Internal Medicine Posting

IM experience of Nabilah Hisham CUCMS 0809

Internal med was my favourite posting :) It was to my benefit that it was my last posting so I was quite accustomed to being in third year and had (sort of) accumulated enough basic knowledge, clinical skills, etc. Because it's your first posting, you might find it a bit overwhelming at first, the workload is definitely much heavier than other postings and your days are spent mostly in the wards and/or at night classes. But be optimistic and enthusiastic and you'll have loads of fun cause im is on of those postings where every day brings new experiences (or diseases) for you to learn from. And the lecturers are the best part! They're the most helpful, passionate bunch you'll ever meet. Smue comel2 and baik2 belaka. :)). And most importantly, always doa for a smooth ride and for God to make things enjoyable , and for you to be able to learn as much as possible from your experiences.

I'll stop babbling and start with the list :p, here goes:

INTERNAL MEDICINE

1. Kumar and Clark Clinical Medicine

This can be your main reference book. They also have the app version, so you don't necessarily have to buy it. If you like to read, then this book helps a lot as they give quite detailed explanation about most things. But if you're not much of a reader, then it's totally fine not to buy the book, in my opinion. What you can do is to get it from the library when you need it, or borrow from your friends/seniors.

2. Oxford Handbook of Clincine

This is is quite wajib. Some ppl go through int.med just reading this book, and if you can actually do that, you do acquire quite a wealth of info. Most times, you dont have the time to read K & C, so this book helps a lot. Tip: try opening random pages everyday and reading up on the topic you land on. You'll find internal med less daunting and at the same time you're adding on to your im knowledge bit by bit :)

3. Medicine Recall (James Bergin, Lipincott Williams)

You'll never be able to know everything about IM, and you'll find yourself adding more and more to the list of things you don't know each day so having a book like this is good. It asks the important must-know questions and is good for 'sparring' with your mates. It helps covers the holes you might have in your basic sciences knowledge.

4. Xpress Revision in Short Cases (Chew Nee Kong, UM Publications)

I don't advise ppl to use this as a studying tool, because I think it's better if you read up properly on the diseases first. But it's awesome for revision's sake and to get a better clinical outline of the topic. Helps a lot especially when preparing for case presentations or before clinical exams. UM publications has loads of awesome books, so kalau ade mase pegi um bookstore kat ppum do check out the other books they have there.

5. Formulating the Diagnosis: 40 Clinical Pathological Exercises (Dr. TJ Danaraj, UM Publications)

This book pun best. It has full case presentation (history,exam,clinical dx,pathological description,dx) abt a patient and you then have to answer a few MCQ questions. Mine is my dad's so it's a 1993 version, you might be able to find a newer version now.

6. Case Files: Medicine

They have this one for every topic/specialty and i'm a big fan. It's like the book I used mase pro exam disc. Good for revision, kalau malas nak bace buku besar, just read this book. It covers most topics quite extensively.

7. Color Atlas of Clinical Medicine (Charles D. Forbes, Mosby Publications)

They have the big book versions, but im referring to the pocketbook version which is full of clinical pictures. Really good book, you familiarise yourself with the pics and it helps a lot when you are in the wards. Go through a few pages a day before you sleep..hehe:). Also, prof latiff likes to give a mid-sem exam which is done ospe-style. This book helped me score because he used many pictures that were similar to the ones in the book.

8. Book of Causes

This is a thin black pocketbook which just lists down the causes of numerous things (clubbing, increased tactile vocal fremitus, increased psa, palmar erythema,etc). Helps when you want to think of differential diagnoses. Im sorry I can't remember the author or publisher, but the Kamal Bookstore dudes are would know if you were to mention it. :)