Xiao's Blog

Had my interview at the lovely coastal hospital on the western coast where I work on Friday.

Nothing much. Pretty work like. We were discussing as if I would be the medical registrar there. I have to say, the offer is absolutely gorgeous with a mandatory ICU rotation. Lovely people. Excellent pay. Another year to have another go at her. Exactly what I was looking for. Downside, would be the colder weather and the food.

Not applying to all the hospitals like I used to. I am pretty confident it’s up to me decide where I will be next year. Got a positive response from and waiting for another two – the two big fishes. I have an inkling feeling I would land one of the two. Ah….such confidence, bothering on arrogance at times. I reckon it’s a prerequisite for someone likely to be working in Cardiology.

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Drove to Bendigo for Kat’s housewarming / engagement party. Faster than I expected. Lovely house. Warm atmosphere. I had a lovely conversation with her mother in law. I think she was pleasantly surprised to hear someone not half her age, sharing words of enviable wisdom. Hope all goes well. God bless the kids

Didn’t really bump into my peers as I arrived rather late, not exactly on purpose. Overslept :p

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My new hobby

RC Helicopter Fixed Pitch Electric Blade 120SR

Just burned the tail motor due to excessive use. Gotta stock up on spares tomorrow. Shall share more technical details stuff next time.

Arrivederci

Today is the 3rd day I’ve called in sick in the last 1 week. I think I am a workaholic because I feel bad for my colleagues when I call in sick. The admin has to find a replacement. The boss have to contend with someone not familiar with the work. yada~ yada~. Yet, I shall take the time here to remind myself here, no one is irreplaceable – don’t ever think you are bigger than the organisation.

Well, I think a lot of people I know can work with some cold and fever. However, I realise, doctors can never work without his or her voice. The one most powerful “weapon” a doctor has in his arsenal. In actuality, I think medical personnels shouldn’t work unless he’s 100% well. The coughings and sneezings might not do much harm to common people, but to really sick patients, it’s like bringing them a little bit closer to the doomsayer. Besides, having a headache provides you no allowance for making mistakes. I’ve often said times and again, citing illness for your defense in a medical board meeting never work. Not that, I’ve appeared in one before. Fingers crossed that I would never have to appear in one at all in my career.

*Sniff sniff.* Dang, I have pretty bad constitution.

Arrivederci

I have plenty of things to pen down here. 2010 has been pretty good thus far.

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I have nothing but good things to say about my current employer. Friendly, supportive and most importantly, sincere. You know you have a good employer when you actually feel bad to claim more overtime pay, rather than feel angry for working extra and not allowed to claim overtime. As if taking a leaf out of Sun Tzu’s Art of War, a soldier would fight harder for a benevolent and caring general. Little things like, remembering you and then thanking you for taking up an extra shift, despite the rather generous renumeration offered really makes one feel attached to the organisation.

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Just came off a holiday in Paris and Edinburgh with my little brother and parents. Can’t remember the last time we travel together as a family. It was pretty unfortunate, although convenient for the youngest of my brother not able to join up with us due to college commitments. Paris, well, was a little tad disappointing. However, I think we clocked enough miles on our feet to say that we’ve achieved our new year resolution to exercise. I estimate we walked probably at least 50km in the 5 days in Paris.

Travelling allows one to know more bout ourselves and others. I think I am one who pays a lot of attention to details to the travel arrangements and prefer R&R more than exploring.On the other hand, my little brother is an excellent navigator, loves exploring than sitting still, and not so anal about little details like me. Dad is still a proud man, who refuse to believe that he isn’t as young and fit as before, much to our amusements. Mum was like a kid all over again on the plane, never stop harrassing the rest of us who are trying to get some sleep. I think she played more games than me on the plane.

But, both Dad and Mum are still pretty much the same, displaying traits of thrifty spending even on travel, despite my multiple reassurances not to worry about the expenses, I would handle that. Just relax and enjoy. That is probably the first and the last time they would be in those countries, anyway. It’s definitely not easy to have someone to share the same vision for the kids as you, and the decades of perserverance and determination to see through it that they made it out in life successfully.

