Step 2 cs- AGONY.

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step2now

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Hi guys,

Got done with CS and I'm literally ****ting in my pants. Having very bad nightmares. I'm literally down with fever because of the stress. I end up with chills at times. I have lost my appetite. I can't seem to concentrate on any thing at all. I'm trying to suppress it but it's getting worse day by day. Pls help me out. Some of the mistakes I made is;-

My first case I stammered during my first sentence cuz I was so tensed. But later I caught a grip on myself and went on without stuttering. I feel no SP had any problem with my English pronunciation or accent. I'm an IMG.

I had only one dd for 2 cases and 2 DDS for 8 cases and 3 DDS for 2-3 of them I guess. Also two of the cases DDs were almost similar in some sense. I'm freaking out for that really cuz I know it can't be so similar. I forgot to write one extra DD in one case which I remembered later.

I forgot to pull out the leg rest while doing a manauver and didn't do the maneuver exactly like how it was supposed to be done. It was dumb the way I did it. I think I'll loose points on that.

I sat down on the stool for all cases in front of the patient after introducing myself etc etc. Some ppl suggest to stand up but I'm not sure if I'll loose points for that.

I didn't wash my hands in any case. I just used the hand sanitizer. I made sure to ask the patient if they had any allergy/discomfort to hand sanitizer before using it. So Im scared if not washing with water and soap will loose me my marks.

While doing knee exam, my hands slipped and the knee hammer hit the patient knee a bit hard. She said ouch. But I apologized profusely after that. I hope I don't get screwed for that.

When I was doing abd exam , SP felt my hands was cold and she kinda flinched when my hands touched her abdomen. I wasn't aware that my hands were cold. I apologized again to her. I hope I'm not screwed for that.

I ran out of time in my first case to close as well. Crap.

Half the cases I wasn't sure if my DDs were correct. Or if I put them in correct order.

I did not do CVS or RS until it was needed to elicit the chief complain. I'm not sure if we r supposed to exam CVS and RS for every patient.

I could find time to close all cases except my first one but I'm not sure if my closure convinced the patient. They seemed to be straightfaced.

When I said cancer as second probability for a patient he screamed telling that he is so irritated and anxious to hear cancer but I'm said it's not confirmed but I'll have to rule it out as per protocol. But he looked so angry. I'm so scared about that.

I'm kinda freaking out if I loose marks for writing CBC with differentials for every case as the last workup.

I'm not sure about DDs.

I'm not sure if I "looked" empathetic enough under that tension. I'm scared if I put up a flat affect /anxiousness on my face while trying to be empathetic.

I'm not sure if my imaging studies are appropriate enough. Extremely worried about my DDs as well. I think I majorily ****ed up my DDs. But u didn't write any DD without evidence. Made sure I had atleast three evidence for it. But again writing wrong DD even with evidence will cost me.

The first two blocks of exam was like crappy. The last two blocks were ok. Honestly when I came out of exam I felt so numb. I didn't feel good nor bad. I just couldn't understand how I felt. I'm trying so hard to remember if I missed out anything but it's like the memory is so vague, yet scary.

12 days before my real exam, I took mock exam and they told me my sep and CIS was ok but my ICE was like at borderline and I need more time to study that part, like 4 more weeks.. I couldn't postpone my exams because of expenses and stuff. So I studied for 10 days , went through FA 1.5 times and tried to do DDx. Now I'm worried that maybe I should have listened to them and postponed my exam. I'm just becoming too paranoid. I hope that I didn't make a wrong choice of preparing for 10 days post mock exam and doing it. This is what is giving me chills.

If anyone can say few words/ suggestions, it would be of immense help. I'm literally paralyzed.

Update:- PASSED!!!
CIS and SEP almost an asterisk and ICE borderline. But who cares. I'm done and dusted with the anxiety!!! If I can pass with so many mistakes then you can too!!

