So, why medicine?

Okay, so I’m gonna take a break from all the Sabah posts (but stay tuned for more!) and tell you my thoughts and feelings on my 1 week attachment at a GP (General Practitioner) Clinic. I must admit, I haven’t been blogging my thoughts and feelings in abit so this is gonna be wordy! You’ve been warned!

So typically my day starts at about 9am and I leave the clinic at about 630pm. But there was a night I stayed till 8pm and boy, was I glad I stayed! I managed to diagnose a case of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) but I would say it was more of a presumptive diagnosis as we didn’t have the lab results. The patient (a young lady) presented with delayed menses, weight gain (more specifically 12kg over the past 6 months!), increased facial hair growth and a change in her voice (she said she sounded more husky). I know that we can’t say for sure that this is a case of PCOS (hence, presumptive diagnosis) but the GP made the same diagnosis as me! It felt nice knowing that I could apply (what little) knowledge that I still retained from lectures (I’m on holiday now you see.. ) on a real life patient. It felt good being able to diagnose the patient and it feels even better when you’re right!

But there were some cases that almost brought me to tears. An 8 year old girl, came to a clinic for cough and cold. But what struck me most was that she had a tracheostomy done (cause I could see a tube sticking out of her throat) and the GP told me that she was born with tracheal atresia (can’t remember if it was a tracheoesophageal fistula or atresia) and that she’s only learning how to breath with her nose at 8 years old! She has a tinyyy frame cause she’s on a fluid diet and honestly she doesn’t look like 8 years old. She looks wayy younger. Another patient, a 70+ year old man who came to the clinic to be put on a drip (cause he’s not eating well I suppose). He has stage 4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma and there’s nothing that can be done anymore. He came in and left a very strong odour (GP called it the cadaveric smell and said that his insides were already rotting and that he probably couldn’t live for long). Cases like these really break my heart. It’s sad to know that you can’t do anything to help them but to just give them palliative care. At least now I know that I can’t work in the oncology department. T__T

Despite that, there were also cases which inspired me in so many ways! An 18 year old boy came in cause he got a cut while he was working. I found out that both his parents are deaf and dumb and they’re trying really hard to make ends meet. But despite all odds, both him and his sisters are straight A students! He’s currently working (while waiting for his SPM results to come out) to help support his family. I guess it’s moments like these which make you realise how fortunate you are and to really appreciate the things in your life cause sometimes we do take things for granted, don’t we?

But what made me more sure than ever of medicine was that I was excited! I was excited about almost everything! I never dreaded getting up early in the morning for work (cause the clinic was pretty far from home, I had to wake up a lot earlier) or having to stay till late (maybe it was just 5 days but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have mind if it was longer)! I was excited about every single opportunity to help out in the clinic! I loved how I was given the opportunity to draw blood from patients that came for a medical check-up or to help insert a butterfly needle into a vein for an IV drip! I loved how a patient came in for a wound dressing and the doctor would go “Here, go change his dressing!” (with supervision of course! ) I loved how I was allowed to suture a cut on a man’s elbow with guidance from the doctor! Although I must admit, I was abit shaky.. But the doctor would always say “Practice makes perfect!”

Initially, my reasons for studying medicine were more towards liking the idea of helping people in terms of their health and to make a difference in their lives but I was never truly sure as to whether that reason alone was strong enough or true enough. But after seeing the joy on patients’ faces after you clean their wound and change their dressing or when you tell them not to worry and that taking their medication will make them feel better or just seeing a little kid smile when you ask them “Why are you here today?” is strong enough a reason for me.

Not only did I realise how sure I was of this field, but I now also have a slight idea of what I want to specialise in! Okay I can’t say for sure but I’ll put this under my ‘To consider’ List. After looking at all the children at the clinic and how adorable I find them (!!!), I might consider doing Pediatrics! But we’ll see how that goes. Might end up doing something else for all I know! Haha!

In a nutshell, I can say that that 1 week rotation was probably the best rotation posting that I’ve been to throughout my 4 semesters in IMU! So far. I saw cases that I’ve never thought I’d ever see as a 2nd year medical student, carried out minor procedures that I never knew I’d dare do and I never felt more sure that medicine is indeed what I want to do in the future. I had such a great time that I even ask the doctor if I could go back when I’m free!

So to those aspiring doctors out there, find your passion! If you’re really interested in taking up medicine, go for it! But if you’re still unsure of why you wanna do it, find your reason! If not, the studying’s gonna be a bitch! >.<

Oh and yes, a very Happy Chinese New Year to all of you out there! Have a great time with your friends and family and may this year of the Dragon bring all of you joy, luck, wealth and most importantly, good health!!

And a picture to end the post!

Okay fine, I cheated. I wanted to upload pictures that I took at the GP clinic but my phone decided to be retarded and the pics went missing after I plugged my phone into the computer!!! *RAGE*

Sooo.. this picture was taken ( when I was in Sem 2!!) in one of my Clinical Skills session. I actually injected a real butt at the GP clinic! Hehe.