I just bought my ticket for my vacation next month. Yay!
My dad collected $1 as bride price for my sister this past weekend. He didn't want to take anything at all, but the in-laws insisted and he collected a dollar. Our bride price is typically 21 Naira but my granddad started the tradition of not collecting anything and unlike a lot of stories i've heard from the older generation, he told his daughters that they were always free to come back to his house if things did not work out. I think he was very progressive for his time. He died before i was born so i didn't get to meet him.
So i was driving home from work yesterday, i was talking about the $1 bride price with my dad and i told him I wanted him to collect more than a dollar for my bride price. He started laughing and asked how much i wanted him to take and i said thousands, that he can give it to me if he doesn't want it. I'm not doing that $1 story. I'm going with my igbo side on this one. How much does a American trained doctor go for these days?
It doesn't matter anyway cos my dad will still collect $1. He should at least ask the in-laws to pay off my student loans.
Now that's a plan I love. If only i was an Indian dude. I actually saw that in a movie.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Floored
"You are as beautiful as you are good" Then she turned to her sister and asked "right?"
Sister responds "she's very beautiful" puts her two hands together and gives a slight bow in thanks.
I was floored, very unexpected praise/compliment. I said thanks, that their mom is lovely and and speaks very highly of her daughters which reminds me of my relationship with my mother.......
Moments earlier when I sat on a chair beside the patient's bed adjusting the position of the bed to suit her, then getting a pillow to elevate her leg to make her more comfortable, only the second sister was present and she had said "isn't this a waste of your talent, I can do this for her". I said no talent is being wasted this is all part of what I do.
I'm so glad that I found my way to the specialty where I can take care of the person with the disease not just the disease. And as much as I hated my med school experience with each day that passes, I am so thankful for the excellent training I got in my med school. I now realize how good my med school is. From first year, it was not only drilled into us, we were given the opportunity to learn and practice how to see and acknowledge the person behind the disease. We learned from day one the importance of listening and communicating with your patients. History, history, history, the key to the diagnoses most of the time is history. Listen and let the patient tell you what is wrong with them.
These things are now second nature to me, it's the only way I know how to practice. Even in med school, when patients were mean and grumpy to me, I never took it personally, I knew It was usually not about me no one enjoys being sick and in a hospital bed surrounded by the unfamiliar and fear of the unknown. Some people just handle it more gracefully than others. So these days when I receive such praise, I still continue to be floored because i'm just being myself. I don't think i'm doing anything special.
When you tell a patient or their family member you will do something, never blow it off, find time to do it, otherwise don't say you will you it. I learned this while before med school while working at the psych hospital and it was again emphasized in med school. The other day, a very nice patient was talking about wanting to understand more about what was going on with her any was going to google it. I said, why not let me get you information from a great source that doctors use all the time (Up to date anyone? :). When i actually brought her the information right before she was discharged, she was surprised and thanked me for remembering. I said, if i tell you i'm going to do something, then i do it.
I was actually called by the attending to meet him to round on that patient, instead of rushing down, i took the extra two-three minutes i needed to pull up the information and print it out before going to meet him. He rounded on the patient without me, cos she was just getting discharged. When i was walking towards the room, he told me he already saw the patient and i told him i had to give her the information she requested on her illness, and he said oh good! .
It's the little things that count. As a med student, I would watch patients or their families during rounds and often see the confusion on their faces. Too much information, sometimes a lot of doctor speak going on. A lot of patients are not comfortable asking questions for fear of exposing their ignorance or not wanting to challenge the doctor. If they were my patients, I always went back after rounds to clarify, fill in gaps and just generally get everyone on the same page. I would always tell family members and patients that they were the best advocate for themselves and they needed to speak up, ask questions, know why they were being put on the medications they were prescribed.
I had a dream on Sunday that I was still trying to get into med school and I was very discouraged about getting in and was thinking of giving up. It was such a vivid dream and I was SO relieved to realise when I woke up that it was just a dream. That not only have I gotten into med school, I'm done with it and i'm now a doctor. It was a reminder to focus on how far I've come and how much i overcame to get here. I wasn't very happy the whole month of August and I needed to be reminded that my life could be a whole lot worse.
I remain thankful. Always!
Sister responds "she's very beautiful" puts her two hands together and gives a slight bow in thanks.
I was floored, very unexpected praise/compliment. I said thanks, that their mom is lovely and and speaks very highly of her daughters which reminds me of my relationship with my mother.......
Moments earlier when I sat on a chair beside the patient's bed adjusting the position of the bed to suit her, then getting a pillow to elevate her leg to make her more comfortable, only the second sister was present and she had said "isn't this a waste of your talent, I can do this for her". I said no talent is being wasted this is all part of what I do.
I'm so glad that I found my way to the specialty where I can take care of the person with the disease not just the disease. And as much as I hated my med school experience with each day that passes, I am so thankful for the excellent training I got in my med school. I now realize how good my med school is. From first year, it was not only drilled into us, we were given the opportunity to learn and practice how to see and acknowledge the person behind the disease. We learned from day one the importance of listening and communicating with your patients. History, history, history, the key to the diagnoses most of the time is history. Listen and let the patient tell you what is wrong with them.
These things are now second nature to me, it's the only way I know how to practice. Even in med school, when patients were mean and grumpy to me, I never took it personally, I knew It was usually not about me no one enjoys being sick and in a hospital bed surrounded by the unfamiliar and fear of the unknown. Some people just handle it more gracefully than others. So these days when I receive such praise, I still continue to be floored because i'm just being myself. I don't think i'm doing anything special.
