise for finals.
Some lecturers come to class and disseminate 150 slides in an hour. Not sure what form of lecturing that is.
Community Health Department insists that we prepare presentations for them. Like we don’t have enough on our plates.
Knowing fully well the kind of pressure we are under, some lecturers don’t deem it wise to give us notes.
Some of the ones that give us notes just come to the class to read out their Powerpoints to us like we can’t see or something.
Some others just come to talk to themselves.
I had a spat with a Lab Attendant. She kept on hammering on the fact that I disrespected her because she’s short. Height issues.
They want to kill us!
Field trip to LAWMA. Too pissed to enjoy it because we first went to Lagos Island to pick up ONE person before heading out to the Landfill at Ojota. Waste of my precious sleeping time.
Pharmacology Lab hasn’t ended. Like we haven’t had enough.
I still don’t get the idea behind epithelia. I stay cramming them.
The Lab Reports keep on coming!
On a normal day, when there’s no light, I’ll have gone to charge my phone under the tree at COMPSSA for 50 bucks. Right now, I really don’t care.
I’ve lost all the holiday weight I managed to gain.
No proper sleep. Any sleep is guilty sleep.
Classmates stay oppressing.
I bought a text only to discover it had an e-format afterwards.
I still don’t get histology. All I see is pink. Purple on some other days. The lecturer keeps pointing at Neutrophils, Cancers, calcification and all sorts. I don’t see nothing. Maybe I wasn’t born with histological eyes. Who knows?
I cannot come and die because of book.
Anyhow, I can’t let these few weeks of tiredness and sleeplessness hinder me from greatness.
My driving force right now is the fact that my immediate seniors are already in their 4th year of Med school.
Daddy do it for your girl. Help me overcome these obstacles and let me dump this my Lab Coat in exchange for a Clinical coat.
Tired!
xx
My 2012
Posted on: December 31, 2012
On December 1st 2012, I tweeted; “This year hasn’t been my year.” Yes, it wasn’t my best year yet, because I’ve had better years and I know that I have better years to come.
It only took my reading Okeimoute’s story on 19th Street to appreciate my year. When Efe was asking people to pick dates to write, I wasn’t moved to because I didn’t feel the need to share how my 2012 went. Reading Okiemoute’s story made me realize that I have so much to be thankful for and that my year couldn’t have been any better.
I had more highs than lows this past year and 2012 was my year.
School.
I wrote my First professional examinations in January/February and I wasn’t confident about passing all my courses. I was even preparing to resit my physiology paper before the results came out. Thankfully, when the results came out, I made all my papers even though not in flying colors because I know I could have done much better. This marked the end of my first year in medical school.
Second year started off with the Basic Therapeutic Skills (BTS) programme which was basically an introduction to the clinics. I was really enthusiastic about it because I had previously spent almost 3months lazing at home; really needed to get busy but now I wish those days back because the last few months of 2012 were the most stressful months of my life.
Most of my senior colleagues say that if you can get through your second year of medical school, you’re as good as a doctor because it is the toughest hurdle to scale. I can attest to this; after one incourse, the next incourse is already smiling at you; no time to laze around. Even lazy people like me get on their toes. The light situation in LUTH didn’t even help matters.
All in all, I put in my best as regards schoolwork this past year; all my incourses have been good so far and only the people at the pharmacology department are trying to hold me back.
Family.
Being so far away from my mother and having to live with my father and my step-mum hasn’t been the best for me even though I have learnt to be very much independent. My step-mum became cold all of a sudden compared to who she was last year. I tried not to let this affect me in any way and I’ve done my best not to cross paths with her. We’re fine this way.
I got a new baby sister (half-sister). I wasn’t so excited about this but I got to embrace this fact when Michelle (my new half-sister) smiled at me; this practically made me melt.
My father was installed as president of the Rotary Club of Gbagada and this was a great feat for him.
My Big Brother graduated from the University of Capetown with a BA in Architecture. I’m already reaping the fruits; he took me Christmas shopping.
My little brother won awards at his school’s prize giving day. This same brother that we thought was retarded because my mother practically begged his way through primary school.
