Last week we got to wear some "special" glasses to simulate various patient presentations. It also gave us the opportunity to understand what a patient feels when they have certain problems. My first pair of these glasses turned me into a slightly near-sighted patient and I really didn't have too many complaints. Friday was a different story though!
I knew it was going to be a long examination for the other student as soon as I put the glasses on. Bam! Double vision. Not only that, the world seemed to tip to one side as I walked. The way we "normally" run the exam went out the window as we both tried to figure out what my condition was. From what I learned in class from Dr. Newman, apparently there is no "normal" exam. The tests we perform in an exam will be determined by what the patient's complaints are and what we find out as we go along. So the knowledge I am gaining right now is going to be crucial in understanding those complaints and then performing the right set of tests. I should have realized that sooner, I just didn't know how much flexibility we had. From what I remember as a kid, it just felt like the same ol' tests every time. Luckily, I've still got a few more years before I graduate.