Thursday, July 28, 2005

Blistering Blunders

Ran today with my street soccer shoes because my Reeboks spoilt last week.

Bad decision. I got a blister on my right heel. Hope this won't ruin my weekend run.

Wei Qiang converses @ 20:00 0 buzzes

Depression

Whenever I talk to depressed patients and find out more about their stories and troubles, I wonder if I will one day encounter the same illness.

It's easy to draw the inference and say, "I feel the exact same way. Am I going to turn out the same way?"

Dr Yap said, "Doctors are by nature quite obsessional. It's a quality that allows us to do the work we do, being meticulous and all." Having obsessional traits also mean an increased chance of developing certain mental illnesses. Given the high stresses of the job, will we finally succumb? Is it a matter of time and circumstance?

If we all face the same difficulties in life, what then decides who will get ill and who doesn't? Is it the inherent personality that we have? If so, what determines our personality? Is it a nurture issue or a nature issue? Am I born or taught to be depressed?

I wish I knew. Or maybe I don't. Do I really want to know? I really don't know...

Wei Qiang converses @ 19:49 0 buzzes

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Heavenly Kings

I'm having so much fun with the face analyzer. I decided to see if the program could recognise me even if I'm making funny faces. And I'm pleased with the results.

Even when I'm making ugly faces, I'm still as good looking as a Heavenly King.

Disclaimer: No malice meant towards Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung. Just having some harmless fun with the website.

Wei Qiang converses @ 21:39 0 buzzes

Thought

Life is a on-going journey,
It does not pause and wait for anyone to catch up.
Even superhumans need a break,
So do we rest or rush?

Wei Qiang converses @ 00:28 0 buzzes

Monday, July 25, 2005

Finding Focus

Just as I was pondering about how my running training is coming along, I realised I haven't been focusing much on my studies.

Maybe running is a avenue for me to vent my stresses and frustrations from school. And I'm deliberately avoiding facing the main problem by focusing more on running.

In other words, I'm running away from my troubles. (Pardon the pun)

Psychological Medicine posting has just commenced. Since psychiatric patients are not common cases in the MBBS. I'm thinking of spending more time reading on medical cases.

Hopefully I'll be able to juggle both studies and running. But I must always remember, studies take top priority. Always, at least for this school year...

Wei Qiang converses @ 18:22 0 buzzes

Face Analyzer






Found this website that analyzes your face. Just send in a photo and fill in a short questionnaire and it'll profile your personality and link you to the nearest celebrity.

So don't anger me next time or you can have my fist of fury... HAHA.

Wei Qiang converses @ 15:12 0 buzzes

Sunday, July 24, 2005

Grey Skies

As I watch the rain drops fall endlessly from the grey skies, I start to wonder if my training is going anywhere. I feel stronger and faster but I'm still a long way from my target of completing the half-marathon comfortably.

I've done 2 half-marathons previously, and both had leg cramps afflicting me. This year, I want to finish comfortably.

And therefore I'll continue training hard. Training companions are most welcome.


My secondary school friends are asking me to join the RealRun with them. It's $20 for a 10km run. Should I join? I missed the previous one due to a bad gastroenteritis, maybe I'll run, just to clear it off the list of "things to do once in my lifetime".

Wei Qiang converses @ 13:21 0 buzzes

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Are you as young as you think?

Want to know your physiological age?

A cardiologist took reference from scientific papers detailing how factors can affect mortality and came out with a questionnaire to figure out the physiological age.

So find out yours! Take the Realage test here!

By the way, I'm actually 15.3 years old.

Wei Qiang converses @ 20:48 1 buzzes

Nightmarish Car Hunt

Remember this?

The Straits Times 160th anniversary car hunt.

The rules were simple. Just cut out letters in the newspapers from 1st July to 15th. On the 16th, a word puzzle will be given in the papers. Arrange the letters to form the clue to the place of the car. Drop the form into the box at the destination by 1130hrs on the same day to partake in the lucky draw.

I dragged myself out of bed early on Saturday (0700hrs). Walked to buy the newspapers and searched for the puzzle. That's the page. The vitamin bottle in the background is just to hold the letters I've collected.

See!