I grew much closer to my big sister(half-sister); we didn’t grow up together; My daddy just introduced her as my sister one day but we’re like peas in a pod.
I lost my paternal grandfather and a great uncle in the span of three months. It was a celebration of life because they lived long enough.
God.
I finally found out that serving God isn’t as difficult as people make it out to be; all you need is to be saved.
I got really close to God at a point and I tried my best to stay in contact with him even though my Church attendance wasn’t so clean. At least, it’s not all about the church going.
Personal.
This year was my year of self-discovery; I used to be this shy glassy eyed little girl that couldn’t air her opinions. I couldn’t say no to people and I tended not to have a mind of my own. I got this confidence boost and now I have an air of pride –Good pride- around me and I express myself freely. I’m even quite lousy now or should I say very lousy. (._. )
I became fashion conscious, I cared about how I looked and became a camerawhore. It may seem bad but I like it; one of my confidence boosters.
I became a truly happy person. Like happy from deep within.
Not my year for love; yet another break up and every guy I met seemed to think I was side chick material.
Went on so many dates and got to experience Lagos.
Been living the single life; I’m alone but not lonely.
I discovered alcohol.
I lost friends, made new ones for which I am thankful. Afterall, you win some and you lose some. I made some pretty awesome friends this year I must add and I bless God for their lives. I’m especially thankful for this one friend that went out of his way to get me out the famous ‘writer’s block’. God bless his heart.
Some other friendships were strengthened.
My twitter presence declined; finally got over my twitter addiction.
I found solace in Music, Movies and Series. Downloading anything and everything became a pastime.
I got two new devices simply by asking. Asking really does wonders.
I wrote an article that got published in The Punch in January; one of the highlights of my year. My blog was also nominated in the Nigerian Blog Awards under 2 categories and won by popular vote in the ‘Best Student Blog Category’.
Money.
See, Don’t take Sarkodie seriously when he says money no be problem.
I had serious money issues this past year. It all stemmed from when I lost my blackberry in April. I started spending money I didn’t have just to get a new one. The new one I bought got lost in May. Around that same time, I broke someone’s laptop screen and I had to replace it with money I didn’t have. I bought so many things I couldn’t afford and I was practically living from hand to mouth.
The only good thing is the fact that I can account for how I spent all this money.
I still need to learn how to control my impulsive spending.
Anyways, I’ve really grown as a person and I’m thankful for the highs and lows of this past year. 2012 was definitely my year and 2013 is another year; I’d be going into my 3rd year of medical school by God’s grace and I’m hoping for the very best.
I know 2012 was a gangsta year for many people myself inclusive (obviously); So many untimely deaths and unfortunate happenings starting from Fuel Subsidy removal to #OccupyNigeria bants, From the Dana crash to the innocent people jejely observing Sunday evening in their houses, Victims of the Connecticut shooting, ALUU4, Boko Haram misdeeds and all the other happenings but we are still alive and kicking.
I am thankful for the highs and lows of 2012, For the friends that stood by me, I’m especially thankful for Dami and every other person that put a smile on my face. So many that I can’t begin to name names. Also thankful for my blog readers; thank you for reading all these things I churn out. You all keep me going.
God Bless.
Cheers to a better 2013.
“Do you know what a pace maker is?” Asked Dr. What’s her name.
*Crickets* replied the class.
“How did you end up in medical school?!” She asked with so much wonderment written all over her face.
In all fairness, Nobody was paying attention to her. At least I wasn’t and I sure as hell know what a pace maker is.
Dr. What’s her name is a really good lecturer I must add; She obviously loves teaching and she knows how to get attention and keep it. She had my passive attention because I couldn’t pay full attention to her as I was busy trying to master the fact that Ivermectin was used in the treatment of Onchocerciasis and Rivabirin was used in the treatment of Lassa Fever. I kept mixing them up and My morbid anatomy (Pathology) incourse was just a few hours away.
She got me reminiscing; Really. How did I end up in medical school?
How I ended up in medical school is different from why I ended up up in medical school. Many people want to end up in medical school but just can’t make the cut so how did I make the cut?
Honestly and in the humblest of ways, medical school wanted me more than I wanted medical school.
