Hi, I am a 3rd Year Medical Student ...

Peishan= Basal Skull Fracture + Diabetic Ketoacidosis + Hepatic Encephalopathy + Hashimoto's Disease

= Battle's Sign + Kaussmaul's Breathing + Korsakoff's Psychosis + Extreme Lassitude

And in non- medical speak= Big eye bags + hyperventilation + inability to make new memories + perpetual tiredness

Diagnosis: Medical Student

And there's always some truth in parodies ...

Orthopods and Anaesthetists (:

1 more reason why its better being a Woman.

Things I should not be remembering from my revision but tend to stick anyway:

"Research has shown that women who have complete transection of the spinal cord can experience orgasms through the vagus nerve, which can go from the uterus, cervix and probably the vagina to the brain."

I wanna be angmoh for a while.

I need a break real bad now, am physically and mentally drained.

Havent been so for a long long time. My ssc just has this effect on me, compounded with the nagging feeling that i have way too much to cover for exams.

And yet, there is so not enough time for me to take one proper.

Plus my mum (who is living with me now), seems to think tt it is only expected for us as students to work like this "because every medical student in the world has to work hard and they are all tired like you too. Plus, we are all also tired too."

But Im not one of those every other medical student in the world. And is it expected for everyone to be go so far as to be tired to be not considered lazy?

Once in a while, I wish Im not asian.

Peish the Physician.

I think the best thing I got out of doing my SSC on Breast surgery and oncology is that I have strengthened my resolve that I dont want to be a surgeon.

And that i hate writing essays alot.

Damn, it would have been interesting reading up on the history if breast cancer treatments if not for the fact that Im absolutely shattered from standing the whole day in theatre, that i havent slept much last night, and that the surgeon who is going to read it might possibly hate my essay and make me redo one.

I want to take a gap year. And my mum doesnt seem amused by it one bit.

Of Breast and Bad Luck.

At free-printing royal free now waiting for a wide local excision for (local) metastatic right breast lump to start in about 1-2hours, and really not looking forward to it.
Firstly because Im not a fan of surgery in general, and secondly because I dont like the idea of women losing boobs.

Spent the whole morning waiting for a ward round that didnt materialise to start, and then more waiting around with the pt to get a sentinel lymph node biopsy. But at least the radiologist was really nice and keen on teaching, which makes the moring pseudo- worthwhile. And my pt was really really nice and positive despite her diagnosis and that she is going to have part of her breast removed.

Breast Cancer is really an awful thing to have, both for men and women alike. Men because of the mockery they might get for having what the public see as a women's disease and women because it might mean losing a great part of their identity.
And its not only the physical changes that these pts have to deal with, but also chemo and radiotherapy after that. Its going to make (some) people lose hair, feel perpetually tired and ill, deal with side effects such as lymphoedema and having to live with the fear that the cancer might always recur. It means a whole lot not only to the pt but also her(/his) family. Daily routines disrupted and possibly life values reevaluated and plans rethought.
All these changes usu in a matter of weeks, if not days, especially with the one stop clinic that sees people getting their diagnosis within the week, surgery within the month and chemo, radio or hormonal therapy after that.

That aside, Im still feeling grouchy for having to come in so damn early to realise things didnt happen, the nurse at the lymphoedema clinic emailing the med sch to tell them i didnt attend the clinic and that squirrelmail is not working so i can email them to explain my innocence.
Why do bad luck come in big bundles?

Too much summer.

Summer is so beautiful, especially in a place whereby its normally cold and wet and gloomy. The beauty of the blooming flowers and the warmth of the sun, and the general joy expressed by the people in the streets just lifts my spirits.

But yesterday was one of those days, I wished the weather wasnt as summery. I was positively sweating like a pig and hyperventilating like a dog and missing my aircon back home in singapore the whole day.

But this weather does make me just not want to work (despite the fact that exams are coming up and no where near half way done) cos its either too beautiful to stay indoors or too hot to stay awake.

I guess thats just one of my 100001 excuses not to work.

And yes, today its the showdown between Spain and Netherlands. ((((: Am looking forward to it!

But Im def looking forward to going back home in 3 weeks time. Have plans to check out universal studios and marina sands with the Losers and possibly visit HK for a couple of days (((:

Inception.

Christopher Nolan makes me incredibly proud to say Im from UCL (yes, he graduated from my awesome school!).

And in about 10 days time, his newest work, starring none other than Leonardo DiCarprio (who might not be as good-looking as he was back when he was in Titanic, but more charming to watch with all the years of experience that has made him a truly awesome actor) and Ellen Page (who has really blossomed since June), comes INCEPTION:

And they are here to mess with your mind!

(Not that exams arent already doing so to mine.)

拳神

I think summer just has this effect on people.

It makes you want to just enjoy life and live the high life, which was exactly what i did- make a salmon pie for dinner, watch football (way to go Spain!) and then HK's (extremely embarrassing) version of The Matrix:

Or: 拳神

I have to admit I got into it 'cos of LeeHom.

Its bad, but hilariously so. A nice break if you need some laughs. And, they do have a nice cast (What i mean is ... yummy to the eyes).

But if you are looking for a show with any decent plot or acting or kungfu or meaning, dont say i didnt warn you first.

I guess we still have a long way before our movies would get anywhere near Hollywood's standards. (This movie came out 2 years after The Matrix.)