Most recent concerts

Last week, Pei Kee, Jeff, Shin Yee and I went to see the London Symphony Orchestra (which I think is the best orchestra ever) play Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and Mussorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death. As a bonus to the programme, the LSO played The Twittering Machine by some contemporary composer whose name has slipped my mind.
The contemporary piece was really interesting and I actually liked it! I wouldn't mind listening to it again (some contemporary pieces are so horrible they precipitate headaches - like one I heard last year - forgot the name - didn't even bother to remember!)

The Songs and Dances of Death bit was brilliant and the soprano was a sight to behold. I swear I've never seen a lady taller than her. She had a magnificent voice that could be heard over the LSO - now that's something! She wore a very suitable dress for the programme - was quite morbid but beautiful at the same time. This piece was originally written by Mussorgsky to be played on the piano (which would've been a lot more boring). Shostakovich orchestrated the piece some time after it was written, and being a genius and an OCD person, he definitely did the most perfect job. I loved the interplay between the different sections and the energy of the piece.

Now of course, the Scheherazade. I was so impressed by this I didn't even want to blink or move a finger. I was rooted to the spot like a statue throughout the 40 plus minutes of this brilliant piece! The LSO definitely did not disappoint and did Rimsky-Korsakov justice! Just magnificent! It's difficult to put the experience into words! And there's also something about the concert hall at the Barbican centre that just makes everything sound so much better, clearer and louder... Wow, that was worth the money, in fact I would've paid more!

I went to see the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall the following Saturday (proudly turning down offers to the latest bond movie!)
Anyway, the programme was Rimsky-Korsakov's Tsar Saltan Suite, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Kalinnikov's Symphony No. 1.

Tsar Saltan was pretty good, although it's definitely not one of the best works of Rimsky-Korsakov (which would be Scheherazade!). The orchestra was sounding rather soft as we were sat quite far at the back (being the cheapskates we are).
However, at the end of the piece, we seized the opportunity and ran to one of the unoccupied seats at the 4th row of the stalls, which were far better!

Tchaikovsky's 3rd Piano Concerto was disappointing. I never heard it before and thought I'd take a risk (as you can never really go wrong with Tchaikovsky - turns out you can!).
I found it extremely draggy and boring - and plus I didn't even like the melody!
The morbidly obese pianist wasn't a pretty sight (compared to the beautiful female pianist that I saw play Rachmaninov's Variations on a theme of Paganini at the Barbican centre a year ago)
I just couldn't wait for it to finish, and it made me feel slightly guilty for bringing this friend who was completely new to classical music to this concert of all concerts!

Kalinnikov was also a chance I took - but a good one! That symphony was really good, although it probably lacked depth compared to symphonies written e.g. by Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. It had a good tune (which was probably the most important thing to my friend). It kind of climaxed, but not really. But it was ok. Nothing fantastic or anything, but good enough to keep my attention.
I vow to use my final few years in London to make the most of my stay. I will go to as many concerts, dramas, ballets etc as possible!

Music and Medicine

I'm so happy with the music is going at Barts! All my efforts for the past 2 years have definitely paid off. The orchestra is now a reasonable size and we're getting more and more support from the medical school and the students' union!
Sometimes, the thought of the Thursday rehearsal is the only thing that keeps me going for the week. Everytime I'm talking to the most boring patient, or if I'm in a demoralising and depressing lecture, I think of music and it definitely helps me get through.
Hopefully, there'll be a huge turnout this thursday so we can have a great rehearsal! We now rehearse in the Old Libary of the Old Medical College which is just a lovely place with excellent acoustics! Can't wait.

Now medicine. Neurology is definitely not for me. I'm actually quite surprised with how much I dislike it. I loved neuroanatomy and neuroscience in my preclinical years but neurology is such a bore. Most of the conditions are untreatable and you're just going to see your patients deteriorate over the years.
The signs to pick up are so subjective. Is the reflex brisk? or normal? Is there grade 3 or grade 4 muscle power? Is there rigidity or spasticity? Whatever. I will not become a neurologist because the past 4 weeks have only depressed me!
Maybe this is one of the instances where I'm more of a scientist than a clinician.
I enjoyed cardiology so much more than this waffle. I think I might head in that direction.

Life goes on!

I PASSED!!! And its great to be back! Now leaving all that crap behind me,

I'm on neurology at The London at the moment and am enjoying every bit of it! Ophthalmology week was great and I'M SO BUYING AN OPHTHALMOSCOPE!!! Oh what fun

Anyway, I'm back on my Music Presidential throne and am working my ass of for it! Can't wait! Despite the usual problems (low on brass, NO OBOE!, no harp) I'm glad to say that things are looking up this year! Many new members signed up at the freshers fair, and a 3rd of them violinists!! and a new cellist and a HORN!!! omg Just incredible, horns are SO rare. But we still don't have trombones...
Anyway, nowadays I'm losing sleep due to excitement! I keep thinking of that first rehearsal that just has to be perfect! First impressions last you see, so i don't want to scare off the new members.

