Yesterday I spent 12 hours at the hospital. Working.
I left home at half six, arrived at work and punched in at about 7 and only punched out at 7 that evening.
It's been three days in a row when I have driven home in my OT clothes, simply because after finishing our cases, I just couldn't be bothered to change back into my work clothes. I now have a feet high heap of OT clothes on the floor of my bedroom.
Don't get me wrong, I love being in the OT. There's just something about the sensation of the suture needle piercing the skin and seeing your knot opposing the wound that just relaxes me. I love the crisp feel of the scrub and the quiet sigh of the sterile cloth that we drape on the patients. I'm weird, I know. I blame it on my star sign; I'm an Aquarian and we're supposed to be weird.
But, my household have suffered as a result of me coming home late everyday. Two basketful of clothes are waiting to be ironed and hung. Don't even get me started on my bathroom floor! Tsk. I can't even imagine people with kids coping without help. By the time I get home, usually near dusk, I'm already too exhausted and my feet are sore from standing so much while doing the cases. At least I have the liberty of not cooking dinner if I don't feel like eating and there aren't kids to bathe and feed.
So, if I am already so exhausted just working in a small district hospital with specialists, tell me how am I supposed to cope with joining a Masters programme?
and THAT is something that I will ramble on later when I have the energy to do so.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Things to do when you are sick
I am at home sick today.
Urgh.
It used to be that I get sick once a year and would last for maybe 2-3 days. Now, it's 2-3 times a year and lasts about a week. I've had this cold since Thursday, been on call with a cold, had a clinic with a cold and the lack of rest has resulted in a temperature of 38 last night.
Double urgh.
Anyway, I was feeling sorry for myself this morning and ended up watching Oprah. She was having a 'Pay It Forward' campaign where she gave everyone $1000 and urged them to give it away. So this morning's show was about what everyone did with their money.
One story had me sobbing like a kid. There's just something about seeing people do good or animals that turn me to jelly.
One member of the audience advertised in a local newspaper asking people to write in and nominate someone whom they thought deserved the money.
So one first grade teacher wrote in about Alferd (yes, his name is spelt that way), who is 68 and comes to her class. Yes, Alferd is the oldest student in her class.
Alferd is the oldest of his 9 siblings and he never went to school because he had to take care of his brothers and sisters. So, at 68, he decided that he wanted to learn to read. Now he can read first grade books.
So this teacher's letter won and they used the money to buy Alferd books so that he could read to his heart's content.
I've always thought that we tend to take things for granted. Being able to read, ride an escalator, order KFC without looking at the menu, having a colour TV - but here is a 68 year old who could have easily gone through his golden years not being able to read (he has gone through 7 decades safely without the ability) yet he took the effort to approach someone and asked to be taught.
That put my flu into perspective, somehow.
Urgh.
It used to be that I get sick once a year and would last for maybe 2-3 days. Now, it's 2-3 times a year and lasts about a week. I've had this cold since Thursday, been on call with a cold, had a clinic with a cold and the lack of rest has resulted in a temperature of 38 last night.
Double urgh.
Anyway, I was feeling sorry for myself this morning and ended up watching Oprah. She was having a 'Pay It Forward' campaign where she gave everyone $1000 and urged them to give it away. So this morning's show was about what everyone did with their money.
One story had me sobbing like a kid. There's just something about seeing people do good or animals that turn me to jelly.
One member of the audience advertised in a local newspaper asking people to write in and nominate someone whom they thought deserved the money.
So one first grade teacher wrote in about Alferd (yes, his name is spelt that way), who is 68 and comes to her class. Yes, Alferd is the oldest student in her class.
Alferd is the oldest of his 9 siblings and he never went to school because he had to take care of his brothers and sisters. So, at 68, he decided that he wanted to learn to read. Now he can read first grade books.
So this teacher's letter won and they used the money to buy Alferd books so that he could read to his heart's content.
I've always thought that we tend to take things for granted. Being able to read, ride an escalator, order KFC without looking at the menu, having a colour TV - but here is a 68 year old who could have easily gone through his golden years not being able to read (he has gone through 7 decades safely without the ability) yet he took the effort to approach someone and asked to be taught.
That put my flu into perspective, somehow.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Snippets of a holiday
Welcome to Jakarta....!
View from our room in Cikini.
Bronze elephant in front of the National Museum.
The chaos that is Tanah Abang shopping area.
What Malaysians love about Tanah Abang.
Very informative cartoon on buying food in Tanah Abang market.
Set ikan gurame bakar.
MONAS - Monumen Nasional
Writings on the bust of Husni Thamrin.
What I managed to catch of Senayan City before I was told taking pictures is prohibited. Hehe. Nice mall though.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Of substance
Sometimes I wish I could write great things. Things that make people think and things that teaches people and change lives. All my blog does is serve as a platform for me to rant about my work and my mundane life.
Though I hope mine is a tad more interesting than the ones who give a complete description of what he did and what he ate bla bla. I prefer blogs which give an insight on what people are thinking and what makes him/her do whatever it is that they do.
Jaded as I am, as I trawl through this massive cyberworld, all I seem to come across are mindless youths, whom, when asked about a memorable quote from a film, would volunteer "You've got to move it, move it" from Madagascar. Maybe it is the generation gap, but come on....!
I stumbled upon this blog after someone in the forum pasted his article on "Why do we get married?".
Below is an extract:
Bearing in mind what I usually come across, here is a malay male youth, freshly graduated who has actually read Freud!
So I spent a few hours reading his entries. At one glance people might brush him off as an angry rebellious young thing who has decided to blame everyone and everything around him but read a little deeper and you will discover an intelligent, well read and most importantly passionate person. and what passion he has!
He constantly states his dislike of our current education system, who seems to produce regurgitators than thinkers. Which is something I can relate to.
A few days ago, radio Era had a mini competition for parents to win an opportunity for their kids to go on air. One parent, when asked which of the following is a famous equation - E=mc(squared) and E=my, confidently gave the wrong answer. Another parent couldn't give the correct scientific formula for water.
Is it me? Am I sounding a teensy bit snobbish because 'of course la you cannot expect to remember something you learn in school ten years ago' or 'of course la you think it's easy, you did science in high school' but - seriously?
Maybe what is really worrying me is that, these same parents could have easily told you who the last winner of One in A Million or Akademi Fantasia. Whose home is filled with Media Hiburan, URTV and Mangga.
I digress.
To me, he is an example of what a well rounded Malaysian youth should be. Sure, he has radical opinions, but most importantly, he actually has one! In a world where we are surrounded by 'Tidak apa' attitude, here is a young man who is passionate in what he believes in.
and reading his blog showed me that there are more like him and it gives me hope.
