Updates

Lots of things happened these days. And I really mean a lot because I didn’t have time to log in here in my blog, which I usually did, despite having a set of exams the following day.

Anyway…

POC

At present, I have ~4 patients a day. Documentation is also not toxic (they have a checklist and blank forms). For the past 2 weeks, I’m assigned in the in-patient and spinal ward so the cases range from spinal cord injury to fractures. I don’t find it tiring as expected, maybe because of the number of my patients and the exercises that we do (but wait… I really get sleepy when we’re about to go home — so sleepy that I feel even if I sleep the moment I get home, I’ll still feel tired the next day). Now, I’m feeling a bit more confident in handling patient that I want (sana) to be assigned to more but (fortunately din) POC don’t have much new referrals.

The staffs are nice too. They’re young and bubbly and approachable. I need to mention strict too because we just had a “mass make-up” a while ago because of delaying an activity :c .

Co-interns - from PLM to UST to MCA to Sta Isabel, Naga to Lyceum Batangas, to Fatima! We’re international but blend well.Yun nga lang, it’s really difficult for them not to call you by your school sometimes (which I don’t really like because I find it discriminating). Most are friendly and fun to be with and helpful.

I still have 3 weeks to go but looking forward to each day  with an energized heart (sadly I can’t say body because the sleepyhead in me still conquers my body a lot of times).

P.s… I’m wearing scrub suit to POC! hehe..may porma factor (kahit halos lahat ng med prof naka scrub na rin). Nice.

Meet Czerny!

I’ve got a new notebook (3 weeks old). Just an entry level, friendly on the pocket and enough to support my primitive computer needs. And it’s not 2+(?)  kilo 15 in screen unlike my first! (Why Czerny? Because, from my own experience, Czerny piano exercises are TOXIC, CHALLENGING AND SWEAT GLANDS STIMULATING without knowing it after your practice — yet there’s a certain pleasure I feel after practicing — yes, I have a blood of masochism.)

>> ohh.. Which reminds me, Vida, is not yet fixed, I miss her already!

Thesis Proposal

I don’t really want to think about this now because I feel so unsure of our status. I do love the topic, and I’m ok with my groupmates (we were grouped by the department) but eversince I can remember, I do have a problem with research and with writing itself. So there. We were so toxic last week, we spent 3/5 weekdays at school until 10 pm (our clinic duties end at around 5 pm and then we meet at school). A couple of “conspiracy”  also occured. Suzie getting sick, problem with a groupmate, deskstop breaking down and not coming up with a “good enough” paper. Well, as our adviser said, “That’s (hassle, being not good enough) what the first draft is for.”

My superhero

When I was younger, Superman was my image of a superhero. I can’t remember if I knew about him earlier than Batman but he’s the only one for me.  I fell in love with him specially his LOOKs. Christopher Reeves (may he rest in peace) is the only Superman for me. In fact, I think, my Ken (the partner of Barbie, and the other agonist of my ideal childhood world), looked like him!

So, the movie Superman is back. Pero maybe, I won’t think of something like - “Superman, save me too!”. It’ll just be a plain movie like any other.

The real Superman is gone. And so is my fascination for superheroes… (or rather a superhero) because I don’t really enjoy any other superhero flick. 

Language

I’ve finally received the email (from a sign language interpratation group) I’ve been waiting for all summer.

Gosh. I was so excited when I had the gut to email them (it was not easy)

But apparently, they didn’t have any training/seminar that is held during the summer. They said the next schedule of classes would be starting on the 24th of June.

Argh. I’d be too busy for our internship and thesis this year.

Sayang talaga. Learning this language is one of the things I should learn before I die. For me, it’s a more universal and important language to learn (although we’re taught American sign language). I was hoping I could learn sign language before my internship.

Basta. I have to learn this before I start working.

I have a Type B+ Personality?

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

** Is there really such thing as B+ Personality? Still, I think the description is quite true. **

Are your vices killing your finances?

quoted from http://moneycentral.msn.com 

Morning buzz: Let’s count the beans

OK, enough with the ear beating: We’re not about to argue that your morning self-defibrillation with Colombia’s legal cash crop is a bad thing. Indeed, according to the National Coffee Association, the average American consumes more than three cups of hot brown bean water daily. Heck, if it weren’t for coffee, even Bankrate.com might be little more than a blank screen!

