Anonymous asked: How are you these days?
Hi anonymous. I’m getting an awful lot of this question lately.
Physically, exhaustion sums it up. It’s a combination of fucked up circadian rhythms due to the stupidity in trying out polyphasic sleeping as well as increased activities. May have bitten a little more than comfortably managable, but we’ll see how things go. In any case, it’s a good tired. I feel alive.
Emotionally; not too sure. There are a number of things racing through my mind and certain things I’m starting to realise which adds up to fluctuating mood swings that is increasingly becoming (even more, if that’s possible) abnormal. But if you add everything up from the roller coaster, I think content would be a good word for it.
In any case; do I know you? Are you the same anonymous asking the same question sporadically every 2/3 months? Because we probably could have a far better and more stimulating discussion regarding my and your state of being if you drop me a line on facebook/in person!
Phase II: Chapter 4 - Polyphasic Sleep
I know there should be a whole spree of pathology posts but currently still procrastinating studying for music; bear with me. In the meanwhile, let’s talk polyphasic sleep.
The term is used to describe multiple sleeping periods in a 24-hour window. However, in this context it’s in relation to minimising sleep to increase the amount of waking time. Temporarily trying it out to see if it’s feasible so I can get more work done. Note: it will destroy your circadian rhythm so please, do not take this as a suggestion/recommendation to attempt it. My own rhythm is pretty much fucked anyway so I figured I may as well destroy it completely and maybe get something good out of it.
There are several methods: the one popular on the internet, Uberman’s, is crazy-intense - six 20-minutes naps in a day. Apart from the fact that it cannot possibly fit in a normal person’s schedule, 2 hours seems like very little sleep. So I’m trying a variation of the Everyman’s model, which consists of 3-hours solid sleep, with two half-hour naps during the day.
So far:
- It’s not working very well, but then again it’s only been a few days
- For optimal success, apparently you need to plan it to the minute or else it will screw everything over
- In terms of waking power - yes, it will keep you going for quite sometime well into the night
- In terms of concentration power - not yet apparent. I use the late nights to memorise concepts or to do things I normally do in my down time which I don’t have much of lately. Think downloading music, catching up on TV shows, doing some easy reading; avoid important documents, new concepts, things with lots of terminology like embryology, etc.
- I am so tired.
Will keep you posted on its success/failure. If the latter, there will probably be an incomprehensible ramble on this space sometime soon. Hope you are all doing a much better job at time management than I am to avoid this situation!
sleep the irony when a med student does terrible things to the body med school
I don’t normally posts photos, even if there’s a lot of text in it.
But having been there, and now (I think) comfortably on the other side - this list: truth.
(Source: willyoumarrymewatermelon)
Absenteeism.
Again and again, it never fails to amaze me that inadvertent hiatuses, at least on my behalf, generally falls during periods of relative non-stress. In other words - when there’s no reason for procrastination.
A stream of pathology rants will be posted once I get this music test out of the way. In between the symphonies and various other pieces to analyse however, I’ve started to revise for end of year exams; quite pleased to say that concepts are actually starting to make sense. The puzzle pieces are finally fitting in together and it makes up for all the “wtf” moments of the past year and a half of med school.
In other news: I have finalised the Cambodia and Vietnam leg of my end of year trip. As a child, mother worked at a travel agency which meant travelling every 6 months, if not more frequently. Wanderlust was always going to be in the blood, and after a very long, long time of suppression I’m setting it free. Quite the excited one right here.
And finally, to V - congrats yo! I hope she treats you better than I ever did :)
life travelHypochondriac Paranoid Med-Student Syndrome
By sheer unco-ness I managed to bang my big toe on a concrete/gravel floor today and it started bleeding. A lot. At first I thought it was pretty superficial but now it’s getting a little bit black and the cut looks deeper than I first thought.
So yeah, sure, it’s probably infected. Going to see a doctor tomorrow to get it checked out. For now though…
CONSEQUENCES OF WOUND
- Infection with various bacteria with multiple antibiotic resistance
- Gangrenous, diabetic ulcerations
- Widespread necrosis
- Amputation
- Sepsis
- DEATH?!!!!
Which is silly. I don’t even have a history of diabetes.
life wound care mild hysteriaJust keep swimming, swimming, swimming…
Went for my first Open Water Dive lesson today! My mother was always scared of the water as she cannot swim, and as a result all of her kids (myself included) have never really participated in water-based activities with the exception of swimming lessons that seems to be compulsory for every Asian kid.
Apart from the fact that I can’t really dive properly, and that I am ridiculously unco underwater (exponentially so from sea level, which is pretty bad as it is already), it was really quite wonderful! Apologies to S and L who had to take it easy as they watched me struggle to find balance, propel forward, breathe, etc.
open water course unco lifeRambleramble.
Just came out of the worst performance I’ve ever played/been in. Currently on a low with an intensity that is pretty shocking. I’d say it about equals what it felt like a month after I broke up with my ex. I don’t even feel this bad walking out of an exam that I just semi-failed. Like seriously dude, what even.
weird PMS? I AM A WOMAN LEAVE ME ALONEPhase II: Chapter 3 - Global Health
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis~ Mozart/Sussmayr from “Requiem” - Introit: Requiem Aeternam
Briefly, I am going to move away from med lectures and review some world statistics. The Miniature Earth Project have estimated that if the world’s population was to be reduced to a village of 100 people, 24 will have no electricity, 18 will have no access to clean drinking water, 43 will live with no basic sanitation and 14 are malnourished. 20 will own about 75% of the wealth, with USD$1.24 trillion being spent on military expenditures and only USD$100 billion on development aid.