Though I hope mine is a tad more interesting than the ones who give a complete description of what he did and what he ate bla bla. I prefer blogs which give an insight on what people are thinking and what makes him/her do whatever it is that they do.
Jaded as I am, as I trawl through this massive cyberworld, all I seem to come across are mindless youths, whom, when asked about a memorable quote from a film, would volunteer "You've got to move it, move it" from Madagascar. Maybe it is the generation gap, but come on....!
I stumbled upon this blog after someone in the forum pasted his article on "Why do we get married?".
Below is an extract:
Satu soalan paling kontroversi: Kenapa kita perlu berkahwin?
Jawapannya: Untuk memenuhi fitrah manusia yang mahukan seks. Ini hakikat. Sigmund Freud mengatakan ini dalam istilah saintifik dipanggil sebagai 'libido', iaitu kemahuan paling dalam dan tersembunyi dalam diri manusia yang dipanggil 'id'. Pemikiran manusia secara dasarnya dibahagi kepada tiga: id,ego dan super-ego.
Id adalah kehendak yang paling asas seperti makan, minum, pergi jumpa Encik Tan untuk pelaburan*(ini ke tandas), dan seks juga tidak terkecuali. Seks adalah satu aktiviti pembiakan kalau dalam bahasa saintifik, untuk terus mengekalkan speisis untuk terus berkembang. Dalam kes kita, homo-sapiens.
Ego adalah peraturan yang kita sendiri cipta untuk mengawal kemahuan id kita. Ini seperti prinsip hidup dan kepercayaan diri sendiri. Manakala super-ego adalah undang-undang yang dicipta oleh negara atau agama atau adat untuk mengawal kemahuan id kita.
Jadi dalam kes seks, itu adalah id kita, dan super-ego (agama) melarang kita melakukan seks kecuali apabila berkahwin. Manakala ego kita pula ialah kita malu kalau masyarakat tahu yang kita lakukan seks sebelum kahwin.
Bearing in mind what I usually come across, here is a malay male youth, freshly graduated who has actually read Freud!
So I spent a few hours reading his entries. At one glance people might brush him off as an angry rebellious young thing who has decided to blame everyone and everything around him but read a little deeper and you will discover an intelligent, well read and most importantly passionate person. and what passion he has!
He constantly states his dislike of our current education system, who seems to produce regurgitators than thinkers. Which is something I can relate to.
A few days ago, radio Era had a mini competition for parents to win an opportunity for their kids to go on air. One parent, when asked which of the following is a famous equation - E=mc(squared) and E=my, confidently gave the wrong answer. Another parent couldn't give the correct scientific formula for water.
Is it me? Am I sounding a teensy bit snobbish because 'of course la you cannot expect to remember something you learn in school ten years ago' or 'of course la you think it's easy, you did science in high school' but - seriously?
Maybe what is really worrying me is that, these same parents could have easily told you who the last winner of One in A Million or Akademi Fantasia. Whose home is filled with Media Hiburan, URTV and Mangga.
I digress.
To me, he is an example of what a well rounded Malaysian youth should be. Sure, he has radical opinions, but most importantly, he actually has one! In a world where we are surrounded by 'Tidak apa' attitude, here is a young man who is passionate in what he believes in.
and reading his blog showed me that there are more like him and it gives me hope.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Is it me or....
Is it me, or do other people think the following is weird, not to mention inappropriate?
A man, having a conversation with an unrelated female, whom is not his wife and saying, "I wonder what you look like pregnant?"
or is it just me?
A man, having a conversation with an unrelated female, whom is not his wife and saying, "I wonder what you look like pregnant?"
or is it just me?
Monday, June 08, 2009
Restlessness
Why is it that I always come up with interesting things to say/write about when I am away from the computer yet when I am sitting here, it never appears? Maybe I should hang a pen and notepad from my neck so that I can jot it down each time a brilliant idea comes about.
It is of course, on call day and it has been pretty quiet. My partner has warned me to keep my 'mulut celupar' shut...hehe. I've also been called a worry wort, which I admit to being one. I can't help worrying about the most severe, and unmanageable cases which don't exist....if that sentence makes any sense.
I think there is something wrong with me.
Seriously.
Lately I've been finding things to occupy myself. Before my trip to Java, I had occupied myself with researching about the place. I spent hours and hours on the internet reading up on other travellers' experience and which places to go and which to avoid. I think I was researching too well that I was beginning to neglect Abg.
and I thought my restlessness would subside after having that trip. Nope, I was wrong. After a trip to KK and a week later, I was fidgeting once more. I wanted something to think about, a project I could keep myself busy with. Though I may appear sedate and calm on the outside, my mind is racing here and there and everywhere.
One moment last week I was determined to get a Nintendo Wii. I am not sure how that evolved into another trip overseas. I am like a bee that was buzzing all over the place and now have settled on a flower - for the time being, that is.
Abg is keeping his opinions to himself. I think he has learnt from the past that his wife does not like when people disagree with her. But I think sooner or later, Abg should put his feet down and say enough is enough. Sometimes I think my husband spoils me and I don't think that that is a good thing. What is weird though, is that even though I know it isn't a good thing, I would still make him go my way and he does. Surely there is a limit to his manoeuvrability.
It is of course, on call day and it has been pretty quiet. My partner has warned me to keep my 'mulut celupar' shut...hehe. I've also been called a worry wort, which I admit to being one. I can't help worrying about the most severe, and unmanageable cases which don't exist....if that sentence makes any sense.
I think there is something wrong with me.
Seriously.
Lately I've been finding things to occupy myself. Before my trip to Java, I had occupied myself with researching about the place. I spent hours and hours on the internet reading up on other travellers' experience and which places to go and which to avoid. I think I was researching too well that I was beginning to neglect Abg.
and I thought my restlessness would subside after having that trip. Nope, I was wrong. After a trip to KK and a week later, I was fidgeting once more. I wanted something to think about, a project I could keep myself busy with. Though I may appear sedate and calm on the outside, my mind is racing here and there and everywhere.
One moment last week I was determined to get a Nintendo Wii. I am not sure how that evolved into another trip overseas. I am like a bee that was buzzing all over the place and now have settled on a flower - for the time being, that is.
Abg is keeping his opinions to himself. I think he has learnt from the past that his wife does not like when people disagree with her. But I think sooner or later, Abg should put his feet down and say enough is enough. Sometimes I think my husband spoils me and I don't think that that is a good thing. What is weird though, is that even though I know it isn't a good thing, I would still make him go my way and he does. Surely there is a limit to his manoeuvrability.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Small talk
I'm never very good at small talk.
Whenever I am in a situation where I am faced with spending some time with a stranger, I am more than happy to sit in silence and think about other stuff than making small talk. Perhaps other people are uncomfortable being in complete silence. Perhaps they find the lack of conversation unnerving, that they'd rather talk about mundane stuff that they will definitely forget in the next moment, rather than sit quietly.
