End of Semester Break!!

First, let me apologize for not updating this blog in sooooo long! Between the final weeks of the semester, finals, and some health concerns, I have been somewhat overwhelmed. The 1st semester has ended and finals went fairly well while the health issues are ongoing. Let me explain...
During the first few Physical exam classes, where we practice on each other with our new medical toys, my partner and I determined that my eyesight was 20/30 in both eyes. As the semester progressed, my eyes were burning, tearing excessively and just plain bothering me. By the last visual acuity exam, my vision had deteriorated to over 20/100 in less than a month and a half! Scary!!!! to say the least. So off to the ophthalmologist I went...Results: severe retinal hemorrhages with some slight beginning of retinal detachment in both eyes of unknown cause. Next visit to the laser guys, and they are talking 6 - 7 visits with the laser therapy to cauterize the hemorrhages ad stop the detachment...no can do!!! To miss that much school would not be feasible. Thanks goodness that the doctor was sympathetic and the other option was to have a retrobulbar injection to numb the entire side of the face including the eye to be able to perform an extensive laser procedure that would consist of about 1000 strikes in each eye.
The very thoguht of the retrobulbar injection literally turned my stomach!!! And then of course I had to research it on the internet which made the thought even worse! BUT!!! Yesterday I did the first one in the left eye and all went well. The doctor did about 879 strikes in that eye and I went home bandaged and much releived that it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Good thing because next Monday I have to do it all over again for the right eye! Today, while my vision is still somewhat fuzzy, I am able to see okay and hope that it gets better from here out.
So, the last few weeks were pretty intense in school. There were tests after tests, one week we had 6 tests in five days!! The material presented seemed to never end and at times I felt my brain could absorb no more! Some of my classmates told me that they finally broke, they felt that it had become impossible! Students who were at the top of the class began to falter a bit. It was interesting to watch, not to mention to be directly involved. But we all got through it, the first semester has ended! YAY! and we have a two week break, thank goodness, perfect timing so I could take care of these eye issues. If not for the break, I really don't know what may have happened, and I don't want to think about that either!
Studying in PA school is beyond anything I have ever experienced in undergrad. It is simply not enough to review the material and move forward. It is imperative that you study each subject everyday. Even if it is a review of the powerpoints and terminology, you must look at it. Another important method is to review the lecture/powerpoints prior to class. Just having a general idea of the coming lecture allows for a much better understanding and makes the hours of listening much more effective. It also allows you to ask questions when it is appropriate rather than realizing after the fact, once the instructor has moved on, that you didnt get the concept previously introduced. Be prepared to spend endless hours studying and reviewing! I just sayin...
Your classmates are instrumental in your success, as you are in their success. Study groups are good but mostly...Share! Share! Share!! Really, there is not way that one person can prepare and research reviews for exams, especially when you have one a day! Divide up the sections and share with others, then you will have a comprehensive study guide to follow. Yo will probably get more guides than you can review if your class is anything like mine. But you will find the ones that work for you and your style of learning and studying. Be sure to offer your contributions too!! No one likes it when they share with you but never seem to get anything concrete back over the long run.
Another concept that I seem to have a bit of a time accepting is that you will not always be the best at everything! Competition is alive and well among the class members but in the end its about getting through and hopefully all together! In your class you will have people from all walks of life and many fields of healthcare and otherwise. Learn to use the expertise of others and offer yours when appropriate. And accept that you may not ace every test, heck you may not even pass every single test...in the end it is not about getting a 4.0 PA school GPA but getting through the program with an overall good understanding of the material. No one is going to ask you for your PA school GPA when you are out looking for a job. But you will need to have a thorough understanding of the concepts to pass the PANCE and keep your patients alive and well.
WHen you have a break, take advantage of the time to relax, do the things you love and spend time with the people who are important to you,the next semester is starting soon enough!!
I am going to go rest my eyes! Talk about seeing red! :)
I will definitely try to be better about writing and I appreciate all that are following the blog. Thanks!! Feel free to send me comments and ideas!