And I just LOVE our choice of repertoire!
-Mussorgsky: Prelude to Khovanshchina
-Khachaturian: Masquerade Suite
-Eric Coates: London Suite

It's gonna be good!

My muddled thoughts

I'm back in London and I'm working my ass out for the resit. The whole thing is such a weird, surreal experience. It seems like all my confidence is out of the window. Nothing I do seems to give me any satisfaction. No matter what I do to improve, there's always something stupid I'd say or do. Why am I so insecure about my abilities? This has never been a problem before.
Just over a month ago, I was a completely different person. The exams did not scare me one bit. (well to be fair to myself I did do well in the written papers, I just managed to fail the OSCEs)

The resits are in about 2 plus weeks and the thought of it freaks me out. I do not want to face it but I will have to to keep my place in this school.

Meanwhile, some complete morons have been trying to fix the boiler without any success in the flat. (for the past 3 days!) How hard could it be? The flats a complete mess.

I am missing the comforts of home at the moment!

Acceptance

The results have finally sank in.
For hours yesterday, I kept checking if the name on the slip wasn't mine. I kept saying "I can't believe I failed! ME?? ME??" over and over and over again. So memalukan! Lose face only. Ceh
Kept picturing that moment opening that wretched envelope.
Well, there's a first time for everything!

Now, I'm looking forward to going home. And am gonna kick the resits in the arse when I'm back!

And my neck is really stiff now. So bye

MBBS Part 3 Exams

BL 3rd year medics had 2 painful weeks of exams starting the 30th of June. Most people found them horrifying but i thought they were ok, save for the 5 minute OSCEs! I couldn't have screwed up more in them!

Recollection of the OSCEs
Paper Bii (5 minute stations)
Lost of Weight History

• thought i did well in this
• established that the patient has lost weight, has tremors, palpitations, anxiety, irritability and heat intolerance
• has family history of thyroid disease and vitiligo i think
  
• diagnosis: hyperthyroidism due to Graves disease
  

Penicillin Allergy Hx

• patient was annoyed due to reaction post flucloxacillin i think
• established all the symptoms post Abx
• established previous reaction with penicillin
• explained that she's allergic to penicillin and should move on to another antibiotic
• at the end of the station, Dr Epstein asked me: "Did you get the money?" I was so puzzled! What money? So I said "No, I didn't." Then he said, "To buy the double bass?" Then it clicked that he was asking about the orchestra, something completely unrelated to the station! Buat aku panic je

Handwashing station

• what more to say?

COPD history station

• I thought I was doing well and asking about everything there is to ask about sputum (colour, amount, blood, smell)
• but at the end of the 5 minutes, I saw the examiner marking a whole column of 'N's instead of 'A's (with the most bored and annoyed look on her face)
  
• fuck

Blood taking

• went to the station and saw the fake arm, so started saying to the examiner: "I would ask the patient's name and identifiers such as date of birth..." and she stopped me and asked me to talk to the fake arm
• so I did, and it felt weird! Hello Mr Smith, would it be ok for me to stab you and bleed you?
• Didnt get the blood from the Antecubital fossa. bodoh
• Second attempt was panicky but got blood
• Should've passed i thought
  

Oxygen therapy

• man comes in with Status Asthmaticus
• pick and explain the best method of oxygen delivery
• I went for highest flow venturi mask (but i think i should've said non-rebreathing bag)
  

Breast Examination

• saw a woman patient and thought: " wow i didn't expect to have real breasts to examine"
• then after i got consent etc she took of her blouse and was wearing strap on fake breasts!
• the right nipple was missing, but since the instructions said only examine the left breast, I didn't even comment on that (should've said "obvious ulceration to the right nipple!")
• examiner smiled, so i thought it was ok

Diarrhoea History

• young woman with watery non bloody diarrhoea 2 weeks post eating undercooked chicken at a barbecue
• she was worried about cancer! what?
• I completely ruled out cancer and told her she most likely has infective gastroenteritis probably due to Salmonella

Haematuria History

• young man (30 years old) with excrutiatingly painful ureteric colic and haematuria
• from the history i took, i diagnosed nephrolithiasis and told the patient it's common
• he was worried about bone cancer, and i stupidly ruled it out without even giving it much thought. trying to be too clever
• must've failed this one
  

Male catheterisation

• the minute I saw this, I started laughing incredulously: the last time i ever did such a thing was PPD which is bloody months ago!!!!
• stumbled the whole way and the examiner literally told me what to do

Results
-Failed paper B (osces) by one station!! Fuk
-Was such a shock to find out. Like being struck by lightning....

Oh crap- resits
Bye bye summer!