Half way through MSK

It was another busy week, my mornings seems to progressively be getting earlier and earlier. Monday started with another anatomy lab with the upper limb followed by a visit to the hospital and a lecture from 4-5. Tuesday to the hospital nice and early and Em and I went to our past Geriatric ward to see patients and had a good session of examining their limbs where arthritis was present then had lectures until 5. Wednesday was a whole different morning, we had our rural clinical school interviews!! I couldn't believe how fast they had come up, i was quite nervous which i guess can only be a good thing meaning it meant a lot for me to present well in the interview to have a chance of being accepted. There are about 160 people applying from UWA and Notre Dame and only 60-70 places around WA, as far as i can see we all would be wonderful candidates how do you try convince the interviewers you are the one to choose?? I was a little flustered and felt like i word vomited in the interview but settled down after a little, i think word vomit is better than being stunned and not saying anything which is usually what happens to me so i have to feel a little better with that! The scary but exciting part is we find out whether we have a first round place this coming Friday!! i have my fingers and toes crossed :)

We had a few lectures in the arvo afterwards (although i needed to head back to Trinity for a calming tea!!) the last one didn't finish until 6.45pm... after getting up at 5.30am for a Pump class too i was pooped!! Thursday morning was a good experience at  Rheumatology clinic where i met some girls my age with Rheumatoid arthritis, they are coping well but little thing like that make you realise how lucky we can be. It was so nice to break up the weeks study and meet Lex at Subiaco for a lovely lunch with Tilly too in the lovely weather! I always love our catch ups and wish we could more often. But it was limited by my afternoon lectures again from 2-5. Friday morning was again hospital time clerking patients, but after lunch i stayed at home and did some study. Kyle and I went out to dinner to the C-restaurant that night! I had vouchers from my 22nd birthday and was looking forward to using them. The restaurant was in St Martin's tower in the city, level 33! The views were amazing and the food was probably the best and tastiest i think  i have ever had! Our waiter was so nice and quite funny too. I had scallops with pea puree and cumin foam for entree and WA Barramundi with olive tepenade and star squid ink ravioli with saffron sauce... i wanted to try something new and it did not disappoint it was amazing!! i wish i had the money to go back up there again :)

Kyle and I at the C-restaurant 

Scallops with pea puree and cumin foam

Amazing views of Perth at night!

A new and favourite dish - Barramundi with Olive Tepenade
with Start Squid ink Ravioli and Saffron sauce :) 

Carrot, Date and Sage muffins (sugar and butter free)

I've discovered i like this challenge i have created myself of experimenting with ways to make baking both healthy, nutritious and tasty! It may sound impossible to some but i recently made some little muffins which i really like! They are derived from the Pumpkin and Sage recipe i posted, seeing as i didn't have pumpkin and i love carrots and dates i made a few substitutions :)

Carrot, Date and Sage muffins

1 cup white SR flour
3/4 cup of Oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground sage
1 tsp oregano flakes
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups mashed carrots and sweet potato (about 3 medium carrots and 1 small sweet potato chopped and cooked in the microwave until soft)
3/4 cup chopped pitted dates
1/4 cup Olive oil
1 tbsp white vinegar

Mix all the dry ingredients until well combined. Add the mashed carrot, sweet potato, chopped dates, olive oil and vinegar and stir but do not over mix. Scoop into prepared muffin tray and bake in preheated oven at 160 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean and lightly browned on top.

I like to leave the vegetables not totally mashed so there are still little lumps in the muffins. These are very quick to make!!

62 Days until University Games!!

I had some very exciting news from yesterday, i have booked my flights to Adelaide!! In 2 months time i will be there with other UWA students ready to represent our uni in many different sports! I have almost paid my fees in full there is just one thing left to do... be ready!

With only 62 days to go i had  a little panic over the weekend that i might not be ready to run in time with my training and my plantar fasciits. It has been getting better and thankfully i have been able to have 4 runs the past 2 weeks in Kings Park which have been great AND i have been able to walk afterwards :) But i need to do some track running. Our uni timetable is not very understanding of an extra-curricular activities we may have so i have been getting up around 6am to head to the UWA gym before uni starts... except now we are starting at 7.30 some days at the hospital and finish lectures at 5 where do i fit in training?? But where there's a will there's a way. I have to admit it has been difficult getting out of bed at 6am on those cold mornings but i have a goal in sight and can see me there, it helps a lot :) I'm so glad i can just walk across the road especially getting up at 5.30am for a 6am Pump class! I have changed a little from the bike to the cross trainer which works a few different muscles as well as the rowing machine, anything to keep up fitness while not running as much and i hope it is working!

On the way to the UWA gym 6.15am, Winthrop always makes a pretty site

I had a lovely track session yesterday with JME group. Well when i say track i was running on the grass next to the track, sort of a teaser but it was better than nothing, and i just love training with a group :) The others were doing 200m reps some with hurdles, i so badly wanted to join them! but i did sneak in one hurdle jump and felt proud as the coach seemed impressed with how i jumped it! well i didn't do badly which was something :P i still really want to try the 400m hurdles at uni games though!! It reminded me of when i did the 200m hurdles at little athletics a lot, i love the feeling of jumping over them it makes me excited :)  

So i will try run 2 times a week for now on grass and with some stairs to get my speed and power back up, keep going on the cross trainer bike and pump classes and just maybe i could try a track session next weekend??? (finger and toes crossed!) i will play it safe, i have a mission...

