Sorry. I'm bored and easily distracted from packing.
Friday, 20 December 2013
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Pun Hard 2: Pun Harder
So this definitely counts as revision, not procrastination, right? Not only do I know the Circle of Willis better than I ever bothered to in 2nd year, but I know how to spell "siege" and "vengeance" too. Cheers Bruce.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
"It's gonna take a lot to drag me awaaaay from yooou..."
The blog has been somewhat sparse, but I'm hoping to post some retrospective stuff once I get back!
So this is my final night in Africa, ahead of an early flight back to Blighty tomorrow. I left the hospital on Wednesday morning, travelled to the nearest town where I stayed with missionaries from Africa Inland Mission. Not only was this exciting because they're a great family but OH MY GOODNESS A WARM SHOWER. And pancakes. Basically they spoilt me rotten.
Today I spent a fun 2 hours sitting on a concrete thing waiting for a bus, then an even more fun 5 hours on said bus. But I sat next to a very friendly nun called Agnes, so that was nice. I've now arrived in Kampala and I'm staying at the AIM mission inn for the night. Again, spoilt rotten. It sounds like an absolute cliche, and I'm sorry to write it, but spending 2 months in south-western nowhere makes you appreciate the minor luxuries which I'd always taken for granted. The other people here were greatly amused that I was more excited about Oreo Cheesecake than the children. (Weird thing is, I don't really like Oreos or cheesecake, but the thought of pudding was just too exciting). I've got a great amount more respect for missionaries now. I always thought they did an impressive job, but what they do is really incredible, and often under some difficult conditions.
I'm a little sleep-deprived, so this may turn into a word-vomit (verbatemesis?) but I wanted to write a few things that I'll really remember from this trip.
The lowlights:
-Seeing patients die, especially young ones who died for want of simple interventions, like FFP.
-Illness. Fortunately nothing serious.
-The sheer workload some days. I absolutely loved the work, but there was just too much of it for even a qualified doc to do, let alone a bumbling student.
The highlights:
-Seeing patients get better and knowing that it was due to God's grace, not us. There were very limited resources, and often not much we could do. But still many of them recovered. There are various cases I'll never forget, but two intersecting ones stick in my mind at the moment: on the paeds ward we had one boy with nephrotic syndrome (there's a whole other blog post about him, probably my fave patient), and one kid with cerebral malaria. Both had essentially nosedived, and gone into respiratory distress. Other than oxygen and Furosemide, we couldn't really do anything. Most of the team were pretty certain these two young lads would die. But somehow, they didn't! A couple of days later I spotted them running around one wing of the ward playing football.
-Getting thrown straight into Ugandan culture. Despite every terrible, terrible faux pas I made, people forgave quickly! And the food was pretty great, but if I ever have to eat another omelette I might kick off.
-God fulfilling promises and prophecies left, right and centre. Again, there's another post to be made about all this.
-I've come back (prepare for cliche-town) with a lot more enthusiasm for medicine. Like, honestly. I got to work with some absolute legends, who would give their all for patients, and it was pretty inspirational. I hope I can take some of that attitude into final year with me.
-I've also come back with more enthusiasm about just how important my faith should be. If ever I wasn't convinced about miracles, I can now say that I've seen them, and they happen. God does amazing things, often when we are completely powerless.
This is now threatening to turn into a ramble, so I'll sign off.
Please humour me when I get back with stories of Uganda, but gently shut me up if I ever turn into one of those Gap Yah types. Also I apologise in advance for the horrendous tan lines (yet somehow I'm still really pale).
Put the kettle on, I'll be back in 21 hours.
So this is my final night in Africa, ahead of an early flight back to Blighty tomorrow. I left the hospital on Wednesday morning, travelled to the nearest town where I stayed with missionaries from Africa Inland Mission. Not only was this exciting because they're a great family but OH MY GOODNESS A WARM SHOWER. And pancakes. Basically they spoilt me rotten.
