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Exam day- this is the day i’ll never forget least for 10 years of my medical career.

there are basically 14 students in our hospital n the exam was spread frm tues to fri. i happened to be the lucky last person, not only last day but last time. in my life, i never had been so anxious b4 given its such an important xm & i’ve covered pretty well, n given its such a long wait of suspense for the day to come.

b4 the night of xm, there was already a commotion. I looked thru & found out i’ve lost my stethoscope. the revision week kept me close to my books w/o awareness of my surroundings. luckily, at close to 10pm, i phoned sharon my neighbourhood friend n she lend me one. here, im already a qn of doubt being in this career.

im never a watch person but i did remind myself to bring a watch just for the xm. bringing it out frm the closet, its an exquisite seiko watch. i bring it to move (kinetic) for the 1^st time after 3 years. next morn, i went to board the train as early arriving almost to the city, i knew i had smeth missing. there goes the story of going back home agn.

I was never late for the exam. so i went on with my long case. b4 my story, all i want to say is i’ve learned a lot frm this exam. frm the sound of it, u knew i did not do well. in fact is one of my saddest moments given i expected a lot frm this and given.. i love this field so much.

I learned.. expressing medical competence is very difficult in an exam setting. especially when u’ve a limited 1 hr to take a history & perform a full-system physical exam & 10 mins to sum-up b4 presenting to the examiner. this is complicated by the provision of a complex case.

Im a very systematic person & a ‘person of presenting complaint’. I love things to be in order n complete. i like to tease out all the relevant details of the PC. but in this exam, i failed to comply to any of those, due to circumstances.

at the end of time given, i basically had all the notes messed ard pages. i did not have time to systematically put it in order & rushed thru the drug chart. I was starting to panick with 10 mins left. my patient was basically gold. she was very cooperative, telling me i wudn’t need to button her clothes & i cud sit down to write my notes. she’s a christian & she gave me the warmest touch in my heart during the time of havoc by saying, “as long as you put your trust in Him, He’ll see you through”. I just cudn’t describe how i felt at the time.

my presentation was given in confidence but all over the place. I missed vital parts of the presentation only to be prompted by my examiner i.e. medications, social hx. i generally went berserk coz its a complex case, but i maintained my cool & kept backing myself up. in fact, my case was so complex tt the patient gave me the wrong diagnosis. my case was on hematology. to view the case, click at the end of post.

I went home feeling withered. I was actually thinking of buying big Papa’s custard scrolls “buy 6 free 6” frm 4.30-5.30 offered only on this day for its anniversary. damit & the gang wud appreciate them a lot. I got home to find 3 msges on my phone:

1. Yo keith, 2nyt bbq at guyatt. Hms sponsor. dun tell every1. just u & us hsemates + kolo & maybe hao cos he is coming down 2day. gd luck 4 ur exm! - Damit

2. Hey gd luck ltr :) take gd care of my stetho n after u finish dig out my white cable n pendrive. Give me when we meet for d project next week :p gambate! – Sharon

3. Yo man ur bro wants dota (cpu game) maybe tomorrow nite at blue house i will confirm again - Faris

I literally broke into tears. given the state im in now, whether im fit to enjoy myself 4 the nite or for next holiday week, im unsure. so this is my story. I guess no matter wt happens, life goes on. supplementary wud be a 50:50. I will remain positive regardless and drive on- coz i knw this is wt i want. ppl don’t have the chance to live but i do so i’ll make use of it. u’ll see a diff person next week. i shall be back to my normal self.

Long Case- Hematology (click)

keith