Bankrate average price for a Starbucks double tall latte: $4.

• Daily double tall latte: $4
  
• Weekly: $28
  
• Monthly: $120
  
• Annually: $1,460

You know what? When you consider the Wi-Fi access, the social and business contacts, the career advancement you can expect for all your buzzed-out hard work and the free chocolate-covered espresso bean that comes with it, that morning ‘Bucks bump is one luxury you can definitely afford. Enjoy!

Uhmm.. let’s see, here in the Philippines

1 tall latte: P110

3x a week: P330

Monthly: P1,320

Annually: P15,840

What?!? It’s already my tuition for 3 semesters, a grand Boracay getaway (ok, as of the moment, I won’t probably spend much money on vacations), a month’s rent and allowance for a decent condo in the city, a new model of cellphone, (thinking: damn!) —

I’ve wasted a lot of money. And to think it’s even not my money. And the young kids?!? As young as they are, they already know this kind of vice! (although healthwise it’s better than alcohol and cigarettes)

Ansama ko. See, I’ve actually known this ever since.  And I’m not even sure I can give up drinking over priced coffee.

Weird Dreams

They say creative minds show through creative kind of dreams (I’ve really read about this before but it’s way before so I can’t quote any source). These are people who dream of fictional characters - monsters, adventure, superheros, etc.

But never was I aware that I dreamt of those things. Would this mean I don’t have a creative blood? Wait.. I’m a lefty (left-handed)!

Anyway, I just remembered a few of my dreams. Do you know what’s common among them? They’re all about school, and I usually dream of these sorts a few days before the start of my class. Too excited about school huh? But there’s more, playing as a self-pscyhologist, I think my dreams can be interpreted as a reflection of some of my fears.

I’ll try describe them as accurate as I can remember.

1. I once had a dream of being locked in school after school hours. I was in what we call the “Tuazon Center”, one of the ‘liblib’ parts of our school where they grow herbal plants. That place has an eerie feel accompanied by ‘uban legends’ about souls of nuns roaming around.  That was just all, I was alone in that place.

2. I also had a dream of staying late at school because I was left by my school bus. Luckily I was with a friend and we somehow enjoyed our stay in the school because when the guards reported that we were still waiting for our ’sundo’, the nuns invited us for dinner. It was a fest acutually, which is (so) in contrast with what they taught us :”one solid-one liquid”.   

3. One of my worst dreams was when I did something bad in school (I really can’t remember what) but I kept on running from one of our school heads. I was flaming mad and I threw a stone which hit our chapel window. Oww… I felt really bad when I woke up.

4. This is one of the weirder ones. I was back in prep school with my fave small bag (the one with cartoon-head-stuff design (go figure..). The thing is I went up my school and then I noticed I wasn’t wearing anything. I was totally naked. Freaky.

5. I also had a dream of seeing one of my friend (NBSB), in our uniform, pregnant and happy.

6. Another dream about pregnancy is about my college friend. She brought me in the comfort room where she took a pregnancy test. When it showed positive we’re having a discussion about what she could do. The last I remembered is that she said: “Di bali, we still have 4 months”. It could mean she still has four months to do whatever morbid thing before the ‘bulge’ will show or four months to decipher how she’ll brake the new to her parents. Hay…

6. I’ve also had a number of dreams about being in class. One is I was in my highschool uniform with my highschool classmates and my highschool teacher but we are in the lobby of Rizal hall of UPM. Probably, this was in my first year in the uni. Another is when one of my teacher got mad and she decided to let half of the class stay outside the classroom while she continued lecturing those left inside the room.

These are all I can remember so far. Paging interpreters. Hehe. I’m too boring(for most I think).

Next time (not in the near future), I’ll post my non-school related dreams.

Internship countdown

 5, 4, 3, 2, June 1 na! 

la la lalala lala la lala a lala la lalala. 

Inside Stories

* This came from Friendster bulletin. I actually take time to read my close friends’ replies if the questions are like this and not too superficial. I don’t post my own though, I’ll be inhibited and I’ll be exposing myself (hmm…. what a contradiction). But this is my domain, so I’m free to speak here, more than at a (more) public outlet. I’ll try to re-answer this a year from now and see how much it will change. *

Latest na narealize mo?
~ You’re doing something good. Or great. And then you talk about how good you are and what people say about you. Parang hindi sincere ang tao sa paggawa ng isang bagay kahit mukhang mabuti ito kung parang he’s just doing the act para masabing mabuti siya. It’s right to share an experience of an act of kindness para matuto ang iba pero it’s a different thing if it all boils down to ‘how good you are’.

