Minor posting's of Semester 8

I have finished my 4 minor postings of semester 8: Ophthalmology, Accident & Emergency, Dermatology and Ear, Nose & Throat.

My thoughts?

Ophthalmology? It was interesting staring into people's eyes. It was also fulfilling to finally be able to see the optic disc somewhere other than the books :D Thank you Dr P and Dr K for teaching us. However, I don't think I will see it as a career :P I can recognize normal - and that is the limit of my ability. Plus, I don't have the patience to read all the disease's in the book :D

http://depts.washington.edu/asaccp/eye/general/retina1_big.gif

Accident & Emergency? It was a very very scary posting but a practical one. One has got to learn the trade or else there I will be no use in an actual setting :D It is important to declare that my group were the angel's of A&E. it is true than in the 2 weeks, no one (and I mean it literally from morning sessions to night on call) we did not see ANY intubation, resuscitation or patient who has passed away. The only exception was the last group on call if I am not mistaken. So, we are not to be blamed :P Haha if this could be scientifically proven, we would all be hired to sit in the department just to ensure the safety of the patients :D

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3827823/2/istockphoto_3827823-cute-angel.jpg

Dermatology? I am 100% that I will not be doing speciality in this posting. Don't get me wrong. Dr N, Dr P, Dr I and Kak N were smashing. But, to me, all skin lesions look the same. Please don't ask me to tell the difference. For that matter, in the exam, one of the questions asked for underlying conditions that could be possible ... I answered everything (every disease that I could write in the short 5 minutes). So, I guess that career died before it started :P

Ear, Nose & Throat? This posting was much better. Thank you Prof E. However, 2 weeks to finish 3 anatomy has sent my head in twirls ... But I did get to see audiometry testing in action. It felt rewarding to see patients be fitted for hearing aid or to receive speech therapy. Hmm, quite touching.

http://www.toonpool.com/user/1044/files/ear_beach_119655.jpg

However, on the whole, the postings were too specialized. Without a deeper interest, it really was just like blowing through each postings. Hopefully, I can catch up with all the reading during my selective and elective posting (yeah, yeah, I am just saying this to comfort myself but the books are more likely to just gather dust for 2 months :D)

Quick Update

Since my exam, I have still not the time to pen (or rather type) my thoughts down. So, in the true nature of last minute blogging, I am going to summarise my life events from then till now in one post. :P

Had exams ~ passed. Still waiting for results. Many people say they rather not receive the break down but I think we should. Following IMU's nature of self directed learning, we need to know where we stand if we are to direct ourselves. No?

Exams ...

Ref: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/dmbtest.gif

My holiday was to go to Port Dickson with family. It was a relaxing getaway after exams :P

During the hols, I was busy trying to clear the Semester things away, returning my baseline heart rate to 72 beats per minute and preparation for the 1st Malaysian International Medical Students' Conference. The week flew by without me even blinking. Oh, midway, celebrated K's 22nd birthday. Hmmm, it was Japanese again this year ...

Birthday boy with DL :D

Then, term started with ophthalmology. Here, I must confess and apologies to all my ophthalmology lecturers. I am sure they had high hopes in training me ... but I can safely say that now that the posting has ended 2 weeks later, I am non-the-wiser. So, have to do some catch up work and stare into more peoples' eyes.

Staring into eyes ...

Ref: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:GQaPbBfXahHqvM:http://i.pbase.com/u19/hrss/upload/8681681.M

In the midst of ophthalmology (I seem to have a lot of in between) I attended the 1st MIMSC! Kudos to the core committee and sub committee for a job well done. My respect for some of my colleagues have reached new heights and of course, my boss is still high up on my list for most likely to succeed in life :D I am still to settle the bills and certs for the conference but at least these matters can be taken one step at a time. I have to say I have never (and hopefully never again) experience so much walking (IMU BJ 4 floors look a lot more when I have to carry boxes up and down) - so little sleep (10 hours for 3 days but my amount of sleep is still more than everyone else :P - I am so lazy!) - and produce so little urine (only went toilet once a day - don't worry, I replenished as soon as possible).

The official logo (yeah, I know you wanna see pictures of the people but as I don't have them ... you will just have to be patient)

So, tomorrow I start a new adventure in Accident and Emergency posting. I cannot hide my reservation of my learning in this posting because it is something I cannot see myself ever wanting to do. However, I shall walk into IMU tomorrow with as open as possible a heart to the posting.

