CAGE – Of owl’s internet addiction

First year in medical school, we were introduced the CAGE questionnaires in clinical skills tutorials. As a mnemonic for 4 alcohol addiction/ dependence screening questions, it is reported to have 95% sensitivity in detecting alcoholism.

1. Ever felt the need to Cut down on your drinking?
2. Ever get Annoyed with people criticizing your drinking?
3. Ever felt Guilty for drinking too much?
4. Ever felt you need a drink early in the morning (as an Eye-opener)?

However, if the ‘booze-drinking’ part is to be substituted with ’spending time on internet’, I would have been easily categorized as an internet addict or dependent by scoring 3 out of 4 for the screening questions. I have always felt guilty after the long hours wasted in front of the monitor and I know I need to cut down on my time spent online, but the scariest of all is that I noticed I seriously need internet as an ‘eye-opener‘ most if not every morning!

I find that there are simply too many resources online! I always start my day with the newspaper online (be it of Australia or Malaysia) and latest soccer updates, followed by logging on to my many e-mail accounts and checking mails, then skimming recently-updated friends’ blogs and scanning through some political analyses and reviews, browsing for the various possible overseas post-graduate studies opportunities and a quick glance at… the list goes on…and so, I will spend hours and hours facing the computer each day.

Anyway, I reckon there is a serious need for me to strive for an equilibrium between the many things in life so as not to allow my internet addiction affects my studies, relation and other interests!

N/b: Apparently CAGE questionnaires are not valid for screening of other substances abuse (which include internet abuse I supposed!)

Run Melbourne 2008 – Of owl’s first half marathon attempt

After much consideration, I still decided to go ahead with my first half marathon despite lack of consistent training over the semester. As usual, heavy workload in med school is the excuse. But somehow I have to start somewhere, and if I keep putting off my first attempt due to lack of training, I will never do it and will never achieve my goal of completing a marathon race by the end of my medical school. Hence, Run Melbourne 2008 is my first attempt into (real) long distance running. The furthest I have run to date is the ‘Run for the Kids’ charity run, covering a distance of 15km.

And so, in a chilly winter morning in Melbourne, I walked few kilometers from College Square (where I am staying currently) to Federation Square (where the event took place) due to unavailability of tram service in the early hours of a Sunday morning, and that walk itself was already a good warm up for me. After the initial hiccup of having to collect new event number and timing tag (as I forgot to bring my timing tag), off I went on my first half marathon journey with another two thousand plus runners at about quarter past seven in the morning.

The first half of the run is not too bad. I managed to tag along a group of runners and consistently completing each kilometers at about 6-7 min. However, soon after I reached the 10km mark, my legs were starting to get numb and sore. I couldn’t push myself any further. It’s not due to the poor cardiac output, but more of the soreness and aching of my legs. And I started my walking-running-walking-running journey. This was worsen by the extreme cold weather and drizzle, and even my arms and fingers were getting numb. To be frank, the second half was mainly walking, with only occasional running.

After about two and a half hour of running and walking, I finally crossed the finish line, with a sense of satisfaction and achievement as I completed my first half marathon. I know my time is no where near the average half marathon time and not impressive at all, but at least it’s a good start for me. This will be a good gauge for my subsequent half marathon attempt and I am definitely going to improve on my time and hopefully after confidently completing a few more half marathon, I will be going for a full marathon next year. Of course, that’s not without more consistent and intensive training.

My next attempt will be the Runner’s World Sandy Point Half Marathon in August. Anyone interested in joining me?:D

Post exams!

Mid year exams, which carry a total of 35% Year IV med course marks, was over last Tuesday and (I think) I did not perform too badly. Indeed my exams ended relatively early while most students (including Violet) are still struggling with exams preparation (or enjoying swot vac?) for the weeks to come.

Anyway, have been busy since exam ended. After a day of catching up with my sleep post-exams, started my top priority task – house-hunting! Searched online (Monash marketplace is a good site for that) and made appointment for house inspections, and just over a couple of days time, I am glad to get everything settled. Rented a car, and moved my belongings all the way from Bendigo to Clayton. Yes, I found a (hopefully livable:D) room in Clayton which only costs me AUD 370 per month. That’s cheap, I supposed. Just opposite Monash Uni and across Welington Road, I will be sharing the flat with a final year med student and another accounting student whom I have not met.

What about up-coming holiday plans? Not a long break thus not much time to relax or laze around. And Violet’s exams will only end a few days before my semester re-commence, hence, can’t really plan any interstate holiday trips. In other words, my holiday will be spent helping her exam preparation, including being the simulated ’sick’ patient for her OSCE practice. In a way, it’s a good preparation for myself, with Vertical Integrated Assessment (which covers the entire curriculum for the past 4 years) coming up at the end of this year. In addition to that, will resume my job at Genetic Epidemiology Lab in University of Melbourne this coming Monday, thanks to my supervisor’s kind offer. Oh, another task for this 2-week break – finish one of the two books (Mao’s Last Dancer and My Sister’s Keeper), which have been left collecting dusts on the shelves for ages.

Hopefully this winter break will be a productive one for me!

MED4082 Exams

120608:
Written Exam – (Done)

Coming up next…
170608:
OSCE.