Prelude Thoughts
Often, one of the inevitable questions that people ask us doctors is: "Why do you want to become a doctor?"
And often I feel like I'm expected to come out with a noble answer like: "Because I like to save lives."
But more often than not, that's not the real reason.
Or at least, not the main reason.
Sure, everyone likes to be thought of as a saint. But sadly and really, doctors are just human.
Yup, flesh and blood like anyone else.
So what is the real reason why I took up medicine as a career?
(1) Because I scored good grades in my A' levels and took a chance at applying for the course. Even though I didn't get 4 As (I actually had 3 As and 1 B), I guess I impressed the interviewers enough for them to accept me.
That would be the practical reason.
(2) Because I liked science and I really didn't want to do any of the other courses in NUS. Plus medicine just happened to accept me, so I thought I'll just give it a go.
That's the circumstantial reason.
(3) Being a doctor sounded good. And I'm sure my parents would be proud.
That's the family pride reason.
(4) Doctor earn a lot of money right?
That's the wrong reason.
On the contrary, after being in the system and finding out that studying for 5 years does not mean your starting pay is a 5-digit figure. In addition to the whopping 6-digit debt incurred in the study loans, it means doctor is really quite poor.
So let's clear the misconceptions:
- Doctors do not earn a lot, unless you are an emeritus consultant. Not everyone becomes a consultant, let alone an emeritus.
- If you want to earn big bucks, be a businessman. (my anat prof told me this)
- And also, doctors fall sick also. Don't be surprised when your medical friends say they fell sick. Remember, we are also flesh and blood. And prolonged exposure to nosocomial bugs make us more susceptible to infections.
So the reality is really a lot less rosy than what I actually thought before I joined medicine.
But did I regret my choice?
Sometimes, but I always find a new reason why I enjoy doing what I do.
iSpa
"The word spa, taken from the name of the famous mineral springs in Spa, Belgium, has become a common noun denoting any place with a medicinal or mineral spring."Being in the minority of people who don't go overseas for a graduation trip after 5 gruelling years of medical school, I decided I must at least do something memorable before my life loses all freedom as I embark on another 5 year crusade with the MOH.
So I decided to go to a spa!
And pamper myself. Nope, I'm not metrosexual, I just want to see what this new spa lifestyle is all about.
spa (spä) n.
- A resort providing therapeutic baths.
- A resort area having mineral springs.
- A fashionable hotel or resort.
- A health spa.
- A tub for relaxation or invigoration, usually including a device for raising whirlpools in the water.
The first 3 definitions all included resorts. In the context of busy Singapore, day spas have becomed more popular as busy executives and professionals take a few hours off work for a spa treatment.
After some intensive internet searching, I decided to try out Eucalyptus Day Spa.
Apart from an informative website and tempting menu, what really made me decide to choose them was the awards.
Okay, this is really sounding like an adventorial.
But this isn't just a spa, it's also a school and teaches massage techniques to couples. And I figured if they are good enough to teach, they must be pretty good.
Not to mention Eucalyptus was pioneered by Dianna Chia, who is the spa consultant in the region.
I was looking forward to the 2 hours of bliss, especially since I'm going with Audrey.
Being a spa virgin, I didn't know what to expect. But the warm reception extended to us made us feel at ease. A glass of warm tea was served and we managed to catch our breath as we rushed down from work.
We were asked to indicate what areas of the body we would like to focus on and provided some more information so that the treatment can be better tailored to us.
I decided to go for the Ginger Tangerine Scrub and Egyptian Sports Massage. Audrey opted for the Sensual Strawberry Scrub and the Deep Sea Mud Detoxifier body wrap.
Sounds good?
It felt just as good. With abundant essential oils used in the treatments, it was heavenly and I was totally overwhelmed by the experience.
The spa therapists were very reassuring and friendly and they made the experience all the more memorable.
During the massage, I was trying to relax myself so that the therapist could do the deep tissue massage, but unfortunately I was unable to relax my muscle tone totally. The therapist said I had too much resistance and suggested that I should try the Balinese style massage instead.
I was trying to keep myself relaxed, it was difficult as this was my first time and also I'm quite ticklish. The therapist was very kind and constantly asked if the pressure was okay. She was approachable and was able to tailor the massage personally, allowing for a invigorating massage.
After the treatments, we were served another glass of warm tea.
We left the place refreshed, invigorated and happy.
Sure, I'll go back again. It's a great way to start a new week.
HO Orientation Gems
"Don't be a hero." - A/P Lim -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BCLS D.anger
R.esponse
A.irway
B.reathing
C.irculation~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Nurses are your most valuable ally."
"Always consult your senior and ward staff."