Have you noticed the topics that often crop up during small talks? What do you do, where are you from, what does your husband do, how many children do you have...yadayadayada. Wouldn't it be interesting if, for instance, while waiting for a taxi, that the complete stranger says to you, Do you prefer KFC or McDonalds? Wouldn't THAT be a great conversation opener?
A few weeks ago I was in this situation. I was heading to KK for my conference and was in the plane with another MO whom I know by name only. He joined HRPZ's Ortho Department after I had left. He ended up sitting next to me. I smiled politely as I introduced myself and acknowledged him. Anyway, we were sitting at the airport waiting for our transport to take us to the hotel when he started asking me things about myself. I answered politely, with just enough information without being too chatty. I tend to do that when I am nervous, then you will find me yapping about my cats and how expensive litter is.
When people ask me how many kids I have and I answer none, I noticed that almost all will follow that answer with, "How long have you been married?". Why is that, I wonder? Maybe if my answer was "Oh, just recently", they will feel relieved that they had broached a potentially sensitive matter?
One other guy whom I was talking with while waiting for a court case came up with an unconventional response to my answer. He said, "Oh, don't worry. I only have one and have absolutely NO intention of having more!"
Anyway, I digress. After he asked me that and I gave my answer, I found myself adding, which sounded more like an afterthought, "I had a miscarriage last year" - and I am wondering now why at that time I felt compelled to explain my situation by divulging an information as personal as that.
Whenever I am in a situation where I am faced with spending some time with a stranger, I am more than happy to sit in silence and think about other stuff than making small talk. Perhaps other people are uncomfortable being in complete silence. Perhaps they find the lack of conversation unnerving, that they'd rather talk about mundane stuff that they will definitely forget in the next moment, rather than sit quietly.
Have you noticed the topics that often crop up during small talks? What do you do, where are you from, what does your husband do, how many children do you have...yadayadayada. Wouldn't it be interesting if, for instance, while waiting for a taxi, that the complete stranger says to you, Do you prefer KFC or McDonalds? Wouldn't THAT be a great conversation opener?
A few weeks ago I was in this situation. I was heading to KK for my conference and was in the plane with another MO whom I know by name only. He joined HRPZ's Ortho Department after I had left. He ended up sitting next to me. I smiled politely as I introduced myself and acknowledged him. Anyway, we were sitting at the airport waiting for our transport to take us to the hotel when he started asking me things about myself. I answered politely, with just enough information without being too chatty. I tend to do that when I am nervous, then you will find me yapping about my cats and how expensive litter is.
When people ask me how many kids I have and I answer none, I noticed that almost all will follow that answer with, "How long have you been married?". Why is that, I wonder? Maybe if my answer was "Oh, just recently", they will feel relieved that they had broached a potentially sensitive matter?
One other guy whom I was talking with while waiting for a court case came up with an unconventional response to my answer. He said, "Oh, don't worry. I only have one and have absolutely NO intention of having more!"
Anyway, I digress. After he asked me that and I gave my answer, I found myself adding, which sounded more like an afterthought, "I had a miscarriage last year" - and I am wondering now why at that time I felt compelled to explain my situation by divulging an information as personal as that.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
My Superwoman
My Ma is the 'garang' type. I would jokingly tell bro Wan how lucky he is that Ma has mellowed down so much over the years.
There is not a month that passed that we didn't have markings of beatings on our legs. I totally understand her, we were a bunch of (sometimes) naughty kids and she was working till she had Yaya so it was stressful, being a mother at that stage. Though looking back at our childhood, we were practically angels compared to kids nowadays.
Seriously.
You know how when you have people visiting and their kids would be breaking your child's toy, and jumping up and down your sofa and all their parents seem to do is sigh wistfully and say 'Budak-budak......'? Ey, if we were like that, one stare from Ma and we would be reminded of what was in store for us once we got home. Ma did mention though that we were very well mannered when we were visiting other people, never needed prodding to behave; we always knew what was proper and what was not.
Anyway, you mention it, we've been beaten by it: rotans, rubber hose, hangers, rulers - so I think you can probably picture how naughty we were...hehehe.. and how 'garang' Ma was. But, regardless of how bad a beating we got, Ma would always make sure we knew why we were punished. I remember once, after a really bad spanking, I was crying on my bed examining (and actually counting! Hahaha, 'modal' for feeling sorry for oneself) the welts on my legs when Ma came into the room to apply soothing cream on them. She would be telling me what I did wrong and how badly she felt after each beating and I remember how stubbornly silent and angry I was. She would always mention that each beating hurt her more than it hurt us. It sounded ridiculous to me at that time but I'm sure every parent knows exactly what she meant.
It didn't help that I was a very stubborn child. Everytime I got punished, I would retaliate by sulking in my room and refusing to go out to eat and I could be stubborn for a very long time too.
When I was in my teens, something happened and Ma and I ended up not speaking. We were like US and Soviet during the cold war. It was as if I didn't exist in the house. Ma would not leave out any food for me nor did she wash any of my clothes. In the end, Pa was the one who could not bear the hostility and forced me to apologize. To this day, I can't recall what was the silly thing that made me act that way.
Unfortunately, as Abg would gladly admit, the hard headedness have persisted till now.
I digress - presently, I look back to my childhood with absolutely no regrets. Ma and Pa have provided us with everything we wanted and did not leave me wanting for anything. The only reason that I would have a kid, if I could, was so that he/she/they could have the childhood I did, beatings and all.
I may sound like I condone physical punishment, and in a way, I do - but in the sense that IT being only a minor part in bringing up your kid. It MUST come together with love, respect and patience. I think, most importantly, in order to be a decent human being, one must be able to differentiate between good and bad, and have a conscience. Without a conscience, one will not be able to feel bad when he/she has done something wrong, and if you don't feel remorse, what will stop you from repeating your mistakes?
There is one memory that I am sharing here, that Ma will or will not remember.
When we were younger, Ma would make us bring food from home and most of the time it'd be boring stuff like jam sandwiches. Maybe she did give us 'cool' food sometimes, but all I can remember right now are the horrible jam sandwiches. At MGS, we had a really huge canteen, selling iced water (10sen per glass only!) and ice balls to wantan mee and nasi lemak. The nasi lemak booth is right at the end and next to it is the ice cream Auntie. The best thing in the world at that time was having asam boi ice lollies on a hot day. They were only 10sen but it doesn't really matter how much they cost when your mother doesn't give you any spending money.
What I would do (Urgh, I cringe as I am recalling this, such is the idiocy of youth!) was to 'collect' any small change Pa had in his work trousers. Pa would always leave his work trousers on the bed (something he still does now) and whenever no one is looking, I would go through his pockets for coins.
