You get all sorts of people here. You meet quirky individuals, nice old ladies, grumpy men, cute kids… it’s enough to make your mind whirl and twirl and sometimes, it’s draining.
I remember the first patient I talked to, way back in first year. That time, it was just an introductory kinda thing. Just to make us feel comfortable around them. Nothing clinical. Just talking. Well, she talked and I listened. By the end of it, I knew how she eloped with her beloved, they’ve been married for a gazillion years. Knew that her son is into arts, following her footsteps, that her daughter’s doing medicine too. She had been sketching ever since she was admitted and I saw how beautiful the pictures were. Just before leaving, she handed me a sketch of a woman. Maybe because I was gushing over her artwork, maybe as a thanks for listening. My guess is the former. I keep it in the purple book at home.
Stuck to my head is this guy who was about to have an ECG done. Lemon saw to him. Usually, the chest must be shaved so that the electrodes can stick on the skin.
“Oh no, it’s quite ok. I have my own razor” took out a razor and started shaving right then.
And then, you get people who are a pain in the behind. Knew that you’re just a student and treat you like scum.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why is the doctor taking so long?!”
“do you know what I’m going to do to him? I’m going to kick him up the arse and give him a piece of my mind!”
And so on.
Doctor comes in, apologizing for being late (there must’ve been an emergency). And what does she do? She’s all smiles, saying it’s ok. No, really. It is ok. Simpers.
Yeah, everyone knows the doctor’s good looking. And the student’s thinking, huh! I thought you were gonna kick his butt. Yeah right!
Another one would be during history taking. After asking all the relevant stuff, I’d asked about drinking
“Oh, I don’t drink much. Just vodka with a bit of water. It’s really good. You should try it!”
At the end of it, asked him whether he thinks there’s anything important that he needs to tell me, that I might’ve missed
“Well, if you can dump your boyfriend marry me!”
what the fish!
And what about that guy who wanted me to do an examination on him because I’m a girl.
However, sometimes, you’ll be struck by how high spirited someone can be, always the optimist, always smiling – makes you smile too. Even the consultant was awed by her.
At the end of the day, it’s ok. I mean, this is what I wanted to do since… I was a kid. Well… no, not really. I wanted to be a sailor, a toy inventor, a pirate and loads of other mundane carriers. But this one right now is the one I stuck to longest and prayed for.