Anyway, I've collected most of the letters on Friday and have already deciphered most of the puzzle. So it was just a matter of confirming it and pasting the letters in the right box.
So the final puzzle read: "where the sun rises by the sea. from seven to eleven. ronald eyes a perfect game."

So have you guessed where the car is?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's East Coast Mac's!

East coast's quite near my place and I even managed to get my dad to give me a lift. The deadline is by 1130hrs. I thought I'll leave at 1030hrs and reach by 1100hrs just to be safe.
I was so wrong. Massive jams were reported on all roads leading to east coast. Despite my dad's experience in dodging traffic jams, we were still caught. The time is 1128hrs. the only good news being, I'm pretty sure East coast mac's was the correct place.
This is on the service road at east coast. It's one way and the jam doesn't seem to be easing up. Time: 1140hrs.

I had no choice. I got out of the car and walked towards Mac's, hoping they'll extend the deadline. I joined hundreds of people on the cycle path. Suddenly it felt like the Big Walk.

Looks like the place is right. But look at the crowd. The stage is about 200m in front of where I took this photo. I looked around the Mac's for any boxes and couldn't find any. Time: 1150hrs. I've failed...

I tried to squeeze to the stage but was trapped in the crowd with about 100m to go. It felt like the millenium countdown party or the rush hour train. Aunties were plastered against me. More aunties were pushing from behind. The aunties in front wouldn't budge and I was suffocating...

I finally decided my life was more important. I followed a group trying to squeeze their way out and managed to save myself.

Haiz... Didn't win the car. Erm.. Let me rephrase: didn't even get a chance to win the car. Wasted time. Wasted effort.

Oh well, at least it was something interesting. I enjoy solving such puzzles. And at least I got the place right. (okay, audrey helped but only slightly... MUAHAHAHAHA)

Interesting to note that so many Singaporeans took part in this. Are they as desperate to win a car as I am?

Even more interesting to note that they drove down to win the car. Okay okay, maybe they got a lift like me.

Very interesting to know the winner just bought a mazda 3 a couple of weeks ago.

ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Wei Qiang converses @ 20:45 1 buzzes

Monday, July 18, 2005

Quote

Dr Wong HP said today, "There's only one way to pass the MBBS. That is to take the MBBS."

Wei Qiang converses @ 17:17 0 buzzes

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Groovy Running

I planned to run from my place to my grandma's place in AMK today for my weekend LSR (long slow run). It's approximately 9km and I thought the shady route would help since I planned to run in the afternoon. Problem is my parents left the house without bringing my change of clothes.

Now, you may say, 'what has that got to do with running?'

Lots. Without my change of clothes, I would end up sweaty and smelly when I reach my grandma's place. If I wanted to shower, I would have to bring my clothes and run. Which will be very awkward. (So far, I only know 1 person who runs with a heavy load. That's Kwanghow.) I melt under my backpack. And doing SOC at 3pm in the afternoon suddenly doesn't seem so attractive.

So I decided to bring my gear to my grandma's place and start my jog from her place.

Destination today? Macritchie park.

After dumping my clothes, I started my jog from AMK west park. The weather was lenient, with the occasional breeze. I did a quick stretch and was soon on my way.

The route from AMK to Macritchie would take me through Bishan park, Thomson Road, Lornie Road and finally Macritchie.

I got off to a good start. With the first stretch mainly down a gentle gradient, I gathered much momentum. When I reached Thomson Rd, I was going at a pretty fast pace.

At the Thomson stretch, something magically happened. I found that I wasn't panting hard. My stride was good, focus was strong and rhythm was nice. In short, I was grooving along. And for once in quite a long time, I enjoyed myself.

In no time at all, I negotiated the Thomson Road with ease and soon reached Macritchie. Although I contemplated doing a round of Macritchie, I let it pass. Now thinking back, I should have. Afterall, I don't get the running groove everyday.

Wei Qiang converses @ 18:38 0 buzzes

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Thoughts...

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

Wei Qiang converses @ 22:38 0 buzzes

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Surgery VS Medicine

Today I experienced an orthopaedic ward round at TTSH for the first time in my medical education. Previously, I'd only done medical postings in TTSH.

Having just crossed over from Geriatrics in CGH, I noted the differences between the 2 specialities in the way ward rounds were conducted.