Also guys, I feel the reason I scored less on ICE might be because 6-7 cases had only 2 DDs and 2 cases had only one DDs. So only 3 cases had 3 DDs. I was paranoid to write the 3rd DD for most of the cases. So may u need to take a chance and write 3 DDs for most of the cases with the 3rd DD being the least common one. That's the advice I have when I look back.
Also, maybe taking the exam post CK might help. I took it right after step 1. And from what I have seen, people who have finished step 2 Ck faired better compared to ppl who haven't .
These are my thoughts. Suit urself!
 
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I might understand you more than anyone else. I'm also IMG, anxious as hell (naturally, everyday, like in panic attack mode constantly), and I prepared for the exam for 2 weeks, very BADLY (as in: I studied very few hours/day. I just couldn't do it anymore than that). I'll tell you the same thing I told you another fellow student here:
If you go over my publications, you'll see I did A LOT of mistakes and I still passed, with the grace of God. Chances are: you'll pass too. Especially bc i've noticed that usually, people who fail, are those who are not even aware of their mistakes... Anyway.. please, relax.. I almost went crazy, literally crazy for the last 2 months... and for what?? You can't change anything now.

RELAX. Or try to. I passed w borderline performance, but I really REALLY thought I'd fail and I prayed like there was no tomorrow.
If you want to give it a try, you can also ask for God's grace. I believed He really did help me.

Anyway, best of luck! Come back to tell your victory.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
step2now said:
Hi guys,

Got done with CS and I'm literally ****ting in my pants. Having very bad nightmares. I'm literally down with fever because of the stress. I end up with chills at times. I have lost my appetite. I can't seem to concentrate on any thing at all. I'm trying to suppress it but it's getting worse day by day. Pls help me out. Some of the mistakes I made is;-

My first case I stammered during my first sentence cuz I was so tensed. But later I caught a grip on myself and went on without stuttering. I feel no SP had any problem with my English pronunciation or accent. I'm an IMG.

I had only one dd for 2 cases and 2 DDS for 8 cases and 3 DDS for 2-3 of them I guess. Also two of the cases DDs were almost similar in some sense. I'm freaking out for that really cuz I know it can't be so similar. I forgot to write one extra DD in one case which I remembered later.

I forgot to pull out the leg rest while doing a manauver and didn't do the maneuver exactly like how it was supposed to be done. It was dumb the way I did it. I think I'll loose points on that.

I sat down on the stool for all cases in front of the patient after introducing myself etc etc. Some ppl suggest to stand up but I'm not sure if I'll loose points for that.

I didn't wash my hands in any case. I just used the hand sanitizer. I made sure to ask the patient if they had any allergy/discomfort to hand sanitizer before using it. So Im scared if not washing with water and soap will loose me my marks.

While doing knee exam, my hands slipped and the knee hammer hit the patient knee a bit hard. She said ouch. But I apologized profusely after that. I hope I don't get screwed for that.

When I was doing abd exam , SP felt my hands was cold and she kinda flinched when my hands touched her abdomen. I wasn't aware that my hands were cold. I apologized again to her. I hope I'm not screwed for that.

I ran out of time in my first case to close as well. Crap.

Half the cases I wasn't sure if my DDs were correct. Or if I put them in correct order.

I did not do CVS or RS until it was needed to elicit the chief complain. I'm not sure if we r supposed to exam CVS and RS for every patient.

I could find time to close all cases except my first one but I'm not sure if my closure convinced the patient. They seemed to be straightfaced.

When I said cancer as second probability for a patient he screamed telling that he is so irritated and anxious to hear cancer but I'm said it's not confirmed but I'll have to rule it out as per protocol. But he looked so angry. I'm so scared about that.

I'm kinda freaking out if I loose marks for writing CBC with differentials for every case as the last workup.

I'm not sure about DDs.

I'm not sure if I "looked" empathetic enough under that tension. I'm scared if I put up a flat affect /anxiousness on my face while trying to be empathetic.

I'm not sure if my imaging studies are appropriate enough. Extremely worried about my DDs as well. I think I majorily ****ed up my DDs. But u didn't write any DD without evidence. Made sure I had atleast three evidence for it. But again writing wrong DD even with evidence will cost me.

