Reality Bites

Yesterday, I gave a lecture on Dengue to patients waiting in line at 1PO3 of PGH-OPD.  I was so nervous to talk to them… afraid that they won’t listen to me… and excited as well to impart knowledge to my audience.  It was even "dyahe" since I was using the karaoke system & was heard even by passers-by.  The lecture was a success for my audience really participated and made valuable insights as well.  After the lecture, one lady even followed me and my resident as we enter our room and asked my resident when would the other lectures be held.  Her enthusiasm really made me feel good.  Thanks to Family Med for giving us this opportunity to touch our patients’ lives through this Public Health Lecture.  Thanks also to "someone special" who saw my lecture and paid complement on what I did for these patients.  This rotation, which is about to end, has been meaningful to me.

Am I considering surgery? 

Hmmm… the operation takes a lot of time… it’s hard to retract (though it makes you feel as an asset of the team since you do the "exposure" part)… I can’t identify the structures (where did my anatomy brain go?)… you’ll have those leg cramps… you’ll consume a lot of uniforms & scrubs… sleepless nights… growling stomach…

But I found myself amazing after a month in this rotation. I can stand a 24+-hour duty… I improved in doing BEs, IVs, etc…  I learned to love the toxicity of ER (from the simple laceration to hacking wounds)… and most of all, I discovered that most of our patients are truly grateful to us (even if I was called a nurse for a lot of times).

I don’t know if I’ll be a surgeon someday.  But at this moment, I am convinced that I still wanted to be a doctor.  It is indeed a noble job.  Thanks to our consultants, residents and interns in surgery… our mentors… for making our rotation truly memorable.  Special thanks to my sisses (Myra, Mabes, Mar, Pia, Rory, Maricris) and dutymates for helping me in this rotation.