A little review

I'm copying Caroline. She posted a similar review, and I thought it was fun... so here's hoping that someone, anyone, thinks mine is "fun" too! Haha.

1. You are going to a yoga class with your new friend who you met on the elevator at your apartment complex. Usually you pride yourself in being pretty good at yoga, but you are very humbled when you see this girl's flexibility. She basically has her leg behind her head while doing a back bend. You have never seen anything like it. What is the mechanism of her disease?

2. Your classmate, who has Hashimoto's thyroiditis, notices new bullae on his skin and oral mucosa. He doesn't know what they are from and asks you what you think. You notice that the bullae have a positive Nikolsky's sign, and you suspect a second, potentiallly fatal autoimmune disorder. What is the name for his dermatologic lesion? And what antibody would confirm your diagnosis?

3. You are doing your morning rounds on a patient who has chronic renal failure due to uncontrolled Type II diabetes. You tap on his face and notice a muscle spasm. This positive test tells you what?

4. A Vietnam veteran presents to your office and is positive for HCV, which he acquired from a blood transfusion while fighting in the war. The zone of his liver that will be most affected by his infection contains what important structure(s)?

5. What is the difference between Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and Bernard-Soulier dx?




1. Your new friend has Ehlers- Danlos syndrome, which mechanistically is faulty production of Type III collagen.
2. Your classmate has pemphigus vulgaris and his lesions are termed acantholysis. He will be positive for IgG against desmosomes (anti-epithelial cell antibody).
3. This is a positive Chvostek's sign, due to hypocalcemia. (Remember: renal failure -> no vit. D -> low calcium and phosporus)
4. Zone 1 of liver is most affected by viral hepatitis. It contains branches of the portal vein, branches of the hepatic artery, and the bile ducts.
5. Glansmann's thrombasthenia is a defect in platelet aggregation and Berdnard-Soulier dx is a defect in platelet adhesion.



I know this is not perfect and that I have made mistakes... if you notice them, tell me. Otherwise, I hope this helps you a little! :)

25 years

Ah, how surreal... time passes so fast! It seems like just yesterday that Steph and I were complaining about being old while working at Nordstrom (ages 21 and 22). Lol. I would totally go back to that age!!!! :) Though twenty-five is older, and yes, it feels older... I also feel wiser. And since I go to bed every night praying for wisdom, I suppose this stepping stone in "growing up" is good one.

I feel so blessed to have received so many happy birthday wishes! And lucky me, I even got a few gifts that I am so totally excited about! :) An amazon gift card, Toms, flowers, a box of cookies, popsicles (Haha)... I feel really loved! (Take note boys: All girls LOVE flowers.)

An update on my boards studying... It's actually going much better than it was! My birthday flowers are sitting on the table while I study, which already makes it so better, and I broke down and got a diet coke for my birthday. :) And I feel much more calm and refreshed after a short trip to Toronto over the weekend. It's such a cool city, and I was in amazing company, which was the best part! (I should plug Porter Airlines, because they were the bomb digity! Flying was actually really enjoyable with them- Starbucks coffee, wine, snacks, free internet, and no fees to check your bags. Amazing!)

I'm missing Abby and Elle like crazzzzy!! Just look at this little princess... (picture sent to me from my little sister) She has "I miss you too, Mom" written all over her face!

I hope everyone has great week! :)

CO-FML-EX

I really don't mean to use this as a forum to rant... so please pardon my grumpiness... But c'est la vie people! It's not all happiness, flowers, puppies, fashion, and sweets. So let this post be my way of making this blog "real" ie. less optimism, more reality.

Studying for the boards sucks. Yep, it's probably the worst torture I have ever been through. Even worse I left Abby and Elle in Indiana so I don't even have dogs to talk to right now. What a pathetic life when you're locked in your apartment with no one, not even animals, to talk to! It's no wonder doctors turn out to be schizoid.

