So yesterday morning, I rolled out of bed and went to do rounds. There was no one to round on that morning (a rare occurance indeed) so I informed Dr. Todd that I would be helping my best friend, Jade, move. I spent the morning moving assorted heavy items into a big UHaul. When additional help arrived (AFTER we had moved all of the heavy stuff already…of course) I showered, put my scrubs back on and headed back to the clinic to see patients.

We had a young female patient who presented with Diplopia (double vision), secondary ammenorrhea (absent periods), headache, and extremity motor weakness (unable to push against resistance like normal). Of course, the wheels started turning and my differential diagnoses came pouring out of the head. “What could cause Cranial Nerve III problems, ammenorrhea, motor weakness and headache?” I thought…well maybe a pituitary adenoma (tumor in the pituitary gland), Myathesnia Gravis or a brain stem lesion of some sort. Well the MRI showed nothing but unilateral mastoiditis…hmmmmm. Medicine is such a humbling experience because as soon as you think you have your diagnosis nailed down with Board-like precision, something out of the ordinary comes around. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting case indeed.

After seeing patients, the surgeons and the internal medicine guys (and then me, the lowly medical student) went to play golf at Pipestem resort! We played captains choice and ended up in a tie in the end. I hit a couple decent shots including a 40 yard sand wedge, 2 feet from the pin to win the hole. Sank a 25 ft. putt on another hole. Unfortunately, my long irons were shanktastic Oh well! Dr. Remines played real well though, as he was 2 under par on the front 9! Wednesday afternoons rock, at least for this rotation…

My weight has plateaued again Even with good exercise, as such I have cut back on carbs greatly. Eating brown rice, wheat pasta and drinking diet soda almost exclusively now.

Ok…off to see another patient. Mind and body strong grasshoppers!

Live from the clinic -Richie