bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
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Back from LA, had a great cocktail party to celebrate my presumed failure , watched a couple of movies, now back to studies/work.
Well, as people have said again and again in this forum, practice is important. But even after practice, if you are not prepared for the unexpected, you might stumble, as I did. I bet my first two cases were those non-scored ones. I was bludgeoned to near-death  by those weird SPs. I was out of that room well before the Ƌ-min left' announcement. Gathered myself up, and suddenly remembered I was not breathing at all as long as I was in that room. So I took a deep breath, got my cyanosed fingers back to pink and sat down to type the PN. But didn't know what to write. So I was looking along the corridor at the proctors a couple of times and while I was thinking what to write, the proctors felt I was displaying suspicious behavior and came to check me out. When they saw the blank PN on the computer screen they decided I was a gone case and ignored me.
This insanity got carried on to the next 3 cases, where I was close to a zombie, though breathing this time. Break time!!! Had a sandwich and some fruits (tasted funky). Then I consoled myself, dude! so what if you fail, you can sit at home and watch movies while the wife earns the bread. Indeed, I remembered my wife gave me permission at the airport when she dropped me off, that if I fail I can sit at home, cook and wash dishes, and of course watch movies rest of the time. That made me a bit more confident than necessary.
Next 4 cases were ok. Was ok with history taking, sucked at physical examination, and was good enough with counseling and closure. Cases were diagnosable. PN satisfactory. UW and FA are fair enough.
Last 3 cases were zingbang!!! I gained my confidence back. With this renewed confidence, I thought I could go back to those first two cases and kickass, but the proctors kicked me out - "we've had enough of you staring at us".
But overall, I think I didn't perform well. If I pass it'll be a miracle.
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Impression - unless you have real good clinical experience during your rotations, you will have a very tough time organizing your thoughts in front of the SP. And if you had a long break between your graduation and this test, like me, you will need intense practice with feedback from a real doctor, not just your friend or spouse.
Suggestions - Cases are doable. But I hope you are not so unfortunate as I was, to get the research cases as the first ones, that may shatter your confidence. So get prepared mentally, to face cases which you might have never imagined, and have a plan of action on how to deal with them.
Regular cases you see in UW and FA will give you confidence, but again don't fall into the trap of monotonous preparation of repeating those cases as they are. Fill in some changes of your own, try to make them difficult if you can, and prepare accordingly.
SPs were nice to me, didnt' find any rude ones. Maybe they already thought I was a gone case as soon as I entered the room, and decided its worthless to torture me anymore.
Good luck guys.
Maybe I won't answer any of your questions because I really am not in a position to. 
Edited by bioguy on 05/01/08 - 02:08 PM
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| yarab99
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 150
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good luck buddy ,,,dont worry,,,u will pass,,,beleive me...
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| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 304
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all the best...anxiety happens to the best of us...good luck
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 644
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Oye !!!!!!!!!!
You are the last person who i expected to say that. And trust me you will pass. Cos you of all people cant be a zombie. You make people zombies not the other way around. OK
So Chin and good mantra You will pass. Stop fretting ok. Inshallah you will pass so start cracking on the exam next on the list.
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| praying4a99
MS-III
Topics: 100
Posts: 2,435
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I'm sorry to hear that.
I hope you end up passing.  (you never know)
Do you think you would have done better if you have used more studying materials? 
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| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 151
Posts: 1,980
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'Bioguy' was the last name I expected to see when I visited this thread. Dude, that thread title is way off mark. Looks like except for the 1st 2 cases, the rest were ok. And, you are given one additional case which is not marked. That means, you're doubtful about just one case out of the rest. People have passed with worse records. Chances are you'll pass, easy.
Now, kindly do us all a favor, and change that title please. [But, let the smilee face remain]
Enjoy the movies, you deserve a break. 
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Success is the best revenge! He's my boyf! And, yea, I'm lying...:-(
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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Dear bioguy:
I hope you'll have a nice surprise when the result comes.
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 678
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Thank you all for your good wishes.
P499. I felt FA and UW were enough. Just that the presenting symptoms/circumstances of the SPs were a bit more fluid than those concrete cases in the study materials. In other words, the diagnoses/diseases are same/similar, but you have to arrive at them using your fluid intelligence, because the SP won't tell you those exact presenting symptoms given in the books. Oh man, I wish I could tell you more about the cases, but I am bound by that stupid confidentiality contract.
Above all, I think that comes with practice in real life. As I said, just repeating the FA/UW cases and practicing them will/might help you, but you must have a plan of action for the unexpected ones, so that you can remain confident and composed through out the test.
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| praying4a99
MS-III
Topics: 100
Posts: 2,435
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I understand. Thank you.
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| drnaik
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 150
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hey bio guy...
just relax..... u'll do well...
my best wishes!!