I know! 'Teruk', right! Hahahaha.
and the next day, there I would be, enjoying my asam boi or kopi ice lolly.
This went on for a few weeks and one day I was just swamped with guilt. I decided enough is enough but in order for me to feel better, I just had to come clean to Ma. I can recall exactly what happened: Ma had just finished her prayers and I told her everything. At the end of it, Ma simply told me not to do it again. Was that what happened, Ma? Hahaha, but definitely did not get beaten lah.
I knew that what I did was wrong. I could have easily went on 'collecting' loose change from Pa's work trousers, right? But my parents raised me well enough that I had the ability to feel bad about what I did.
THAT was the only thing I remembered from that snippet of my childhood. Despite the way I am telling this, I am NOT blaming it on my Ma for not giving us spending money (I'm sure she did because I do remember buying nasi lemak and wantan and sarsi but my mind is so befuddled that I can't recall whether it was because Ma gave us money or was it due to my unofficial 'toll'), and I certainly DO NOT remember going through primary school with longing or feeling that I lacked something.
Whatever it is, I hope my parents are comfortable in the fact that the bottom line is, they raised a bunch of decent human beings. It's definitely a bonus if your kids are geniuses or famous or rich but surely it all starts with decency.
I often wonder if my parents have regrets about the way they raised us; I certainly have never asked them this but if she does, then I say don't because to me you surely did one hell of a job.
Happy Mother's Day.
There is not a month that passed that we didn't have markings of beatings on our legs. I totally understand her, we were a bunch of (sometimes) naughty kids and she was working till she had Yaya so it was stressful, being a mother at that stage. Though looking back at our childhood, we were practically angels compared to kids nowadays.
Seriously.
You know how when you have people visiting and their kids would be breaking your child's toy, and jumping up and down your sofa and all their parents seem to do is sigh wistfully and say 'Budak-budak......'? Ey, if we were like that, one stare from Ma and we would be reminded of what was in store for us once we got home. Ma did mention though that we were very well mannered when we were visiting other people, never needed prodding to behave; we always knew what was proper and what was not.
Anyway, you mention it, we've been beaten by it: rotans, rubber hose, hangers, rulers - so I think you can probably picture how naughty we were...hehehe.. and how 'garang' Ma was. But, regardless of how bad a beating we got, Ma would always make sure we knew why we were punished. I remember once, after a really bad spanking, I was crying on my bed examining (and actually counting! Hahaha, 'modal' for feeling sorry for oneself) the welts on my legs when Ma came into the room to apply soothing cream on them. She would be telling me what I did wrong and how badly she felt after each beating and I remember how stubbornly silent and angry I was. She would always mention that each beating hurt her more than it hurt us. It sounded ridiculous to me at that time but I'm sure every parent knows exactly what she meant.
It didn't help that I was a very stubborn child. Everytime I got punished, I would retaliate by sulking in my room and refusing to go out to eat and I could be stubborn for a very long time too.
When I was in my teens, something happened and Ma and I ended up not speaking. We were like US and Soviet during the cold war. It was as if I didn't exist in the house. Ma would not leave out any food for me nor did she wash any of my clothes. In the end, Pa was the one who could not bear the hostility and forced me to apologize. To this day, I can't recall what was the silly thing that made me act that way.
Unfortunately, as Abg would gladly admit, the hard headedness have persisted till now.
I digress - presently, I look back to my childhood with absolutely no regrets. Ma and Pa have provided us with everything we wanted and did not leave me wanting for anything. The only reason that I would have a kid, if I could, was so that he/she/they could have the childhood I did, beatings and all.
I may sound like I condone physical punishment, and in a way, I do - but in the sense that IT being only a minor part in bringing up your kid. It MUST come together with love, respect and patience. I think, most importantly, in order to be a decent human being, one must be able to differentiate between good and bad, and have a conscience. Without a conscience, one will not be able to feel bad when he/she has done something wrong, and if you don't feel remorse, what will stop you from repeating your mistakes?
There is one memory that I am sharing here, that Ma will or will not remember.
When we were younger, Ma would make us bring food from home and most of the time it'd be boring stuff like jam sandwiches. Maybe she did give us 'cool' food sometimes, but all I can remember right now are the horrible jam sandwiches. At MGS, we had a really huge canteen, selling iced water (10sen per glass only!) and ice balls to wantan mee and nasi lemak. The nasi lemak booth is right at the end and next to it is the ice cream Auntie. The best thing in the world at that time was having asam boi ice lollies on a hot day. They were only 10sen but it doesn't really matter how much they cost when your mother doesn't give you any spending money.
What I would do (Urgh, I cringe as I am recalling this, such is the idiocy of youth!) was to 'collect' any small change Pa had in his work trousers. Pa would always leave his work trousers on the bed (something he still does now) and whenever no one is looking, I would go through his pockets for coins.
I know! 'Teruk', right! Hahahaha.
and the next day, there I would be, enjoying my asam boi or kopi ice lolly.
This went on for a few weeks and one day I was just swamped with guilt. I decided enough is enough but in order for me to feel better, I just had to come clean to Ma. I can recall exactly what happened: Ma had just finished her prayers and I told her everything. At the end of it, Ma simply told me not to do it again. Was that what happened, Ma? Hahaha, but definitely did not get beaten lah.
I knew that what I did was wrong. I could have easily went on 'collecting' loose change from Pa's work trousers, right? But my parents raised me well enough that I had the ability to feel bad about what I did.
THAT was the only thing I remembered from that snippet of my childhood. Despite the way I am telling this, I am NOT blaming it on my Ma for not giving us spending money (I'm sure she did because I do remember buying nasi lemak and wantan and sarsi but my mind is so befuddled that I can't recall whether it was because Ma gave us money or was it due to my unofficial 'toll'), and I certainly DO NOT remember going through primary school with longing or feeling that I lacked something.
Whatever it is, I hope my parents are comfortable in the fact that the bottom line is, they raised a bunch of decent human beings. It's definitely a bonus if your kids are geniuses or famous or rich but surely it all starts with decency.
I often wonder if my parents have regrets about the way they raised us; I certainly have never asked them this but if she does, then I say don't because to me you surely did one hell of a job.
Happy Mother's Day.
Jumping all over topic
The best oncalls are the ones where no matter how busy you are during the day, you still get uninterrupted sleep later on the night. Even a mere three hours should be okay to get you going the rest of the day.
It was one of those days when you had a whole bunch of stable patients, but they came with weird complaints. Luckily for me, I could always clerk them in for observation. Should nothing is wrong with them in the first place, the MO in charge can always discharge them.
It's just a few minutes after 7 and already the A&E is starting to get patients. It's usually MVA patients this early. I hope that at least the patient's conscious, unlike the ex YB who yesterday was involved in a head on collision.
