How 2009 Ended

2009 ended with me watching 2 good movies.

I was really, really impressed with Avatar.

I went there with high expectations (because KV couldn't stop talking about it after watching it) and the movie was actually better that I expected!

The animation was really good. It's like being transported to another world!

I just wish I had the chance to watch it in 3D.

The Princess and The Frog was also a good watch.

I watch cartoon movies for 1 reason only - to enjoy the jokes.

The movies that top my favourite cartoon-movie are Shrek (1 and 2, didn't watch 3 I think) and The Emperor's New Groove.

The Princess and The Frog couldn't match these movies, but it was definitely better than some of the other cartoon-movies that came out last year.

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I also read a few good books.

You really should try reading Jodi Picoult - somehow, I get SO hooked up with her books once I start reading them. The stories are really issues that will make you think, will make you wonder what you would do in that kind of situation, and will make you wish that you never have to make decisions as hard as that.

Am currently reading Between The Assassinations by Aravind Adiga - something different, something interesting. It centers around the lifes of really poor Indians in India.

Reread Life of Pi by Yann Martel - this time, I paid more attention to the story as I already know what the ending is (am not going to tell you about it); appreciate the book more this time around.

Also read the first two books of the twilight series - didn't find it very addictive as I already know the story (almost the same as the movie), but it's a nice story to read and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series (am going to make sure that I don't watch the movie first).

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Do you guys remember a few years back, there was a period of time where buses kept meeting in accidents and all night buses were cancelled? I wonder when the rules were changed and buses were allowed to operate at night.

And recently, after the bus accident nearby Ipoh, once again the issue was brought up - to not let buses travel at night.

But then, that issue didn't last long and bus rides are still going on as usual.

How about the seatbelt rule - is it still on?

I wonder what's the problem with Malaysia and rules.. we make them, we break them, then we remake them when there is trouble again.

What the &%@# are we trying to do?

Why do we have to wait for something to go wrong before we take action?

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Also, it seems like someone brought up the issue about housemen (again) in the newspaper.

I don't know who started it or why - but then there is one group telling we are overworked, getting scolded bla, bla, bla..while another group who thinks that we are too pampered.

The way I see it - the non-doctors, non-nurses think that it is impossible for a person to work for more that 24 hours and function. They think that everyone needs rest, the labour law should be followed, etc. Parents of housemen would also feel pity for their children - it's natural - all parents want their child to come back home and chill talk to them rather than immediately fall asleep, right?

On the other hand, MOs and specialists have gone through worse times - times where they had less than half the number the housemen that we have now, times where they have to handle more things and get less pay. Do you expect them to sympatise on you? They used to do 15 calls a month, and now you are complaining because you have 6 calls a month? Doesn't make sense if we complain, right?

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Anyway, 2010 is here and I am *gasp* 26!

Actually, it makes no difference to me.

20, 26 - age is just a number, right?

But I still can't take it when my nephews or nieces call me Aunty - just makes me feel ancient..I'm not that old, am I?

Somehow, the years have passed by so fast.

Sometimes, I feel like time just flew after I completed my SPM.

I don't make new year resolutions because I know that I would never be able to stick to them.

Somehow, when something becomes a necessity, it is harder to do it.

For instance - when I was younger, I used to beg my Mum to let me iron the clothes- it just looked like so much fun.

But then, once I was older and was expected to do the ironing - it just became a chore, something I didn't like to do.

Weird, huh..

Well, am oncall tomorrow - actually looking forward to it 'cos am oncall with a really, really nice MO. :)

What The Future Holdsr

I have to say - I am rather shocked.
Only 5 posts so far this month.
I didn't even realize how fast time flew by this month.

Maybe there was just too many things going on.
Or maybe it's because of the labor room - a place where time just doesn't seem to matter.

One thing I like about the labor room - they (the ladies) come, they deliver, they leave.
We don't have to see the same patients over and over again for a few days and wait for them to get better slowly.
In fact, most of them who come to us are not even sick, they are just delivering, which is a normal process of life!

I have decided that this is what I like - seeing patients for a short while, as in handling a particular patient for a particular moment and then moving on to the next patient.

I don't want to have to wait for a patient to get better over a long period of time.
I want to see, treat and tell the patient that they are well and they can now leave.

So, what field should I get into?

Medical is basically a chronic field- some even say people come there to die.

Kids are just too complicated.

Surgery - not interested.

Ortho is basically surgery - not interested.

O&G - kind of nice, but don't like the surgical part of it, so, once again - not interested.

A&E - never been there, have no idea what it is like. But then, yes, acute management. Either patients come there and die or they get stable enough to be transferred to other wards. But, is there a future in A&E? Why do people say that those who are in A&E are those who can't get into other departments?

