of medicine and moments
i know the title is a mouthful but it reflects the content of my blog, so i am sticking to it.so much yet so little happened over the past few days. I went to clinics as usual, i did my data collection for my research project, i did my literature review, i went for a meeting with CCLLEN regarding my SALP community project, i signed a contract, i watched movies with the girls, and i baked. (oh and i had my menstruation too.) and all of a sudden, i have many thoughts. i am not saying that they are great thoughts, it's just that i have been thinking and i am aware of it. does it make sense?
i love going to clinic.
because i am *still* an AMS student and i have all the reason on earth to not know much. No not really, but at least that is an excuse, valid but lame excuse if u really REALLY REALLY don't know something.
and because both my supervisors are AWESOME. they don't quiz medical students. they ASK questions, and if you don't know the answer, they will TEACH you. this, is what i call great teachers.
and because most of the patients are friendly. some of them are really nice. and a handful of them are really funny. we saw a patient with poorly controlled hypertension the other and the doctor tried to advise the patients to eat wisely. the conversation was something along the lines:-
Pt: Yes i tried to eat more healthy. I had cereal for breakfast now. Only cereal and milk. Really light. Should i do that for lunch?...... Can I actually do that? Is that safe?
Dr: Yeap, that's alright. But may be you should supplement your diet with more fruits and vegetables.
Pt: So fruits are good? But i have diabetes. somebody told me that fruits are not good for my blood sugar.
Dr: Yes there is sugar in fruits but as long as you don't eat a crane of mango in a week that should be fine.
*i was trying so hard to not laugh at that stage*
Pt: Is meat pie fine?
Dr: NO.
Pt: Meat pie is not good? but i always feel so good after i have them! you know. it makes u feel energetic.
Dr: *nods* Just cut down on your salt. Take away food is very high in salt. so it would be good if u can exclude them from you diet.
Pt: but i was told i need salt for my thyroid.
Dr: u are talking about iodine i presume. and yes it is true that they put iodine into salt. Do you drink a lot of soft drinks?
Pt: Yes. Just Diet coke.
Dr: That's not good.
Pt: *genuinely shocked* DIET COKE IS NOT GOOD?!?!?
Dr: No. Diet coke and tap water, tap water easily wins hands down.
patients can at times be so CUTE. no kidding.
but of course, there are some down times in clinic too. I saw a patient with metastatic melanoma that spread to his liver, lungs and brain. He had an operation to remove the brain tumour, had full dose radiotherapy on his entire brain and tried every single regime of chemotherapy. but the tumour recurred. and this time, one of the tumour is at the region where operation is not recommended. in other words, the patient runs out of option. Not only did the doctor have to break the bad news to the family members, he had to explain why he would not recommend surgery. at some point during the consultation, the partner became a little emotional and cried.
"I watched my mother died. I watched my brother died. I am not immuned to this you know. i just need to now how long he has to live"
this strucked me.
we had lecture on dealing with difficult patients last semester and we talked about "the urge to just run away and leave the room". i thought THAT was a weak thing to do, it shouldn't even cross your mind. and i believe everybody elses think so too. BUT at that instance, leaving the room was exactly what i wanted to do. it ain't easy.
but the doctor was great. He was frank but not blunt. Sensitive but not overly cautious. Thoughtful but not emotional. Empathetic but not sympathetic. It seems to me that he just has the whole package with the right amount of everything. He genuinely cares.
at the end of the consultation, the wife said
"Do you have anymore question my love"
what i felt at that moment, was beyond words. it made the romance that i see everyday seem so shallow and futile.
and when we left the room, that lady said
"thanks and all the best"
it should be US saying that.
You do learn from your patients. U learn every single day. Anytime. From anyone.
Labels: AMS, medicine and me
posted by Phey Yee @ 9:52 PM
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