MSIIIs!!! Where are you!

[docjolly]

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Hey all,

I have been on a loooooooooooong hiatus for SDN b/c I wanted to finish my second year successfully, and focus on studying for/passing Step I. Well, bless the Lord! I got my Step I results yesterday, I am officially an MSIII.

I've been on my internal medicine rotation for about 2 weeks now. The rotation lasts for 3 months.

My rotations, in the order given to me, for my junior year are:

1. Internal Medicine
2. Surgery
3. Pediatrics
4. Family Medicine
5. Psychiatric
6. Ob/Gyn

Are there any other MSIII's out there? What rotations are you on? Do you have any good texts that you recommend (review books, or even textbooks), for any of the rotations above? (I already have Cecil's Essentials of Medicine for internal, but that's just about it).

Btw, does anyone have any advice for keeping my energy level up? During my 2nd year, I had all the time in the world to go to the gym, cook dinner, and be more active. Now, I'm so very tired all the time, and when I do get a day off, I spend most of my time sleeping (not studying, mind you...)


Thanks! 😍

 

[smq123]

Hey all,

I have been on a loooooooooooong hiatus for SDN b/c I wanted to finish my second year successfully, and focus on studying for/passing Step I. Well, bless the Lord! I got my Step I results yesterday, I am officially an MSIII.

I've been on my internal medicine rotation for about 2 weeks now. The rotation lasts for 3 months.

My rotations, in the order given to me, for my junior year are:

1. Internal Medicine
2. Surgery
3. Pediatrics
4. Family Medicine
5. Psychiatric
6. Ob/Gyn

Are there any other MSIII's out there? What rotations are you on? Do you have any good texts that you recommend (review books, or even textbooks), for any of the rotations above? (I already have Cecil's Essentials of Medicine for internal, but that's just about it).

Btw, does anyone have any advice for keeping my energy level up? During my 2nd year, I had all the time in the world to go to the gym, cook dinner, and be more active. Now, I'm so very tired all the time, and when I do get a day off, I spend most of my time sleeping (not studying, mind you...)


Thanks! 😍

Check out the "Clinical Rotations" forum. If you look at the list of forums, it's below the allopathic/osteopathic forums.

 

[docjolly]

Check out the "Clinical Rotations" forum. If you look at the list of forums, it's below the allopathic/osteopathic forums.

Thank you! 🙂

 

[njbmd]

Moving to Clinical Rotations as that is where most medical students in third and fourth year post.

 

[jdh71]

Btw, does anyone have any advice for keeping my energy level up? During my 2nd year, I had all the time in the world to go to the gym, cook dinner, and be more active. Now, I'm so very tired all the time, and when I do get a day off, I spend most of my time sleeping (not studying, mind you...)

You still have time, you just do not think so. Things that are priorities, like going to the gym, you will just have to do at the end of day. It will not feel good the first few days but you will adapt. All you have to do is prioritise. First and second year of medical school are wide open and you get to run your own schedule - I used to like going to the gym right after lunch. It was always quiet, no fighting for equpiment, machines, or treadmills. Well, most of 3rd year, I pissed and moaned about it and didn't go much because I didn't like the time available to go, I wanted to study, I was too tired, etc . . . whatever, it was all BS excuses. It wasn't until surgery in march of 3rd year when the intern I was working with (prelim for ortho, and a nice guy [if it matters]) told me to quit being such a whiner and go anyway, he did, every night. If it was really that important to me, then I'd go. I admit that going to the gym at 9:30 -10:00 in the evening wasn't the way I wanted it, but it was a priority and that's when it fit into my schedule. I got roughly 1-1.5 hours less sleep every night, but actually felt better than when I was doing all that sleeping I thought I "had to have".

You see, life is difficult, and once you have grasped and accepted that idea, you may, if you wish transcend the difficlties of life to live, learn, grow, and yes . . . even make the gym during 3rd year.

It - is - simple . . . NOT easy, but simple. Good luck.