Ophthal - can't even do a fundoscopy properly.

ENT - once again - surgery.

Derma - boring?

Anaest - seems interesting. But seems like it needs lots of knowledge - will I be able to know all? What if I can't get a line for a patient? Whom do I turn to?

Did I miss out any departments? I don't think so.

Hmm...I just don't know what I want.

Am I supposed to decide now? Some say that the faster you decide, then the faster you can start to study to become a specialist and so you won't have to be an MO for long (being an MO is NOT EASY!).

Maybe being a chronic MO (being an MO forever) is not too bad (as long as not in a GH).
Maybe be an MO in a KK or district hospital.

Do I even get a choice or will I just be posted out?
I wonder.

Why is life so hard?
So many decisions, so many uncertainties..

Me And Cholesterol

Many of us don't really go around doing routine check ups.
We only go to the doctor when we are unwell and that too, usually after not getting better even after taking Panadol or whatever medicine that we have at home.

However, recently, I took some blood tests for myself.

From the blood tests, I found that:
1. I am not anemic.
2. I don't have diabetes.
3. I have high cholesterol level.

Actually, I kind of expected the high cholesterol level.
You should just see the kind of food I eat everyday.
Chicken and chicken and more chicken.

I love fried stuff, so there is no way I can have a normal cholesterol level, unless I actually starve myself or eat food that I don't like.

For me, eating should be enjoyed.
Which is why, if I don't like a certain food, I don't eat it at all!
Call me choosy, call me picky - whatever. I eat food that I like and that's that! You can't force me to eat something I don't want to.
Opps - I am rather deviating from the topic.

So, I have high cholesterol level.
My roommate, before realizing that the results was mine wanted to start me on Lovastatin.
I guess I have to do something to lower my cholesterol level.

Stop eating my favourite food?
:(

Exercise?
That is spending what little time that I have on something other than the internet and my story book.

I don't know.
Maybe I should just not care.
Hmm...

Or maybe I should eat more of the stuff suggested here.

I think I prefer the last idea.
:)

Shut Out From The World

Finally.
After almost 2 months, now I am at the O&G headquaters - the labor room.

But life in the labor room is isolated.
You are practically there the whole day long.
You don't go out for lunch.
You don't go out to get a drink.
You just sit/walk in there as the day passes by.

It is quite a happening place.
You never know when an emergency will surface.
Sometimes, when you have to be fast, you have to be fast.
Patients get pushed in for caesarean in 5 minutes.
By then, you have to prepare everything - consent, booking slip, make sure bloods taken, make sure blood is available at the blood bank, set line, inform anaest, inform paeds.
You just have to, somehow.

Since life is just labor room and nothing else, I can't think of anything to say.

But I've been getting some rather interesting e mails recently, 2 of which I would like to share..

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The Bathtub Test

During a visit to the mental hospital, I asked the Director 'How do you determine whether or not a patient should be admitted to the hospital.'

'Well,' said the Director, 'We fill up a bathtub, and then we give a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him to empty the bathtub.'

'Oh, I understand,' I said. 'A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.'
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'No.' Said the Director, 'A normal person would pull the drain plug.

Well... Would you prefer a bed near the window?'

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Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business.
When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife with whom to share his fortune.

One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her natural beauty took his breath away. "I may look like just an ordinary man," he said to her, but in just a few years, my father will die, and I'll inherit $200 million."

Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are so much better at financial planning than men!

As Days Pass By

At the beginning of the puasa month, my roommate and I made plans to go to the Pasar Ramadhan near the Ipoh Stadium.

The puasa month is almost ending.
We have still not been there, and I doubt that we will have a chance to go there.

It's just that something always comes up and we keep postponing the visit.
The fact that it rains quite often in the evenings does not help either.
Well, maybe we can go for it next year; we'll still be here then.

Today, on an impulse, a few of us decided to go for a movie - The Ugly Truth.
It is a girly kind of movie, and only us girls are going.
Hopefully, it will be a nice movie.

Well, nothing much has been going on.
It's going to be raya soon, so we will have a shortage of housemen for quite a few days.
Hopefully there won't be many admissions.
*fingers crossed*

Here are some jokes...hope you like them..

Marriage (Part I )
Typical macho man married typical good-looking lady, and after the wedding, he laid down the following rules:

'I'll be home when I want, if I want and at what time I want -- and I don't expect any hassle from you.
I expect a great dinner to be on the table unless I tell you that I won't be home for dinner.
I'll go hunting, fishing, boozing, and card-playing when I want with my old buddies, and don't you
give me a hard time about it!
Those are my rules. Any comments?'

His new bride said:
'No, that's fine with me. Just understand that there will be sex here at seven o'clock every night....whether you're here or not.'

