Day 2

Our whole class was together today for class and lab. Due to a mistake in the schedule, we all showed up at 8am and found out our class was actually at 9! Aaah. I would have loved that sleep, but it's okay.

Our first class was "Interviewing" as a topic in doctoring (9-10am). We discussed things like how to make a patient feel comfortable (e.g. knocking and asking before entering which may seem obvious but some doctors don't do it, confirming that conversations are protected), how to get as much information as possible out of a patient in a short amount of time (what if your patient does not feel comfortable talking, if they are talking too much, or you don't have time to address everything on their list), how to phrase questions (probe, don't lead), how to deal with sensitive issues (e.g. sexuality and relationships, domestic abuse; tone matters!), and how to use body language (use eye contact, don't write too many notes). Part of this was also not jumping to conclusions and allowing the patient to say as much as possible, using silence or whatever methods you need to let them talk. If the patient feels comfortable, they will give you more information that will allow you to help them!

Right afterwards, we had "Osteopathic History" as part of the OMM course (10-11am). There were a few bits about the beginnings of public health, drugs, and medicine leading up to the time AT Still created osteopathy, but his thoughts on health were announced in the proclamation "The human body has much in common with a machine, one which ought to function well if it is mechanically sound." This meant that if one part was broken, the whole thing couldn't function properly. He created a clinic in Kirksville, MO before he started the first osteopathic med school in 1892. At the clinic in 1895 alone, he treated 30,000 patients. He was so successful that the city added trains so people could bring in patients who wanted to be treated by Still. Basically, everyone wanted his hands to treat them.

We amazingly got 2 hours off for lunch today and went back for anatomy lab from 1-3. I felt much more comfortable today dissecting and think I am really good at separating muscles from fascia. ;) Not to toot my own horn but that's what happens when you like detailed arts and crafts. We were still dissecting the back and got to see the erector spinae muscles (iliocostalis, longissimus, and spinalus), splenius, levator scapulae, serratus posterior, and the occipital nerves (greater, lesser, least) and artery. Being in anatomy lab really really helps you learn the muscles because you have them right in front of you and you are like "what is this?" and you try to match what you see on the cadaver to the pictures in the book... and then it just makes sense. Some of the docs were walking around to help again, but since we were all in lab today, we also could go around to check out the other cadavers (our anatomy test will be on everyone's). The greater occipital nerve was displayed prominently at table 11 and thank goodness because I wouldn't have found it otherwise. It looks like just a slightly raised part of whatever tissue it's on if it's not sort of separated, since it's the same color (whitish). But they run anterior-posterior (transverse, we could say) while whatever else is running on the coronal plane. I apologize if this is too much for some of you reading this, but it helps me remember by writing about it :P. Also, if you are wondering, we cut each muscle along the spine and reflect it back to see the layers below.

Anyway, the rest of my day was spent 1) playing tennis, 2) bouldering and slack rope walking at a rock gym (I suck at both those things btw), 3) eating pho, and 4) chatting with roommates. So there you go, end of the first week of med school (we toasted to it!). I cannot believe I have only known my classmates for a week or less and so many of us are so close already. Then again, everyone has similar interests, we're all nerdy, and we all are somewhat type A personalities (how else did we get here?), so I guess we were bound to get along. :) Til next time!

P.S. Despite what the post says, I am writing this at 2:30/3 in the morning. Probably should go to sleep... a few hours ago.