 

[domer621]

Are there any other MSIII's out there? What rotations are you on? Do you have any good texts that you recommend (review books, or even textbooks), for any of the rotations above? (I already have Cecil's Essentials of Medicine for internal, but that's just about it).

I'm on my 4th week of peds right now and enjoy it. The hours are pretty good for me right now, but I worked 12 hour days in the nursery. As far as books, you should check out the stickies at the top of this forum for advice... a lot of people recommend MKSAP 3 for Medicine.

Btw, does anyone have any advice for keeping my energy level up? During my 2nd year, I had all the time in the world to go to the gym, cook dinner, and be more active. Now, I'm so very tired all the time, and when I do get a day off, I spend most of my time sleeping (not studying, mind you...)

I do miss the free time of 2nd year, too. There was never a problem to work out 5 days a week, which is totally different than 3rd year. You're also on IM, which has longer hours. I adjusted my workout schedule to 3 days a week during my step 1 studying this past summer, and I'm sticking to the 3 a week program right now. Just focus on the Big 3 (squat/bench/deadlift) and don't waste time doing isolation exercises - I'm never in there for more than an hour. I'm happy as long as my lifts aren't going down... I actually added a few pounds to the core lifts this summer. Diet is even more important this year, since there's less time for lifting. I bought a jug of weight gainer to help me keep my weight up. It's an easy 600 calories, tastes good, and is filling. Good macros, too.
Edit: I just realized you're a female. Not sure how you workout, but if you're a cardio-bunny, try some HIIT cardio workouts - better use of time, better results. And maybe steer clear of the weight gainers. 😉

Time management and adjustment is key this year, just like it was when we first got to medical school, and just like it was when we first got to college.
I think it's really important to learn as much as you can about your patients, too, since most people (including me) can't come home, sit down, and study after a whole day in the wards.

 

[Miami_med]

I clocked 76 hours last week in OB/GYN with no call. The school has a mandatory GYN Onc rotation in the clerkship, and I haven't had a day shorter than 12 hours on the entire rotation, with many days 15+. Calls in the GYN ER and L&D are scattered in this rotation, but I managed to achieve the 76 hour mark with NO CALL involved. It's utterly insane, and there is no time to complete any of the work that is assigned. I also live far away, so getting out early = longer commute with traffic. If I don't go however, I'll never see my family. All of this is a little frustrating. It probably wouldn't bother me so much if the last multiple hours weren't used rounding on the same patients 3 times as each progressive level of the hierarchy shows up.

 

[raidermedic]

Btw, does anyone have any advice for keeping my energy level up? During my 2nd year, I had all the time in the world to go to the gym, cook dinner, and be more active. Now, I'm so very tired all the time, and when I do get a day off, I spend most of my time sleeping (not studying, mind you...)

Get an exercise routine and stick with it. At the start of 3rd year I was in great shape (probably the best in my life) I worked out 5-6X a week and ate right. I always had energy, even taking call would barely phase me. Towards the end of third year I started to slack off, I ate poorly (MMMmmm double cheeseburgers) worked out only 1-2X a week and felt horrible everyday. It was a pain to get up , I was always tired, and call would destroy my energy for a good 3 days. Even when I had days off I would sleep 12 hours and I still felt tired. Now that 4th year has rolled around I got back to my exercise routine and started eating right again. Haven't made it back to the level I was at the start of 3rd year but I'm a hell of a lot better than I was just a month ago.
The one thing I would of done differently this year is to not get lazy and slack on my workouts and diet. In the end being out of shape and tired all the time was more detrimental to me than losing an hour every night at the gym.

 

[doctorp82]

Edit: I just realized you're a female. ....

I was thinking this the whole time you were talking about the Big 3, and especially when you talked about weight gainer

Yep, third year is fast paced. Some days its better to recoup sleep, or just go for a walk or something instead of pushing yourself. If you're exhausted, a high-intensity workout will be more of a hindrance than benefit. I still find that life is less stressful post step 1.