Heartiest Congratulations

Dear all IMU graduates/undergrads,

Please join me in wishing heartiest congratulations to our senior, Dr.Lee BS who has just passed her PACES and became a new physician! Same to her batchmate, Dr.Ng KS who passed it earlier on this year. Both of them are currently practising in Hosp Taiping.

Two young specialists! What an achievement! (Can you believe that she's only 28 this year..)

I'm truly proud of them. Happy. When's my turn? Haha..study study!=)

The "Dumping Syndrome"

HD = Hosp Director
These are the stories of her and some of the many many victims.

Tragedy 1

HD: "What department you want to join?"
Dr.A: "I'm interested in paediatrics or non-surgical-based disciplines."
HD: "Ok, you'll join O&G."
Dr.A: "Huh?" (O&G is surgical-based)


Tragedy 2

HD: "What department you want to join?"
Dr.B: "I'm interested in Anaesthesiology."
HD: "Ok, you can join it."
Dr.B: (Found it too good to believe) "Really? Thank you so so much.."
HD: "It's ok..i'm always good to my MOs."

After 2 days,
HD: "Dr.B, you're going to Hosp. Manjung."
Dr.B: "Huh? I thought you said I can join Anes? I've already bought all the Anes books.."
HD: "Well, you're going Manjung."


Tragedy 3

Dr.C was informed by HD that she's going Hosp Gerik (2 hours driving distance from taiping).
Then she got a call from HD, "Dr.C, you'll be posted to emergency department until further notice."
Dr.C: "Oh ok..."

So Dr.C reported duty to casualty. Having settled all the paperwork, orientation etc,
HD called again, "Dr.C, you need to report to Hosp Gerik TODAY."
Dr.C had a major shock, "Today? This is impossible..i havn't packed my stuff and I havn't moved anything to there yet. And if I need to move everything, my parents have to take leave to come here and help me. How to ask them to take leave last minute like this??" (Dr.C doesn't even has a car to go there)
HD: "This is your problem. You need to report duty to there latest by today afternoon."


Yes, these are the stories of the legendary director, of how she dumps the MOs around. I myself had become a victim once.
But, these 2 days I've heard some rumours around again.
I might become a victim under her fickle mind, the 2nd time.

Hope it's not gonna come true. I'll find out about it tomorrow. *praying*


Update (30/8):
The incident was actually she's forcing one of us from emergency department to join Anesthesiology as the latter is very short of MOs. But none of us is interested, and I was almost forced to go as I'm the junior most in my department.
But the latest news is none of us has to go, due to my HOD's strong objection. Good!

Million Dollar Question

Ya I have a million dollar MCQ here. Choose the best answer:

It's 4am. Sleeping time for every normal human. Somehow (I really dunno how), you realized your lips are quite dry. Maybe cracked a little bit. You will:

A. Continue to sleep.
B. Drink more water.
C. Get up from sleep, drive to hospital emergency department and see doctor.
D. Call ambulance to come get you to go hospital to see doctor.

If you choose either A or B, it's very likely that you're doing something normal ppl will do. If you chose either C or D, and so happen that you're seen by a tired mad doc, beware that you stand a high chance to get admitted. Yes admitted for dry lips. To a special ward. It's called psychiatric ward.

I have no idea what's in certain patients' mind nowadays. This "tragedy" happened to me, that while I was doing night shift, having seen all the crazy cases that drained me physically and mentally dried, I still had to see all the "non-emergency cases" that came in continuously. (Night shift is something scary, that one people is covering all 3 zones).

So I was very, truly deeply shocked by this young man, 24 year-old, healthy-looking, came to casualty at 4am, telling me that he found his lips dry, and slightly cracked. And pls believe in me that, HE HAS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. I examined him with my widest imagination of all possibility of diseases but in the end the final diagnosis would just be: cracked lips. Treatment - the simplest being "pls drink more water", or if not, maybe a lip balm can help.

4am. Cracked lips. Drink more water will do.
Can someone tell me what's the urgency to see doc?! This is not something normal people will usually do right..