(DARN SHE'S GOOD!)

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Marriage (Part II)


Husband and wife had a bitter quarrel on the day of their 40th wedding anniversary!

The husband yells, 'When you die, I'm getting you a headstone that reads, 'Here Lies My Wife -- Cold As Ever'!'

'Yeah?' she replies. 'When you die, I'm getting you a headstone that reads, 'Here Lies My Husband -- Stiff At Last'!'

(HE ASKED FOR IT!)
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Marriage (Part III)


Husband (a doctor) and his wife are having a fight at the breakfast table.

Husband gets up in a rage and says, 'And you are no good in bed either,' and storms out of the house.

After some time he realizes he was nasty and decides to make amends and rings her up.

She comes to the phone after many rings, and the irritated husband says, 'What took you so long to answer to the phone?'

She says, 'I was in bed.'

'In bed this early, doing what?'

'Getting a second opinion!'

(YEP, HE HAD THAT COMING, TOO!)

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Marriage (Part IV)


A man has six children and is very proud of his achievement.

He is so proud of himself, that he starts calling his wife,' Mother of Six' in spite of her objections.

One night, they go to a party.
The man decides that it IS time to go home and wants to find out if his wife is ready to leave as well.
He shouts at the top of his voice, 'Shall we go home Mother of Six?'

His wife, irritated by her husband's lack of discretion, shout s right back, 'Any time you're ready, Father of Four.'

(RIGHT ON, LADY!)

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THE SILENT TREATMENT

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment.

Suddenly the man realized that the next day he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper,'Please wake me at 5:00 A M.' He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight.

Furious, he was about to go to see why his wife hadn't wakened him when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM . Wake up.'

Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

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God may have created man before woman, but there
is always a rough draft before the masterpiece.

Random Post

Unfortunately, the passover didn't go as well as I hoped.
I answered the question that I was asked to present, but I was then asked on how LAs actually work and about it's toxicity. So, that is my homework for today - to present tomorrow. I don't really mind actually, at least I will learn something.

I am oncall tomorrow.
Every call is a stress.
Every call is a challenge.
Every pre-call is a depressing day.

Anyway, I heard Ipoh was quite a happening place today.
I have no idea what happened.
I have no idea who is the MB, who is the government.
Our day in the hospital is no different.
Admissions, clerkings, discharges.
Life goes on as usual.

Just the other day, there was a news article about a 6 year old boy who probably died of Paracetamol (PCM) overdose.
Supposedly, the doctor prescribed 2 tablets of PCM to be taken 4 times a day.
I wonder how such a mistake could happen.
A 12 year old would probably generally know that kids take 1 tablet of PCM while adults take 2.
(As a doctor, you calculate the amount based on the child's body weight - 15mg/kg)
They have set up an inquiry for this case for now - let's see what happens next.

Have to study my LA now.
Till later!

Today, I learnt that carbon dioxide in the blood stimulates the respiratory system - the carbon dioxide drive; which means, that the reason we breathe is because of high carbon dioxide level in our blood stream.

However, as we live in a polluted world, by the time we get old, our body is almost resistant to carbon dioxide drive (I don't know why) and we depend on oxygen drive - which means that when there is low level of oxygen in our body, we breathe in more.

When someone has trouble breathing and we give them oxygen, then the oxygen drive does not work (as there is no hypoxia). And so, if we prolong the supplementation of the oxygen, we are basically not helping the patient as we are surpressing their oxygen drive.

(p/s the things that I learnt may not be very accurate, it is just what I understand from what I hear/read.

Random Stuff

It's been quite a few days since I wrote anything.
Since then, I've watched 2 Suria movies.
(Unless you are an Indian, I don't expect you to know Suria.)

Anyway, I enjoyed both movies - Ayan and Varanam Aayiram.
Both had rather nice story line; something different from what you usually see in Tamil movies.
The fight scenes were not too bad; although rather too long for my liking.
Varanam Aayiram had a few nice songs.
Suria had so many different looks in both movies - just shows how much your hairstyle can affect your look.

Well, enough of Tamil movies.

There have been so many things going on in Malaysia.
We have a new Prime Minister and a new cabinet.
There were 3 by-elections.
To me, there doesn't seem to be any difference at all - are we supposed to feel the difference?

The economy is still down.

Nicol David lost a match. I feel sad for her. But then just think of how many matches she won. She is one sportswoman I really admire.

The F1 this time was a joke - any Malaysian could have told FIA it would rain and having a race at 5pm is a dumb idea. Well, I guess they learnt their lesson.

2 people have been sentenced to death for the murder of Altantuya.

What else?
The usual accidents and murders and rape cases people don't bother to read about anymore.
I wonder if there will ever be a time when we don't have to worry about our safety when we go out.