Dapat gawin pag nalulungkot?
~ “I drop my sword ang cry for just a while” Call a friend. Blog. Play the piano. Read a book. Distract yourself. Malaki ka na. But never deny your sadness. Acknowledge it then move on. Do something!

Say something about love
~ love=life. You’re in this world because of love. You’re alive because of love. When you know how to love you’re alive. You accept the unacceptable. You see beauty and give life because of love.  Life is very complicated, so is love. Ohh.. do I have to mention vague?

Whats the title of the song that’s stuck in your head right now?
Air on the G String by JS Bach…  I can’t get it off my mind

Pangarap mong summer get-away trip?
- Hmm..  I really don’t have one. My ideal summer would be, a trip somewhere with my family, another with my highschool friends, another with my college friends, read fictions (my only time), master a set of piano pieces, attend a summer class, and enjoy doing nothing.

Isang bagay na hinding hindi mo tatanggihan?
~ hmm.. it always depends on the situation… The only thing that I can clearly think of now is that if ever I get pregnant for whatever reason, I’d never reject my child…

Masayang libangan kapag umuulan?
~ I enjoy playing the piano when it’s raining.

Isang bagay na pag-iipunan mo nang husto?
~ long term - investments, house, insurance… short term - books, pocket PC, panggala

 Paano ka ma-badtrip sa kahit sino?
~ d ako ngsasalita or worst pag ngsalita na ako.. msakit..

What makes you happy?
~ too many, from as simple as being with my friends, blogging, surfing, watching tv, playing, to the most complicated as remembering unusual memories and being confused about the complication and wonder of life.

why?
~ I’m just happy to live and not to live.

latest desire?
~ violin… I watched a movie related to that… naisip ko lang ang violin talaga parang mas mafefeel mo ang intensity ng emotion… ewan… basta…

Song/s that best express what ur feeling ryt now?
~ “Hihintayin nalang kita sa langit” ng Moonstar88- bigla lang pumasok sa isip ko at may naisip rin akong isang tao…

Is there any person that you miss?
~ a lot

What makes you really angry?
~ I don’t know..madali ako mainis pero nagagalit siguro ako kapg sobrang sobra na

Kung may mababalik kang moment sa buhay mo ano un?
~ I’m really feeling sentimental right now and I miss my piano teacher. I wish to go back to my last recital, rock, and tell her how much I enjoyed our lessons and that I appreciated all that she have done for me.

Did you enjoy your childhood?
~Yes, although I think I have one of the unsocialized childhood (may ganito bang concept?) because of my extreme shyness.  Yes, I love my family, my toys, my books, and my piano.

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
~This is always my list: a doctor, a teacher, a nun. Oh-uh. I have a dream that somehow I can be all three. The firs two there is a big possibility but for the third..uhhhhh.. I need to experience how to love a person first right? And a want to have children!

What was your favorite toy when you were little?
~Barbie dolls, no question

Name the first memorable vacation you took as a kid.
~Baguio. Walang tatalo. Hanggang ngayon. 

What was your first best friend’s name?
~Puchie.

Are they still your best friend
~She’s not my best friend anymore. She’s my sister (by heart that is).

How did you meet your best friend?
~First day at school, Preparatory grade at SSAM. It’s dismissal time, it’s raining hard and my service is not yet there. I’m almost crying because I’m alone (most have their mommies around but mine was working hehe) and there she was (accompanied by her bro naman) and she recognized me that I’m her servicemate. She kept me company..o diba…

When you were little what did you do for fun?
~play, play the piano, go out, hang-out with my cousins

What was your favorite class in school?
~ before, it was math… I can really spend nights just solving and resolving problem sets. (You might wonder why I didn’t take a career related to math… my idea is I didn’t want to pursue a career directly related to money such as business, economics?)

Random memory from when you were a kid.
~When we’re having a vacation at my Lola’s, my cousins and I, with Lola all sleep at the sala on the second floor… may sapin na banig tapos may kulambo… tabi-tabi kami duon (mga 9 cguro kami.. parang mga Anghel na walang Langit ang dating!). A special memory need not to be grand. It was a super special memory. 