MSK week 1

First week of MSK, it feels like a whole new ball game! Or more correct would be a 'Boys club'.
Our first few days got us quickly back into the realm of muscles, bones and joints of the body before we could say disease and we realised how much revision we needed to do! Labs were followed by examination tutorials as we went through the MSK exams from our FCP unit days with added 'special tests' for different joint pathology. Tuesday we headed to the hospital and were given patients for hand, wrist and elbow examinations where we were taken through rheumatoid, psoriatic and osteoarthritis with very little knowledge of what to expect! The patients were lovely though and we learnt lots quickly just through examining their hands.

Wednesday we met our orthopedic doctors.This started in a 7.30am grand round meeting discussing patients and i was wondering if i was at a theatre! The orthopedic consultants, or in other words the big guys in suits sat on one side up the front and the guys who looked like Jocks sat on the other side up the front in their dark blue scrubs and were quizzed on aspects of each patient. Us students, physio's, OTs and nurses were in the back not saying anything but watching the drilling in front of us between the guys noticing the obvious heirachy. This left us a little intimidated but our registrar and intern turned out to be really nice! The intern whose name is Rob is a great teacher and talks to us as we go and gets us to do things. It is the first rotation where the intern has been like a fellow med student with a wealth of knowledge eager to share with us :)

For some reason i had 'the blues' again mid week, i don't know why but it just seemed to come. I hate it though, Kyle notices it the most as i just don't feel myself. Maybe its because we have to keep being at every one's beck and call and push anything else in our life aside? Well i missed our last 4-5 lecture on Thursday so i could go for a run through Kings Park in the sun, sun and fresh air does wonders :) maybe i am needing more sun and am vitamin D deficient? it wouldn't surprise me, i get up at 6am to go to the gym and the sun is barely out when i leave at 7.30! I am in hospital most of the day and leave when the sun goes down or else i am inside studying staring outside my window longing to be in the sun... anyway by Saturday i was finally feeling a little better thank goodness!

I had a phlebotomy session on Thursday and finally finished bleeding 20 people so i had my little log book signed off yay! Friday was another early start at a trauma meeting at Charlie's and Emma and I followed the intern around for the morning, then lectures in the afternoon much to our research coordinators disgust as afternoons are suppose to be for research. It is frustrating each coordinator gets angry at us as the students but we just get messed around with timetables and do as we are told we aren't responsible!! (little rant :P)

On a different note i got to catch up with my family at the airport from their European travels! It was lovely to see them and here a few stories and see some pictures even if it was brief, but i can safely say they all had an amazing time and are in need of a few days relaxation to recover from their adventures! I look forward to seeing more pictures soon :) For now i leave you with a beautiful poem to finish off our Geriatric rotation but always stay with us...

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM (originally written by Dave Griffith)
The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

Goodbye Geri's, Hello MSK

4 weeks does go rather quickly. Our last week of geriatrics had a few ward rounds with our consultant and registrar as well as through the general wards with another lovely doctor who does palliative care medicine and referrals for residential care which gave a good insight into where the elderly may go after hospital. We had a couple of PBLs on residential care, incontinence and Parkinson's disease, did our last case presentations, handed in our case studies and log books and all of a sudden it was the end of the week! I liked how Geri's was general sort of like gen med but at a slower pace, it would have been nice to spend more time on the wards with the doctors but we did get a neurology and cardiovascular tutorial with some patients which was really useful especially going over how to distinguish murmurs :)

Friday afternoon i headed off with Kyle and Marcus to the Food and Wine festival at the convention center. I really enjoyed it and had a great time trying all the different chutneys, jams, smoothies and bread! I found a moscatto i liked (basically the only alcoholic drink i do drink) but was rather amused at others loving the free wine tastings and becoming just a little tipsy!! We met Illy and Jason there too and sat in on some macro food demonstrations, i watched a lovely looking carrot cake, home made muesli, green smoothies and some apricot and chia seed balls - yum! The lady demonstrating said to try The Raw Kitchen in Fremantle, i look forward to heading there in the near future! I would love to get myself a blender and a kitchen aid one day when i save up, although is i do i may not leave the kitchen :P

Afterwards i went into the city and found myself some good supportive shoes for the hospitals, they were rather expensive and a blow to the account but they are what i need to help with my plantar fasciitis and to look after my feet in general, and they will last for years so a good investment overall! Then we headed to Illy's and out to Japanese, although i wasn't feeling the best and didn't have too much to eat after an afternoon of tastings! But Saturday night i had a lovely time with Lex, Shan and Chelsea out at Bonsai restaurant and Dome. We hadn't had an outing together before and it was so nice to spend time with them all! i made a mistake of forgetting to book a table for dinner in the last week of Geri's but thankfully they had a space for us! We tried some nice roasted vegetable sushi, sushimi with asparagus, tasty scallops and tomato's with lots of free tea refills! I hope we can have another girls night again sometime soon :)

And today we started our 4 weeks of Musculoskeletal rotation. It was a little nostalgic starting out in the anatomy labs again, most seemed a little deflated to go from half a year in the hospitals back to the labs but it wasn't too bad, i know i needed the revision! Then after becoming drenched in surprise rain with no umbrella we had examination revision of all the joints in the afternoon. It was quite a long day but interesting to do something different. I wonder what it will be like on the wards and in clinics. We'll see what the next 4 weeks brings.