Door to my heart

Ref: http://www.shjolg.com/images/closed%20door%20heart.jpg

Till I next update/brood/get annoyed at my lack of posting - Au revoir

Happy Belated Birthday!

To my blog, Happy Belated Birthday! You are finally one year old. May the coming year be enriched with more thoughts to feed the soul (hopefully with an increase of frequency too :P)

Ref:http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/happy_birthday_cake.jpg

I am grateful

I am grateful for everything that has been given to me. A home, a family and education (still in process :P). A series of recent event helped remind me that I have had so much receiving but not a lot of giving.

It is actually a story about a PDA :D

http://eaesthete.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/cow_jumped_over_the_moon.jpg

About 15 months back, my Dad discussed with me and he agreed to fund my OWN PDA :D I was over the moon! I am not an IT savvy guy ... so, owning something like that is a blessing and a curse at the same time :D However, my Dad saw it fit to help me in my studies and went on with the decision to foot out almost 2.5K for it.

http://www.moretwittertraffic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/fist-of-money.gif

I was the proud owner of a HTC.

Since then, I have diligently read the manual to maximise it's use (and my brother can testify that I don't do that with every new electronic item in the house.

http://courtneyphillips.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/reading-for-dummies-cartoon.jpg

The PDA has been a great tool and life saver many times. Unfortunately, it had to weather a breakable pouch, falling on tar road (I think many ppl will remember my depress mood last year :P) and of course swimming class (literally ~ no joke!)

About one month ago, my PDA finally gave way. The screen went blank. Unfortunately, it seemed destined not to light back up with a whooping minimum of RM 900 just to get it fixed. *Point to note ~ I have been told that the model is removed of the market because too many problems? Just rumours I heard.

Anyway, I felt burned and bummed.

http://www.raytownfire.com/images/explosion%20in%20face.jpg

My Dad (the man who originally paid for my first PDA plus repairs ...) offered to buy another PDA. (If it were I, I would probably had told my son to just study the old fashion way ... after all money DOES NOT grow on trees).

http://raleighforhire.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/money-tree.jpg

I was afraid of another PDA repeated story. I was afraid of a sequel with the same plot.

But my Dad paid for another. I don't know what to say.

http://images.clipartof.com/small/6714-Brown-Dog-Mascot-Cartoon-Character-Jumping-In-Shock-Clipart-Picture.jpg

Thank you Daddy. You have always been generous in everything you gave me. I have never felt as if you denied any of my desire. You were always willing to go the extra mile for me. Thank you.

Happy Daddy Day!

PS: I promise to do my best to take care of this phone.

PSS: Special thanks to all who comforted me when my phone when down. To A, thanks for lending me your spare phone for 3 weeks. To KC, thanks for helping me set up my new phone. Last but not least, to my loving cousins down south who helped me get the phones. Thank you.

Concentration

I am sitting for my paeds exam next week. After spending 4 weeks of blurring in the wards & daydreaming in class ... you would think that I would spend this last weekend doing some heavy duty revision.

But no! I have been wasting this precious 48 hours away ...

I can't seem to concentrate. Every 30 minutes of study, I am checking my mail, surfing the web, lying on my bed, day dreaming, reading a book ...

Ref: http://www.weblogcartoons.com/cb/concentration.gif

Anyone has any tips?

Social stuff ...

Hmmm, in the midst of studying, I seems to be quite busy since the last 5 weeks. Just a quick recap on my life ...

I have done my Orthopaedic posting for 5 weeks. My take on it? It was fun, novel, eye opening ... but perhaps not something I can envision myself doing. But then again, it is too early to tell. Que sera sera. One of the most important take home message from this posting is ... LOVE YOUR BONES! The pain on impact(if MVA) is not comparable to the pain of the treatment! Slow & painful. 

Bones are like this stack. Easy to bring down but it is painstaking to put it right again! 

Ref: http://www.chocosho.com/admin/images/380x285/80124_1_bone_stacking_game_b.jpg

I have also sat for MCQ paper for Psy and Ortho. As always, I am the predictor of doom ... :P but, I think I have learned to take things as they come. The paper was bad but life goes on and the next posting is coming. As I always like to say, the sun will still rise tomorrow ... :D

Hmmm, I was looking for a scary hooded guy but this guy is so much better :D he got hired for the role :D 

Ref: http://www.hoernersburg.net/images/StoryPictures/Black%20Hooded%20Man.jpg

Next up, my tummy needed some placating :D So, tried Seremban's specialty ... seafood ... crabs! It blew away a whole week's allowance (thanks mummy for letting me crawl home with my tail between my legs to beg for food :P). But, the company and food was nice. (The price was not worth the crab ~ so, maybe somewhere else?)