Seriously…..are you still just a kid at heart?
Believe me, when you see me personally, you won’t ask that person… You’ll immediately think I’m still a kid (teenager probably)… Yes I’m still a kid at heart and I intend to keep it that way.

ER Experience 3: Safety and Ethics

*interesting stories I’ve quoted from the net* 

Danger in the least expected place.

As a group, ER personnel tend to underestimate the extent of danger to which we are exposed. We recognize the overt physical threats to ourselves and steer clear of patients who are trouble makers. We protect ourselves from patients with obvious symptoms and signs we know are contagious. Nonetheless, the patients with potentially dangerous diseases that do not show any recognizable indicators are those who present the most threat to the health of ER staff. Allow me to illustrate this with an example that happened before the Government recently strengthen the the law on patient’s confidentiality.

On a busy Saturday night shift, Mr. M was waiting patiently for me in the suture room. He had been assaulted, robbed of his wallet, and sustained a laceration to his head. The bleeding had been controlled by heavy pressure dressing applied by the triage nurse. He was a healthy looking pleasant gentleman, and we started to make small talk as I prepared to sew up his wound. As I fitted on my gloves and picked up the scrub brush to clean the wound, he asked me to stop a minute and shut the door because he needed to tell me something in private.
I did as instructed and waited for him to give me the message. “Doctor, I didn’t want anybody else to know about it, but I have the AIDS virus”. “Since you are going to be working with blood and sharp instruments, I thought I should let you know.” The reason he did not mention it to anyone else was to avoid the shame and stigma associated with the disease. I thanked him for his concern and for being forthright with me. I then proceeded, a little bit more careful than I normally would have been during a busy period, to close the wound.

As I worked, I wondered how many more patients I had sutured who had the AIDS virus or other contagious disease like hepatitis that never bothered to warn me. From that moment on, I decided to assume that any patient I came across potentially has something detrimental to my well-being and, that I must take extra caution to protect myself.

I had a dilemma though. Should I maintain the patient confidentiality or let the nurses in on his secret since they also would be taking care of him? Given the time constraint, I came up with a simple solution. I decided to eliminate any body fluid contact the patient might have with anyone else in the ER. I sutured him up, dressed his wound, cleaned the room and disposed of the instruments myself. The nurses were left with the only chore of reinforcing the wound instructions and signing out the patient. I was thereby able to protect the patient’s confidentiality and avoid needless exposure of the nurses to a lurking danger.

The recent outbreak of SARS in some South East Asian countries and Canada is a reminder of a similar danger. Many health care workers and scientists lost their lives when they were unknowingly exposed to the SARS virus while taking care of patients.

Contributed  by JKL: Cincinnati Ohio

Source: http://www.er-experience.com

If only…

I’ve just written a long post inspired by “destiny and heart” pero may napress akong kung anong key at nawala silang lahat.

 Maybe, it’s just not meant to be said. Not yet.

 Pero to make it less personal…

Do you believe in “soulmates”? I wan’t to believe in it because I think I met mine in an unlikely place, in an unlikely time.  Destiny. Coincidences.  You feel something you can’t explain. The thing is I didn’t let my heart speak out. I was afraid of a lot of things.

I didn’t even think we became real friends. Maybe he just came to my life for a certain reason and since nafulfill na yung purpose, he’s out of my life na. Ganun lang. Ganun lang kaya yun?

May fault din siguro ako, I didn’t grab the opportunity to know him more. I let go of a number of chances. 

Paano na yung pagiging soulmates? Maybe kung soulmate ko nga siya, I’ll meet him again in an unlikely place and at an unexpected time. Am I getting too weird?

Siya lang talaga ang guy na nagkaroon ng impact sa akin. Yun lang talaga yon. I could say a lot of if onlys pero wala naman magagawa…

All that’s left for me now is his school books (yes, he let me borrow all his pre-med books… and its the only time I met him face to face - a real quick meeting) and a fantasy of my if onlys…

20 thoughts I can’t get off my mind

Countdown to 21 part 1:

1. My  prof said that a person’s words are the least credible source of information. Maybe he’s talking of something like: “Sabi ni ganito….”. Totoo naman. It’s either you really have to know the explanation or reason behind your claim or you have enough evidence to back up your own words. Typical day application: tsismis.

