Ten Things... I learned in Pediatrics

I wasn't keen on shifting rotations. Ganun talaga ano? Pag comfortable ka na sa isang lugar, kailangan mo nang mag-move-on. So mula sa mga buntis, mga kids naman kami. Medyo kailangang mag-adjust kasi mini-version ng mga big people ang pasyente namin.


1. Dapat laging prepared.

Sa Pedia bumalik ang pagiging OC ko sa gamit. Kasi hindi naman lahat provided ng QMMC at minsan wala ding gamit ang mga pasyente. Para mabilis nalang ang gamutan, dapat prepared lagi ang extra IV cannula, syringes, alcohol at bulak.

Ang aking "duty box" sa Pedia Ward.

2. Beware of the kick, the wail and the bite.

Yan ang arsenal ng mga bata pag kinuha mo na ang kamay nila para lagyan ng IV o kumuha ng dugo. Hindi lang iisang beses kong kinailangang ipatali o ipabalot sa kumot yung mga bata para lang makuhanan ng dugo. At hindi nawalan ng araw na hindi ako nasipa ng isang bata sa ward.

3.  Huwag abusado.

Mababait ang mga Pedia residents to the point na magiging friends mo talaga sila. Mabait na nga sila diba, so dapat wag abusuhin. Wag sagutin. Wag dayain. Wag mag-shortcut sa mga gawain. Yung mga ginagawa ng JIs kayang kaya nilang gawin, kaso kaya nila pinapagawa sa amin para matuto.  

4. Huwag masyadong chismosa.

Ang chismis lumalaki nang lumalaki sa bawat bibig na pagsalinan nito. At sa pedia, maraming mga naging bulung-bulungan. So kung may narinig, magtanong muna sa mga taong involved bago maniwala. O mas mabuti, wag nalang makinig.

5. Huwag patulan ang anxious parents.

Pag iyak na nang iyak si baby, nakakainis pa yung sasabihin ng parents na ikaw ang dapat hanapin kasi sasaktan namin sila. Hello. Kung hindi niyo pinapabayaan ang anak niyo, hindi yan magkakasakit nang ganyan.

6. Minsan, kailangan mong maging passive.

Kung hindi, mapapa-away ka lang. Period. Walanangkasunod.

7. Huwag assuming.

Hindi dahil mabait sa iyo ang mga tao, crush ka na nila. Minsan, mabait lang talaga sila. 

8. Patients = Patience.

Sa mga batang makukulit at maiingay. Pero lalo na sa mga nanay at tatay na makukulit at maiingay.

9. Hindi masamang magtanong.

Gaya ng sabi ko nung nasa OB, paano ka matututo kung hindi ka magtatanong, diba?

10. Honor comes first, excellence follows. 

Aanhin mo ang pagiging "excellent" kung hindi mo ito nakuha sa honorable na paraan, diba?

Scut scut scut.
Dengue census everyday. 

Ten Things... I learned in OB Rotation

At first kinabahan ako nung nalaman kong OB-Gyne ang unang rotation ko bilang Junior Intern. Nag-eenjoy ako sa OB sa lectures lalo na nung OB1 (Pregnancy and Stuf -- lagot ako kay Dra. Guerrero dahil hindi ko alam ang course description) pero isa pa din ito sa mga specialization na mahina ako. At syempre, dahil dating "Labor Hospital" ang QMMC, bumabaha din kadalasan ng mga nanganganak. Dahil ito ang first rotation ko, madami akong natutunan, sa skills, sa pakisasama, at higit sa lahat, sa pagiging doctor.

The QMMC Delivery Room
Bago kami mag-shift ng rotations, sinimulan ang pagrerenovate ng LR-DR complex ng QMMC. Ito ang "before".

1. Pag naipasok mo na, idiretcho mo na.

Kasi mahirap pag binawi mo pa, baka lalong magbulge. Lalo na kung g18 ang IV cannula, gaya ng laging ginagamit sa OB.

2. Pagpuputok na, umiwas ka na.

Lalo na pag premature, tumatalsik talaga yan. Water bag ang tinutukoy ko ha. Ang dudumi ng isip niyo.

3. Matutong makisama, hindi lang kayo ang JI sa mundo.

Actually mas nakakasama -- at nag-enjoy makasama -- pa nga namin ang mga JI from other schools. Dito ko nakilala sina Raj, Angie, Andrian at Wendell.

With my duty team co-clerks: Raj (UPHS-Binan), Angie (UERM), Lei (SBCM), me!!, and Wendell (UPHS-Binan).