And I was APPALLED.

Geriatrics ward round was patient-centred. The doctors asked how the patient was feeling and bothered to listen. A routine physical examination of the cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal systems are always done. Further examination may be done depending on the present complaints.

In the Orthopaedics ward round today, it was time-centric. We spent a maximum of 5 minutes on each patient, sometimes even 1 minute. In some instances we didn't even see the patient. The check on the patient consisted of asking if the patient was feeling all right that morning (which I suspect was really just a substitute for hello), and then looking at the temperature charts. If the patient was alive, good. We would then move on to the next one.

It's really a culture shock. My friends were telling me, "That's how surgeons are." I still cannot believe it. Doesn't the patient deserve more attention and concern? Afterall they've been through surgery, which for many, constitutes a major event in their lives.

I really hope there are surgeons out there who can actually afford to spend more than 5 minutes on each patient. And I hope the ward round I experienced today was an anomaly. Patients deserve more than what I saw today, and I think we can give them more than that.

Wei Qiang converses @ 18:30 1 buzzes

Monday, July 11, 2005

Feeling Inadequate

Just started Orthopaedics posting today at TTSH. A HO was briefing us on the details of the posting when he digressed and went into the topic of preparing for the much-dreaded MBBS.

As he went on and on about the revised format of the examination and also the perils of getting tough cases and difficult examiners, I suddenly felt "adenosine" (a sense of impending doom).



Am I ready for MBBS?
Will I be ready for MBBS?
There's so much I don't know.
Suddenly I felt so empty, so inadequate.



Wei Qiang converses @ 18:51 1 buzzes

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Destressing...

Went rock climbing with my buddy huayang, his sister huayan and his hall friend melvin. This is one of the 'poser' shots we took.
The weather was really hot, my melatonin cells were really stimulated.
It was a good climb, leaving me refreshed and ready for the next posting in Orthopaedics.

Wei Qiang converses @ 15:31 0 buzzes

Friday, July 08, 2005

Geriatric posting comes to a close

That's me, the 2 wonderful MOs on the ward, Dr Juliana and Dr Low, with Jiawan between them.

Our consultants tutors Dr Helen Thomas and Dr David Yong weren't around when we took the photos, but they were equally wonderful.
For this posting, I actually felt part of the team. A pseudo-HO, in fact. Writing notes in the case sheets, suggesting ideas for improving patient care and offering differentials for patient's illnesses. What a wonderful feeling. I enjoyed this. And the people were so nice and easy to work with, both doctors and nurses. It's easy to pop questions and offer suggestions. And we are never put down.
Geriatric medicine requires a special personality. It's requires holistic thinking, a need to pursue details and ensure that things get done. A optimistic outlook helps tremendously, especially as the patient population profile isn't very uplifting. If you get what I mean.
Will I do it? I honestly don't know. But all I know is, I enjoyed this posting.

A quote of the posting from Dr David Yong.
A stroked-out patient asked Dr Yong if she was going to die.
Patient: "eh si buay?" (will i die?)
Dr Yong: "ah buay." (not yet.)

Wei Qiang converses @ 16:33 0 buzzes

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Audio Problem

I'm encountering a problem with the audio on my blog. For those who actually read my blog, please tag me and tell me if the music actually loads when you click the play button. Thanks.

Wei Qiang converses @ 21:49 0 buzzes

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Ungracious Singaporeans

Singaporeans can be so ungracious, almost bordering on the line of rudeness. Just in a single day, I have encountered such inconsiderate behaviour 4 times.