Talking about accidents - I am tired of the attitude of some Malaysians.
Why is it necessary to look at an accident?
Why stop your car if you are not going to help?

The other day, when my Dad and I were driving back from Ipoh, there was a jam at the highway - we were stuck for more than an hour.
Why? An accident - not even a big one. Just a car hitting the back of another car. Both the cars were already parked at the emergency lane. It was a 3-lane highway!
Why the hell was there a jam, I don't understand!
Will this 'slow down and look' attitude never change?

My holidays are almost coming to an end.
I start my tagging on Monday - 7.30am to 12am everyday for at least a week.
I don't think I will have time to blog.
We'll see how.
Rather afraid of the new department - totally new stuff.
Wish me luck!

A Full Day

What a day!

It started out normal enough.

Woke up just in time to rush for work.

Was lucky enough to get parking in the staff parking - the trick is to go late enough so that you arrive when the nurses have finished their shift. Either that or you go to work before 7am.

Started reviewing patients.

MO came for rounds.

Had breakfast with Ruz and Sunny.

Specialist came for rounds.

Chat with Sunny.

Finish up ward work.

Lunch.

Had a few admissions - the normal TTN, NNJ; pm review and rounds.

And then, there was one admission - day 3 of life, term baby with worsening abdominal distension, not tolerating feeding well, vomiting post feed twice, no BO within first 24 hours of life. TRO bowel obstruction. AXR showed dilated bowels and paucity of gas in the rectum. The most interesting case of the day!! We referred the child to surgical - can't wait to go back to work tomorrow to see what happened (since the AXR came back only at 5pm).

5.30pm - left the hospital with Joanne. Me and her had plans to go out last week, but with all the crazy intenet/computer thing going on, we finally went out only today.

We went to this boutique - bought a blouse for RM18!! And, it is quite a nice one. At first I thought it was RM35 and was going to buy it - imagine my surprise when the lady told us it is 50% off!! I am DEFINITELY going back to that shop again!

After that, we went to Ayamas for dinner.

Then, we saw another boutique and decided to just browse through. We tried on a blouse each, but didn't really like what we saw.

I never thought such a thing could happen, but after a few minutes, the lady in the shop told us, 'I am sorry, we are going to close'. What the @%&$*!

Since we didn't really feel like going back to the hostel yet and since we guessed that most of the boutiques would be closed by then (8pm), we decided to go to Jusco and meet up with KV there.

I entered Jusco and what do I see, a flower fest kind of thing.

Here's the thing.
My dad loves orchids.
And the first thing I saw there were orchids.
Do I have a choice?
I ended up buying one.
It sounds dumb, but I actually asked the shop guy how much water I should pour for the orchid - his answer - it's hard to tell; how do you tell a person how much water to drink.
Well, it doesn't matter.
I just have to make sure the plant survives till Thursday - that's just 2 days more. If I can't even do that....

We left Jusco at about 10pm to go to a nearby pasar malam.
KV kept insisting that it would be closed, but Joanne and I said otherwise.
It was open.

It's the first time I am going to a Chinese pasar malam.
I have never really gone to the pasar malam in Seremban.
The pasar malam I love and miss and am used to is the one in Kemaman (I miss the coconut shake!!), and obviously it is a malay pasar malam. So, this was definitely a new experience.

Anyway, this pasar malam is basically full of chinese food, chinese drinks, chinese clothes, chinese accessories and chinese people. Not that I have a problem with it.
My first purchase - sugarcane drink!
Then, I bought dim sum.
Then, I had fish fillet.
Then, Joanne bought chinese sausage (I think that is what it is called). I really have no idea what meat it is - I know it is not beef - but it was yummy!! They had many different flavours, and she chose the super spicy one - I really can't describe the taste; yummy is the only word I can think. It was sweet, and spicy and hot and.... yummy.

We decided that we will definitely go back to that pasar malam one day, with empty stomachs and buy all the fried stuff and junk food and just walk around browsing.
Soon.
Maybe in a couple of weeks.

Anyway, right now, I am sleepy.
Sleepier than yesterday, which is weird, cos I was postcall yesterday.

Anyway, tomorrow is my last day in Paeds Ipoh as a Houseman.
I am on leave from Thursday onwards.
I am supposed to start Orthopedics on the 9th, but have taken a few days leave and am going to start on the 13th.
Long leave...I can't wait!!
Now, time to sleep..good night! Sweet dreams everyone!

It's a very empty, unpurposeful post, I know.
But I am sleepy, so I am forgiven.
And I really wanted to share my experience.
So, it's OK. :P

Funny Picture

I have had this 'picture' for quite a long time, but then everytime I see it, I still find it amusing.

(click on the picture for a larger image)