4. Refer accordingly.

Wag matakot mapagalitan. Clerk ka nga eh. Junior Intern. Ikaw ang pinakamababa sa hospital food chain, pero may mga buhay na nakasasalalay na din sa'yo. Kaya kung di mo alam ang gagawin mo, magtanong ka. Nakakahiyang maging tanga pero mas nakakahiya yung tanga ka na nga, wala ka pang ginawa.

5. Dyphen-Butor-Dyphen.

Yan ang cocktail na binibigay pag may gusto kaming patulugin na pasyente. Effective naman. Just check for baseline BP at O2 Saturation.

6. Respect begets respect.

Lalo na sa mga seniors. May mga nakakainis sa kanila, na minsan parang impossible ang pinapagawa (lalo na nung first days namin), may mga ang toxic mag-utos. Pero ganun talaga. May mga residents din naman kasi na papagaanin ang buhay mo, at ipapaliwanag sa iyo kung bakit mo kailangang gawin ang mga kailangan mong gawin. Pinagdaanan din nila ang pinagdadaanan namin.

7. Caffeine + Needles --> not a good idea.

Nalaman ko yan nung minsang magpadeliver ako ng iced coffe mula sa McDonalds. Gising nga ako, hindi naman makapag-insert ng IV line o extract ng dugo. Nangangatog kasi ako. Kaya ayun, hanggang nag-umaga na, hindi ako nakapag-insert ng IV. Straight cath lang.

8. Hinahon lang.

Minsan, kailangan mong maging mahinahon lalo na pag nininerbyos na ang pasyente mo. Wag mo nalang ipahalatang first time mong magiinsert ng foley catheter o mageextract ng dugo. Deep breaths lang para di nila mapansin na nangangatog din ang kamay mo habang nililinis mo ang paglalagyan ng IV line.

9. Kumain bago magreport for duty.

Either magugutom ka buong gabi or maiinis sayo ang groupmates mo pag umaalis ka bigla para kumain. Lalo na pag toxic. Pwede ding magbaon ka nalang.

10. Gawin mo na, now na.

Sa OB, minsan bigla bigla. Sa NSD, hindi pa man ako marunong, ako na ang pinagdeliver ng resident nung baby, madulas, pero nahawakan ko naman nang ayos. Minsan naman, tinawag lang ako sa OR isang madaling araw, napansin kong dalawa lang kami nung residente, ako na pala ang first assist sa C-Section. Akala ko pang 2nd assist lang ako nun. Basta pag andiyan na, gawin mo nalang, tuturuan ka naman nila.

My duty team.
Clockwise from me. Me. JI Makoi, JI Ian, JI Lei, JI OJ, JI Shakes, Dr. Rhaizza, Dr. Mich

May Kulang Pa Ba?

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naghahanap pa ako ng batong ipupukpok ko sa ulo ko. Andito na lahat ng kailangan ko. JI na ako, may boyfriend ako na mahal na mahal ko at mahal na mahal din ako (sabi nya ha), nakakapagshopping ako -- ang dami ko nang bag at sapatos, ang dami ko na ding scrubsuits, uniform at make-up.

Sabi nila, paulit-ulit kang dadaan sa isang pagsubok hangga't hindi mo natututunan ang dapat matutunan. Pag nagawa mo na ang dapat mong gawin, saka ka lang makakapag-move-on.

Kaya nga nandito ako sa medicine eh, kasi nagpaikot-ikot na ako noon, at dito pa din ako dinala ng pagkakataon. Ngayon, may bumabalik na isang aspeto ng buhay ko na iniwan ko para dito. Pagsubok ba ito? O kailangan kong pagsabayin ito? Kaya ko bang pagsabayin ito.

Napapagod na ako sa kakaisip. Gusto ko nang bumalik sa toxic na 24hour duty. At least doon, pasyente lang ang problema ko. Ayan, bumabalik nanaman ako sa almost ten years ago. Magulo ang isip. Hindi mapakali. May kulang pa ba?

Alam ko naman kung anong kailangan kong gawin. Kaso kaya ko ba? May oras ba ako para dito?

2013 Bucket List

Now that we're beyond that 12.21.12 end of the world craze, it's time to start anew and plan anew and list anew. Hahahaha. There were many things I wanted to do in 2012 but somethings got in the way. So we'll put them in the 2013 bucket list.

1. Drive. Responsibly.

Really. I have a car to drive, a driver's license and I know how to drive. But I can't -- or more like, my mom won't let me. I am actually computing my possible incomes in the next month as whether I can buy my own car from my own money or I would ask for a gracious donation from dad. Whatever. Basta. Car. This year.

