Relocated
So holidays are finally over. I will put a post up about holidays some time.
Today I had my GP placement in Toorak. After hearing some mixed comments about others’ GP placements, I just thought not to have any expectations of mine, and just take what comes.
I love my GP so much I almost wanna say I think he’s the best person on earth. figure of speech. When I called his receptionist yesterday to introduce myself and confirm my attendance, Dr H called me back and asked me if I knew how to go there, told me directions of good parking, and best of all he told me that he’s looking forward to having me. Isn’t that sweet. Oh yes, almost forgot- he asked me to meet him at 8.30am, and asked me if it’s too early for me! I was gonna say “yeah, can I come after lunch?” but I figured probably not to make such jokes before I even meet the guy. While I was talking to him actually, my phone turned off on it’s own, not once but twice. And he was still so nice about it and said “maybe you need to get a new phone!”
Today he asked me if I managed to find parking, introduced himself, and when I asked him if he’s had students before he told me he’s done this for 6-7 years already. Doesn’t that tell a bit about him? He told me that he had a young patient many years ago who came in with unexplained bruising and in the end turned out he had leukemia. His patient then went on to study medicine and whilst doing his rotations, asked Dr H if he could sit in with him for clinical experience. Dr H said ok, and he said he found he really loved having students and so always had them in with him since then.
He then said, “that’s me, so now, what’s your story?”
Don’t you love it when people interact with you.
After that he asked me what I expect of the placement, and he told me he’s heard that some students get ignored and said he tries to get students as involved as possible.
Dr H: “… so I’ll be firing questions at you and putting you on the spot.”
Me: “Please forgive me if I don’t know anything”
Dr: “Most students don’t know anything anyway, so you won’t be the only one.”
So the whole day, he takes time to explain the history of the patients, he asks me lots and lots of questions, asks me to take blood pressure and do liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on lots of warts, whenever he sees something interesting, he asks the patient if i can do it too e.g. listen to murmurs, look at skin lesions with a dermatoscope, look into ears (that would have been helpful for my paeds OSCE!), tells me next time he’ll get me to do jabs too. But all in all he’s so nice about everything, and he’s so teachy. Not to mention he’s really funny as well.
Dr H: “Oh seems like our last patient before lunch is my mother-in-law. *puts head on keyboard* Dread dread dread. I’m paying for my sins, seeing my MIL as my patient.”
Dr H: “My MIL is really talkative. She might ask you everything about your life….. just thought to warn you.”
His MIL by the way, is a nice old lady. Questionable very early stage of dementia (forgetting things), but multiple cerebellar small vessel disease causing ataxia. It was funny how she and Dr H were discussing about Dr H’s son. She’s like the protective supportive grandmother, and Dr H is like the harsher father.
He said he was aware of my assessments I had to do over the placement, and he looked at my student handbook to see what they were and said he’ll be on the look out for patients to do those things, and if possible if there’s a spare room, he’ll give me patients to see on my own.
He opened an ECG book and explained to me about RBBB on an ECG while the patient was still sitting there.
He let me listen to a patient’s chest 3 times because I could not place my finger on what sound that was in his chest. It was a pericardial rub. (which usually happens in pericarditis, but this man doesn’t have, but may just have had that from CABG surgery, otherwise it’s not really known why he has that)
I guess I’m pleased too because I knew most of his questions and that made things much more interactive.
I once had a GP whom I went to as a patient (my regular GP was away) when I was in the early stages of what was later quite a severe illness. I told him I also felt I had palpitations. He put his stethoscope on my chest for half a second and said “your heart’s beating, you’re fine.” GPs like these just made the impression of them so bad.
As for Dr H, after one day of consulting with him, I even feel like pursuing general practice.
I’m (finally) on Facebook!
Oh no.
My nose has been runny/blocked since last night. I have a sore throat. I’m insanely lethargic.
OSCE exam is in 3 days.
Push & Poop
I’m revising about labour and delivery and I’m reminded of all the women I had helped, who kept pooping while in labour.
It didn’t really help that, for some reason, all the women I was with were in labour kneeling on the bed on all fours (unlike classic tv positions where the woman is lying on her back). So essentially it was a clear view of the butt.
Funnily, while I was in the delivery room and that happened, it was just like ‘ok wipe it with the pad’. But now, after all that, those scenes just play back and how it really reminds me of the motion of slowly squeezing mayo out of the tube. Except the mayo is like…. ok I’ll just stop there. Pardon the vivid description.
Not glamorous. Then again, I find hardly anything glamorous when a woman is in labour.
If I am ever in labour, I really hope I keep my shit to myself.
Hurry up
Time is passing incredibly slowly. Maybe because my butt is stuck to my chair all day. Come on, I want to finish exams already!
Do I not like children?
Why is obs & gynae so much easier than paediatrics?
Mum says the funniest things
On the way home after buying $80 worth of groceries from Safeway (mum wants us to hide out at home for the next few days to prevent catching H1N1):
“Don’t carry so heavy things, you’re studying for exams.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m still trying to see the link there.
Chant with me
I have developed a mantra. Consisting of 5 letters well known in the student world.
S-T-U-D-Y. S-T-U-D-Y.
From now on, that will be my answer to anyone who asks me what my plan for the day is. (well actually only one person asks me that. uh huh. you.)
I found it’s actually quite effective. Kinda pumps me up.
Try it. Seriously.
S. T. U - D - Y.
S. T. U - D - Y.
Wow. In about a week is the start of my exams, and less than 2 weeks I’ll be (hopefully) done.
I have a feeling I will see a number of familiar tutor faces during the OSCEs. I have asked a number of my tutors if they will be involved in the OSCEs. They give me ‘the eye’ and say in a long-drawn out “Yeeessss…?” as if I’m about to ask them for inside info. I would have, if not so many other people were with me. Because goodness knows, when you tell one, you tell all. Not to mention if you leak out something to a few students. His friends. Her friends. His friends’ friends. Her friends’ friends’ friends. Ok. This is exam stress talking.
Everyone’s ears perk up once they hear ‘exam’ or ‘osce’ and like magnets they’re drawn to whoever’s talking about it. The trepidation of the unknown is what really unsettles me. Sometimes I get somewhat excited. You know, not knowing what the stations are gonna be about and really test your knowledge. On the other hand, I really don’t want to blank out. Anxiety gets the better of me.
Anyhoo, I’m 101% sure that at least one of the stations will be examined by a tutor I know. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. On one hand, I hope they’ll be lax. On another hand, I’ll be embarrassed if I stuff up. They’ll be thinking what an idiot I am. Alright this is under-preparation talking.
Come on.
S. T. U - D - Y.
S. T. U - D - Y.
There may be a lack of posts for the next couple of weeks. And hopefully it will be good news at the end.
Sweet Potato Pie
sweet potato pie with home made crust
Is baking becoming my weekly activity? I love the idea of combining things and making something nice out of them, but with baking, sugar content is real scary. Oh and butter. I try to cut down what I can, but ordinarily I wouldn’t even consume this amount. Is it an innate thing (especially for the women) to love baking? If only the good stuff weren’t so bad.
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