You can tell how important a patient is in the hierarchy of the society by the size of the crowd that is hanging about the hospital. The last time we had a VIP, a crowd the size of a small kampung (including all four wives, apparently) came to see him.
My sister is getting married this August. Weddings have become really expensive nowadays, don't you think? Maybe it's time we stepped out of the box and do away with wasteful habits such as fancy invitation cards and do a Maya Karin. You do realise that most of them end up in rubbish bins?
The other thing is the door gifts. Remember a few years back when everyone started using those pearly-multisheened ceramic egg holders? Too ugly to use to decorate but too 'sayang' to throw away? When I first got married and moved into Abg's house, I was soooo itching to get rid of them. They were just gathering dust in the old cabinet anyway.
I think a good doorgift should be useful, and if not, at least recyclable. Ma used to save every bunga telur she got whenever she went for weddings and 'cukur jambul's and 'maulud nabi's, that after a while she would have a HUGE bunch of non matching ones displayed right by the phone.
What she did was, when it was time for her to host a maulud of her own, clean up every single one and use them as doorgifts. Jimat, right? and they actually looked nice on the bunga pahar stand, despite being missmatched and all.
I think the problem with our society is that we are too scared of 'losing face' and wanting to please everyone else, BUT ourselves. Relatives are the worst. Especially when it comes to weddings. Everyone wants to give their idea on how much 'hantaran' money the bride should get, where the wedding should be held, how big the event should be and beware should you just brush off any ideas, or you would find yourself being given the cold shoulder come next family gathering.
Talking about recycling, after that three day conference in KK, I've now ended up with about 4-6 bags and a tonne of leaflets. I've decided that from now on, the bags will be coming with us on shopping trips so that we don't end up with plastic bags. The bags that they were giving away at the various booths were the cloth type, and rather sturdy too. We had a trial run at the recent pasar tani, and the bag I had easily carried 4 small papayas, three bags of onions, a bunch of long beans and a few other stuff. One makcik was really impressed when we insisted, no plastic bag please. Besides, they were more comfortable to carry and were less painful on the fingers.
Good eh? I think Ma would be proud. She's always tried to make us reuse things when we were younger, though at that time it was called being frugal rather than recycling.
Now, if only I can locate a paper recycling centre in KB......
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Oncall nonsensical ramblings
I've just returned from two trips and I think I need another holiday to wind down from them. It used to be that I could travel on overnight third class trains and still be excited for a weekend trip but I'm beginning to accept that I am no longer that sprightly young thing.
I used to reminisce about my backpacking trip to India and Nepal and often wondered if I could do the same thing nowadays.
I think I know the answer and the answer is I probably can but I will probably end up hating it and can't wait to go home.
and it isn't just holidays, but oncalls too. I remember that we used to do compulsory EOD (every other day) on calls during our O&G attachment and postcall, I still found time and energy to meet Abg.
Get me to do EOD calls now and I'll be bedridden after a week!
Seriously.
Am I getting old?
I used to reminisce about my backpacking trip to India and Nepal and often wondered if I could do the same thing nowadays.
I think I know the answer and the answer is I probably can but I will probably end up hating it and can't wait to go home.
and it isn't just holidays, but oncalls too. I remember that we used to do compulsory EOD (every other day) on calls during our O&G attachment and postcall, I still found time and energy to meet Abg.
Get me to do EOD calls now and I'll be bedridden after a week!
Seriously.
Am I getting old?
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Shall I..?
Shall I write about pakcik in bed 15 who started to have difficulty breathing suddenly at about half seven last night? He who deteriorated and became so blue that we had to intubate (and re intubate) and for whom I spent 3 hours looking for a bed and ventilator for?
or shall I write about sleeping at half three, after eating my cold rice and waking up at half four and then five and then half five to check on the patient with low blood pressure and was told about another supposedly stable patient who became breathless and restless?
or shall I write about the fact that a bunch of us were supposed to sit for an exam this morning and with only 2 hours of sleep, I am in no shape to be answering questions?
Shall I also write about my oncall partner who also only went to sleep at three, and then woken up to resuscitate another patient in the ward and then called to attend another case of shortness of breath at casualty?
Shall I write then about this son whose father passed away unnoticed in the midst of the chaos that is the male medical ward, whose puzzled face when I told him that his father had passed away is still etched in my mind? I hate it when it gets too hectic that I've become such a nasty MO to my staff nurses who are already overworked, that a death is just another number in the statistics that I forget about the grief and the loss.
Shall I write about this particular staff nurse who totally ignored my orders to push the emergency trolley when the above patient stopped breathing - simply because her shift had finished? I was so shocked at her (non) reaction yet too busy to attend to the case that it is only now that I am overwhelmed by my anger.
These are the things that five years of medical school can never teach you and whether it makes you into a better person or otherwise is totally up to you.
or shall I write about sleeping at half three, after eating my cold rice and waking up at half four and then five and then half five to check on the patient with low blood pressure and was told about another supposedly stable patient who became breathless and restless?
or shall I write about the fact that a bunch of us were supposed to sit for an exam this morning and with only 2 hours of sleep, I am in no shape to be answering questions?
Shall I also write about my oncall partner who also only went to sleep at three, and then woken up to resuscitate another patient in the ward and then called to attend another case of shortness of breath at casualty?
Shall I write then about this son whose father passed away unnoticed in the midst of the chaos that is the male medical ward, whose puzzled face when I told him that his father had passed away is still etched in my mind? I hate it when it gets too hectic that I've become such a nasty MO to my staff nurses who are already overworked, that a death is just another number in the statistics that I forget about the grief and the loss.
Shall I write about this particular staff nurse who totally ignored my orders to push the emergency trolley when the above patient stopped breathing - simply because her shift had finished? I was so shocked at her (non) reaction yet too busy to attend to the case that it is only now that I am overwhelmed by my anger.
These are the things that five years of medical school can never teach you and whether it makes you into a better person or otherwise is totally up to you.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Why I sometimes hate my job...
It is 1 am and I am just sitting down to eat my dinner. It's mee hoon, so that's a good thing. It's only been three days since my jaunt in Java but it already seems to be in a distant past. Almost like I dreamt it all. Reality sure can give you a hard slap on the face.
But, good thing is, three days, one on call and one PTK exam later, I will be off to KK for the MOA Conference. I've already looked at the programme and made plans during the times that I can skive off. I wonder if boss will notice me missing.
Abg will be joining me on Friday and we'll only be flying home on Sunday so that gives us about 24 hours to go pearl and 'ikan bilis' shopping. I remember having good memories of KK so I hope this trip won't spoil it. I'm already salivating over the mee hun sup ayam in Sinsuran that we had the last time we were there.