Sooner or later, maybe it's the poor doc who'd be forced to go mad and be admitted to psychiatric ward!=)

The Passer-by Phenomenon

Guess passer-by is quite a famous identity in blogging world now. He/she "passes-by" blogs, and leaves a "bomb" comment, that would drive the site owner mad (or near-mad) and started to flame back frantically, so as the site's fellow readers.

Interesting phenomenon isn't it.

Here are 3 examples that I came across, where site owner, coincidentally, reacted to the "passer-by" in a similar way, by writing back a long post.

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

(Dear Jun/Tiffany/Venessa, just to use as an example, to discuss this phenomenon, thnx and pls don't get mad, but I know you won't! lolz)

The "passer-by" effect is such a challenge to test one's EQ level isn't it.

The thing is, to speak neutrally, passer-by is not doing something entirely wrong. Blogging world is supposed to be free, that everyone has his/her right to speak out. You can't really stop/flame ppl for doing so. I'm saying this because from what i observed, thus far I didn't see any of the passer-bys' comments were given a "polite" feedback, where most often than not, they were flamed back with full power, or more. "Peace" is something always on the mouth, but rarely happen, sad to say but it's kinda true.

Anyway, just to share an article (I'm sure most of you are familiar with it, but I just like it so much since i ever read it), which I hope could be enlightening:

"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."

- Mother Teresa

Meaningful? I guess it's the answer for reacting to almost all sorts of difficult people that you'd face in life. Can we do that?

Last but not least, just to share one more clip, about my No.1 idol Stephen Chow, on how he handles insult:



"There's no one who can ever influence me, thank you."

That's the highest level of EQ isn't it.

From the Healing Hearts

I guess no one has any question about Tony Leung is one of the finest actors from HK. Out of so many of his movies, one of my very favourites would be "Healing Hearts", which he played his role as a neurosurgeon. I especially like the beginning part of the movie:



"As a doctor,
the most regretful thing could be when the one you care for most,
has developed illness that,
there's nothing you can do about it.
The experience can be very awful.
...If anyone wants to know how the pain feels like,
I will tell them,
It's best you won't even have a chance to know."

How true is that.

My New (Extra) Working Place

Darren: "Jes, I'm gonna work in Columbia."

Jessica: "Huh? Kuala Pilah?"

Darren: "No, Co-lum-bia."

Jessica: "Oh you're going US? You passed your USMLE Step 3?"

Darren: "......" *Frustrated with Jes's blur-ness*

New hospital in Taiping. I'm sure everyone is familiar with Columbia Asia Hospital. This is the 5th branch in M'sia. A fairly rapidly progressive hospital, with over a dozen under construction at the moment.

I just went for the interview yesterday. Ya looking at the pic you know where am I gonna work in. Hehe. They have 2 resident ER MOs, and they still need a few "visiting" ones. The interview was done by Dr Arifin, the Group Medical Director as well as the consultant physician there. Very nice guy. He heard me saying I'm interested in medicine, he said, "Oh ok, so your interview will be in MRCP style!" Ha. It's pretty much on management of medical emergencies..something happens in my casualty department day in day out..so not a problem=)

The consultant surgeon, radiologist and O&G specialist are all from Hosp Taiping. As well as 2 visiting orthopedic surgeons and the visiting physician. And a LOT of familiar faces in nurses and staffs too;)

The hospital officially starts operating on 25th Aug. And I'm gonna start working after mid Sept..after my "big thing" hehe. Think I'm gonna like this new place!=)

Red Bull Drink Increases Risk of Heart Attack?

"Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, Australian medical researchers said on Friday.

The caffeine-loaded beverage, popular with university students and adrenaline sport fans to give them "wings", caused the blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.

'One hour after they drank Red Bull, (their blood systems) were no longer normal. They were abnormal like we would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease,' Scott Willoughby, lead researcher from the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, told the Australian newspaper.

Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health risks listed on its cans, but the company last year sold 3.5 billion cans in 143 countries."

- Extracted from Reuters News

Must be a shocking news to Red Bull Company. I wonder how they are going to react. I believe it's one of the popular drinks among M'sians.

How many can of RB drinks you've taken before? Let's calculate the risk? I think I only had one, didn't quite like it because of its sweetness. Any big fans of RB here?=)

What a GREAT Day!

As I said, good or bad things, they just happen. Anytime, no signs, and most of the time when you least expected it.