(1) Smokers at bus stops. We’ve encountered those before, haven’t we? They light up while waiting for their bus and happily puff away without realizing that their smoke has driven most people out of the bus stop.
(2) Groups of students. I was walking on the pavement when I saw a large group of students walking towards me. Naturally I kept to one side of the pavement, allowing space for them to pass through on the other side. Horrors, they kept hogging the whole pavement and unless I want to walk head on into one of them, I will be walking on the grass. Luckily it was a dry day, imagine if I had to walk into wet muddy puddles.
(3) Seat snatchers. As I boarded the bus, people normally go into a single file as the bus aisle isn’t very wide. This middle-aged lady squeezed past me, even though I was walking at a reasonable quick pace and took up the seat in front. And I wasn’t even intending to sit at that seat.
(4) And the worst, I met while jogging. As usual I kept to one side of the pavement, and I saw an uncle pushing the pram. Taking note of the pram I kept to my side of the pavement even more closely, giving more space for the uncle and pram to pass through. I had eye contact with the uncle and the next thing that happened took me by surprise. He actually pushed the pram into my path! What the heck! There was just about less than 3 metres between us and he pushed the pram into my path. I had to react fast and swerved into the grass patch. And the uncle kept going like nothing happened. Bizarre.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s encountered ungracious Singaporeans. Read Geraldine’s account.
On a final note, not all Singaporeans are ungracious, rude and inconsiderate. I’ve met many nice people and they’ve really made my day sometimes. But all kinds of people exist. We just have to deal with it and say, “That was a pretty rude guy. I’m not going to get angry with him. He’s really not worth it.”

Wei Qiang converses @ 20:30 2 buzzes

Monday, July 04, 2005

Hectic weekend

It's been a hell of a hectic weekend, not to mention tiring as well. I had a multitude of events lined up and all in consecutive order.
Firstly, my YEC organised a night cycling trip from the Sengkang CC to East Coast Park. A total of 160 people participated. Lots of preparation work went before the event but even more work was done on the day itself. From 4pm on Saturday, we were working non-stop. From preparing the goodie bags, unloading the bicycles and equipment to setting up the registration booth and dealing with those mini emergencies that tend to creep up on you at the last minute. Fortunately things worked out and all went relatively smoothly, given that this is the first official activity planned by the YEC.
Registration began at 9.30pm. The participants ranged from the secondary school kid to the working class to the semi-professional cyclist to the aunties and grannies. We split them up in groups and I took charge of Group E.
Group E consists of a group of NPCC mates from ChungCheng Main. They were rowdy but manageable. In fact at one point, their commadarie was awesome. They started cheering and singing camp songs while riding. I was glad I got them.
At 10pm we flagged off. The route was from Sengkang to Thomsen to Newton to Lau Pa Sat to East Coast. We reached there at 5am. A respectable time given that we had grannies in our midst.
I was bushed. But I also had to help out at the Osim Triathlon 2005 as medical staff. I scoured the Park for shower facilities, cleaned myself of dirt, grease and grime and headed for the medical tent. A total of 2 doctors were there. I was to double up as the 3rd 'one'. A senior nurse was there with a paramedic as well. The injuries came in fast and furious, though none too serious. I could go on, but I suspect this is a story for another time. The event ended at 4pm. Luckily I got a ride home from Dr Loh, otherwise I would have collapsed at East Coast Park.
I couldn't remember much of anything after that. I just concussed on my bed.


That's the medical pass for Osim Triathlon 2005. A souvenir. Something to remember this hectic weekend. Something that money cannot buy.

Wei Qiang converses @ 18:57 0 buzzes

Friday, July 01, 2005

Song of the Month

冻结

歌手：林俊杰

不小心回到那一天 不小心一切又重演 你如此完美的一切 竟会出现在我的世界
你说话不爱说第二遍 但偏在情人节那一夜 给我你心爱的项鋉 说了三次对我的爱恋
我那时胡涂 不明白为何你会哭 后知后觉以后 领悟

冻结那时间 冻结初遇那一天 冻结那爱恋 冻结吻你那瞬间
我也会疲倦 你的项鋉 在我身边 带我穿梭回从前
冻结那空间 冻结有你的世界 冻结那画面 冻结不让它溶解
我若是疲倦 你的项鋉 在我身边 发光在我胸前
你的项鋉 在我身边 陪伴着我过每一天

Wei Qiang converses @ 20:41 0 buzzes

Winning a Car

Straits Times is having a 160th anniversary celebration, and they are giving away a car. A Mazda 6 for that matter.


Now, i'll be lying if i said i didn't want it.

To win, you have to cut out letters hidden in the papers from today till 15th July and then use them to complete a word puzzle. Sounds troublesome? I'm going to do it anyway, anything for the car.

Wei Qiang converses @ 19:55 1 buzzes