and when she speaks
Saturday, January 12, 2008
I worked from 9am to 9pm last night.But in 3 days, I have done so much!
I stuck a finger into someone's ass. My doctor was bent on me doing a rectal- and she even specifically wanted some poo remnants on my gloved fingers :) This teenage boy had dark, black stools- so we had to rule out if he had bloody stools or not.Next up, I removed an ingrown toenail on a middle-aged man.Is it me, or men are bigger cowards than women when it comes to needles and pain? ;)So, we jabbed in a needle into the entire depth of the toe at 4 places around the nail and slowly withdrew the needle as we squirted anesthetic into the area. I've never seen a big old man contort his body with such speed and flexibility.Then, I grabbed a scissors and started cutting the midpoint of the nail up into the bed. Then came the pliers which I had to twist and turn and pull to wriggle the nail out.
Blood was spluterring out. There was one point where half the toe nail was almost coming out, when blood splashed out onto my doctor's face and eyes. That's when she left the room to clean up. We're now testing him for hepatitis and HIV to ascertain his status. Surprisingly for a toe nail, there sure was a lot of blood. I couldn't even see what I was pulling. The first sheet was soaked so we got another sheet. Anyway, that was really exciting ;)Pap smears for all the young teenagers. I am mortified but these lil' young kids coming in for contraceptives and pap smears. I went out for dinner with my doctor and her husband. I've just got an invitation to join both of them at Marriott Hotel for a medical presentation :) Actually, my doctor asked her husband if medical students could come along- so, in essence, I wasn't really invited per se ;)
Anyhow, the husband said it's a new restaurant inside Mariott so it should be a pretty good feed anyway. ;)
her
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her ALIBIS
8:55 PM;;
Friday, January 11, 2008
What a nice day it was going to be.It was a public holiday on a weekday.Moments later... two ambulances were called.My grandpa was screaming. In pain.As I heard the recall from my mother on Skype, tears welled up inside me.My grandpa, who used to work as a top police in Malaysia during the communist days, who still has terrible nightmares on occassional nights from the horrific historical days, was placed on a stretcher.Never had my mum seen him, always was the man of the house, a man of few words but remarkable wisdom, a man of pride and morals- so scared as he looked out into the window in the ambulance.He thought he'd never come home again.My aunt said grandpa squeezed her hands- this; the man who is her father, now regressed like a little child, in fear and helplessness- gripped her so tightly, holding on to dear life and faith.He's home now. Doing well, thank you for all your concern.My dad wouldn't let him stay in the hospital after one nurse shouted at my grandpa for screaming in pain. This was in SJMC, by the way-a renowned private hospital.He's well taken care of at home and is lavished with love and support from all his grandkids and his united family.Love you, gong gong.
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7:08 PM;;
"It's so easy to get lost inside...
But
When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else seem so small."
Yesterday morning, I was lost, finding my way along the streets, searching for my clinic. Asking around bus drivers and pedestrians. I finally, did find my way- but I was disheartened by how far I had to travel to reach my Family Med clinic. I whined and I complained. No one has ever had to travel so far for Fam Med.
By lunch time, the whole team in the clinic was actively researching for the shortest possible bus route for me, making phone calls, searching on the Net, asking around. I felt so touched by their warm concern. Honestly, I felt so loved :)
I followed the new bus route today, and I saved myself 45 minutes...even though I'm still taking 3 buses :)
This morning, I arrived- I was greeted with big smiles and enthusiastic chatter, all asking about my new bus routes ;) Haha- they were all extremely proud with the result of their hard work ;)
Lunch was with my doctor, Dr Sarah Seaman. She insists on treating everytime. Yesterday I gave in to a Subway sandwich. Today, at Tim Horton's, I declined. We chit and chatted about everything under the sky- travel, medicine, love life, children, work, holiday, family. I think, we've got great chemistry. I love working with her. She's such a wonderful doctor- and she lets me act independently- I handle all my patients, and jab all of 'em ;) which is what I LOVE to do :) hehe.
I've done so many injections in my first two days, it's soooo wonderful :)
I brought her white coffee to try. She introduced me to black and white tea. I swear I've never seen anything like white tea before. And She's invited me to her house by the beach for lunch :)
Yesterday, John, a Med 1 student drove me home.
Today, she overheard MArleen, one of the nurses calling me to take the bus together when we finished work. And she told me she could drive me instead. I said 'Nooo, it's ok. I've got a travel company anyway- Marleen's with me. Don't worry. And thank you though :)'
I feel like I'm so well taken care of here.
I don't even mind travelling far just to work here anymore ;p
So, anyway at 5pm today, after work, Marleen and I were waiting in the cold wind, for the bus- Marleen was all excited asking me about my life and then, reminding me constantly that we don't have to bring lunch tomorrow cos the drug company's bringing us lunch :) And then, she led me to my next bus stop.
I love where I'm at.
Fate deals you the most unexpected surprise, sometimes.
Can you imagine - all this wouldn't have happened if my other preceptor hadn't gone out of service.
I believe that's what it is- fate.
her
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her ALIBIS
6:34 AM;;
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I had to travel 1.5 hours this morning for my Family Medicine rotation.That, by the way, involves 3 buses and a 10-minute walk.And this will be for a period of 6 weeks.
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8:41 AM;;
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
I slept til 5pm the other day.Woke up this morning at 5am and couldn't go back to bed.Was sleepy in orientation today at mid-noon.Jet lag. It wrecks your body clock.Mum was worried when she saw me on SKype so early in the morning because she was concerned I couldn't sleep due to stress. Don't worry, I'm not stressed. It's just my mum's particularly concerned when I have just arrived after being at home with family :)I'm at a baby dilemma. Thinking about my options and figuring out ...what I would like to specialise in.I don't know. I've had so much fun and satisfaction in all the rotations that I have been exposed to.But what about those which I haven't yet explored and experienced? How will I know?I ask around, and they shrug their shoulders. A lot of people are also struggling with this. My senior friends who are already doctors say there is no answer to that... it's a decision you have to dig deep and find out yourself.I guess, only time will tell.
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6:21 AM;;
I dislike long-haul flights. Totally loathe them.They make my bum numb and sore. And the narrow seats aren't big enough for me to cross my legs on my seat.But still, Ive been lucky. My journey on the plane has been surprisingly pleasant these few times.I've met wonderful characters who keep me company along the way. At least they keep me entertained,we laugh and joke and, I have someone to walk the aisle with me when I don't feel my legs anymore or my sore bum is getting too much to handle, plus I have a partner in taking goodies from the basket in the food counter where the steward/stewardesses are ;)It's weird how friendships begin this way.But, you know what, they make the usually unbearable long flight to one's that not only bearable but enjoyable and most importantly, memorable :)
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6:10 AM;;
Sunday, January 06, 2008
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10:05 PM;;
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9:57 PM;;
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9:42 PM;;
I cannot believe it's already over.I had the best time of my life- celebrating the New Year with my family back home, Hong Kong and Shenzhen :)And I didn't even touch anything that remotely resembled a book ;)I immersed myself in having as much fun as I could with my sisters and my parents- and I feel like Ive had more than enough of fun to start my engine working again for work ;) Though of course, I did have butterflies as I left to fly for Canada ;pIve had wonderful cousins in China and Hong Kong bringing us around. They all made sure I had all that I wanted to eat and they stuffed me pretty good to make sure I wouldn't miss it back in Canada. I am totally satisfied with my holiday. Thanks Dad for flying me home even though I said No need to :) I'll let the pictures do the talking about the fun times I had.Thanks mum and dad and of course, miss you 3 monkeys dearly :)*muacks*
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9:05 PM;;