The first two blocks of exam was like crappy. The last two blocks were ok. Honestly when I came out of exam I felt so numb. I didn't feel good nor bad. I just couldn't understand how I felt. I'm trying so hard to remember if I missed out anything but it's like the memory is so vague, yet scary.

12 days before my real exam, I took mock exam and they told me my sep and CIS was ok but my ICE was like at borderline and I need more time to study that part, like 4 more weeks.. I couldn't postpone my exams because of expenses and stuff. So I studied for 10 days , went through FA 1.5 times and tried to do DDx. Now I'm worried that maybe I should have listened to them and postponed my exam. I'm just becoming too paranoid. I hope that I didn't make a wrong choice of preparing for 10 days post mock exam and doing it. This is what is giving me chills.

If anyone can say few words/ suggestions, it would be of immense help. I'm literally paralyzed.
Click to expand...
There is no greater feeling in the world than having gone through what you're going through right now, passing Step 2 CS, and then reading posts like yours knowing that CS is behind you. Trust me, my dude, you'll be on the other end of this soon enough and hopefully will have passed.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Mikracaz said:
I might understand you more than anyone else. I'm also IMG, anxious as hell (naturally, everyday, like in panic attack mode constantly), and I prepared for the exam for 2 weeks, very BADLY (as in: I studied very few hours/day. I just couldn't do it anymore than that). I'll tell you the same thing I told you another fellow student here:
If you go over my publications, you'll see I did A LOT of mistakes and I still passed, with the grace of God. Chances are: you'll pass too. Especially bc i've noticed that usually, people who fail, are those who are not even aware of their mistakes... Anyway.. please, relax.. I almost went crazy, literally crazy for the last 2 months... and for what?? You can't change anything now.

RELAX. Or try to. I passed w borderline performance, but I really REALLY thought I'd fail and I prayed like there was no tomorrow.
If you want to give it a try, you can also ask for God's grace. I believed He really did help me.

Anyway, best of luck! Come back to tell your victory.
Click to expand...

How did you feel you did with getting the diagnoses that they were looking for? My biggest concern is not getting the correct diagnoses. I feel like the cases were so vague sometimes
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The CS exam sucked, dont worry too much about it. Those things you think you did wrong will unlikely dock you very many points if any.

I'm quite sure i misdiagnosed a bunch of things, didnt put differentials for 3 of the cases.

I felt like crap after taking it, seriously worrying i'd fail. it turned out alright.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Mikracaz said:
I might understand you more than anyone else. I'm also IMG, anxious as hell (naturally, everyday, like in panic attack mode constantly), and I prepared for the exam for 2 weeks, very BADLY (as in: I studied very few hours/day. I just couldn't do it anymore than that). I'll tell you the same thing I told you another fellow student here:
If you go over my publications, you'll see I did A LOT of mistakes and I still passed, with the grace of God. Chances are: you'll pass too. Especially bc i've noticed that usually, people who fail, are those who are not even aware of their mistakes... Anyway.. please, relax.. I almost went crazy, literally crazy for the last 2 months... and for what?? You can't change anything now.

RELAX. Or try to. I passed w borderline performance, but I really REALLY thought I'd fail and I prayed like there was no tomorrow.
If you want to give it a try, you can also ask for God's grace. I believed He really did help me.

Anyway, best of luck! Come back to tell your victory.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot!!
I tried praying. Helped me calm down and breathe a bit.
I so so hope I'll pass. Because I still have two more step exams to take.
Thanks a ton for replying. I really really appreciate it.
I still wake up at times at night thinking about it.
Thinking about my mock exam results.
It's scary as hell.
I just hope god saves me!
 
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pyknosis said:
The CS exam sucked, dont worry too much about it. Those things you think you did wrong will unlikely dock you very many points if any.

I'm quite sure i misdiagnosed a bunch of things, didnt put differentials for 3 of the cases.

I felt like crap after taking it, seriously worrying i'd fail. it turned out alright.
Click to expand...

Hi,
U seriously think I'll be ok with the mistakes regarding patient note?
 
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chickensoupdr said:
How did you feel you did with getting the diagnoses that they were looking for? My biggest concern is not getting the correct diagnoses. I feel like the cases were so vague sometimes
Click to expand...