2. Update gadgets.

If not the car, then update the gadgets. Damn you Apple. Kelangan laging may bago?

3. Get own Glock.

Maybe after the gunban because of the elections. But I am aiming on getting a small one and joining a decent gun club.

4. Travel.

With Donut coming home sometime before summer (!!!) and my roommates from college flying in for Marj's wedding in May, madaming makakasamang gumala. Catch up na din since I haven't seen some of them in what -- five years?

5. Seriously redecorate.

Not just redecorate but also repair my apartment's electrical sockets and switches. Also send home stuff that are just gathering dirt. And maybe replace my microwave (hindi na gumagana!).

6. Seriously declutter.

My red suite also needs serious cleaning up to do. Mom is suggesting that I buy a new (bigger) bed. I told her I will only buy a bed when I have to (like when I have someone to sleep on it with). But for now, my single (twin) bed will do just fine.

7. Lose weight and maintain it.

I'm losing weight for my Candle Sponsor gig in a Tagaytay wedding on May. But after that, what? Of course I have to maintain. Which, from experience, is actually harder than losing the weight.

8. Finish all dental stuffs.

With my two 3rd molars gone, it's time to repair and reconstruct the damage they did. Looks like I'll be losing another molar but it depends as to whether it's salvageable by root canal or I will have to settle for a prosthetic thing.

9. "Cook" up a storm.

Yeah, I haven't cooked a decent (5-course) meal since what -- 2007? I need to start again.

10. Invest.

Maybe in a mutual fund or time deposit. My bestfriend knows this sh*t. I want to get a decent account by mid-2013.

The Gifts of 2012

Christmas is over and the new year is upon us. At dahil wala namang Thanksgiving dito sa Pilipinas, I give thanks for the "gifts" of the year during Christmastide. This year was not really that great. Madaming blunders, madaming obstacles, pero I learned to look past that and saw the blessings despite being concealed in what seems to be difficulties.  So here's the ten things I am thankful for that happened (or about to happen or still happening) this year.

1. Love.

If there's one thing that I am most thankful for this past year is that I am still very much in love. Nevermind that it's an unorthodox relationship or that it still has a lot to overcome. What matters most is that we are happy and despite what others say, we are very much compatible. I guess that's the way love works. This was unexpected but somehow, the things that come when we least expect it to are the ones that make us happy.

2. Reconnections.

Just a few days ago, I was reunited with some of my gradeschool classmates through the wedding of two of our "kababata", Michele and Collins -- I can call them that because I've known them since before I can even read -- especially Chelie. Hoping to see more of them in 2013 and onwards.

3. Realizations.

Most of the times, we see our true friends in the face of adversity. I've seen and experienced that this year. Though it was not a very pleasant experience, Somehow, I am thankful it did.

4. Responsibility.

More of it actually. I have worked before and I know how hard it is to earn money when you're an employee. More so when you run your own business. Sure you don't get to do the hard work (although sometimes, you do), handling and managing a small staff can be stressful.

5. Thrift.

My boyfriend came from a relatively "simpler" family than us. And growing up with three brothers with only just enough to make him make his every peso go the extra mile, especially now that he and two other brothers are in college at the same time. It is from him that I learned to stretch my peso too. And through me, he learned that although it is wise to save, it is not bad to splurge a little bit. In Filipino, tinuruan niya akong maging kuripot, tinuruan ko siyang maging gastador.

6. Staying Fit.

I got a gym membership to lose a few pounds and get into some sort of healthy lifestyle. So now, its hit the gym at least 3 times a week. Eat more greens, cut the down the reds and a whole lot of multi-grains.

7. Technology.

I'm not really a techie person but I acquired a few techie-techie stuff this year. Like my iPhone, Macbook and... well, that is pretty much it. But I never really joined the gadget and techie stuff bandwagon until now. I lost a few other things earlier this year which I hope to replace this year, though.

8. Time.

Although I don't really want more time in my hands, somehow, the Universe gave it to me this year. So what do we do with free time, learn new things, reconnect with old friends, develop what can still be improved. So what started off as a blunder at first may actually be a blessing in disguise.

9. Passion.

Once again, I found myself passionate over hobbies like baking and making accessories and even business. When I was younger, I found out that I function better when I have many things in my mind because I get to organize stuff to fit them all in schedule.

10. Life.

Sometime after summer, robbers broke into our house and took some of our valuables, but despite that, we are still very thankful that we weren't harmed. 

So there, a lot of things to be thankful for in 2012, despite everything that happened. Happy 2013 guys! Here's to another year of love, life and everything in between!