Hey There! :)
It's that time of the year where I dream of distant snowflakes and glittering lights upon Christmas trees, festivity in the air and the spirit of Nativity everywhere but that's just a figment of my untethered imagination.
College is progressing as usual. Medicine postings have proven to be interesting and informative and we see patients everyday. We get to take their histories, inspect them, palpate for any abnormalities, percuss for any dullness and auscultate their breath sounds (for ronchi, crepitations, etc) and heart sounds (normal heart sounds and murmurs; if any, we also heard gallop sound in a patient with cor pulmonale)
But sometimes, it's a little awkward (in my opinion) because it's about 25 students surrounding a single patient as the doctor examines them. Privacy is not something the patient can hope to have. And upon that, if any abnormal breath sound is detected, God forbid, we take turns and auscultate to hear the sound. Of course, we can learn only by doing this, but when you think about how you're inconveniencing the patient, it does prick you. After all, how would you feel if you're feeling breathless and weak and a bunch of students jab their steth in your chest to listen to the specimen of a sound your body is producing? I concur, this is how you learn, but there is also a downside to it.
Another aspect that touched me was how much trust the patients have in the doctor. The doctor is a Healer, the one who rids them of all illness, the one who gives them the good health and in the patients eyes, the doctor's word is final and accepted without question. Most of the patients who come to Subbaiah Hospital are from nearby rural areas (which is an advantage because they're more compliant and allow us to examine them which wouldn't happen so easily in an urban college) and a large percentage is not educated. The trust they place in the doctor is something great; it has to be earned, over time, by reputation. There was this patient (80yr old male, Tuberculosis) and the Doctor convinced him that by allowing us to examine him, we would be able to provide better treatment to him (which is not entirely true, but examining him would enable us to diagnose other TB patients in future).
Another thing we've begun is a visit to the wards every night post dinner. These sessions are proving to be interesting and informative and we're getting to learn new things everyday. We basically see the case sheets, take a look at the medicines prescribed (and Google them to know more), see the blood reports, case history and talk to the patients and identify any signs of their symptoms. The highlight was when saw a one day old baby and held it in our hands as it slept blissfully, saw the clot removal of the mother and watched the pack removal in a hemorrhoids case (that was too many things for one day! :") )
So I'm familiar with a few drugs now:
It's that time of the year where I dream of distant snowflakes and glittering lights upon Christmas trees, festivity in the air and the spirit of Nativity everywhere but that's just a figment of my untethered imagination.
College is progressing as usual. Medicine postings have proven to be interesting and informative and we see patients everyday. We get to take their histories, inspect them, palpate for any abnormalities, percuss for any dullness and auscultate their breath sounds (for ronchi, crepitations, etc) and heart sounds (normal heart sounds and murmurs; if any, we also heard gallop sound in a patient with cor pulmonale)
But sometimes, it's a little awkward (in my opinion) because it's about 25 students surrounding a single patient as the doctor examines them. Privacy is not something the patient can hope to have. And upon that, if any abnormal breath sound is detected, God forbid, we take turns and auscultate to hear the sound. Of course, we can learn only by doing this, but when you think about how you're inconveniencing the patient, it does prick you. After all, how would you feel if you're feeling breathless and weak and a bunch of students jab their steth in your chest to listen to the specimen of a sound your body is producing? I concur, this is how you learn, but there is also a downside to it.
Another aspect that touched me was how much trust the patients have in the doctor. The doctor is a Healer, the one who rids them of all illness, the one who gives them the good health and in the patients eyes, the doctor's word is final and accepted without question. Most of the patients who come to Subbaiah Hospital are from nearby rural areas (which is an advantage because they're more compliant and allow us to examine them which wouldn't happen so easily in an urban college) and a large percentage is not educated. The trust they place in the doctor is something great; it has to be earned, over time, by reputation. There was this patient (80yr old male, Tuberculosis) and the Doctor convinced him that by allowing us to examine him, we would be able to provide better treatment to him (which is not entirely true, but examining him would enable us to diagnose other TB patients in future).
Another thing we've begun is a visit to the wards every night post dinner. These sessions are proving to be interesting and informative and we're getting to learn new things everyday. We basically see the case sheets, take a look at the medicines prescribed (and Google them to know more), see the blood reports, case history and talk to the patients and identify any signs of their symptoms. The highlight was when saw a one day old baby and held it in our hands as it slept blissfully, saw the clot removal of the mother and watched the pack removal in a hemorrhoids case (that was too many things for one day! :") )
So I'm familiar with a few drugs now:
- Rantac, Pantodac, Omaze: Antacid
- Buscopam(Hyoscine): anti spasmodic
- Emiset(Ondansetron) (Anti-emetic): For Vomiting
- Bandy Plus, Albendazole: Antihelminthic- Deworming related
- Deriphylline (Bronchodilator): Given in Asthma
- Xone, Taxim: antibacterial
- Lupichlor: Diuretic
- Sporlac: Given in case of Diarrhea
- Silicar (Clinidipine): Anti-hypertensive
- Doxy: Antibacterial
- Diclonac (Diclophenac): Analgesic (NSAID)
- Tiniba: Antibacterial again, antibiotic
Actually, there are so many more, but these are some that we see very commonly so I could remember these..
