Sorry that this is a little behind schedule. Even though I’m jobless on holidays and supposed to be super-free, I was busy with some family issues last week, thus the delay. Anyway, here goes my first attempt at taking up the MMR Bloground Challenge…

Adeline Wong, Bernard, DocFiles, Hooligan, Letti and Sbanboy are among those who blogged about Easter. Ain shares photos from the Indie for Glory gig at Little Havana held recently. CH Lee’s hair grows back.

Coolclare blogs about the 1st and 2nd day of the “Kursus Induksi” she attended at Kundasang. It has been a CME-filled week as Cytusm and Jimbo attended a ID conference in Georgetown while Fibrate went for a a less-than-regal dinner cum talk at Gulai House. Meanwhile, Vagus has gone to AACE 2007 in Seattle to scale the heights of endocrinology.

It also has been a travel-filled week as Ket Sang goes on a trip to Cornwall and Dr. Eay-Lalle recovers from a trip to Gap, Smangkok, Chilling. Raymond takes part in the Kapas-Marang Swimathon after postponing his root canal therapy while Saw Ling is all smiles after returning from Budapest and Prague. To the envy of some people, Tw was having fun watching the F1 race at Sepang.

On a more serious note, Cindy tells about her friend’s bad experience with a rude, sarcastic and insensitive doctor. eColi questions the need for the arbitrary 30-minute resuscitation before pronouncing someone is dead. Darren reflects on his 4 months of medical posting while Jinkhang starts his medical posting.

Is it possible to choke on a piece of “pisang goreng”? Ask a patient of Docyana’s. Doc talks about brand loyalty while Spinosum gets RM 5 off his next pizza. Tru-Asian introduces his cast of paintbrushes.

Imagine if an “apocalypse” of the blog world occurs… what would the last message be on your blog? Bernard and Yenjai shares what their last post would be.

Last but not least, learn how to make a condom case for your phone or PDA at DocFiles.

Ten more days to a brand new Year of the Dog according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar!!

Why am I so excited about the Year of the Dog?

Firstly, Jel and I and a lot of our dearest friends are borned in the Year of the Dog. woof!

Secondly, dogs are my favourite-est animal. woof!

Thirdly, how can anyone not love those cute little puppies and doggies??? woof!

We all know that dogs are man’s best friend. If you think that’s not enough… be reminded that dogs guard our house and keep us protected; they guide the blind people and aid in their daily routine; dogs are a big help to the police force in detecting hidden drugs, locating missing items or people, chase and catch targets; and dogs are also found to be therapeutic to the sick!!

If the above cannot convince you enough that dogs are truly gifted and trustworthy, then how about this:

A recent research revealed that trained dogs can detect presence of cancer by picking up volatile compounds released by lung tumours into the breath of patients, sniffing the skin of skin cancer patients and the urine of those suffering from bladder cancer.

woof!

Click here

Cheers to all doggies in the world!

A wart is a skin infection caused by a group of virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). It invades your skin through small cuts or breaks and developes into a hard, rough growth on the surface of the skin. It is commonly seen on the bottom of the foot (plantar wart) or on the fingers and palms of the hand, but they can also appear at other parts of the body (skin, inside the mouth, genitals, rectal area). They are infectious and can spread from one person to another. However, some people are more naturally resistant to the HPV viruses and don’t seem to get warts as easily as other people.

Often warts disappear on their own, although it may take many months, or even years, for the warts to go away. On the other hand, some just won’t go away on their own. It is not known why some warts disappear and others don’t. Warts are often bothersome as they can bleed and cause pain when they’re bumped. They can also cause cosmetic problems, for example, if they grow on your face. Treatment decreases the chance that the warts will be spread to other areas of your body or to other people.

Traditionally, warts are treated by applying salicylic acid on it, especially those on the hands, feet or knees. Another method is by applying cantharidin where the doctor “paints” the chemical onto the wart. Liquid nitrogen may also be used to freeze the wart. This is called cryotherapy. Liquid nitrogen can be applied using a probe, cotton or a cotton swab. It may also be sprayed on directly onto the wart. The spraying machine (cyrojet) looks a bit like a Ridsect canister. Apart from that, warts can also be removed by burning, cutting or laser. This treatment methods are stronger, but they may leave a scar.

Today, I had the opportunity to use the cryojet to spray someone’s wart. Though I was nervous that I might have poor aim and miss the wart, it turned out alright in the end. In fact, it was rather cool

Over the past 4 years in medical school, medical professors, doctors, lecturers and seniors continue to drill in us the importance of approaching patients with compassion, love and sympathy. My teachers say:

“They are not cases: The enlarged spleen at Ward 3. Bed number 50. The alcoholic liver disease at the corner. The diabetic foot that came in last night.”

“They each have a name. Like you and me. And they have parents, children, family. Each of these patients come to you with a health problem, and behind them is a host of family members, relatives and friends who worry for them and love them the way your parents love you.”

“They ache, feel, cry and laugh just like everyone else.”

Funny, unlike the great number of medical facts doctors have been drumming into my head for all these years, these few statements stay with me from the very first day I heard them till now. And they resurface in my mind every now and then. Each time I talk to an ailing patient, I’d try my best to check my manners, behaviour and priorities lest I turned into a doctor who is only interested in gaining satisfaction by solving medical problems without even feeling and thinking for the sick man I’m dealing with. Well, for some unknown reason, THIS matters to me a lot.

Yet, I never realised what I’ve been truly missing in the understanding of this important virtue of the medical profession until my own father lies on the hospital bed at the mercy of the medical staff and God. It is a big blow for the family to learn that our loved one is unwell. It is heart-wrenching to witness the physical and emotional suffering. It is even more devastating as we look on feeling helpless and almost hopeless.

Waiting for the final diagnosis is like standing at the mouth of an active volcano which is ready to erupt anytime. You are pegged high up in danger not knowing if the end of you is near and when. The last thing you need at this point of time is to be greeted with ignorance, delay, procrastination, empty promises and mistreatment from the management team. You stand perched by the hospital bed dutifully early every morning in the hope to catch the doctors in charge when they are making their daily rounds so that you can have some questions answered to help clear the muddle in your head and ease the worry in your heart. But alas, if only the doctor cares to spare a few minutes of his precious time for you and your family.

True, not everything should fall on the shoulders of doctors alone. Yet a doctor can give so much even by a smile, a kind word or by providing a minute of attention.

I wish I never have to state that I’m a medical student to obtain special treatment and immediate attention from the hospital staff. I wish I’d never have to pull strings to get things done and the many confusions in mind cleared. But I had to because everything seemed to come to a halt at the very beginning. I do not want to wait in vain. I need to see answers and effort. I do not want to wait till it’s all too late. I’m thankful that at least something is being done now. We’re grateful that we have at least what seems like an answer. However, I hope I’m one of the few to witness the ugly side of medicine and its management and I pray that all the sick are being treated with utmost care regardless of status and identity.

Eversince the day I saw Dad on the hospital bed - his small frail figure almost disappearing in the sheets that keep him warm, I see him in all the patients I come across in the hospital. My throat hurt and I gagged with him during his bronchoscopic procedure. I panted with him when he gathered all his strength to cough. I shivered with him as he curled up and hid from the cold undernearth the comforter. I’m sure you will feel the same if he were your own father.

Though Dad never did complain about anything except for the hospital food (yeah, I told him he’s too picky on food) in these 3 weeks, I somehow could feel his sadness. I wish I could make him see that I’m accompanying him through this journey and that he is not alone - even when I’m not speaking much.

May God bless him… This will be my only Christmas wish this year.