On life in general

I've neglected this blog of late. In my defence, I've been in the middle of coursework, being ill and just being plain stressed with impending exams.

I have just the one exam left now, my final end of year HUGE OSCE. AKA the OSCE of DOOM.

Consequently, my procrastination has increased exponentially and my work done has decreased. I've even voluntarily done exercise (swimming and more cycling than normal) to avoid practicing.

I've started to feel a bit better now that the amoxycillin has kicked in, but it does limit my alcohol intake this week (with the end of the year being close....). However, I've agreed to be a 'social co-ordinator' of this week's activities, just to confirm that I can't be drinking alcohol. (There's always one sober person taking photograohs isn't there!)

I can't believe that after this week my first year is officially over. And pending passing everything, I will be one year closer to qualifying as a doctor.

It's really terrifying how fast the year has gone. It's been even more rapid than my MSc year, and I didn't think that was possible.

In the next couple of weeks I will reflect on the year gone past (academically). Hopefully, if anyone out there is coming to medical school this year, it may be of help. Then again, it may be boring as sin! Who knows.

Take care you lot and wish me luck!

Wanted

1 spare nerve. My last one seems to have migrated for better accommodation.

If I wasn't so tired/stressed/in pain I could be a very angry person at the moment.

As it is, I can't be arsed. Two exams down, two to go (pending passing them, that is).

On the plus side, it appears to have stopped raining here. Which is nice. Because being stuck in an exam hall when the sun is shining (and everyone else is outside frolicking) really improves my mood.

Lord knows what I'll do if I fail these exams. I'm not sure I could cope with the resits!

OK, now's the time to panic

Right. Let's get things in order.

I have a 'chest infection' and some amoxycillin. Realistically, amoxycillin isn't going to help me by tomorrow's exam paper.

My muscles all hurt. My forearms, calves, shoulders, face and stomach. I appreciate that a few of those are caused by coughing, but some aren't.

My joints hurt. I'm gonna go with stress on this one.

I'm physically and mentally worn out. I went for a 30 minute power nap at 19.30 and woke up 10 minutes ago panicking.

Once I start coughing I can't stop, and am bringing stuff up that's a beautiful colour (the doctor praised my use of the word 'khaki', and said she'd never heard it described that way!).

My notes are all over the place, I can't revise, yet I need to.

I need to take some pain killers as I can't concentrate, yet I'm stuck with paracetamol, as anything else would add to the tiredness.

Oh, and I'm well and truly back on the diet coke.


How the hell am I going to sit 2 exams tomorrow?????

*hate hate hate*

What started as an amazing week has gone somewhat downhill.

I knew that a weekend that amazing could only be followed by something truly appalling.

The exams are looming, I have a beautifully brewing chest infection (green/brown ick), my asthma's gone nuts and my peak flow is down a lot for me. Sadly, I have no hope in hell of getting to see the GP before my exams, not that I expect it would do anything.

Essentially, I should be studying, yet with something much more major happening this weekend (which isn't good...) I can't seem to motivate.

Sadly, all I seem to be doing is crying, wanting to chuck myself down a flight of stairs and wheezing. In nice stressful vicious cycles.

If I survive until the end of exams it will be a miracle.

Bloody aeroplanes...

OK, why did no-one tell me that Donington Park is in the middle of the flight path for East Midlands Airport, and particularly the runway?

Obviously, it took me until Saturday night to realise that earplugs were evidently the only way I was going to get any sleep.

All in all, the festival was amazing, and something I will never forget (in fact, I intend to try and go again next year....)
I managed to see most of the bands I wanted to, got something pierced, only got hit by 4 plastic bottles during My Chemical Romance (and only 1 was full of some ominous brown liquid - hopefully coke...) and generally enjoyed the experience all weekend.

And now, I just feel like I should curl up and die somewhere for a very long time.

Sleep deprivation doesn't really suit me, and I feel like death.

And if I ever hear another painfully low aeroplane across a campsite, I may just swear...

bring on the rain.

OSCEs finished for this week, SSM handed in, and today I'm heading off to spend 3 days in a muddy field at Download 2007.

At least I will get the full festival experience (might even come back with a tattoo....)

Catch you on the flipside, and I may even take some photos...

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE

Ok, maybe giving up diet coke wasn't one of my better ideas.
It's left me to turn excessively to coffee and flavoured syrups. This means I now have a caffeine AND sugar high.

Going cold turkey

I'm about to do something very risky this week.
Given my current financial situation (ahem) I've decided to cut out unnecessary expenditures in my lifestyle.
Also, given my current addiction, it wouldn't be a bad thing.
You see, I may be a tad addicted to Diet Coke. OK, more than a tad....

...I drink on average 5 cans a day (often more if I have them in) and I'm getting a little worried that this might be a bit excessive.

So, once the current multipack runs out, that's it. No more until I get through exams and the festival this weekend.

I intend to limit myself only to coffee, tea, orange juice and milk. That's it. No carbonated beverages at all.

Lord only knows how I'll be by the time OSCE rolls around...

The Joy Of Willpower

Last night was the last student night at the Union before our exams start, and was absolutely packed with medical students from my year.

I thank all the medical students at my Union for desperately trying to make me drink last night. Thankfully I have willpower, since I have an exam at 0900 today for one of my hobbies.

Time to attribute my lack of hangover to sheer determination.

...shame I didn't have the willpower to stay away from the Union full stop though really.

seven days

In 7 days time I will have finished my 2nd OSCE of the year and submitted my SSM.

....I will also be packed and on my way to Download 2007!!

I promise I will take lots of pictures for you all!