"There is no advice for a feeling, no quick fix for anger or sadness; just the companionship of understanding."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Don't worry, the MOs will ease you in. You'll be all right." - Dr Wang -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Memorise your protocols! You don't have time to refer when patient collapses." - ACLS -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Random Thoughts
You know how on some days, you just don't feel like leaving the house. It doesn't matter if you are bored to death at home. Sometimes it's just hard to step out.
It's hard to be excited at something alone. If someone else is as excited as you, it makes the whole thing seem so much more interesting.
It pays to be patient and kind.
Sometimes you can be amazed at what people can do, especially the elderly. They have their own abilities, it just needs to be discovered. But sometimes you can be amazed at what they don't know too, especially things that you may take for granted in the new modern world.
Nothing good in life is cheap.
It's easier to hide behind written words than to verbally express oneself. At least for the introverted.
The last few metres of any race in life is always the hardest.
Deadlines, Startlines
Holidays are ending soon.HO orientation is starting soon.Excited?Unfulfilled?I don't know what to do or how to feel.
Beautiful duets
Duets are beautiful when you have someone dear to sing it with.
Enjoy this duet by Jay Chou.
周杰伦珊瑚海http://www.cool666.com/mp3/a_zui/416.rm男:海平面远方开始阴霾悲伤要怎么平静纯白我的脸上始终挟带一抹浅浅的无奈女:你用唇语说你要离开男:心不在男女:那难过无声慢了下来男女:汹涌潮水你听明白不是浪而是泪海男:转身离开分手说不出来女:你有话说不出来男女:海鸟跟鱼相爱只是一场意外男女:我们的爱差异一直存在女:回不来男:风中尘埃竟累积成伤害女:等待竟累积成伤害男女:转身离开分手说不出来男女:蔚蓝的珊瑚海错过瞬间苍白男:当初彼此不够成熟坦白女:你有我的不够成熟坦白女:不应该男女:热情不再笑容勉强不来男女:爱深埋珊瑚海男:毁坏的沙雕如何重来有裂痕的爱怎么重盖只是一切结束太快你说你无法释怀女:贝壳里隐藏什么期待男:等花儿开男女:我们也已经无心再猜女男:脸上海风咸咸的爱尝不出还有未来男:转身离开分手说不出来女:你有话说不出来男女:海鸟跟鱼相爱只是一场意外男女:我们的爱差异一直存在女:回不来男:风中尘埃竟累积成伤害女:等待竟累积成伤害男女:转身离开分手说不出来男女:蔚蓝的珊瑚海错过瞬间苍白男:当初彼此不够成熟坦白女:你有我的不够成熟坦白女:不应该男:热情不在笑容勉强不来女:你的笑容勉强不来男女:爱深埋珊瑚海
Route setting
Nothing is quite as satisfying as leaving the bouldering gym, having 'red-pointed' a tough route.
This route was inspired and conceptualised by Ziliang.
Suited for tall people, very reachy route.
Set against a corner, it has potential for many variations.
The crux of the route!
The Ziliang route (ZLR) is born.
An ant's life
Having been through 2 weeks of post-exams holidays, I have been absolutely bored at home.
With no plans to go overseas, and Audrey overseas on a job assignment and not to mention that every other faculty is having exams (thereby meaning none of my non-medical friends are as slack as I am now) and that every other medical student is either overseas or is going overseas, I can only do stuff alone.
I've tried to make this hols as fulfilling as possible.
- Started off my getting myself into a running regime to lose the weight I've gained. Picked up climbing and rollerblading at around once a week.
- Did major spring cleaning of my room. That took me 3 full days, and it still needs some finishing touches.
- Watched DVDs like a soap-obsessed housewife. Finished House.MD and now finishing a Hongkong TVB serial.
- Bought a new mobile phone.
- Been to science centre with plans to visit Labrodor park and Sungei Buloh.
- Tried to find a good book to read but a trip to the local library didn't yield anything notable.
Seriously, this hols haven't been too bad.
But somehow, I just feel empty and bored.
It's as if I was just waiting. And while waiting, decided to do all these to occupy my time.
Waiting for work to start, waiting for my life to be consumed by a task so enormous, that it would take up all my time and energy.
I've also noticed that during this break, my thoughts is not as sharp as it was during postings. I feel lethargic and almost incapable of generating interesting thoughts or questions.
Now that's sad. Why can't I enjoy this break as it is? This feeling of anhedonia is terrible.
Maybe I'm meant to live life like an ant. To be busy till the day i breath my last.
Stay-at-home dad? House husband? Can't imagine, can't think. 
MBBS CERTIFIED!
Congratulations on your graduation! We will be printing your degree scroll soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, the results are out. After weeks of worry and fear, heaving a sign of relief and finally realising that you have crossed the final hurdle was most welcomed.