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| neopulsar
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 77
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Hey bioguy! Where has your cute south park avatar gone?
Your experience sounds very familiar, hmmm...
I did worse than you, I was quite sure I'd fail, but you know what, they don't really expect us to be perfect.
Most prolly, you'll PASS ;-D
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| ganesha123
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 102
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hey bioguy... ur experience is pretty much what we all go thru... all the best...!! my best guess is ur gonna pass..!!!!!
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 678
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Thanks for the encouragement people. I appreciate it.
Boy, did I tell you how great the LA center was? The hotel Hacienda is just two blocks away. There is Walgreens, Subway, Chipotle, Starbucks, Sizzlers and scores of others places you want, around it. And ofcourse, all this is just 2 miles from LAX airport. You can request the hotel shuttle ahead of time, or shell out $20 for the cab. Yeah! 20 bucks for those 2 miles, because thats the rule for any taxi exiting LAX. The test center is a tall building #100, and there a couple other similar buildings that you arrive before you reach the 100, when you walk from the hotel. So go check it the evening before.
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| laly1
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 71
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Hey bioguy i just came across your post today,I'm sorry that you feel that way .you will overcome all these negative thoughts and PASS and when things happen unexpectedly you will gain your confidence .do not worry .I pray that you pass it with comfort
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.[96:1-5] Read! In the name of your Lord who created - Created the human from something which clings. Read! And your Lord is Most Bountiful - He who taught (the use of) the Pen, Taught the human that which he knew not.
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 678
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Thank you so much for your support laly1.
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| cartman
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 52
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Hi bioguy,
I made a dumb mistake of scheduling my flight out of LA on the day I take the test. I'm gonna test in the morning session and my I'm scheduled to fly out of LAX at 06.37pm the same day. I'll be staying at the Hacienda Hotel. Do you think I'll have enough time to catch my flight home (I live in the US) or should I look into rescheduling my flight for a later time?
I just didn't want to miss anymore work that I have to. My question is.......How long does the test actually last? Its supposed to be approx 8 hrs but I read some posts where it said that people were done by 3.00pm. If that's the case, I should be ok. Right?
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 678
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Yeah, I came out at about 3 pm. 6:30 flight is more than enough dude. There is a shuttle from the hotel to LAX and it takes 10 minutes. Don't worry, you won't miss your flight.
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 678
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check out from the hotel in the morning before you go to the test center. give your baggage to the customer service next to hotel check in counter. they will store it for your. come back from the test, take your baggage, board the shuttle and off to LAX. Max 30 minutes. So don't worry you have ample time.
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 678
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Isn't this exam stupid!!! The SPs are caught between reality and acting. One of the SPs coughed and I just asked if she wants water. She said no. How many students before me might have offered her water/tissue and whatever. I thought I should have forced her throat open and poured water into it - "drink it, or else I will fail"
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| cartman
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 52
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I wholeheartedly concur.......the exam is stupid, but not as stupid and impractical as Step 3 from what I've heard. I've never seen any doctor here actually wash their hands in front of the patient. Usually its right after they step out of the room. Sure, I can see the importance but its just not done that way in real life. I wish we could just use hand sanitizers. I'm just trying to get everything out of the way before they add another Step or raise the minimun requirements anymore.
Any ways thanks for your reply. Really appreciate the advice. GL on your results and the match !
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| titly
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 289
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hey cartman ! talking of washing hands. i had a horrible experience with dat. they had all soaps containing aloe. and damn i am allergic to Aloe. u shud have seen the state of my hands for the next whole week.
it seems there are alcohol wipes but i somehow didnt think of them at dat time. too bad!
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 678
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I never cleaned my steth with EtOH
another reason to fail me
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| cartman
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 52
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That's exactly what I'm talking about. I have never in my entire life ever seen a doctor clean his / her stethoscope with alcohol.
I don't remember seeing this in First Aid either. I remember the SP checklist for hand washing. Nothing about wiping stethoscope with alcohol. Crazy rules.....
Titly.......I hope your hands are better. Use some OTC hydrocotisone bid x 2 wks. seran wrap or white cotton gloves at night on top of the cream.
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| neopulsar
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 77
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bioguy, I always clean my stethoscope with alcohol wipes in real life but for some reason I didn't do it during the CS, guess it's not on the checklist..
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| hottie99
Forum Elite
Topics: 30
Posts: 428
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hey guy u took it, yeah!!!!!!! congrats, and ur gonna pass, dont worry about small things like that, if u wre cordial and polite, u will do great!! about the wipe, it's not on their checklist, their checking communication remember??? not sanitation skills, heehee.. anyways hadn't seen u in a bit, best of luc, on to ck rite?? tlk with u laters! i got 5 days and counting down.. hehehe.. l8r guy!
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