Today was particularly interesting. Giving IV Injections is the new task to be mastered (but first, we've got to become guinea pigs for each other before we can be able to give it to the patient).
Extremely happy in life after we (Abhi and I) went shopping yesterday (NUTELLA is my saviour, my knight in shining armour, the sole love of my life) and as always, hogged nicely at BPP (Bhatru Paani Puri) and chatted for what seemed like forever. :')
If you aren't there for the people who matter to you, what's the point? Currently confused and disoriented, Haven't spoken to Di in ages. How I wish I lived in Bangalore. *sigh*
There is pressure, to perform, to better oneself and be good in the profession we have chosen for ourselves, because, finally, you're going to be by yourself in the end. There isn't going to be anybody to whisper the answer to you when your patient asks you the same question that your teacher asks you in class. There isn't going to be anybody to help you out to read the ECG, or identify what is wrong in the X-Ray or tell you that the breath sound is slightly diminished on the left side, that there is a murmur indicating mitral stenosis. And this thought is daunting indeed.
You are nobody until you prove yourself and become Somebody by your effort. I've realized that between that point and now, there isn't going to be any cheerleaders to encourage you, none to tell you that you have it in you and nobody but yourself. Be it family, friends or random strangers, you have to earn that respect, that comes with time, after dedication, determination and practice (Pun intended). And it appears daunting..
Ït takes a great deal of courage to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends"- Albus Dumbledore (Neville :D )
Sometimes we have to walk into the battlefield even when you know you're going to lose it. Vaibhav Sir (referring to a situation where the patient might go into DIC [Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation] and will most likely bleed out and yet the doctor inevitably tries all possible measures to stop it). What is also difficult is watching your friend walking onto such a battlefield where winning is bleak. Yet you staunchly stand by them, hoping for a miracle.
Game of Thrones is an interesting concept. Watched the initial half, Wikipedia-d the rest of the story because I realized I didn't want to be watching it.
Currently addicted to a few Kannada songs (yes, I can't believe it either!):
Plans of rising early and visiting the wards exist so it's about time I bid adieu to the blogosphere.
Statutory Warning: Mere use of medical terms does not imply that one is studying to the necessary potential. It merely implies that one is typing random nonsense and hence you are advised to switch off and sleep like a lamb.
If you aren't there for the people who matter to you, what's the point? Currently confused and disoriented, Haven't spoken to Di in ages. How I wish I lived in Bangalore. *sigh*
There is pressure, to perform, to better oneself and be good in the profession we have chosen for ourselves, because, finally, you're going to be by yourself in the end. There isn't going to be anybody to whisper the answer to you when your patient asks you the same question that your teacher asks you in class. There isn't going to be anybody to help you out to read the ECG, or identify what is wrong in the X-Ray or tell you that the breath sound is slightly diminished on the left side, that there is a murmur indicating mitral stenosis. And this thought is daunting indeed.
You are nobody until you prove yourself and become Somebody by your effort. I've realized that between that point and now, there isn't going to be any cheerleaders to encourage you, none to tell you that you have it in you and nobody but yourself. Be it family, friends or random strangers, you have to earn that respect, that comes with time, after dedication, determination and practice (Pun intended). And it appears daunting..
Ït takes a great deal of courage to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends"- Albus Dumbledore (Neville :D )
Sometimes we have to walk into the battlefield even when you know you're going to lose it. Vaibhav Sir (referring to a situation where the patient might go into DIC [Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation] and will most likely bleed out and yet the doctor inevitably tries all possible measures to stop it). What is also difficult is watching your friend walking onto such a battlefield where winning is bleak. Yet you staunchly stand by them, hoping for a miracle.
Game of Thrones is an interesting concept. Watched the initial half, Wikipedia-d the rest of the story because I realized I didn't want to be watching it.
Currently addicted to a few Kannada songs (yes, I can't believe it either!):
- Jiya Theri, Jiya Meri (No it's not a Hindi song)
- Hoovina Baanadanthe (after listening to Gimpi's soulful rendition)
- Sangathi Thandeya.. (randomly)
And then of course, there's:
- Aa Zara (Sunidhi)
- Tum Mile (The title track of the movie)
- Clarity (once again!)
Plans of rising early and visiting the wards exist so it's about time I bid adieu to the blogosphere.
Statutory Warning: Mere use of medical terms does not imply that one is studying to the necessary potential. It merely implies that one is typing random nonsense and hence you are advised to switch off and sleep like a lamb.
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