I had another "special visit" again today. My hospital director suddenly came down to emergency department, wanted to see me and my department head. Apparently it's regarding the incident which the "VIP" was managed here few days back.

She looked serious. She asked to trace back the ticket, looked through it slowly. I was just having kinda rapid heart rate, wondering what's going on.

She looked at me, "Dr Lee, were you the medical officer who attended him?"

"Yes." (swallowed saliva)

"In fact, Dato has personally contacted our director-general (Health ministry DG) regarding this, and DG just called me this morning."

"(OMG, is it something good or bad?) I see..may I know is there any issue with this?"

My director raised her eyebrows, "OF COURSE there's an issue. If not I won't purposely come down and see you right?"

"(Heart rate increased to 180 again) Issue?"

"He wants to say congratulations to you. Dato's very satisfied with the management here, he said thank you, and he's impressed with the efficiency here," Finally she smiles and shakes my hand, "Good job."

I think no one can really imagine how relieved I was. And also my department head. He should be quite palpitative too.

The whole team found this very encouraging and was happy with it. I think my boss is the happiest, he has been smiling the whole day. Then he asked me, "Hey Lee, well done. I think you just stay in the department la, forget about medical.." I was like, "Errr..hmm haha. I'll see..maybe..." But seriously it's becoming difficult to decide, since emergency medicine just seems quite as interesting as medicine. See how la.

But anyway, this is really my "kembang" day la. Happy. Yay=)

Sex Education Needed

I happened to browsed through one of the popular local forum (ya the same one, again), and saw this interesting discussion, under the topic of "emergency contraception".

Apparently "A" is a lost kid who started off the discussion:

"A": Hi all, I want to know if i masturbate on top of her..and i am wearing pants..will she get pregnant?? i am just 14><

"B": How did you masturbate with pants? Masturbate wont make ur gal pregnant, ur sperm will...

"A": I am on top of her with my pants on..will my sperm go through my pants and through her pants? This is my first time, I am sorry..i wont do it again..but i really dunno anything><

"C": Your sperm is not that powerful....but do remember that they are good swimmers..

"A: So how?? What u mean? Will it happen?? As i am 14 ..explain to me properly..thx..pls

"D": Why dont you go and read up?

I'm wondering why no one could just give a firm answer. Finally I felt cannot tahan and replied there:

"As long as you didn't ejaculate (ie shoot) into her private part, it won't happen. Fullstop. You're only 14. Can you spend more time in your study?"

I really pity the boy. I can feel how worried he is. This is the typical age group that they'll be so curious in sex, but do not quite know what they need to know.

But in fact, this is not the worst i've seen. I remember one time when i read a magazine, a girl wrote in and asked, "Today my friends and I had some fun activities and during one game, a guy accidentally fell near me and his private part is very near to mine. I'm worried. Will I get pregnant?"

Tell me, what should we do about them. Maybe some intensive sex education I guess. Ha.


Related post:
Public Health Education

Doctor & Patient (3) - Frustrating Chapter

Case 1

9 year-old boy complained of mild giddiness.
On examination, he's perfectly fine.

Doc: "He doesn't really need medication.."
Mother: "Huh? No medication? Nothing at all?"
Doc: "Hmm..alright..." (planned to give some vitamins)
Mother: "But is it ok for him to take medication? He's still small right..."
Doc: "That's what i said, no need medication."
Mother: "But what if he feel giddy again? At least give something.."
Doc: "So actually you prefer me giving medication or not?"
Mother: "How I know? I'm not the doctor. It's up to you..."
Doc: "Then no need medication."
Mother: "Huh? No medication? Nothing at all?"
Doc: "......"
Neverending story...

Case 2

18 year-old young man.

Pt: "I noticed something wrong with my..testes."
Doc: "Oh..which is?"
Pt: "The left one is lower than the right."
Doc: "Huh..you only noticed it recently?"
Pt: "Ya..during yesterday's shower. Something's wrong isn't it?"
Doc: "It's perfectly normal."
Pt: "(Doubtful) Is it? Coz I asked my dad, he also said it's not normal."
Then the dad came in, "Doc, do you think you can refer him to a specialist?"
Doc almost fainted.