Somehow I have lost myself in all this, medical school that is. I feel like I don't even know who I am sometimes. I think back to what my life was like two years ago, four years ago... It's like I'm an entirely different person. I have given up my favorite hobbies, sacrificed invaluable time with my family and friends, and poured myself into this pool of medical information that is impossible not to drown in. I keep telling myself this is what I want, but honestly... I'm not happy right now. I'm totally burnt out and I really don't like the "new me" who can't cut up, relax, and have a few too many glasses of wine. So is this REALLY what I want???

Well, I don't know for sure, but a fourth year medical student at my school sent me an email today saying she promises that it gets better after boards! I pray that she is right. (Side note: I really admire her and I think we have a lot in common, so her email was such a blessing to receive today. It really helped me push through.) I'm dreaming of the day when I can put all this knowledge to use and actually help someone by giving them the knowledge, reassurance, and stellar healthcare they need.

I don't want this post to be entirely without a smile, so I googled "medical school cartoons" and found some pretty funny stuff. Enjoy people! And please, say a prayer for me. And for my classmates.


EKG's. Amazing, but I hate them on exams. The strips are so small you can't see a dang thing!

Ooops, that wasn't Andy's head. It was MINE!!!

Thanks for those great words of wisdom! I feel sooooo much better now. ;)

Uh, yea.. this last one isn't funny. This is my public service announcement of the day- GET A PAPSMEAR LADIES!!!! And the Gardasil vaccine while you're at it.

Are we really MS3's?

What a fabulous day! I finished my second year of medical school and the last finals week of my entire life!!! And my girlfriends took me out for a lovely birthday brunch. I'm feeling so blessed! And so relieved!!! :)


Now, to just get through b.... no. I won't say it. The "B" word that is.

My "How to: Survive Finals Week"

1. Get lots of kisses from your pooch!

2. YOGA.

3. Meet a girlfriend for ice cream :)

4. Paint your toe nails.

5. Study and remember:

(Note: #1-4 are to keep your sanity. They are a must!)

So what's your excuse?

Mine is that I don't have any pink panties.

My grandma shared this as a Fwd: with me. I thought it was so funny!! This will be a new goal of mine... continue practicing yoga so that when I'm 80 I can still hug my thighs. Haha, Awesome!

I bought 6 cookies.

I just bought 6 cookies from the Corner Bakery. Seriously. Six!!! Needless to say, finals week + boards studying has me a little stressed. All I really want is a diet coke from McDonald's in a large styrofoam cup with my six cookies and a motorcycle ride in this lovely sunshine. But it's not in cards for me today. I have no motorcycle and GERD that's worse than ever so I can't drink diet coke..... Well, at least I got the cookies!

I love braids

Fighting Dogs

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." -- Helen Keller

Have you all heard about the Navy Seals dogs?? One of them was a fighter during the Osama Bin Laden raid! They are trained to attack running enemies. They have chips in their ears so that can receive remote commands. They wear cameras on their heads so live footage can be seen by commanding officers. They carry weapons. They jump out of planes. They are loyal companions and friends to our fighting soldiers. This is amazing to me!!! I love love love dogs and hearing about all they can be taught to do. Incredible! :)


This is me jumping out of an airplane on my 20th birthday. What a thrill that was! I'm not near as cool as the dogs tho. :)

Advice from Ketut

I'm so grateful to be taking a study break to watch Eat, Pray, Love with my best friend!! I love this picture the Medicine Man gives Elizabeth and what he tells her...

"To find the balance you want, this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have 4 legs instead of 2. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -Ketut, The Medicine Man

We'll put a boot in your ass!

We will never forget 9/11. Never.

I am so proud to be an American. Congratulations Mr. President!

A new home

I'm so relieved since I signed a lease for my new apartment!! July 1! I can hardly wait to move in! Now if I can just figure out a way to convince all of my friends to move in to the same neighborhood... Hm.... :)

My favorite movie

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever." -Young Noah in a letter to Allie

I couldn't sleep after a long day of studying, so I decided to watch my favorite movie and arguably the most romantic story of all time, The Notebook, before going to bed. May I never settle for a life of love and commitment that is anything less than that, and I wish you the same!