2. The same prof said you should not trust or admire a person too much. Hindi mo maiiwasan pero maaring malapit na talaga sa perpekto ang tingin mo sa isang tao. Kapag biglang ‘nagkamali’ ang taong iyon, o madiskubre mong iba pala siya sa nabuo mong karekter na inakala mong siya, you’d be broken into pieces.

3. Don’t trust a person who trusts everyone. Nabasa ko lang sa internet pero totoo.

4. There is always something good in everyone. Kaya masarap minsan magform ng first impression. Kapag medyo off yung tao para sa iyo initially, wag mo pangunahan ng iwas. Maybe sa mga first instances na magkakasama kayo, medyo awkward pero sooner or later, you’ll like the person din. Yung iba siguro iisipin kaplastikan pero hindi… you acknowledge naman na medyo may hindi ka nagugustuhan sa tao (na miski sa sarili mo meron ka rin naman ayaw diba?) pero hindi mo naman hahayaan na yun lang ang maisip mo tungkol sa kanya diba? Try to find her “true color”.  Malay mo yung ayaw mo pala tungkol sa kanya initially,binigyan mo lang agad ng negative interpretation dahil nga sa first impression mo..

5. Anger is just a manifestation of another emotion. Pwedeng disappointment o frustration sa isang bagay o tao. Pero mas malamang ang lack of understanding o kakulangan sa pang-unawa. 

6. 1/2 commitment => 1/2 effort => 1/2 work done => 1/2 effective and efficient => 1/2 satisfaction => 1/2 happiness => 1 life wasted

7. Sa pagkakaalala ko inabutan ko pa ang P17 pesos na gasolina na ngayon ay P30+ na at ang dollar ay P25 na ngayon ay P50+ na. Ang dyip na P2.50 ang minimun noon ay P7.50 n ngayon, ang candy na 3 piso ay 3 dalawangpiso na ngayon.  Wala lang.

8. Hindi ko pa rin naiintindihan ang konsepto ng ‘crush’. Na-aatract din naman ako sa tao pero hindi yung tipong “Uy, crush ko siya”. Ewan.

9. You’re never too old to learn an instrument. I learned to play the violin at 19 and I know someone who did at age 27. 

10. I believe in fate - in destiny. But we do hold the key to our own destiny. Kaya dapat talaga pray and work (Ora et Labora ni St. Benedict). (more…)

Medical Bloopers I

… the site where I got these said that they were lifted directly from medical charts. They’re a bit funny but it’s not rare that some mistakes are made.

The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

The baby was delivered, the cord clamped and cut, and handed to the pediatrician, who breathed and cried immediately.

Exam of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.

She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until 1989 when she got a divorce.

The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of gas and crashed.

Rectal exam revealed a normal size thyroid. (Long fingers?)

Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.

A midsystolic ejaculation murmur heard over the mitral area.

The patient lives at home with his mother, father, and pet turtle, who is presently enrolled in day care three times a week.

Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation. (more…)

Baguio Noon

Nag-ayos kami ng kabinet noong isang araw it isang album ang biglang nagpabilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Isang album na puno ng aming mga litrato ng pagpunta namin sa Baguio noong bata pa kami.

Naalala ko itong lugar na to. Tinawag ko itong “biggest playground in the whole world”. Kapag pupunta kami ng Baguio noon yung malaking playground lang ang hinahanap ko. Tumatayo pa rin ang balahibo ko kapag naiisip ko kung gaano ko na enjoy maglaro. Buong araw, kahit sobrang init, wala akong tigil. Sabik kung baga. Pakiramdam ko dito lang ako naging malayang maglaro ng maglaro. Kaunti lang ang naglalaro dito, parang aming-amin lang ang lugar (sobrang mahiyain ako noong bata at di mahilig makipaglaro sa ibang bata, kasama na ang hindi ako marunong makipag-agawan ng puwesto - loser ata ang tawag sa mga ganito). Isa pa, may mga laruan sila na di pa makikita sa Manila noon - wala pa kasing McDonald’s playhouse (ang naalala ko lang yung sa Tropical Hut at Shakey’s… nyak). Tama na ang kuwento. (more…)

E-R Experience 2: What day is it?