Today I spent a fun 2 hours sitting on a concrete thing waiting for a bus, then an even more fun 5 hours on said bus. But I sat next to a very friendly nun called Agnes, so that was nice. I've now arrived in Kampala and I'm staying at the AIM mission inn for the night. Again, spoilt rotten. It sounds like an absolute cliche, and I'm sorry to write it, but spending 2 months in south-western nowhere makes you appreciate the minor luxuries which I'd always taken for granted. The other people here were greatly amused that I was more excited about Oreo Cheesecake than the children. (Weird thing is, I don't really like Oreos or cheesecake, but the thought of pudding was just too exciting). I've got a great amount more respect for missionaries now. I always thought they did an impressive job, but what they do is really incredible, and often under some difficult conditions.
I'm a little sleep-deprived, so this may turn into a word-vomit (verbatemesis?) but I wanted to write a few things that I'll really remember from this trip.
The lowlights:
-Seeing patients die, especially young ones who died for want of simple interventions, like FFP.
-Illness. Fortunately nothing serious.
-The sheer workload some days. I absolutely loved the work, but there was just too much of it for even a qualified doc to do, let alone a bumbling student.
The highlights:
-Seeing patients get better and knowing that it was due to God's grace, not us. There were very limited resources, and often not much we could do. But still many of them recovered. There are various cases I'll never forget, but two intersecting ones stick in my mind at the moment: on the paeds ward we had one boy with nephrotic syndrome (there's a whole other blog post about him, probably my fave patient), and one kid with cerebral malaria. Both had essentially nosedived, and gone into respiratory distress. Other than oxygen and Furosemide, we couldn't really do anything. Most of the team were pretty certain these two young lads would die. But somehow, they didn't! A couple of days later I spotted them running around one wing of the ward playing football.
-Getting thrown straight into Ugandan culture. Despite every terrible, terrible faux pas I made, people forgave quickly! And the food was pretty great, but if I ever have to eat another omelette I might kick off.
-God fulfilling promises and prophecies left, right and centre. Again, there's another post to be made about all this.
-I've come back (prepare for cliche-town) with a lot more enthusiasm for medicine. Like, honestly. I got to work with some absolute legends, who would give their all for patients, and it was pretty inspirational. I hope I can take some of that attitude into final year with me.
-I've also come back with more enthusiasm about just how important my faith should be. If ever I wasn't convinced about miracles, I can now say that I've seen them, and they happen. God does amazing things, often when we are completely powerless.
This is now threatening to turn into a ramble, so I'll sign off.
Please humour me when I get back with stories of Uganda, but gently shut me up if I ever turn into one of those Gap Yah types. Also I apologise in advance for the horrendous tan lines (yet somehow I'm still really pale).
Put the kettle on, I'll be back in 21 hours.
Friday, 21 June 2013
Meanwhile, somewhere on the Equator...
So I made it to Uganda and have started to settle into life here at the hospital! Been overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality of foreign missionaries and Ugandans alike.
Internet is rare, and power is dodgy, so I'll be brief! (Thanks to the legendary Marina for lending me her laptop) I've been based on the female medical ward this last week and a half, and it's been a strange mix of familiar and new. Some of the diseases are the same as you'd see on any English medical ward - stroke, heart failure, pneumonia, and some is startlingly different - malaria, typhoid, sickle cell, late presentations of neurological deficits. It's challenging but really enjoyable. All the medical staff are being very patient with my mistakes and lack of knowledge!
It's been a real shock to the system to try and reconcile good medicine and keeping costs down for patients. Not to mention that often there are no supplies for tests - currently we have three patients with diabetes but no strips for the glucometer! Patients have to pay for treatment, and it's hard not to feel guilty when you write a plan containing treatment the patient really needs, but you know the family can barely afford.
The hospital has a chapel service before each work day begins, and it's fantastic to be able to spend half an hour in prayer and Bible study with staff and anyone else who comes. Every single day, the patients and staff are prayed for - how encouraging is that?
Also, I have a Ugandan phone number - +(256) 787-363-982 in case of emergency/Wimbledon scores.
There are some things I'd really appreciate prayer for - do get in touch if I can be praying for any of you:
- Continued good health (been really blessed so far with no health upsets)
- Continued energy and enthusiasm
The only things I'm really missing at this point are tea with proper milk and hot showers!