My little brother has graduated as a doctor, 2nd one in the family. Don’t think my parents can be any prouder. Wish him luck in the working world. It’s going to be a bit different but I think he will survive.

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“You are very lucky.”

I have heard that said many times. Till now, I don’t really know what to make of it when people say that. I did tell my Dad before that I thought my lucky stars are pretty bright. After such a long time, I finally made it as a decent professional from a university I dreamt of way back while I was in secondary schools. However, to say luck is the main thing that got me here, is an insult. It is an insult to the determination and perseverance of my family and the bloods and sweats I put in.

Of course, it is easier to think that the other person is lucky than to at least put in some effort to get to where he’s at. If he or she gets the the better draw ahead of you, when both of you are in the same level and circumstances, then perhaps only you can say you are unlucky. However, everyone’s experience is so unique that it would never be the same.

“No use working hard, I won’t get there anyway. I am not as lucky as him.”  A rather defeatist attitude. I’ve seen what determination can do, a strong will can heal the sickest patients, a weak will can kill the healthiest of them. And a  will is weak only if you decide to.

Am I very lucky?

Perhaps, I am lucky to made it so far in life, but I do not think I am a very lucky person. I tried and failed 3 times for the ASEAN scholarship. I missed out on a government scholarship with a B in one of my strongest subjects.  I always lose in gambling, that’s why I don’t gamble. My guessed answers in exam are often wrong, like probably 9 out of 10. That’s why I have to study hard because I can almost never guess it right. I’ve never won a lucky draw before. But hey, all is fair in this world.

Argh…just random giberrish from the brain.

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I am in love, but things are not looking too optimistic. Sigh~~~

Arrivederci.

WordPress upgraded 3.0.1.

Testing.

Been to Paris and Scotland. Thousands of photos.

Just got back to down under.

Back to work on Tuesday.

Meeting DPT on Monday for my physician training thingie.

Many things to write and talk about but too lazy to do it. Actually don’t see the need of writing them down.

And the time of the year : job applications.

Arrivederci.

Thanks to Jellio I went looking for the book “How to survive in anaesthesia: A guide for trainees” by Neville Robinson and George Hall. Just a couple to add to her list

Never start ananaesthetic until youhave seen the whites of the surgeon’s eyes.

Always pee before starting a list.

If you are feeling tired the three ‘S’s’ is a good reviver – a shit, a shave and a shower (politically incorrect but we do not know the female equivalent).

ABC of anaesthesia: always be cool, always be cocky!

Remember KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid.

Anaesthesia is ‘awfully simple’ but when it goes wrong is ‘simply awful’.

If in doubt, ask for help. There is no place for arrogance in anaesthesia.

Big syringe, little syringe, white knob, blue knob, big purple knob – good for most things.

First rule of anaesthesia, if there is a chair in theatre, sit on it.

Never panic. This applies particularly when the patient is trying to die and you have no idea why.

Where there is cyanosis there is life – just!

If in doubt, take it out. This applies to tracheal tubes and many other things in life!

There are three things to respect in anaesthesia: the airway, the airway and the airway.

When all else fails, disconnect the catheter mount and blow down the tracheal tube.

Careless ‘torque’ costs lives – don’t let breathing tubes kink.

The laryngoscope is a tongue retractor, not a tooth extractor.

Nobody dies from failure to intubate the larynx, they die from failure to ventilate and oxygenate.

Fix tracheal tubes as if your life depended on it – the patient’s life does!

The first five causes of sudden hypoxia in an intubated, ventilated patientare the tube, the tube, the tube, the tube and finally the tube. The tracheal tube may be dislodged, disconnected, blocked, kinked or the cuff herniated.

‘Sniffing the morning air’ position for tracheal intubation can be described as the position of the head when taking the first sip from a pint of beer.

Never say to the patient ‘just a little prick’ before inserting a cannula, you are likely to be told that is exactly what you are!

Thiopentone solution can look like augmentin and antibiotics do not induce anaesthesia.

For a rapid sequence induction always have two doses of suxamethonium ready in case one goes over the floor/ceiling etc.

Be professional – try to emulate Humphrey Bogart’s definition of a professional as somebody who can still give their best performance when they feel least like it!

Arrivederci