Anyway, we had a patient who was complaining that we were late in attending to his son who had bleeding from the nose. He had come this morning and since the bleeding subsided some, I allowed him home and told him to come again should the problem recur.
When he turned up at about 10 thirty just now, all the beds were full. Basically all the lethargic pakciks have run out of 'ok' power (ok - Kelantanese for persevere) and have decided that they will turn up at the casualty that day. One relative of my staff had had bilateral lower limb weakness for 2 weeks and was just now insisting on being admitted. I had just pronounced the death of a 4 year old with malignancy and was still tying up loose ends but then proceeded to deal with the case of the bleeding nose.
Just as we had registered the case to be admitted, then comes the 'oh i am so pandai and so mighty don't you dare play play with me' father who started to boss my staff around telling her that she's doing things wrong.
Suddenly he came puffing and huffing wanting to bring his son to HRPZ II. Apparently we are all idiots here in HTM. Well, good riddance and good luck mister!
Seriously lah...? How obtuse and how selfish and ridiculous can you be? A mother had just lost her 4 year old daughter to cancer and a pakcik is lying on the stretcher fighting for each breath and a kid just broke his thigh because of his stupid parent who couldn't be bothered to strap him with the seat belt (but that's another story) - get some perspective la.
It is people like this that make me hate my job sometimes. Thank god they are far and few between.
Roasted chicken wings, here I come....
But, good thing is, three days, one on call and one PTK exam later, I will be off to KK for the MOA Conference. I've already looked at the programme and made plans during the times that I can skive off. I wonder if boss will notice me missing.
Abg will be joining me on Friday and we'll only be flying home on Sunday so that gives us about 24 hours to go pearl and 'ikan bilis' shopping. I remember having good memories of KK so I hope this trip won't spoil it. I'm already salivating over the mee hun sup ayam in Sinsuran that we had the last time we were there.
Anyway, we had a patient who was complaining that we were late in attending to his son who had bleeding from the nose. He had come this morning and since the bleeding subsided some, I allowed him home and told him to come again should the problem recur.
When he turned up at about 10 thirty just now, all the beds were full. Basically all the lethargic pakciks have run out of 'ok' power (ok - Kelantanese for persevere) and have decided that they will turn up at the casualty that day. One relative of my staff had had bilateral lower limb weakness for 2 weeks and was just now insisting on being admitted. I had just pronounced the death of a 4 year old with malignancy and was still tying up loose ends but then proceeded to deal with the case of the bleeding nose.
Just as we had registered the case to be admitted, then comes the 'oh i am so pandai and so mighty don't you dare play play with me' father who started to boss my staff around telling her that she's doing things wrong.
Suddenly he came puffing and huffing wanting to bring his son to HRPZ II. Apparently we are all idiots here in HTM. Well, good riddance and good luck mister!
Seriously lah...? How obtuse and how selfish and ridiculous can you be? A mother had just lost her 4 year old daughter to cancer and a pakcik is lying on the stretcher fighting for each breath and a kid just broke his thigh because of his stupid parent who couldn't be bothered to strap him with the seat belt (but that's another story) - get some perspective la.
It is people like this that make me hate my job sometimes. Thank god they are far and few between.
Roasted chicken wings, here I come....
Monday, May 04, 2009
Did I not say so..?
I wonder what has kept Abg. He's usually not late. I've just been lazing around surrounded by my kids. Che'Tam looks lethargic. Friends are humoured by the fact that I use medical terms to describe my cats' condition.
Anyway, I fed Che'Tam her deworming medication during the weekend. She hasn't been herself since. She seems to devour my KFC chicken though, so I hope that means that she's not that bad.
Unlike how her master is feeling.
Last night's call was not that bad, considering. A bad call is when more than 2 patients collapse on you. One is acceptable. Two is still not bad but more than 2 means that you really need to 'mandi bunga', as we like to joke.
There was a relative who brought his wife who complaint that she was dizzy. He had just arrived as I left to shower, leaving the casualty to my partner that night. As I turned up about an hour later, he was just leaving. He turned to us, and said in an unusually loud voice, "THANK YOU DOCTOR. HAVE A PLEASANT NIGHT" - it was said in a way that clearly indicated that he meant otherwise.
I've long learnt, in Kelantan, if a malay speaks English with you, he/she is trying to say "I'm educated you know, don't mess with me like you mess with the kampung folk". Urgh. Stupid. What have we become; learn Mandarin to get a job, learn English to intimidate people.
According to my colleague, he had sat at the counter and was babbling away while she was clerking her cases. She wasn't in her friendliest mood as the cases were many and waiting. Was that why Mr Moustache was so sarcastic? You think by loading your sarcasm on us, it will help us improve our service? I don't think so!
Anyway, we ended up resuscitating a patient at about 1am. Despite our efforts for the next couple of hours, he was still hanging on by a thread. He was too ill to be transferred and we both knew that he was there because of the medications that we were pumping into him. Bleurgh. Regardless of how ill or how bad premorbidly my patients are, I still feel bad when they expire. Definitely one for the mortality meeting.
Ah well. Shall deal with it once I return from my long awaited holiday.
Anyway, I fed Che'Tam her deworming medication during the weekend. She hasn't been herself since. She seems to devour my KFC chicken though, so I hope that means that she's not that bad.
Unlike how her master is feeling.
Last night's call was not that bad, considering. A bad call is when more than 2 patients collapse on you. One is acceptable. Two is still not bad but more than 2 means that you really need to 'mandi bunga', as we like to joke.
There was a relative who brought his wife who complaint that she was dizzy. He had just arrived as I left to shower, leaving the casualty to my partner that night. As I turned up about an hour later, he was just leaving. He turned to us, and said in an unusually loud voice, "THANK YOU DOCTOR. HAVE A PLEASANT NIGHT" - it was said in a way that clearly indicated that he meant otherwise.
I've long learnt, in Kelantan, if a malay speaks English with you, he/she is trying to say "I'm educated you know, don't mess with me like you mess with the kampung folk". Urgh. Stupid. What have we become; learn Mandarin to get a job, learn English to intimidate people.
According to my colleague, he had sat at the counter and was babbling away while she was clerking her cases. She wasn't in her friendliest mood as the cases were many and waiting. Was that why Mr Moustache was so sarcastic? You think by loading your sarcasm on us, it will help us improve our service? I don't think so!
Anyway, we ended up resuscitating a patient at about 1am. Despite our efforts for the next couple of hours, he was still hanging on by a thread. He was too ill to be transferred and we both knew that he was there because of the medications that we were pumping into him. Bleurgh. Regardless of how ill or how bad premorbidly my patients are, I still feel bad when they expire. Definitely one for the mortality meeting.
Ah well. Shall deal with it once I return from my long awaited holiday.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Who to blame?
