Little accomplishment

"What are the things that you feel accomplished and happy about?" I asked.

Having thought about it myself, I have more dissatisfaction of what I could not achieve than what I have done well. Perhaps it's human nature that we tend to look at our deficits instead of treasuring our blessings.

I have a little accomplishment lately that really made my days.

H needed frequent blood taking. When I took over her case, she had bruises all over cubital fossa and stressed up with needles. Indications were explained and blood was withdrawn. She was happy that it was done quickly with minimal pain and leaving no bruise. Subsequently, I was requested for the next blood taking. So as to successfully withdraw blood from the obese with single attempt. Credit to IMU who well trained us in blood taking during medical school days.

N required artificial rupture of membrane while her os was only 2cm tight with posterior cervix and high station. My colleague failed to perform and predict my impending failure after digging hard for approximately 5 minutes. MO was informed to take over. Just as MO was about to prepare, tadaa... Clear liquor!

Lastly, my vaginal examination was commented as less pain and discomfort inflicting. I witnessed rough vaginal examination umpteen times. At times I feel for patients when examiner digs as if it is made of steel. Vagina is one of the precious parts of ladies. If you are to examine, do gently insert your fingers!

Simple accomplishment can cheer up my dull working days. Hope the list can go on longer as I learn. Yeppie!

In everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thess 5:18

Perhaps it's time

It's day 2 post-call. Yet I was still up with some lousy sense of lethargic feeling, right sided headache and signs of impending URTI. Nonetheless, waking up after the sunrise today without alarm clock was luxurious!

Going oncall is a norm, 8 calls per month now after what DG has implemented. So on the day when you're post-call, the next day is another pre-call day. Exhaustive at times but it isn't too bad since our one day off in a week has started. What else can I grumble on?

Met 2 medical students who stayed overnight in labour ward to complete procedures. They reminded me of my old days. Go around labour ward asking for permission to conduct deliveries, gloved up and got scolded by staff nurse just like the way I did. The difference was, they addressed me doctor and introduced themselves to me with respect. I thought it was too formal and actually felt uneasy. Hey, I was at their position not too long ago!

It has been 6 months since I started working. I am half passed O&G posting. It is a field of litigation. A little mismanagement or mis-documentation can be easily a loop hole in the future. Most of the time our specialists hold high responsibilities to cover all blunters we made. It has always been a demanding field that requires big commitment.

However, I've decided to involve myself in it. Perhaps it's time. Time to subject myself back to exam stress. Time to get the study momentum back on toes. Starting with zero confidence but I will give my best!

Guide me, Lord.

起点

一年前的起点，
心跳似小鹿乱撞。
一年后的今天，
有你守护身边。
满足，因有你，
幸福，因属你。
愿我俩继续扶持，
为主来作盐发光。
周年快乐!
♥

Two are better than one.
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
Eccl 4: 9-10a

Disappointments

I agree with Dr. H. Medical students tend to pick up signs that doctors miss out because they need to examine patient from head to toe.

Few days ago, I was scolded badly for missing out cellulitis of the foot in a pregnant lady. The lady was under blanket for CTG. And she limped out from the room after me. Obviously I did not flip over the blanket. I am disappointed with myself for always learn things through the hard way. I remember what was taught. A pregnant lady does not confine to only the abdomen!

Secondly, the newly implemented one weekend off for housemen was called off for us due to our substandard patient care. I am really longing for a rest after the completion of the never-ending 16-days tagging. Tagging is meant to familiarize newbies in new working environment that we can function better but at the same time it isn't completely conducive. An interesting subject was made tiresome. Time and energy were all consumed away from reading up more for better understanding.

Lastly, just thought I could obtain my source of fibre from the home planted papaya tree in my backyard after dinner. Who knows the only rippen papaya was bitten all over by a bunch of snails! I hate snails now!

Plain disappointments...

Chinese New Year 2010

This Chinese New Year was different. After a few years' absence from home town due to exams, this one was a happening gathering with my long lost extended family members. What made it distinguishing were,

1) I started working, and thus started to give instead of just receiving ang pow.

2) No one ever asked me anymore of when am I getting a boyfriend because I am taken! Hehe. So the questions had changed to: Why never bring along boyfriend?

It was a rushing limited 5 days off I got from my department, and I was literally at different states each day. KL-Pahang-Selangor-Perak-Sarawak. Anyway, it was all worth as I had a happy get-together.

Let the happiness symbolizing group pictures do the talking.

Reunion at Genting Highland.

My siblings and I missing Kiat who is camera shy as usual. Back to hometown, Sungai Siput, Perak.

With extended family.

Extended family dinner.

One Utama, KL.

And home alone in Kuching again, on DAY 4 of CNY with Maggie and CNY cookies!
Sad, back to work tomorrow...

Working and I

This post supposed to be posted earlier. Hectic work has slowly displace the time for myself. I am basically a slave to the hospital now. Bound approximately 100 hours per week for all 7 days. No rest, no play.

I'm sure this question has definitely crossed all housemen's mind:

"Why am I stucked here?"

I am of no exception.

Time flies. I'm in my forth month of training in Sarawak General Hospital. Another 3 more weeks before it comes to an end of Paediatrics posting and I will proceed to Obstetric & Gynaecology next if everything is smooth sailing.

Working life is tough. I totally agree with what people used to say that houseman is the lowest form of life in hospital, it probably applies more to us as first posters. I feel burnt out at times. Depressed when efforts are depreciated, when scoldings are unreasonable or when our right is violated.

Yes I noticed that. I am so full of grumbles instead of praise. Above all, what is training all about if it is only a bed of roses? Perseverance is the key, even since 6 years ago when I started to step feet in medical field. I was reminded again when the worship song crossed my mind...

Hidupku, hanyalah untukMu.
Segenap hatiku kagumkan kebaikanMu.
Nafasku, menceritakan kasihMu.
Ajarku berdiam dekat di hatiMu.

O Lord give me a learning heart and perseverance.

---

Last but not least, hello from all of us from Kuching!

IV Vancomycin 10mg/kg TDS

It is my first day in NICU. Unexpectedly, I'm emotionally held up by a mistake I did days ago.

It started when a staff nurse handed me prescription slip and requested for a drug topping up for a 945 gramer preterm baby. Copying word to word from the blurring off old carboned prescription slip, it was written:

IV Vancomycin 95mg TDS
(Weight: 945g)

The drug was served for 3 courses before I was called up for an incident report. Yes I missed a dot. A decimal place to differentiate 9.5mg from 95mg. I had served 10 times more of a potential dangerous drug to a fragile preterm baby.

Now, the baby is well known as the "Vancomycin-overdosed-baby" lying in the incubator. I am well known too because of a mistake I had made. I was reminded repeatedly to watch out prescription there after, to double check dose with MO and etc. Everyone basically knows about it.

Sigh. Sad that people remember me for my mistake. Blame it on me. I did not recalculate dosage for the weight before I prescribed. I was trying to kill instead of to heal. It is worth scolding and reporting.

Thankfully the baby's renal function is not impaired. Other side effects such as ototoxicity is yet to be found out.

IV Vancomycin 10mg/kg TDS for neonates. I will remember it for life!