*Just some interesting facts I got from the internet.

What day is it?

These are observations from a metropolitan ER on the Eastern Coast of the US.

Undeniably, certain diseases are more prevalent during certain seasons or days of the week. 

Friday and Saturday nights bring a preponderance of motor vehicle accidents, drunkenness, gunshot wounds, and laceration from bar brawls.

Motor vehicles accidents are also common on prom nights.

Sunday complaints reflect the mood of the weekend, mainly parties. They are mostly body aches and pains, abdominal pains and diarrhea.
Patients may come in late Sunday nights or early Monday morning hoping to get the next day off work.

Monday nights brings in the patients with the unmistaken “PID shuffle”(Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). Experienced doctors can tell these female patients apart a mile away. Typically, they are tilted slightly forwards and with slow deliberate steps as they walk into the ER. They complain of low abdominal pain. The problem can usually be traced to sexual exploits over the weekend.

During midweek urinary tract infections are common.

Serious medical problems can present at any time of the week.

In the winter months,broken bones from falls, skiing and sledding accidents are common. Hypothermia, frost bites from cold exposure, and carbon monoxide poisoning from kerosene heating stoves are prevalent. Exertional heart attacks are also common for people at risk shuffling snow.

Early morning rains and light snows on frozen roads, tend to wreck a lot of traffic havoc and accidents in metropolitan areas.

The warmer months bring a lot of outdoor accidents. Boating and fishing accidents: broken bones and lacerations from different sports including baseball, rock climbing and all terrain vehicles: and alcohol related accidents are common.


Many patients also present with symptoms relating to allergic insect bites and environmental allergens. They could manifest with breathing difficulty with a rapid disastrous effect.

And of course there are the malingerers, especially teenage girls, who deliberately mimic these symptoms of shortness of breath for secondary gains. They can show up at any time of the year.

With the full moon everything and anything can happen. Ask anyone who has put in enough hours in the ER and they would probably tell you some awry stories. The freaks do come out when the moon is full.

Contributed by A.J. MD., Frederick Maryland

Source: http://www.er-experience.com/

ER Experience1 : Innocence and Courage

I was looking for some medical jokes from the internet and I’ve read more than I asked for. Here is an incident that happened in an emergency room about a young girl who was raped and how her doctor was able to help her with her case. Just to lighten up after my previous entry. Enjoy and learn!

What was she thinking?

This pathetic story involving an 11 year old female (call her Kay) was a sexual assault by her mom’m boyfriend: took place in one of the warm American island destinations. She was the oldest of three siblings by two different fathers. The mom was a single working mother, and had an unemployed boyfriend. The boyfriend would occasionally baby-sit the kids while their mom was away at work.

 Kay was brought to the ER for evaluation in the company of the police and social workers. She had informed her teacher earlier that day that she was being sexually abused, and the school authorities alerte the police and social workers. When her mom was contracted and informed the allegations against her boyfriend, she claimed her daughter made up the story. (more…)

For (+/- future) pre-med students

9 out of 10 doctors recommend that going to med school is not a good choice. I made my stats up but its somehow true in a way. My doctor professors discourage us. A doctor, an established one, said that it’s better to go abroad because having a medical career wouldn’t get you anywhere in the Philippines. 

Why? It is known to everyone that medicine entails studying, more studying, a lot more studying coupled with lots of memorization. Kaya nga, as they say it’s a career not intended to those with a weak heart - or I  may say determination.  [ Number 1 requirement: you should be 100% sure that you want to be a doctor.  Mahirap na, sayang sa oras, sayang sa pera, frustrated ka na, baka bago ka pa mag-give up baliw ka na…]

But actually, the preparation itself is not the reason why doctors are discouraging pre-med students to pursue medicine. It’s all about practicality (I guess). They always say like “Ah, you’re taking up PT… So you’re going abroad huh? Canada is a good place and in UK, PT’s are also in demand and paid quite high”. And a suggestion for a med tech graduate: “So you’re working abroad? You may want to think of taking up Nursing as a second course.”

Why, how about working in the Philippines? You might have guessed the answer:  “Can the government feed you?” “There’s not enough opportunity here”. I don’t really know how much is a doctor’s income (forget the established ones or those who have instant status because of the ’surname’, or well just the lucky ones) but they say doctor’s don’t get enough (does this imply they don’t earn enough to feed their family, to send their children to school?).

