How to Survive Medical School

[eve88]

Just a thread for all med students (I know you're out there) who are feeling stressed / overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff to plow through.. be it anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, clinical skills (and a million and one other topics)

So, for the ppl who have *actually survived* med school .. or are surviving med school .. please post any tips / mnemonics / stories etc...

(And has anyone heard of the poor student - (and even more unfortunate patient) - that inserted a chest drain into the patient's IVC )

Just to start off - a path question that I'm confused about :
Whats the difference between rheumatic fever, chronic rheumatic heart disease, acute bacteria endocarditis and subacute bacterial endocarditis?

[Young]

*Mocks epic narrator tone*

"You do not survive med school. Your med school dictates your survival...!!!"
"MUAHAHAHAHA...!!"
*Cackles with evil laughter*

___________________________________

Sorry, finals revision is driving me to the brink of insanity.

[youngyew]

Acute bacteria endocarditis is usually caused by S. Aureus and runs a very acute course (over weeks). Subacute bacterial endocarditis is by other "subtler" bacteria, usually Strep species such as Strep viridans (over months).

Rheumatic fever is a systemic inflammatory disease in response to Strep pyogenes infection. Basically the immune system tries to attack S. pyogenes but misfires and attacks other body parts instead due to their molecular mimicry (keyword ). Due to the auto-immune process your valves, joints, skin etc get damaged and present with carditis, erythema marginatum, arthritis etc.

Chronic rheumatic heart disease is what happens in some people 10-20 years after the initial rheumatic fever, and is a major cause of acquired valvular disease in the developing world. It usually manifests as valvular stenosis or regurgitation, and this is a result of long term inflammation of the myocardium.

(Yes I did refer to sources )

[eve88]

Thanks! So endocarditis = there's actually bacteria in/around your heart vs rheumatic = sterile cuz its an autoimmune rxn ... that makes it clearer.

(procrastinating, procrastinating, procrastinating = sense of impending doom)

mnemonic of the day : Read those damn cadaver books! (roots, trunks, divisions, cords, branches - re: axillary plexus)

[Mirianchoo]

I think the key to surviving med school (from advice from seniors) is consistent study and also wisdom in knowing what is important to study and what's not. It's about self-determination and sacrificing your free time, plus balancing work and study well. One of my seniors in med school actually devoted almost all of his time when he was in sem 2 of med school to eating, sleeping, bathing, and studying (Fyi, a lot of students in my uni- IMU- get kicked out for failing 2nd sem, hence the pressure). So, it's a lot of willpower involved.

One mnemonic before I end my post:
A Chicken In Kentucky Saw Some Fairly Muscular Organisms
(AcetylCoA, Citrate, Isocitrate, alpha-Ketoglutarate, Succinyl CoA, Succinate, Fumarate, Malate, Oxaloacetate)
[To help you remember the Krebs cycle]

[youngyew]

Originally Posted by Mirianchoo

One mnemonic before I end my post:
A Chicken In Kentucky Saw Some Fairly Muscular Organisms
(AcetylCoA, Citrate, Isocitrate, alpha-Ketoglutarate, Succinyl CoA, Succinate, Fumarate, Malate, Oxaloacetate)
[To help you remember the Krebs cycle]

A 18-SX version that is particularly popular in my university (it's so good I could remember it off my head five years later)

A Course In Kama Sutra Should Further My Orgasm