When you tell a patient or their family member you will do something, never blow it off, find time to do it, otherwise don't say you will you it. I learned this while before med school while working at the psych hospital and it was again emphasized in med school. The other day, a very nice patient was talking about wanting to understand more about what was going on with her any was going to google it. I said, why not let me get you information from a great source that doctors use all the time (Up to date anyone? :). When i actually brought her the information right before she was discharged, she was surprised and thanked me for remembering. I said, if i tell you i'm going to do something, then i do it.
I was actually called by the attending to meet him to round on that patient, instead of rushing down, i took the extra two-three minutes i needed to pull up the information and print it out before going to meet him. He rounded on the patient without me, cos she was just getting discharged. When i was walking towards the room, he told me he already saw the patient and i told him i had to give her the information she requested on her illness, and he said oh good! .
It's the little things that count. As a med student, I would watch patients or their families during rounds and often see the confusion on their faces. Too much information, sometimes a lot of doctor speak going on. A lot of patients are not comfortable asking questions for fear of exposing their ignorance or not wanting to challenge the doctor. If they were my patients, I always went back after rounds to clarify, fill in gaps and just generally get everyone on the same page. I would always tell family members and patients that they were the best advocate for themselves and they needed to speak up, ask questions, know why they were being put on the medications they were prescribed.
I had a dream on Sunday that I was still trying to get into med school and I was very discouraged about getting in and was thinking of giving up. It was such a vivid dream and I was SO relieved to realise when I woke up that it was just a dream. That not only have I gotten into med school, I'm done with it and i'm now a doctor. It was a reminder to focus on how far I've come and how much i overcame to get here. I wasn't very happy the whole month of August and I needed to be reminded that my life could be a whole lot worse.
I remain thankful. Always!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Gratifying
I had a long day in clinic today. I was the last person to leave because my visits ran late due to a number of things. I didn't end up writing any notes. I left and went straight to girls nights with my coresidents. My first meal of the day was a jumbo margarita at almost 8pm but it was an extremely gratifying day.
All my new patients I saw today all really liked me and they told me. It makes all the stress worth it especially when I'm just being myself. To hear someone say, you don't know how much you've done for me, I was really worried about coming here today because xyz but you were awesome, when all I did was listen and validate and encourage from one human to another. I can order labs, prescribe meds, play doctor but nothing is more important to me than the human connection.
I love what I do and I think it shows. Today was a good day.
I'm still so fucking sleep deprived though it's not even funny.
All my new patients I saw today all really liked me and they told me. It makes all the stress worth it especially when I'm just being myself. To hear someone say, you don't know how much you've done for me, I was really worried about coming here today because xyz but you were awesome, when all I did was listen and validate and encourage from one human to another. I can order labs, prescribe meds, play doctor but nothing is more important to me than the human connection.
I love what I do and I think it shows. Today was a good day.
I'm still so fucking sleep deprived though it's not even funny.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Foot in the mouth syndrome
AKA Oops!
When you tell a patient that they are doing very well for a 97year old in spite of all their medical conditions when in fact, they are ONLY 74 years old.
Yikess!!! I was only trying to be encouraging and thanks to being terribly busy, I only got a verbal report from the hospitalist who told me the pt was 97 and I didn't have time to look up the patient myself.
General: In moderate distress. Appears much older than stated age.
In my defense the patient totally looked 97
Praying to God I have a quiet night. We admit every night and so far it's been crazy busy.
When you tell a patient that they are doing very well for a 97year old in spite of all their medical conditions when in fact, they are ONLY 74 years old.
Yikess!!! I was only trying to be encouraging and thanks to being terribly busy, I only got a verbal report from the hospitalist who told me the pt was 97 and I didn't have time to look up the patient myself.
General: In moderate distress. Appears much older than stated age.
In my defense the patient totally looked 97
Praying to God I have a quiet night. We admit every night and so far it's been crazy busy.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
These guys ain't loyal, Sis!
First rotation done! Already done with the first week of my second rotation, although all my rotations don't run for 4 week blocks, but most do. But we are not going to get into logistics. Things have been going well.
High lights include
High lights include
- Being told by a nurse that of all the residents she has ever worked with, I have one of the sweetest personalities..... Like, oo ma gad!
- My PD saying he thinks i'm a very genuine person and someone who is always true to herself.
- A patient complaint about me 0_O. I'm totally innocent :)
- Being pulled over for speeding but getting a warning and being escorted to my destination instead after pulling the lost physician card. Hey, hey, hey! Don't judge me. I really was lost thanks to construction, my GPS was in the process of rerouting and i wasn't paying attention to the speed limit. Plus, i guess it helped that i said i was going to the DV shelter. Perkity perk. No complaining.com
- Just being content and at peace generally.
- My awesome, awesome apartment. I just love...................
That is until my friend boy decided to be a daytime wizard and shatter my peace. These boys ain't loyal. This is what i get for not listening to my therapist. Don't worry about what he told me to do. I kinda was taking the slick way outish. Trying to stay in the gray area. One leg in, both facing out. Shit still sucks. He better not come back, cos imma karate kick all his teeth down his throat. Verbally! I'm still against physical violence. Urgh! I miss my therapist and therapy. I can't wait to see him at the end of the month and just cry and laugh about what a stubborn non compliant goat i am. But by then i'll be feeling better and this crap won't even matter.
Seriously guys, if you read this post and waka pass, you will have hot pile for the rest of the week. Stop making me feel like i'm talking to myself. Girls are not smiling.
I still love you guys. Bye!
Monday, July 27, 2015
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