Talking about the news, I'm sure the whole doctor community is abuzz with a politician who apparently had caught two doctors in HKL 'napping'.
and news from the grapevine is, the 20 patients were actually just 8 cases, the rest being relatives and the two doctors were not even on duty! But of course, these are the things that doesn't end up on front pages of newspapers.
I feel sorry for us lot, sometimes. We work way beyond our exhaustion sometimes; returning home way past dusk - just to make sure operations are done or that patients are escorted safely - but most times, things are just out of our control.
Take last Sunday, and I hope I don't get into trouble for this. We had three elective and one emergency case waiting to be done. I had gone for morning rounds with boss and proceeded to OT as usually he expects us to prepare the patient before (if he needs to) he comes in and does the operation.
Lo and behold, the anaesth MO informs me that the airconditioning in the OT had tripped during the night and the temperature of the OT had gone into the 30s. So, I waited and waited and after two hours, the aircond went on to trip two more times and the OT temp never came down below 22.
and this is the OT that had just been completed at the end of last year. Yes, I am talking about a 4-month-old OT and already it has been piling a bunch of incident reporting with regards to the airconditioning, the air pressure and what nots. Not to mention the door which is now coming off the wall, the broken hinges and the OT entrance which is like a mini waterfall come rain.
We ended up cancelling the cases and only managed to squeeze in one emergency case. But patients don't see the goings on behind closed doors, all they knew was that they had to fast for three days and STILL no sign of the op being done.
It is frustrating when your patient is upset and you know it isn't your fault. But who do you blame?
Not only do you have to deal with things that are occuring internally, you also have to deal with external stuff, like the expectations and attitudes of your patients. When I worked at the Outpatients Department (OPD), I had a girl who kicked my door just because I refused to give her an MC. She didn't have any complaints, all she came for was some allergy medication and she informed me that her boss had told her to get an MC. It is sad, but I know a lot of my colleagues give in just because we don't have time to deal with silly things like this.
Sometimes when I hang out at the OPD and perform routine medical examinations (RME) on students about to fly off for their degree in medicine, I jokingly ask them whether they know what they are getting themselves into. They smile with the youthful confidence that only the young (and ignorant? Hahaha) possess and I wish them luck.
and news from the grapevine is, the 20 patients were actually just 8 cases, the rest being relatives and the two doctors were not even on duty! But of course, these are the things that doesn't end up on front pages of newspapers.
I feel sorry for us lot, sometimes. We work way beyond our exhaustion sometimes; returning home way past dusk - just to make sure operations are done or that patients are escorted safely - but most times, things are just out of our control.
Take last Sunday, and I hope I don't get into trouble for this. We had three elective and one emergency case waiting to be done. I had gone for morning rounds with boss and proceeded to OT as usually he expects us to prepare the patient before (if he needs to) he comes in and does the operation.
Lo and behold, the anaesth MO informs me that the airconditioning in the OT had tripped during the night and the temperature of the OT had gone into the 30s. So, I waited and waited and after two hours, the aircond went on to trip two more times and the OT temp never came down below 22.
and this is the OT that had just been completed at the end of last year. Yes, I am talking about a 4-month-old OT and already it has been piling a bunch of incident reporting with regards to the airconditioning, the air pressure and what nots. Not to mention the door which is now coming off the wall, the broken hinges and the OT entrance which is like a mini waterfall come rain.
We ended up cancelling the cases and only managed to squeeze in one emergency case. But patients don't see the goings on behind closed doors, all they knew was that they had to fast for three days and STILL no sign of the op being done.
It is frustrating when your patient is upset and you know it isn't your fault. But who do you blame?
Not only do you have to deal with things that are occuring internally, you also have to deal with external stuff, like the expectations and attitudes of your patients. When I worked at the Outpatients Department (OPD), I had a girl who kicked my door just because I refused to give her an MC. She didn't have any complaints, all she came for was some allergy medication and she informed me that her boss had told her to get an MC. It is sad, but I know a lot of my colleagues give in just because we don't have time to deal with silly things like this.
Sometimes when I hang out at the OPD and perform routine medical examinations (RME) on students about to fly off for their degree in medicine, I jokingly ask them whether they know what they are getting themselves into. They smile with the youthful confidence that only the young (and ignorant? Hahaha) possess and I wish them luck.
In dire need of a holiday
April has been a hectic month. There was a period where I was at the hospital everyday for 13 continuous days with absolutely no weekend break.
Thus, it is of no surprise how much I am so looking forward to my holiday in Java. Of course, knowing me, planning the travel itself gives me a buzz. All Abg said was, you plan everything and just give me the itinerary so I know what is happening.
The hospital was in the news recently. A former patient of ours had gone to see a reporter and moaned about the bad treatment he got from an MO of the ward where he was recently admitted. Now, since the article did not mention the name of the MO, everyone who had seen the patient is now required to write a report, including yours truly.
Hmph. Macam la aku takde kerja lain.
I
Anyway, while I was chatting with my boss, I remarked on the fact that when I was studying in Belfast, the wards' notice boards were always full of thank you cards and every other day the nurses would get gifts of chocs and cakes and flowers. Perhaps it is part of their upbringing, being constantly reminded to watch their Ps and Qs and the practice of writing thank you notes after receiving gifts for birthdays and Christmases.
At bus stops, people would form a queue based on the order they arrived and they would get on the bus in the same manner. I wonder what people thought of our custom of jostling and elbowing our way in. Cars would stop to let you cross the street and men would hold the doors open for you. Till now, I still find myself holding doors open for the person behind me to come through.
So much for Adat Ketimuran, huh.
Anyway, I digress. I just had my last call of the month last night and it was pretty laidback considering the MO the night before could only sleep at 4 and the casualty had been kept busy till the end of the night shift. It's been a pretty good run the whole month so I am now anticipating a highly jonah oncall, which in the past, had always turned up just before a holiday.
Thus, it is of no surprise how much I am so looking forward to my holiday in Java. Of course, knowing me, planning the travel itself gives me a buzz. All Abg said was, you plan everything and just give me the itinerary so I know what is happening.
The hospital was in the news recently. A former patient of ours had gone to see a reporter and moaned about the bad treatment he got from an MO of the ward where he was recently admitted. Now, since the article did not mention the name of the MO, everyone who had seen the patient is now required to write a report, including yours truly.
Hmph. Macam la aku takde kerja lain.
I
Anyway, while I was chatting with my boss, I remarked on the fact that when I was studying in Belfast, the wards' notice boards were always full of thank you cards and every other day the nurses would get gifts of chocs and cakes and flowers. Perhaps it is part of their upbringing, being constantly reminded to watch their Ps and Qs and the practice of writing thank you notes after receiving gifts for birthdays and Christmases.