(What you think will happen if this is referred to a specialist? It'll become a national news man!) Lesson - Bring your anatomy book around during clinic. You never know when you'd need to show "proof" to the patient.

Case 3

17 year-old girl comes for a urine pregnancy test.

Pt: "I'm afraid i'm pregnant. I missed my period this month."
Doc: "Ok..you got a bf?"
Pt: "Ya..."
Doc: "Were you..together with him last month?"
Pt: "Ya..."
Doc: "Ok understood. Ya let's check your urine."

Urine pregnancy test negative.
Doc: "Hmm it's negative. Actually, the 'together' you meant was..."
Pt: (started crying)
Doc: "It's ok..don't worry you can tell me..."
Pt: "He kissed me.."
Doc: "Kissed...hmm...(pls don't tell me that) you mean kiss ONLY?"
Pt: "Ya I already told him not to but he still kissed me..I'm so worried I might get pregnant...(sobbing)"
Doc: "......"

Doc feels like crying, too.

* This incident just happened this evening in the casualty. I'm really wondering what's wrong with the current sex education system. Apparently, she asked her mom and her mom also asked her to come for the pregnancy test. Sigh.


Related posts:
Doctor & Patient (1)
Doctor & Patient (2)

080808

Hihi..I'm "magically" back for a post! As I said, I'll blog one post or two if hands are unbearably itchy. Hehe.

080808 is such a special day isn't it?

So this special day "exacerbates" my itchy hands, and hence I really feel like writing something today;) Just watched the Olympic opening ceremony..i'm just soooo glad that i didn't miss it. If not that I've purposely changed my shift from evening to morning, and "just in time" subscribed to Astro (Thanks to Elaine) only yesterday, I think i'd regret to the maximum and cry.

The Beijing Olympic opening ceremony is absolutely sensational. It is so difficult to find the words to describe it. The whole ceremony is truly a masterpiece of everyone's hardwork, it's tremendously successful, and undoubtedly mesmerized every audience from all parts of world. I personally think the "TaiChi" part is the best (but in fact every part is also my favourite), the coordination among everyone is just flawless.

`

(Bullit Marquez/Associated Press)

Big congratulations to China, and every Chinese for their great job. And wish them luck in the coming Olympic games! (wish our malaysian team also...hehe)

One world, one dream.

北京加油！中国加油！

Taking a Break

Alright everyone, hope you all have been enjoying reading my blog and I have something to tell now. In view of something major coming up in Sept (other than my registration), which requires me paying more concentration on it (I'd better do), i'm taking a break (in blogging) till maybe after mid-Sept. Will probably still blog one or two if hands are unbearably itchy hehe.

Pls wish me luck on the "big thing" in Sept.

Till then, take care everyone!

And I'll be back..for sure! ;)

*darren disappears magically*

Inspiration

This is Barton Kamen, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics and pharmacology, as well as chief of the division of pediatric hematology/oncology in Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

From a classic doctor’s black bag stashed beneath his desk at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), Barton Kamen, MD, PhD, pulls out a couple of magic tricks. Now you see the scarf. Now you don’t. Kamen incorporates these magician’s props into his life as a pediatric cancer specialist just as if they were real medical tools. Not in league with a chemotherapeutic agent, stethoscope or thermometer, of course, they are the “ice breakers,” he explains, which help to engage children’s senses and break down their defenses and fears.

...When asked what he might do when confronting the tears of a mother, he answers, “I’d cry with her. I can’t take care of kids and not be human. I don’t believe in keeping professional distance. I just don’t.” And therein lies the magic of Kamen’s best medicine. In fact, look up the definition of magic: “the use of means … that are believed to have supernatural powers to produce or prevent a particular result (as in … death or healing).” A magician is someone who is “able to produce startling and amazing effects.”

- Extracted from UMDNJ magazine "Magic + Medicine = Cancer cures"


Magic undoubtedly brings happiness. Looking at him holding the bicycle cards, I'm just wondering whether i'll be doing the same thing in future, pulling out cards and magic tricks from my bag (like now) and keep on entertaining the patients.

I guess I will. Magic and medicine are just inseparable in my life!=)


Related posts:
My Love with Cards
The Wonder of Magic