Gary Barlow - Sing

I am going to admit I am not a royalist but Gary Barlow moves my heart again with this song. Every time, I hear this, my heart goes fluttering!

Train - Drive by

Sometimes, you just fall in love with a song straight away you heard it and before you know it, you just can't stop listening to it repeatedly! 

Now this stuck in my  head, can't get rid of it.

One very unique patient

During my training, I have to do 6-month placement in general practice. During GP sessions, we have 10-minute slots for each patient. It actually is not easy to see one patient in 10 minutes. We have to ask a few questions, examine them, make data entry on computer system, and provide medical prescriptions if needed. Although I do not like it, I have no choice but to rush and speed up when seeing patients to keep up with my time frame.

There is one lady, who I think is very lonely at home, likes to come to GP surgery everyday for no reason. She just likes to come and chat or sometimes complains some random non-medical stuff. Not only that she likes to come and chat at reception but she also likes appointments to see a doctor every now and then. 

One other problem with her is that she is extremely deaf to the point that she can not hear anything at all. She doesn't like wearing hearing aids either, so how do we communicate with her? She shouts and we write on the paper for her to read.  Joy!

just one nightshift

During my night shift last night, I met this very pleasant gentleman. He was brought in by ambulance with two falls at home. When an elderly gentleman had a fall, it is always important to establish "How they fell?, either mechanical fall or there is a medical reason such as Heart attack.

Lets say his name is James.

So I started with the question, "Ok James, do you want to tell me what happened and how did you fall?"

He replied: "Oh doc, I just crashed down to the floor"

Me: "OK, Is that because you slipped on the floor or tripped over something?"

He: "No I don't think so, but I have 2 lovely dogs"

Me: "Ok, good, but can you tell me a bit more about your fall, James?"

He: "Oh, I don't know Doctor, I think I just collapsed. You know, my dog name is Plauto and Jessie. They are two lovely terrier. They are brilliant. when I say his name .............." its go on about 3 - 4 mins, So I had to stop him and said

Something I learnt today

We see countless numbers of alcohol dependant patients with all sorts of medical and social admissions in hospital every day. Some of them are brought in to hospital because they are intoxicated. Some are admitted because of the complications of chronic alcoholism such as Liver problems, gastritis, pancreatitis, nerve and brain damage and the list goes on. Some of them come to hospital, asking for help with their alcohol problems. 

When we are really busy, we get annoyed by the time that we have to spend trying to get some history out of the intoxicated patients. Some of them, we have to leave them in their cubicles until they are less drunk and can make a bit of sense.

Childhood Obesity (my own view)

WHO announced that Childhood obesity has become the most serious health risk in 21st century. The percentage of obese and overweight children has more than tripled in the last 20 years. 

As a doctor, from public health point of view, we become responsible to discuss and encourage parents to help losing their children's weight if they are overweight. We explain parents how children should be encouraged to be more active and should have less time on using computer and internet, watching television or playing computer games. They are also referred to Dietician who will help with "diet and nutrition". Sometimes, it makes me think as to why I even need to discuss all about these. Children, by nature, love playing. When we were young, we finished our school at 4pm and we played in the playground with other friends the whole afternoon until it became dark. We did not have 24 hours Television or internet then. We were happy and healthy.

Just do it now!!

I use this proverb "The most important time is now" to remind myself when I am feeling a little lazy.

I remember my life at my parents house, I did not need to worry anything at all. We had food on table when we were hungry and bed was ready when it was time to sleep. I only needed to worry about my exams and studies at school and university. When I said, my life at my parents place, it was until about I was 26yr of age or in other words, until I got married.


After getting married, I migrated to the Great Britain with my husband for our career and further degrees. Then, I realised how stressful it could be to live ourselves. Not only studying anymore, but I had to cook, did the house chores and ensured all bills were paid, banks were sorted, random documents (eg; Tax form, CRB etc etc) were filled in and sent back and the list could go on endlessly. Some of them, I just left them in my "to do list" to do them when I was free.

Medical notes

We all know how important documentations are in our daily lives. Especially when it comes to our medical records, it is crucial that we need to be very accurate and clear. We sometimes moan about how much we spend time on writing rather than actually seeing patients. At the same time, we all understand how important these documentations are. We are all reminded many times by senior staff and medial record keeping team that "if they are not written, it is not been done" no matter how hard you work to save a person's life. However, just like in all other languages, the way we use words and phrases, can lead to second meaning. Here is a copy from "Confessions of a GP" 

These are apparently real extracts from medical notes. So here goes;

1. She has no rigours or chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.


2. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.


3. On the second day the knee was better, but on the third day, it disappeared.


4. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed


5. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

Awkward moment

There was a long queue in front of me at hospital coffee shop today. Whilst patiently waiting for my turn to be served, I took my iphone out and checked my emails. Then about 80 yr old gentleman just behind me suddenly said "Oh your phone looks very nice. What is it called?". I was stunned and replied "Ermm?" Not many people here usually asked random questions to people you do not know.

Majority of my friends, old or young, consultants or cleaners, have iphone. I love my phone because it looks very pretty, slick and practical. I have many educational and work related applications installed. I can check my emails, twitter and facebook, and keep up with the latest research and academic updates 24hour round the clock. Sometimes, I do wonder how I would cope without this little thing in my daily life. 

Personalities

Fina Diving championship

When I was covering for FINA diving championship at Olympic Aquatic centre, I had a pleasure of meeting the great Dr. Richard Budgett (CMO of LOCOG). He is very chilled and relaxed person and has ability to make people around him comfortable, yet respect him at the same time. 

While we were chatting today, I stupidly asked him what sport he does. He smiled at me and answered "Oh a bit of rowing". I replied "Awww" But later I found out he was an Olympic gold medalist in rowing, competed 4 times in Olympics during his career. Such a genuine and humble personality he has!!!

Today at diving championship, one of our friends turned up late and joined our random conversation. He then interrupted us and asked "Excuse me, if there is a person drowned, do we go into the water to rescue him?" Its 5m depth pool, and we are not jumping into water, but only lifeguards will. We had our briefing and practice on how we will rescue an injured person out of the competition area if accident happens. Life guards will get the injured person out of the pool and we will take over his care at pool site. Our friend, being late, just missed all the early morning training.