5 years of medical school. Now trained doctors soon to be introduced into the hospitals. With patients' lives in our hands, we have an immense responsibility and duty.
Frankly, that scares me quite a bit.
But everybody has to go through it, and I'm sure I'll learn how to do it, with time and experience.
So as a phase of our lives end here, a new phase awaits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For those friends who have fought along-side us and fallen, I urge you to renew your confidence and fight again. We will meet again at the other side.
Appreciation
It's been a tough and long 5 years. Throughout this time, I've had the fortune of being with family and friends who have helped me stumble through this trying phase of my life.And I would just not be able to live without expressing my appreciation, gratitude and thanks to all these people.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My parents. I wouldn't be here without them. No one else tolerates and forgives you as much as your parents. I always get into a really foul mood while studying for exams, irritable, impatient and anti-social. I'm sorry if I've been overbearing or rude to my parents during this time. Or anybody else that I may have antagonised. I also know that medical school has been quite a financial strain on my parents, and that is also why this exam is so stressful. Failing this means $30000 going down the drain (school fees and potential salary for 6 months). Simply out, without my parents, no Wei Qiang.
Audrey. Also for bearing with my incessant talking about medical topics. For helping me with my revision, allowing me to examine her knee multiple times and being so understanding always. Your wishing me 'good luck' has obviously worked and I promise to return your 'good luck' with interest. I love you.
My CG mates. They are a great group of people to be learning and practicing with. We have gotten closer and comfortable these 3 years, although we will be split up to the different hospitals, I hope we can continue to keep in touch and remain as good friends.
Jeremy and Liping for always sharing knowledge and memonics. Honestly, I don't know where you read some of the stuff from.
Kwang How for being a great clerking partner. No need to terrorise patients anymore and make them repeat their history for the umpteen time anymore!
Weijie and Wenlong for being msn buddies. Going through past year papers, osces and discussing about cases.
Dawn and Jiawan for the constant encouragement.
To everyone who have wished me good luck and assure me that I was okay (even though it's hard to believe at that time). I treasure all your kind words, emails and sms.
To all the fantastic tutors these past few years, who have passed on gems of knowledge.
And anybody else that forgetful-me may have forgotten. THANK YOU!
Science!
Visited the science centre today with Kwang How.
Yes, any person who's been schooled in Singapore will have visited the place before in school excursions.
I just wanted to see how much it has changed and also to check out the new exhibits. And partly because I'm quite a 'science' person.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So here are some of the interesting facts we learnt today.
Most optical illusions are the result of:
- incongruent design elements at opposite ends of parallel lines.
- influence of background patterns on the overall design
- adjustment of our perception at the boundaries of areas of high contrast
- afterimages resulting from eye movements or from kinetic displays
- inability to interpret the spatial structure of an object from the context provided by the picture
There are only 0.4112% of visitors to the science centre with brown pupils, blackhair, right handed, have fingerprint curved to the left, no freckles, free earlobe and is male. That person is Kwang How.
Nanotechnology is the way to go in many areas, and the uses in medicine are endless.
Albert Einstein is gay. (okay, i read that somewhere else)
The anglerfish has a bait at the top of it's head. It's luminous and is used to attract prey.
Cold phosphorescence, the same material used to make those 'glow in the dark' stars can leave traces of the shadow of a person after the light has flashed with a duration of 1/500 second against a wall.
The Hall of Aviation, sponsored by SIA is still there!
And lastly, hydrogen balloons can burst into flames!
Shag arms
Went climbing at the National Rock Climbing Centre (NRCC), after almost a year's hiatus. I've lost much of my upper strength, gained a few kilos of adipose tissue centrally but I was still looking forward to touching the wall and climbing high.
Too bad the rain god wasn't sleeping. It started raining torrentially soon after we reached NRCC. We were considering to wait out the rain, luckily we didn't. Because the rain didn't stop.
In the end, we tried their new bouldering gym. It was a tad costly at $10.50 but I wasn't disappointed. The gym was nicely done, smelt fresh and really challenging and fun.
Good climb. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The bright, air-conditioned and colourful gym. You can climb all the way to the second level.
Climbing mates. Kenneth, Huayan and Huayang.
Working on a route, with Huayang giving guidance. Nah, I just asked him to stand there because the photo looks better.
You can even climb on the windows.
Monkeying around.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As with our faculty's screwed-up schedule, our holidays clashes with every other faculty which happens to be having their exams in a couple of weeks.
This forces us to inbreed and thus create super-smart humans who will go on to rule the world.
Oops...
Anyway, advertising for climbing partners. No experience needed, just fun company.