Much love
J
Internet is rare, and power is dodgy, so I'll be brief! (Thanks to the legendary Marina for lending me her laptop) I've been based on the female medical ward this last week and a half, and it's been a strange mix of familiar and new. Some of the diseases are the same as you'd see on any English medical ward - stroke, heart failure, pneumonia, and some is startlingly different - malaria, typhoid, sickle cell, late presentations of neurological deficits. It's challenging but really enjoyable. All the medical staff are being very patient with my mistakes and lack of knowledge!
It's been a real shock to the system to try and reconcile good medicine and keeping costs down for patients. Not to mention that often there are no supplies for tests - currently we have three patients with diabetes but no strips for the glucometer! Patients have to pay for treatment, and it's hard not to feel guilty when you write a plan containing treatment the patient really needs, but you know the family can barely afford.
The hospital has a chapel service before each work day begins, and it's fantastic to be able to spend half an hour in prayer and Bible study with staff and anyone else who comes. Every single day, the patients and staff are prayed for - how encouraging is that?
Also, I have a Ugandan phone number - +(256) 787-363-982 in case of emergency/Wimbledon scores.
There are some things I'd really appreciate prayer for - do get in touch if I can be praying for any of you:
- Continued good health (been really blessed so far with no health upsets)
- Continued energy and enthusiasm
The only things I'm really missing at this point are tea with proper milk and hot showers!
Much love
J
Friday, 7 June 2013
Waka waka I'm off to Africa!
With the joyous news that my name made it on to the 4th year pass list, I present the seamless segue into an elective blog...
In approximately 46 hours, I'll be getting on a plane to head off to Uganda for 10 weeks on my elective! I'm going to Kagando Hospital with a charity called Africa Inland Mission. Kagando is a 250(ish) bed hospital in south-western Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's a Christian mission hospital founded in 1965, providing all sorts of healthcare and community development to local (and not-so-local) people.
Right now I have a lot of feelings, ranging from excitement to nervousness to sheer Mr.T-style terror at the thought of a 9-hour flight. I'm also slowly developing a love-hate relationship with Doxycycline - I appreciate the malaria prophylaxis, but is it really necessary to start the day feeling like my oesophagus is ON FIRE?
I'm not entirely sure what these 10 weeks will comprise, and I've never been to Africa before. I'm the kind of person who has to know in advance what will happen at every minute of the day, so I know this will be a challenge for me! (Ack, this is turning into a reflection, someone stop me.)
I'm not sure how contactable I'll be whilst I'm away - I'm not taking my UK phone, and internet access will probably be patchy at best. Once I have a Ugandan number I'll try and let people know, but I mightn't be able to reply to email/facebook/texts etc.
I think Bilbo sums up my current mental state best:
For those of you who pray, I'd really appreciate prayer for the following:
-Travelling mercies and not freaking out on the flight
-Good health and protection from disease
-Energy to take on board everything that happens
Also please slap me down if I turn into this...
In approximately 46 hours, I'll be getting on a plane to head off to Uganda for 10 weeks on my elective! I'm going to Kagando Hospital with a charity called Africa Inland Mission. Kagando is a 250(ish) bed hospital in south-western Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's a Christian mission hospital founded in 1965, providing all sorts of healthcare and community development to local (and not-so-local) people.
Right now I have a lot of feelings, ranging from excitement to nervousness to sheer Mr.T-style terror at the thought of a 9-hour flight. I'm also slowly developing a love-hate relationship with Doxycycline - I appreciate the malaria prophylaxis, but is it really necessary to start the day feeling like my oesophagus is ON FIRE?
I'm not entirely sure what these 10 weeks will comprise, and I've never been to Africa before. I'm the kind of person who has to know in advance what will happen at every minute of the day, so I know this will be a challenge for me! (Ack, this is turning into a reflection, someone stop me.)
I'm not sure how contactable I'll be whilst I'm away - I'm not taking my UK phone, and internet access will probably be patchy at best. Once I have a Ugandan number I'll try and let people know, but I mightn't be able to reply to email/facebook/texts etc.
