Block Exams...Round One

I'm writing a quick update because I have had several people ask why I haven't written a blog entry in a while. In our program, on top of our regular assignments, quizzes, etc, we have block exams - which are exams that happen at the end of every month. They happen over the course of two days and we have an exam in each of our courses. This semester, since we have five courses, we have five exams in the two days, plus our anatomy practical, in which they basically stick a bunch of pins in the cadavers and we have to identify the structures that the pins are sticking in to, as well as answer whatever other questions they ask pertaining to those structures (for example, which nerve innervates the muscle they are pointing to, or which blood vessel supplies it, or which function it performs).

Our first round of block exams start Friday - so we have exams Friday and Monday. Studying for these exams is pretty crazy -- the exams are worth 70-100% of our "block" mark, depending on the course, so they are quite obviously really important. In the past three days, I have been at the school for over 45 hours, studying my tail off. I'll admit, it's been pretty stressful. I've got a pretty awesome study group - we work really well together and it's been really helpful working through things them. We've been using the study rooms in the library, then catching the bus home at 10pm. By the time I get home (around 1030), I'm exhausted, and have just enough energy to have a shower and wash the sweat, tears, and cadaver juice from the day off, and jump in to bed. Just to do it all over again. I do have LOTS to write home about, but it will have to wait until these exams are over. I assure you all, I am alive and well!

More to come soon! 

XOXO

It's a sweet sweet life, livin' by the salty sea

So another week has passed and it was an exciting one! It's hard to believe we have finished two weeks of classes already (although by the amount of material we've covered in classes you'd think it was four). 

We had our first test of the year on Friday (in histology...shoot me now) but it went pretty well considering its the scariest subject for me. We have three more tests this week so the studying and cramming feels never ending. 

The island is generally noisy which is a little frustrating for studying. At any given time you are guaranteed to hear one or more of the following: dogs barking, noisy beaten up cars with post factory stereos driving by, the famous orchestra of chickens, loud people...fighting, partying, or laughing, drum band practice which happens almost nightly up the street, ice cream truck that plays the super Mario theme song and tends to hang around the area for at least one hour intervals. The list goes on. Second biggest frustration: lack of vehicle. The bus for the school takes us there, leaves at 3, 5(when our classes typically end) and then not again until 10pm. So, if you need to stay after school is over to buy groceries, meet with a study group or work on a group project or anything like that...you're pretty much stuck till 10 at night. This makes for a very long day seeing as we get to school at 7am. I will stop complaining, life here is generally pretty sweet and I wouldn't give up what I'm doing for anything. 

The cadaver lab continues to be pretty sweet. On our second day in there we dissected the upper back muscles, opened the spine, and went into the spinal cord to see the different layers. 

I joined AMSA (the American Medical Students association) which is a nation wide club for medical students. We have a division of this at our school which will provide us with different learning workshops for free and hook us up with different volunteer opportunities and whatnot in the community. 

Friday night there was a welcome party on a tiny island just offshore of Anguilla called Scilly Cay. It functions as a small restaurant/bar and there is a large fishing community in that area so there are always a lot of fishing boats parked around it. A lot of the students went and a few locals as well. It was a great time and nice to get to know some of the other students outside of the classroom and have a break from studying. 

That's about all my news for now:) xoxo

Very Interesting Study on Hypertensive Medications and Dementia

I came across a study that has shown that people taking a common type of antihypertensive medication, ACE inhibitors, show slower rates of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and Vascular Dementia. As dementia is very near and dear to my heart, I found this very intriguing.  ACE inhibitors are a class of medications that are commonly used to control blood pressure. All of these medications end with -pril.

Some examples of these are:

• Captopril
• Ramipril
• Enalapril
• Lisinopril 

(And there are several several more)

The link for this article is : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264008.php

for anyone who wants to check it out :)

Forgot to mention...

One last thing...I forgot to mention, one of the hardest things I've been struggling with. It has been so hard for me to SIT...ALL DAY LONG! For YEARS...I have had jobs, where I am on my feet running around all day long. Now, sitting in class all day long is such a challenge. Maintaining focus for so many hours is difficult. We get short breaks during and in between classes where I always take advantage and have a quick stretch or walk, and that's it. Then, we go home and night, and sit some more while we study, study, study. This has definitely been a tough adjustment!