Saturday, June 8, 2013

Random updates from my Internal Medicine rotation.

I APOLOGIZE for the lack of updates. I've been exhausted to write anything coherent, but tonight I make an exception.

1. Internal Medicine is sweeter the second time around—yes, even if there aren't any clerks to help us out. I'm not saying we don't need them. We do, and we're glad they're arriving next week.

2. Two mortalities in two days. I thought I could get used to seeing death, but I took care of those patients—my patients—and I felt terrible. I was told to leave all the burdens in the hospital—but I practically live at Wards 1 and 3 now.

3. After my first death, Dr. Joey Duya, my service senior, talked to me and the rest of the team—a stress debriefing of sorts. What he told us were exactly the words I needed to hear that moment. So if you're reading this, thanks, Sir!

4. I'm a mess at Guazon endorsements. I say the answers I truly mean, and the effect on the audience is usually laughter. I'm glad our residents are patient enough to deal with our ignorance.

5. I'm in Service Three again. Every day we have the 10 am edema rounds with Sir Joey. I say that lovingly. Together we visit our patients' beds, do focused physical exams, evaluate out findings, generate our differentials, and formulate our plans. The tips we get from Sir Joey are priceless. These days it's his voice I hear when I read my Harrison's.

6. One of my patients was having difficulty breathing. I did all I could to help him out, but he was still gasping. I called my classmate Ching to help me out. Without batting an eyelash she auscultated the chest and told me, "He's congested, Lance. Let's give Furosemide 40 mg IV bolus." At that moment I was so proud of her, as I am with the rest of the block! I like to believe we've all gotten better from clerkship year.

7. The best forms to write are discharge summaries. The worst referrals to make are those for Infectious Disease (IDS). The referral to Renal Service is a close second, mainly because I keep forgetting how to compute for the ideal body weight.

8. The only way to ensure my nutrition for the rest of the day is through prophylactic eating—that is, binge eating at 10 am.

9. I was monitoring at the Cancer Institute this morning when I encountered the 15th patient who told me I look like Aiza Seguerra.

11. I read so many books during my free time. Maybe it's about time I finish Harrison's from cover to cover.

12. I was on my way home when I saw these women at the hallway.

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13. Bantay Failure is a major cause of morbidity among our hospitalized patients. Talking to uncooperative bantays can be a test of one's patience. I may have failed many times. I regret those moments.

14. My favorite view from the Cancer Institute.

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15. I have so many things to write about, but I should get some sleep now. I thank God for sustaining me thus far. His grace is sufficient.

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1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are hilarious, Doc! Why did I only discover your blog now? :( (I'm sorry for stalking haha!)

Thu Jan 29, 04:08:00 PM GMT+8  

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