I don’t know if they’re just taught to tell this to everyone - sort of a trick - so that only the most determined ones will proceed on entering med school or they are really in ‘despair’ because they expected a lot more (or what else?…it’s just reality?). But I really want to ask them - then why did you still choose to become doctors? (because it was a lot different before?) Why are you still practicing now ( because you’re already established? you’ve already stable financially?) And, you know there’s already brain drain in the medical profession - who do you think would replace you, or on more heroic note, would continue your legacy? We won’t have enough Filipino doctors - ok let’s import doctors from other countries! Yehey! (right..) And then they would dominate over our local doctors due to colonial mentality. Ooppss I’m off track now…

As for me, I now know that good intentions are not enough. Consider your abilities and how much you can give (and give up) for you to handle the stresses of med school. And think of the future. May future ka ba sa pagiging doctor?  [It’s a lot easier said or thought of as done]

Read on now. I’ll stop blabbing and let another do the talking. I found this article while searching for more medical jokes, influenced by a blog I just read.

Source:http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/6174/premed-advice.htm

ADVICE FOR PRE-MEDS (more…)

Of fracture and old age

*disclaimer: in case you’re reading this - *not a reference *every case is different for each person *probably not that reliable *just a personal account of an experience: have you encountered a similar experience?

Case of a fall:

She fell on the ground, face down but was able to  protect herself (a reflex) from the fall by using her hand as a support. Think of this. You’re falling down and as you fall, your wrist is extended or your palm faces the ground and this small of your body is the first to touch the ground. All the weight of your body would be concentrated and carried only by your wrist and hand! Ouch!

Here’s what she felt after. She can move her legs, neck, shoulders, elbows and fingers freely and without pain - meaning they’re alright. The problem arised on the wrist part of her left hand. Her kind of fall is typically called “fall on outstretched hand” . The thumb side of the wrist, a part of her lower arm and the lower part of her hand was swelled. It was also painful as she reported and she is not able to move it in certain positions also due to pain. Pain was also felt when the area was touched or moved by another person

She had an x-ray the next day and it was confirmed that she had a wrist fracture (a common type of fracture).

The orthopedic doctor explained that in her case, there were chipping of a part of a bone resulting to many bone fragments. This means it’s not a simple case of just realigning the bones into its perfect normal condition.

Suggestions was either to do a surgical procedure (it requires anaestesia and confinement!) called ‘closed reduction’ wherein the bones will be realigned using metal pins (internal fixators) or to just put the wrist in a cast.

[Closed reduction is done to complicated fractures (like the case mentioned) much encouraged to younger persons and those who do heavy work because they tend to use their hands a lot. The more normal realignment was also significant for aesthetic purposes.]

[Casting, is usually only advised to those with less complicated fractures (one or two fragments) because it can easily be realigned]

Factors to consider are that  the patient was already of old age, who doesn’t do any housework anymore and usually only do self-care activities with supervision and assistance (especially in walking, stairclimbing). In addition, the patient also has other concommitant conditions  including diabetes, hypertension, and history of mild strokes. This has a big impact on the procedure that would be performed.

The intervention:

The human body has a mechanism that automatically heals itself in time (that’s why there’s a joke that doctors only job is  to psychologize patients). For this case, as mentioned by the doctor, in two months, the fracture would heal by itself and the pain would be gone. However this is accompanied by a deformity and limitation of movement of the fractured site (the main joints and probably the surrounding joints). This is way medical intervention and rehabilitation is need. The part needs to function to the fullest despite the disruption of its normal mechanism.

For the patient, the casting was chosen. Why?

…. Because the patient, doesn’t do any heavywork. In fact, she only does self-care activities and is even given assistance to the more challenging or risky tasks like walking and stairclimbing.

… But the heavier reason is that doing a surgical procedure to her would be a complicated one because of her age, and her other conditions ( just think of the complications of diabetes).

… The surgical procedure would still need a lot of tests,  and would be more painful and stressful for her and her family).

… The casting is an easy procedure, done on the clinic, on the day of consultation (upon examination of the x-ray). No pain, done only for a couple of minutes and no stress at all.