I made the Merit list for Unilag diploma and Both the Merit and supplementary list for entry via post UME. All for the same MB;BS degree. When I tell people, they always think its because my mother was a staff of Unilag but in all honesty, everything was by merit and God’s grace.
See why I have to be thankful? Such blessing in one year when people undergo the eternal struggle of writing JAMB so many times to get their desired course of study and I got two chances at one go.
I can’t even think of writing that dreaded exam more than once. Those physics questions that I had to do ‘Eeny, meeny, miny, moe’ to get and those impossible Use of English questions. I’ll just die of frustration. I’d probably have become one Balogun market big girl by now or a witch doctor sef. That’s just me shifting to Plan B.
Thank you Jesus for sticking to the plan.
With that said, my Morbid Anatomy incourse was fine. I guess. I’ll just let the results manifest.
On to the next incourse. Almighty Pharmacology.
One more thing, Dr. What’s her name is hilarious. I think she’s a Warri woman.
She said any phone that is not Internet enabled is a stone and I found that statement really funny.
PS. I just had this really minor celeb moment; someone entered my room to invite me to church after all she had to say, she asked if I was a writer and I was like yeah, how did she know and she was like not to worry. 😀
3. 15 Random Facts About Me.
Posted on: December 2, 2012
I did a #40ThingsAboutMe post last year. I just went through it and many things about me are not the same. This girl is all grown up. :’)
This is a revised edition of that old list. Obviously, so many things are gonna be cut out.
Im a Med student…oh…you should already know this 😀
I used to be really really shy..believe it or not but now I’m kinda like the loudest mouth you’ll ever meet. Some people still make me shy.
I worry a lot…I’m still trying to curb this. It’s like the bane of my existence.
I used to love school until Med school happened.
I love God..He’s my Daddy. He always answers my prayers even though I only go to him when I’m in need. Something I’m not proud of.
I recently typed ‘OUTREASH’ instead of outreach. Damn those Ibadan genes!
I’m a music hoe! I can listen to almost anything as long as it sounds good.
Before my Biochemistry 3rd Incourse, I had never failed any exam in my life.
I have a very good sense of humor. And I like people with the same.
I used to know a lot of mundane facts that no one really cares about but now I’m just redundant.
I’m Fela’s Number one Fan.
I’m becoming a sapiosexual and I like it.
I’ve been loverless since April 2012 and I’m having the time of my life even though people choose to taunt me about it.
I love watching TV series. I can jump on almost every one except some like Nikita and Vampire Diaries.
Oh yeah. I’m Lazy.
Med Diary 12
Posted on: November 13, 2012
“How was your paper?”
“We thank God”
“How was it?”
“I was fine jare”
“You balled shey?”
“Omo no dey whine me”
Different strokes for different folks.
How was my own paper you may ask. It was a bit iffy to be honest, only the results can tell.
I know I only blog when I have something that’s bothering me. Its the most I can do to get it off my chest.
I wrote my Haematology second in-course assessment today. The result from the first incourse has been one of my highest point this past few weeks I must add.; I prepared really well for this paper to be fair.
It was purely essay; No MCQs. I’ll have you know that MCQs are my forte because you don’t have to study too hard to ace MCQs. Essays on the other hand, you have to know intricately.
There’s nothing worse than having several hours of studying (and cramming) being tested with 3 bloody questions in one hour.
Even worse when you crammed over 15 essays and some of the essays you crammed eluded you in the exam hall. (This didn’t happen to me tho.)
Even though the essays I was counting on and really prepared for didn’t surface, I answered my questions to the best of my ability and left the rest to my darling Jesus.
One of the most annoying things ever; a whole powerpoint note of about 206 slides. Only 3 of the freakin’ slides were asked. Imagine.
This exam was a pure case of over estimation. We expected too much from them, prepared for too much and they gave us less. It is possible to be over prepared.
This reminds me of some time in March when two friends of mine were preparing for their Haematology finals. They were all agitated and stuff and I was like; “is it more than blood? Calm down jare”
Only if I had known.
And these memes finally applied to me;
Not like I was looking foward tho them tho. Lol.
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