Life as a Medical Student

It has always been the hopes and dreams of people wearing spectacles or contacts that one day we no longer have to.. and the day has come together with technology, and of course a hefty pricetag..

LASIK on YouTube

this is Wikipedia’s take on the procedure:

LASIK or Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a type of refractive surgery for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. LASIK is performed by ophthalmologistslaser. LASIK is similar to other surgical corrective procedures such as photorefractive keratectomy, PRK, (also called ASA, Advanced Surface Ablation) though it provides benefits such as faster patient recovery. Both LASIK and PRK represent advances over radial keratotomy in the surgical treatment of vision problems, and are thus viable alternatives to wearing corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses for many patients.

The operation is performed with the patient awake and mobile; however, the patient is sometimes given a mild sedative (such as Valium) and anesthetic eye drops.

LASIK is performed in three steps. The first step is to create a flap of corneal tissue. The second step is remodeling of the cornea underneath the flap with the laser. Finally, the flap is repositioned.

The surveys determining patient satisfaction with LASIK have found most patients satisfied, with satisfaction range being 92–98 percent. A meta-analysis dated March 2008 performed by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery over 3,000 peer-reviewed articles published over the past 10 years in clinical journals from around the world, including 19 studies comprising 2,200 patients that looked directly at satisfaction, revealed a 95.4 percent patient satisfaction rate among LASIK patients worldwide.

The risk for a patient of suffering from disturbing visual side effects such as halos, double vision (ghosting), loss of contrast sensitivity (foggy vision) and glare after LASIK depends on the degree of ametropia before the laser eye surgery and other risk factors. For this reason, it is important to take into account the individual risk potential of a patient and not just the average probability for all patients. The following are some of the more frequently reported complications of LASIK^:

• Surgery induced dry eyes
• Overcorrection or undercorrection
• Very Low level vitamin D – Sun sensitivity
• Visual acuity fluctuation
• Halos or starbursts around light sources at night
• Light sensitivity
• Ghost images or double vision
• Wrinkles in flap (striae)
• Decentered ablation
• Debris or growth under flap
• Thin or buttonhole flap
• Induced astigmatism
• Corneal Ectasia
• Floaters
• Epithelium erosion

So what do you guys think?? Dare to give it a try??

I for one feel skeptical about it, cos i don’t think that wearing spectacles pose a problem neither in terms of convenience or cosmetic *wink*

It was just like yesterday when I applied to IMU, but now, i’m almost gonna start my final year as a medical student..

the first time i met the gang, seemed like seconds ago, but this people have been there for me for 4 years now.. i am blessed *hearts*

the first medical exam seemed so far away, and i wonder why we were so stressed that time..

first, we began seeing simulated patients who “pretended” to be sick and boy, was it awkward!! but now in clinicals, have been seeing real patients with real diseases and of course a real chance of catching whatever they harbour *gulp!*

even the day i begun clinical school was eons ago but the white coat ceremony was still fresh in mind where we were honoured with the title of student doctors..

the first blood i took, i still remember that uncle.. and the kind HO who held my hand and guided me all the way.. until now, procedures still excites me..

oh not to mention living all on my own.. out from under daddy and mummy’s wings.. i must say i survived.. i learnt to cook had a few meals without salt and wash my own clothes but left a packet of tissue in the washing machine.. but it was all in the process of growing up.. and i must say I LOVE YOU mummy and daddy for making me your little princess *muax*

hmm, i guess time really flies.. but i’m glad the memories remain XD

and one short year from now, I’ll finally be Dr. Xan-di (MBBS IMU) and i hope i will do justice to that title..

My Prof once said, there is never a right time to give up in resuscitation of a patient..

In a child, cos nobody likes to see their children go before them

In an adolescent, as they have their whole lives ahead of them,

In a young adult, because they just began their career and found love,

In a middle age person, they have young children depending on them,

In a person about to retire, cos they are just getting the chance to sit back and enjoy life,

In an elderly, they now have grandchildren..

Bottom line, don’t give up too soon…

and the holiday begins.. or rather has begun *wink*

Hit Tap my head!!

how could i forget that??

*blink blink*

tomorrow, I’ll be sitting for my first professional paper.. i hope my preparations are enough..

i hope that my best is enough in bringing me one step closer to becoming a good doctor and someday Obstetrician..

all the best to my dearest C2/08, may you be blessed with calmness and wisdom during the exams.. we can do it!!

XD

p/s as my friend once said: May God bless you with the wisdom of mind, the calmness of heart and the thickness of arse to sit down long!!

Venue: Kopitiam, Taipan

Cast: Table 1 and Table 2 occupants

Scenario:

Table 1: two medical students studying hard to get through their first professional paper while trying to spend time with each other.

Table 2: several smokers trying to look and act cool while slowly killing themselves and others around.

Irony: medical students were at the next table studying to be competent doctors to save people who are trying to kill themselves and the medical students included. Best part was when girl asked boy why are we even bothered to be doctors? and he answered so that we can make money of these kind of people =D

Now, what is your story?

p/s 7 more days!! all the best C2/08!!

If someone were to ask me what was the most important lesson learnt in OBGYN, its not on how to conduct deliveries much less controlled cord traction.

Xan-di feels that the most important thing to know about a patient in Labor Room is whether the membranes are intact. “Why?” you ask..

because, xan-di has observed on two occasions SROM occured which sent substantial amounts of liquor (ie. fetal urine and if you’re lucky, meconium) flying across the room and landing on unsuspecting victims who by some stroke of “luck” positioned themselves directly infront of the birth passage.

important? YOU DECIDE..

Its been a week since i’ve stepped into the paeds ward.. although its a refreshing change from orthopedic where everything is so mechanical and metalic, i must say its not my cup of tea.. before entering medical school, i always wanted to be a paediatrician if i every got my MBBS but now, i feel that sick kids just makes me sad.. in the other wards i often see grown ups crying for whatever reason, but i feel that kids crying even if they are just throwing a tantrum really nibbles at my heart..

once in the past week i visited an adult ward and was unaccustomed to see so many huge patients.. lol..

so, to survive paeds:

1. prepare lots of bribes (eg. sweets, lollies, stickers, rattles, toys)

2. practice cute faces and smiles

p/s highly anticipating OBGYN =D