Cause and effect
Every symptom has a cause.
Some symptoms can be treated symptomatically:
Cough - Procodin
Runny nose - Loratidine
Giddiness - Stemetil
MSK pain - NSAIDs
SOB - oxygen
But that should not be the end of treatment.
Every symptom has a cause.
And trying to find the cause is the harder and more important thing to do.
1)
Symptom -> Differentials (history, physical, investigate and trace!) + symptomatic relief2)
Monitor3)
Diagnosis -> Confirm (reassess patient) + start treatment~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I need to improve. Half a year of HO-ship has gone, I still stand by the opinion that HOs are overworked and undertrained.
We are not merely glorified clerks and we definitely do not go from glorified clerks to clinical doctors overnight.
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I haven't been happy at work recently. Feeling more like a slave than a doctor. Rushing against time everyday. It hasn't been enjoyable.
And I've never stuck long at anything I don't enjoy.
Where do I go from here? Considering I have a 5-year bond to go, I really need to find THE passion in work. Maybe it's the routine-ness of this posting. Maybe it's the unexpected crap you can get sometimes. Maybe being a single HO in the team is mentally and physically tiring.
Maybe I'm just not the surgical type.
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If I don't enjoy orthopaedics now, will I enjoy doing sports medicine?
Seriously considering geriatric medicine. But then the grass on the other side is always greener.
Wish I had a more medical senior to consult with now, unfortunately there's none now.
Research? Sounds like a good option, but I know nuts about it.
Teaching? Maybe when I'm much older and more established in my practice.
Administration? Just read an article about medically trained administrators, sounds like a interesting option but I do like seeing patients clinically.
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6 more months to go. Counting down is so painful.
Quotes
“All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.”
~ Winston Churchill ~
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
~ Albert Einstein ~
“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.”
~ Oscar Wilde ~
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Life Path 3
Your life path number is 3 - [Life Path 3 (3, 12/3, 21,/3, 30/3)]
The Life Path 3 indicates that you entered this plane with a strong sense of creativity and with wonderful communication skills. Achievement for you most likely comes through engaging your ingenious expression. A truly gifted 3 possesses the most exceptional innovative skills, normally in the verbal realm, writing, speaking, acting, or similar endeavors. Here we are apt to find the entertainers of the world, bright, effervescent, sparkling people with very optimistic attitudes. The bright side of this path stresses harmony, beauty and pleasures; of sharing your inventive talents with the world. Capturing your capability in creative self-expression is the highest level of attainment for this life path.
Life is generally lived to the fullest, often without much worry about tomorrow. You are not very good at handling money because of a general lack of concern about it. You spend it when you have it and don't when you don't.
The 3 loves connecting with people. The characteristics of the 3 are warmth and friendliness, a good conversationalist, social and open. A good talker both from the standpoint of being a delight to listen to, but even more importantly, one who has the ability to listen to others. Accordingly, the life path 3 produces individuals who are always a welcome addition to any social situation and know how to make others feel at home. The approach to life tends to be exceedingly positive. Your disposition is almost surely sunny and openhearted. A happy and often inspired person, you are constantly seeking and needing the stimuli of similar people.
There is a remote side to your 3 Life Path, as well. This comes as a surprise to the native and to those who think they are well acquainted. The 3 is actually a very sensitive soul. When hurt, you can easily retreat to a shell of morose silence for extended periods. Nonetheless, the 3 eventually copes with all of the many setbacks that occur in life and readily bounces back for more. It is usually easy for you to deal with problems because you can freely admit the existence of problems without letting them get you down for too long. Because of your own sensitivity to hurt, you have a caring disposition and seem to be very conscious of other people's feelings and emotions.
In romance, the 3 is a very ardent and loyal lover. Affairs that don't go well can leave scares that seem to linger. Emotional experiences of all sorts tend to deeply touch the 3 and the drama may take some time to play out. Regrettably, the giving disposition of the 3 often attracts demanding partners. As with most of life's issues for the 3 Life Path, balance in relationships is illusive.
Your big test with a 3 Life Path is controlling your highs and lows. You won't survive very well in any routine environment or when you are placed under dominating management. Slow thinking and overly contemplative people tend to frustrate you, and you don't function too well with this type whether you are working for, with, or under them. Your exuberant nature can take you far, especially if you are ever able to focus your energies and talents.
For the few living on the negative side of this Life Path, a 3 may be so delighted with the joy of living that the life becomes frivolous and superficial. You may scatter your abilities and express little sense of purpose. The 3 can be an enigma, for no apparent reason you may become moody and tend to retreat. Escapist tendencies are not uncommon with the 3 life path, and you find it very hard to settle into one place or one position. Guard against being critical of others, impatient, intolerant, or overly optimistic.
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I've always thought my lucky number was 4.
And for those who know me, I'm not terribly creative.
Well, at least they got the part about the poor financial sense right.
I'm a sensitive and loyal lover!
Grin
Just caught the finals of the National Science Challenge and watched RI blitz-ed VJC (IP) and HCI in the final round.
Coming from below by 3points to win by13points in the end is just awesome.
How come I wasn't as smart when I was their age?
House MD
House ParodyFor all the fans of House MD, like me. Even though I think that this parody doesn't do House justice. It does seem to hit the nail on the head in terms of the direction of most episodes.
Planning for the future
It's so hard planning for the future.
Thinking of how to invest money, grow money.
Thinking of when to buy that first car, house.
Thinking of what career path to take.
Now I know why the term quarter-life crisis was coined.
It's such a far cry from the little decisions I took last time.
Like what colour shirt to wear?
Like how far should I run today?
Like what fast-food should I eat today?
Big decisions that can affect my life in its entirety and have long-lasting consequences require a long time to ponder. But sometimes even after pondering for ages, I still find it hard to decide.
Some say, it's time to try everything when one is young.
Some say, if you don't get burned, you won't know what's right.
Does that mean I should just make a decision rashly? Just whack it and see where the ball goes?
I really don't know.
The rhythm of the night
I'm getting my rhythm back. Surviving the EOD call on Monday and Wednesday, I've found myself enjoying it, actually.
Really.
From clerking the numerous cases that come it and preparing them for operation, to managing the desaturations and hypotensions. I found myself practicing better medicine.
And there in lies the satisfaction.
No more feelings of frustration or flustering around. With good accuracy rate in bloods and plugs, I'm getting my work done fast.
It's taken quite some time to get my rhythm, I guess having that Bali break may have helped.
Sure hope I don't lose it.
Back to the Work
Back from Bali, Land of the Gods. Where the sunsets are glorious, the waves are calming and the wind is refreshing.
And back to work. Where the call room stinks, the work is neverending and the view of the sunset from the ward is just so depressing.
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Random thoughts:
1) I enjoyed Bali. It was a good break, both mentally and physically. (Will upload more photos onto Flickr) Couldn't have asked for a better first overseas trip since after the MBBS.
2) Congrats bro! When will you have your own "xing xing"?
3) Sunburn feels so bad.
4) I've got 3 calls next week with an EOD call. Yikes!
5) Did you know Indonesia is the 3rd largest software piracy country in the world?
6) I thought I may have saw a TRALI in my patient, but apparently it's APO secondary to NSTEMI.
7) Haiz...