I also had a nice chat to my family in Paris last night. Mum, dad and pop are on a flight to Rome as we speak and Sarah is in Paris for her last few days. Unfortunately she is not too well and is wanting to come home, i hope with some antibiotics she will get through her last few days and still have an alright time under the care of her good friend :) Must be a sign they have been making the most of their holiday!

Carrot, Date and Oat Slice (or muffins)

This recipe was made by a friend based from the Banana-Oat slice recipe i made a few weeks ago :) i can't wait to try it!


Carrot, date and oat slice/muffins

Dry ingredients

2 Cups rolled oats

1 Cup wholemeal SR flour

2/3 Cup walnuts/cashews

1/3 Cup dark brown sugar

1/2 Cup chopped dates

Wet ingredients

1/3 Cup vegetable oil 

1/2 Cup natural yoghurt

3/4 Cup grated carrot

2 Tablespoons golden syrup/natural honey

1 egg

Pepitas and cinnamon sugar for the top of the muffins:)

Mix all dry ingredients together. 

Mix wet ingredients until combined. 

Mix all ingredients together.

Scoop into little muffin cases (like little cupcake size) 

Sprinkle with pepitas and cinnamon sugar.

Bake for roughly 20mins on 180.

Best served warm:) enjoy!

Gaga for Gaga!!

I had an exciting trip to Burswood Dome on Saturday night with Nicole and her friend Danika and partner to see Lady Gaga!! I didn't really know what to expect with her crazy personality and songs and was looking forward to a great night :)

I picked Nic and Danika up and we made our way to the Belmont race track to catch the shuttle to the Dome. It was fun to see everyone at the concert dressed up in weird and wonderful clothes mimicking the carefree personality of Lady Gaga! She came out in true Gaga fashion on what looked to be riding a real horse! Her concert was amazing and costumes quite extravagant, i loved it when she quietened down and sang on the piano and talked to us playing 'Gaga dress up' as people threw pieces of clothing to her. They wanted her to play her song 'hair' so she gave us a version on the piano, it is one of my favourite songs i love the lyrics to 'be free as my hair'. Another of my favorites is 'Born this way'... she started off that one with a giant pregnant belly on stage!! It is awesome to see someone true to their personality and Gaga being herself no matter what others think or say :)  Here are a few pictures from the night!

Singing on her motorbike piano!

Awesome stage props with a massive castle :)

Apple and Banana muffins (Sugar-free)

My latest experimentation of muffins both sugar and butter free!...

Apple (or Pear) and Banana muffins 

1 1/2 cup white SR flour (wholemeal SR would have been preferred!)
1/3 cup oats
1 tsp cinnamon
2 apples
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 mashed medium banana 
3 Tbsp milk 

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees 
2. Peel and finely chop apples (or pears)
3. Combine sifted flour, cinnamon and oats and add chopped apple
4. Whisk oil and eggs together and add to the apple mixture
5. Add mashed banana and gently mix
6. Add milk and stir until just mixed
7. Divide into muffins pans and bake in moderate oven for 15-20 minutes or until cooked

NOTE: 1/2 cup chopped dates and 1/2 cup chopped nuts would go great with this recipe! and maybe a slice of apple or pear on the top for presentation :)

Apple and Banana muffins (Sugar free) - Yum! 

Banana-Walnut Oat Bars (Sugar, egg and butter free)

Because we love healthy baking... and there is always a spare ripe banana!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 1/2 cups of mashed overripe bananas
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (anti-oxidant and omega-3 rich with many cardiovascular benefits!)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt

 Pre-heat the oven at 180 degree Celsius.

Combine mashed banana ground flaxseeds, water and salt in a big bowl, stir well. Add the oats and mix everything. Fold it into a greased (with coconut oil) shallow baking tray, spread and press well with you fingers.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Let it cool for 10 minutes.

Cut it into squares, re arrange it on a cookie sheet upside down. Put it back into the oven and bake it for another 15 minutes. Turn the pieces over and bake for another 5 minutes for both the sides to be nice and brown.

Let it cool completely and store it in an air tight container for up to a week.

This recipe is can also be gluten free if you use GF Oats in it, you can replace walnuts with any other nuts of your choice. Instead of 1/2 cup water you can always use 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup water.  If you are like me (a poor uni student :P) and don't have ground flaxseeds at hand, substitute some water for oil as the ground flaxseed oils would help combine the slice. Omitting the flaxseeds will make the slice more bland so you may like to add different chopped nuts or even sesame seeds or poppy seeds, maybe even some cinnamon or nutmeg? or one of my favourites... natural peanut butter :)