Black pepper crab? I also can't remember the taste ...

Please don't even try to test my tiny memory on the crabs taste ... :D

The friend who has promised to make a voodoo doll of me for revenge ... :P

The famous Seremban shop. Food was good but not student allowance friendly :D

Somehow, I managed to go for my first ever concert! David Archuletta! Okay, before anyone ask me how I photo edited my picture into the photo, it is REAL! I did go! Okay, it was cheap (Ticket was less than RM50), I had good friends going (who would have given me stares if I backed out in the last minute) and it was an experience :D Lots of standing, sweating, laughing, annoying (people at the concert), rain (too long a story to tell :D), last minute changes of plan and spending a lot of money (parking, food). It was truly an experience but another concert? Hmm, I think it would need a lot of thought before going for another :D

The cool friends whom I went with :D

I like his songs :D

Nice smile :D 

* All pictures a bit blur but that is becoming my MO ... 

Other than that, my cousin got married! Congratulations to LL (big sister!) and to my new brother in law (S!) The garden wedding dinner was novel and the tea ceremony was fun :D (because it was my first time actually helping to prepare!). Dinner at Banting was nice and yummy! Btw, I totally like their wedding pictures! Like top model!!! The choice of outfit (wedding picture and actual wedding) was good. Inspiring :D Haha but I don't think I fancy the hair! Not the looks because I was blown away by its looks but the weight! Ah well, beauty before comfort? It was a weekend like no other. Love my cousin and new cousin in law :D

The brides maids, grooms brothers and the cousins :D (Honestly, I dunno all of them but i like the atmosphere of the picture :D) ~ all smiles

My Cousin! I like this gown ~ Asian and Western touch ... 

Lastly, I am having my mid-semester break. Mummy day and a whole day out with family was awesome. No pictures for obvious reasons (I have not got down to downloading them :D). Hmm, will try to get them up :D 

Food for thoughts ... how did I manage so many things in 5 weeks when I am suppose to be studying ... Hmm, obvious answer too ... I was not studying!!! Okay, time to get serious and hit the books! 

Ref: http://www.vietpostcards.com/images/school.gif

Decisions ...

Thinking cap ... 

Ref: http://www.adrants.com/images/thinking-cap.jpg

Face with this menace everyday of our life. In every aspect, we put on our thinking caps in hope to unravel the mysteries of the world. We weigh the pro and cons of every decision. Toss the list behind our backs and follow our heart. But our 

heart may not always be correct. So then, how do we make a decision? No one ever hopes to make the wrong decisions. 

This week, I have been burdened with many difficult decisions. Some whose consequences probably will not register as a blip in my list of life events and others that have been giving me insomnia (initiating insomnia due to anxiety :D) 

Thus, my conclusion is ... there is no right decision. 

Tipped scale ... 

Ref: http://www.spirituality.org.za/uploaded_images/tipped-scale-733228.jpg

Pros and cons may tip the scale but .... our heart is the guide we need to be motivated and have deep burning desire for the decision 

Burning heart of desire

Ref:http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~numero9/Burning%20Heart.jpg

... a decision may be full of boon but our heart just cannot accept it ... a decision may be full of undesirable endings but our heart is drawn to the challenge and gore - to test our limits ... 

The true decision to be made is 

Can we live with the decision made? 

What can be done to mold the decision?

What are the lessons to be learned from the decision? 

Taking the plunge...

Ref: http://images.google.com.my/images?hl=en&rlz=1C1CHMA_en-GBMY319MY319&um=1&q=diving+into+water&sa=N&start=0&ndsp=18

Then, take the plunge ... never to look back ... never to regret ... the only thoughts that should consume the mind would be how to proceed and realize the decision ...

The roller coaster ride of decisions has not ended but I certainly hope to continue the battle till the last battle horn is sounded. 

Lord, grant me the wisdom to change what I can; and the courage to accept what I cannot

Sleepy teddy ... 

Ref: http://www.huggableteddybears.com/files/detail/G-1R34146-2A0608P.jpg

Hopefully tonight my sleep will be sound ...