Definitely VAGUE.
I felt FA cases were so much better than them.
I'm literally praying and crossing my fingers about the result. Have put in so much I just don't want to loose it.
 
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Athrowaway11 said:
There is no greater feeling in the world than having gone through what you're going through right now, passing Step 2 CS, and then reading posts like yours knowing that CS is behind you. Trust me, my dude, you'll be on the other end of this soon enough and hopefully will have passed.
Click to expand...

I hope I pass too!
It's crazy feeling
It's worse than any thing I have experienced in life.
 
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step2now said:
Hi,
U seriously think I'll be ok with the mistakes regarding patient note?
Click to expand...
Yeah, you should be alright. I made tons of mistakes, didn't put in physical examinations for a lot of things. Pretty sure I screwed up a ton, they are pretty lenient on the ICE component.
 
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chickensoupdr said:
How did you feel you did with getting the diagnoses that they were looking for? My biggest concern is not getting the correct diagnoses. I feel like the cases were so vague sometimes
Click to expand...


I didn't feel like many of my cases were vague, but I messed up in a few (maybe 3?) diagnoses.. I knew I had put the wrong diagnose.
 
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Im sure if we are watched on video or not. Heard that somewhere not sure how true that is.
Everyday my fear is increasing.
I shiver thinking of cs.
I wanna pass so bad.
Dread thinking other wise.
 
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I still have the mock exam results that I took. I just avoid seeing it. I hope I have faired better on the real exam to be able to pass.
I'm just so nervous. So so nervous.
I'm having panic attacks.
 
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What exactly does it take for one to fail in step 2 CS?????
Like how many stars below borderline? What kinda gross mistakes???
This wait is so paralysing
 
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Which two cases do they discard? The one we did bad on or will it be two random cases irrespective of the performance?

Oh god, this CS waiting is getting to me.
Not able to study for Ck.
Another two weeks to go.
I'm literally loosing it
 
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I just read the line in FA that says they mark only 10 cases. Holy ****!!!! Are you freaking kidding me?? I’m sweating my life out to prepare for these exams and they won’t even grade me on two of the cases? What if I performed the best in those two cases???
 
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< 5% of students fail the exam, its very very very likely that most people pass. I would say don't worry about it too much and move on, your score doesn't change.
 
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step2now said:
I heard since.last September the pass rate was decreased
Click to expand...

Maybe 1-2% but I don't think that'll make much of a difference. They aren't going out there specifically looking to meet a certain quota. At least I hope not. You'll be alright! Just move on for now and study for CK, that's more important.
 
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Took my exam in Atlanta last year BEFORE taking CK. I am an American IMG and only studied 3 weeks using First Aid. I messed up on several cases, like not pulling out the leg rest when I had the patient lie down. However, I did the normal stuff like saying their name, treating them nice, empathize, blah blah blah.They expect you to mess up because it a high stress environment. Just as long as you didn't freeze up too bad, put down weird DDx and treatment option(s) you will be fine. It took 2.5 months to get more score back. All my stats were to the right except ICE; I had 5 stars to the right of the gray line and I still passed. I know someone who got 3 stars past the center gray line and they passed. In addition, I would say that out of the 12 cases I had I can definitely say ALL came from the First Aid book.
 
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Doct2be said:
Took my exam in Atlanta last year BEFORE taking CK. I am an American IMG and only studied 3 weeks using First Aid. I messed up on several cases, like not pulling out the leg rest when I had the patient lie down. However, I did the normal stuff like saying their name, treating them nice, empathize, blah blah blah.They expect you to mess up because it a high stress environment. Just as long as you didn't freeze up too bad, put down weird DDx and treatment option(s) you will be fine. It took 2.5 months to get more score back. All my stats were to the right except ICE; I had 5 stars to the right of the gray line and I still passed. I know someone who got 3 stars past the center gray line and they passed. In addition, I would say that out of the 12 cases I had I can definitely say ALL came from the First Aid book.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the positive reply. HopefullyI'll pass.
As long as I pass, let the stars be anywhere:-🙂-(
 
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