I think Bilbo sums up my current mental state best:
 |
| (Note to self: don't grab any bits of jewellery from strange creatures in caves.) |
For those of you who pray, I'd really appreciate prayer for the following:
-Travelling mercies and not freaking out on the flight
-Good health and protection from disease
-Energy to take on board everything that happens
Also please slap me down if I turn into this...
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Hyperunconjugated bilirubinaemia and Sullivan
It's been too quiet around here, so here's a musical-themed twofer.
Also, advance warning, this will soon turn into an elective blog!
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Friday, 26 April 2013
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Friday, 19 April 2013
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Monday, 15 April 2013
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Throwback Thursday!
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On a related note, it always makes me laugh that the Renal Drugs Handbook is significantly bigger than the BNF...
Credit to Allie Brosh - http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.co.uk/ - her comic "Adventures in Depression" is worth a read.
Monday, 11 March 2013
Today I spotted some things.
Secondly, a cartoon on the transplant theatre whiteboard, of a fountain of blood splattering a surgeon, with the caption "Reperfusion looks good".
Whoever you are, you made me laugh and I doff my theatre cap to you.
Friday, 1 February 2013
I am saline, I am saline, home again 'cross the sea.
Fun fact - if you rotate a bag of normal saline through 90 degrees, it becomes tangent saline.
Monday, 21 January 2013
Laparoscopies
I spent most of this afternoon watching laparoscopies. There wasn't much to do, so naturally my mind wandered towards "things that would make laparoscopies more fun". I came up with these:
a) Popcorn! A small crowd of people watching a screen in a darkened room without popcorn and slushies just seems wrong. At the very least, someone should wander round with a tray of ice cream.
b) Instagram filters - photos of abdominal organs would look much better in Brannan, with a bit of tilt-shift to blur the edges. And hashtags. All of the hashtags.
c) Video-game style sound effects and achievements - surely it'd be better to have an 8-bit "bloop" for every adhesion you divided, "Surgeon 2 has entered the game", and a final boss to beat before you can close.
Any more suggestions?
a) Popcorn! A small crowd of people watching a screen in a darkened room without popcorn and slushies just seems wrong. At the very least, someone should wander round with a tray of ice cream.
b) Instagram filters - photos of abdominal organs would look much better in Brannan, with a bit of tilt-shift to blur the edges. And hashtags. All of the hashtags.
c) Video-game style sound effects and achievements - surely it'd be better to have an 8-bit "bloop" for every adhesion you divided, "Surgeon 2 has entered the game", and a final boss to beat before you can close.
Any more suggestions?
Sunday, 20 January 2013
A couple of stolen comics
I'm on anaesthetics at the moment, and the other day I had the idea to draw "Mighty Morphine Power Rangers"...but after a quick Google, I realised the joke has been done before. So here's what Stuart Day (http://stuartday.tumblr.com) drew:
I'm doing this audit which involves asking patients to score their pain 0-10 - don't get me started on how useless it is - and it always reminds me of a comic by Allie Brosh: A Better Pain Scale. Her comic Adventures in Depression is definitely worth a read as well.
I'm doing this audit which involves asking patients to score their pain 0-10 - don't get me started on how useless it is - and it always reminds me of a comic by Allie Brosh: A Better Pain Scale. Her comic Adventures in Depression is definitely worth a read as well.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Inappropriate songs I've heard in hospital, part 1
"Every Breath You Take" - in ITU, during a discussion on turning off ventilatory support
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - during Caesarean
"Sexy and I Know It" - Just not okay. EVER.
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - during Caesarean
"Sexy and I Know It" - Just not okay. EVER.
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Saturday, 5 January 2013
So it appears I've got myself one of those interblog things the young and hip trendy have. I say.
Well here's the story...whilst revising for med school exams last month, I kept getting distracted by bad puns in whatever I was reading. I drew them as cartoons, in an attempt at catharsis. But there were always more! And so I present to you, dear reader, some badly drawn puns.
Well here's the story...whilst revising for med school exams last month, I kept getting distracted by bad puns in whatever I was reading. I drew them as cartoons, in an attempt at catharsis. But there were always more! And so I present to you, dear reader, some badly drawn puns.
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