At bus stops, people would form a queue based on the order they arrived and they would get on the bus in the same manner. I wonder what people thought of our custom of jostling and elbowing our way in. Cars would stop to let you cross the street and men would hold the doors open for you. Till now, I still find myself holding doors open for the person behind me to come through.
So much for Adat Ketimuran, huh.
Anyway, I digress. I just had my last call of the month last night and it was pretty laidback considering the MO the night before could only sleep at 4 and the casualty had been kept busy till the end of the night shift. It's been a pretty good run the whole month so I am now anticipating a highly jonah oncall, which in the past, had always turned up just before a holiday.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Road Rager me
On the way to work, there are two stretches of 'lorong memotong's. One in the Tok Bok area and the other just a few kilometres ahead, where Yamud's house is.
I was driving to work this morning when I reached the first one with a dark coloured Iswara driving ahead of me. There were no cars in front nor the left of him. I had long gone past flashing my lights to idiots like these because I think their cars have probably been manufactured with steering wheels which could not maneouvre to the left, so I took the left lane and over took him.
At the next 'lorong memotong', I was following a black Naza Citra rather closely on the right lane. We were overtaking a kancil when the idiot took the left lane and wanted to squeeze in between the Citra and my car. I honked at him and instead of pulling back, he persisted on taking my lane. So I honked long and hard, glanced at him and showed him the finger.
Seriously.
Thinking about it now, I am not proud of what I did. It was very unladylike, (well, what's so lady like about me, doing Ortho and all that) and very rude.
I can still remember his face before I sped forwards, then proceeded to overtake the Citra and went on my way leaving Mr Idiot behind.
You think just because you lit your indicator lights that you can simply squeeze your car in meh? Just now you were dilly dallying taking your sweet time and now you suddenly decided that you're in a hurry?
If there is one thing I don't get about drivers here are their love for the right hand lane. Bawak la 40km sejam pun terhegeh2 kat lane kanan. Tak paham aku.
I was driving to work this morning when I reached the first one with a dark coloured Iswara driving ahead of me. There were no cars in front nor the left of him. I had long gone past flashing my lights to idiots like these because I think their cars have probably been manufactured with steering wheels which could not maneouvre to the left, so I took the left lane and over took him.
At the next 'lorong memotong', I was following a black Naza Citra rather closely on the right lane. We were overtaking a kancil when the idiot took the left lane and wanted to squeeze in between the Citra and my car. I honked at him and instead of pulling back, he persisted on taking my lane. So I honked long and hard, glanced at him and showed him the finger.
Seriously.
Thinking about it now, I am not proud of what I did. It was very unladylike, (well, what's so lady like about me, doing Ortho and all that) and very rude.
I can still remember his face before I sped forwards, then proceeded to overtake the Citra and went on my way leaving Mr Idiot behind.
You think just because you lit your indicator lights that you can simply squeeze your car in meh? Just now you were dilly dallying taking your sweet time and now you suddenly decided that you're in a hurry?
If there is one thing I don't get about drivers here are their love for the right hand lane. Bawak la 40km sejam pun terhegeh2 kat lane kanan. Tak paham aku.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
The definition of 'jonah'....
...is after admitting two nonagenarians, one of whom is now on double inotropes, at 4 am is still admitting patients with low blood pressure, and with an Acute Pulmonary Oedema case waiting at the casualty because now there are no more beds in the acute cubicle in the ward.
but I suppose, that doesn't beat escorting cases to HRPZ II five (yes, 5) times on a 24 hour shift.
I've been back to KL during the extended weekend. Sometimes, returning to the west coast is like going on holiday in a another country. Cars are faster, the people are more wound up, houses and shopping areas bigger. I ended up coming back home a day earlier than planned, much to the chagrin of Ma, because I involved my cats in it.
By the way, Verver is now missing for a week. I was on call and Abg had let them out for the evening and she never returned. I'm convinced she has been hit by a car or motorbike and has gone to die somewhere else. The lack of closure is making me uneasy. Sad as it is, I'd rather see the body and know rather than left wondering.
Anyway, I'm up attending to the case of the nonagenarian with cardiogenic shock and also sepsis. Man, of all the things to end up with at 92. It has been sort of a "Hari Warga Emas Sedunia" today. I had gone to HRPZ earlier today escorting a case of peritonitis. She was 81 and had just returned from a family holiday in Penang. Her blood pressure wasn't great when I left her in the care of the Surgical MO.
I'm not sure whether it's a good idea staying up, hoping that the three hour-sleep I got from midnight is going to be enough, but it is Thursday today and I'm always hopeful on a Thursday.
but I suppose, that doesn't beat escorting cases to HRPZ II five (yes, 5) times on a 24 hour shift.
I've been back to KL during the extended weekend. Sometimes, returning to the west coast is like going on holiday in a another country. Cars are faster, the people are more wound up, houses and shopping areas bigger. I ended up coming back home a day earlier than planned, much to the chagrin of Ma, because I involved my cats in it.
By the way, Verver is now missing for a week. I was on call and Abg had let them out for the evening and she never returned. I'm convinced she has been hit by a car or motorbike and has gone to die somewhere else. The lack of closure is making me uneasy. Sad as it is, I'd rather see the body and know rather than left wondering.
Anyway, I'm up attending to the case of the nonagenarian with cardiogenic shock and also sepsis. Man, of all the things to end up with at 92. It has been sort of a "Hari Warga Emas Sedunia" today. I had gone to HRPZ earlier today escorting a case of peritonitis. She was 81 and had just returned from a family holiday in Penang. Her blood pressure wasn't great when I left her in the care of the Surgical MO.
I'm not sure whether it's a good idea staying up, hoping that the three hour-sleep I got from midnight is going to be enough, but it is Thursday today and I'm always hopeful on a Thursday.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
The definition of unstable....
...is an 81 year old lady who is on triple inotropes (medication to bring up your blood pressure) of which all three are already on maximum dose, yet the blood pressure remains below 100 and whose Ryle's tube (tube from the stomach coming out through the nose or mouth) is pouring out dark brownish material.
Hmmm.
Hmmm.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
KNOWING.....
how bad the film would be, I wouldn't have wasted three hours of my time and ticket money to watch the movie.
If I had known the film had aliens in it, I wouldn't even have glanced at it. I think ET was it. Other alien films just couldn't measure up to ET. Much less aliens who have wings and spaceships which resembled the castle from "The Never Ending Story".
If I sound disjointed, it's because I'm blogging in the dark.
If I had known the film had aliens in it, I wouldn't even have glanced at it. I think ET was it. Other alien films just couldn't measure up to ET. Much less aliens who have wings and spaceships which resembled the castle from "The Never Ending Story".
If I sound disjointed, it's because I'm blogging in the dark.
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