The cast is pretty amazing. I was thinking that  plaster of paris will be used but surprise! The doctor was just putting protective stocking and then a bandage* which is  green and rubber like when you look at it which turned out to be a fiber glass. Wow. It’s a bit more expensive than the cement but it is more comfortable for the patient because of its light weight and quick application (applied similarly to bandage). And its fiber glass!?!

Everyone happy after. Doctor check-up next week. Same time, same day.

Quick info on wrist fractures:
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/upperfx/a/wristfracture.htm

History of my blogadoos

I’ve had journals when I was younger but I was not really into writing (because I have poor communication skills both in speaking and in writing - as you would probably see later on) so I only had quite a number of entries. What’s funny is that I usually only write when I extreme feel sad, mad, ashamed, and excited. Mostly, it’s full of negative thoughts - emotions that I would really not dare talk about with other people. I thinks it was my way of organizing my thoughts (while crying), and rationalizing things. So where are those journals now? They went to the trash. I actually laughed at myself reading them again but they’re something not worth remembering forever. And I have a terrible handwriting!

In highschool I learned a bit of web design through our computer class. I was really amazed with the HTML codes because they’re only like math equations but could produce creative output. We had a project where we need to pulish our own site (just a simple one) online and I chose Geocities. [memory box: I’ve made a Corrs Fan Page then…] That’s basically where I started to get hooked on using the net.

 By then, I also encourted the online diary of Geocities but I didn’t really liked it so I didn’t pursue ‘writing’ online.

Soon I’ve heard of online journals. I’ve searched the net and came to visit name.blogspot sites and others. The next minute I got my own blog at Blogger running (2003). Who wouldn’t? The programs are user friendly!

 The purpose: 2002 was a big year for me because it was when we experienced the first death in our family. My grandfather died. It was not a cry-yourself-out thing because it’s been years since he was bedridden. It was sad but we know he needs the rest and we know he already fulfilled his purpose here.

 So that’s when I really thought about death and wondered about my own death. Morbid? I don’t think so. I believe that death is really not a difficult thing to accept unless there are still debts to paid (I’m not only talking financially here)

Anyway, I thought of my blog as a secret from all the people close to me. In my blog, I’d write personal letters to each of the significant persons in my life so that anytime I die, I won’t think of like “I was not able to say this to him/her”, etc.  Wouldn’t it be nicer during your eulogy that rather than people listening stuffs about you - they would be listening to how special they are and that they did make a difference to your life? I wan’t them to be happy when I die and for my that’s the best goodbye.

 Well, I haven’t started with that yet.

 Now, I’ve realized that blogging is a fad (?) but fortunately, blogging is not famous among my friends and blockmates and hence I had no problem of having to disclose my blog ad to them. I didn’t wan’t my blog to be just reports of what I do during the day. It would have to contain those that I can’t openly say and explain.

Too superficial? Public diary? - at least an anonymous one. How about judgement? - Judge me all you want , I do care a bit of being judged but at least I can’t see you.

I don’t know if my blog would be informative but I’m not really someone who shares interesting facts (but I love to listen to them).

I’m also not opinionated and persuasive (one of my weakness) so you won’t expect my views on political or social issues (except for humanitarian reasons). I also would like to tabe safe from making political commentaries. Mahirap na baka bigla nalang mag-Martial Law..o kaya biglang alisin ang freedom of speech tapos huhuntingin yung mga blogs tapos maghahanap sila ng mga naniniraw kuno sa gobyerno..hay..hehe.. Not that I’d rather not fight for the right than go to jail.

*Already confused?*

I don’t know how far my blogs will go. I wan’t to be surprised.

First official entry

I’m finally making this my second virtual home. I won’t delete my account at Blogger.com because it’s been my home for almost 3 years and because I like my Blogspot.

But I keep saying that there would be a lot of changes come my 21st birthday. It’s weird to use your chronological age as a marker but I desperately need one because I appear to be a late bloomer. I’m still living in my comfort zone, with a heart of a teenager and still with lots of dreams that awaits to be converted to reality.

So welcome kath. A new home to explore. Change of environment but same old me. Possible new set of blog friends and new set of people to annoy. It’s not that I’d already invite people who know me to visit my page. I’m still not ready to do that  because that may cause me some inhibitions (plus I’d really like to see if someone I know would “accidentally” reach my pages - it’s like its meant to be read by that person)

Amazing world.