Monthly Archives: October 2007

Old and Foolhardy


I received a referral to see a 50++ man who presented with chronic diarrhoea for more than a month. It was torture for him as he purged more than 20 times a day. As a result he was severely dehydrated and weak.

He was diagnosed with HIV a couple of years ago but did not seek any treatment. His CD4 count this admission was merely 27!

Some one had the presence of mind to order for a colonoscopy and heaven was kind to him because miraculously the surgeons agreed to do it! What they found was a huge mass in his colon. A biopsy was taken and the result turned out to be Histoplamosis, a fungal infection.

I explained at length my plans to him: get him stabilised, correct his anemia, treat the histoplasma and start on anti-HIV later. He listened attentively and agreed to the plan.

One hour later, I got a call from the ward MO. Apparently the patient had a change of heart and now wants to go and try Chinese traditional medicine first.

I felt frustrated and angry but I told the MO to “just let him go, we will probably see him again real soon”.

Sigh…

Wed, 311007 @ 0750; feeling under the weather.

My Geek Bag


Some one asked me what I bring to work each day. I carry a backpack to work each day (I used to carry a proper computer bag but it aggravated my cervical spondylosis) and a paper back. The backpack I call my ‘Geek Bag’.

Here are the contents:

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My Geek Bag

1. My black beauty + its power cord

2. A transparent spectacles case containing all my portable drives.

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3. One mechanical pencil

4. Four ball point pens

5. One Faber Castel black marker

6. One set of spare keys

7. One laser pointer

8. One cheap perfume (for the days when even I can’t stand my own BO)

9. Two blank DVD-Rs

10. My generic i-Pod with ear phones

11. A 40G portable hard disk cannibalized from my now expired notebook + its wires

12. Hotsync wire for my Palm Treo

13. My Canon Ixus 40 digital camera

14. An extra set of room keys

My Paper Bag

1. My packed lunch for the day

2. Last month/last week/yesterday’s home work which I can never seem to finish doing

3. CDs that I forget to put back into the car

4. A USB charger

5. Journals to read

6. Students’ assignments to mark

Hmm, I think that’s about it. Care to tell me what you guys bring to work?

Tues, 301007 @ 0738; not looking forward to the day ~ ward round, then bedside teaching x 2 sessions, then end of posting exam for 3 students, then meeting with 12 students to go over their assignments. I need a secretary.

Smooth Marble Brains


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I love reading Dilbert because his humor is wickedly witty. After reading this I can’t help but feel that there indeed products of ‘slow learners mating for generations’ around me!

I can’t wait to use this line on the next person who ask me “why didn’t you use any of my suggestions?”

ROFLOL!!!!

Mon, 291007 @ 1754; the day’s done and I don’t feel much like going home. Sigh.

Left Behind


Sometimes, I encounter things in the ward that makes me wonder how to react. Like this one for instance. I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry in indignation! :-)

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The nasogastric tube has obviously been removed from this patient but for some inexplicable reason, the person who removed it chose to leave the plaster on the patient’s nose! I’m a bit bengang.

Anyway, I chose to laugh, remove the plaster and move on. :-)

281007 @ 1427; Sunday already? Sigh… ; it’s a sin to have to work on Monday.

*bengang: a Malay word; to describe a state of stunned disbelief.

A Modern Fairy Tale


Once upon a time, there lived a king.

The king had a beautiful daughter, the princess.

But there was a problem.

Everything the princess touched would melt.

No matter what;

Metal,

Wood,

Stone,

Anything she touched would melt.

Because of this men were afraid of her.

Nobody would dare marry her.

The king despaired. What could he do to help his daughter?

He consulted his wizards and magicians.

One wizard told the king, “If your daughter touches one thing that does not melt in her hands, she will be cured!”

The king was overjoyed and came up with a plan.

The next day he held a competition.

Any man that could bring his daughter an object that would not melt in her hands will marry her and inherit the king’s wealth.

Three young princes took up the challenge.

The first brought a sword of finest steel.

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But alas, when the princess touched it, it melted and the prince went away sadly.

The second prince bought diamonds!

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He thought that diamonds are the hardest substance in the world and would not melt. But alas, once the princess touched them, they melted. He too was sent away disappointed.

The third prince approaced. He told the princess “Put your hand in my pocket and feel what is in there.”

The princess did as she was told, though she turned red!

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She felt something hard. She held it in her hand.

AND IT DID NOT MELT!!!

The king was overjoyed. Everybody in the kingdom was overjoyed. And the third prince married the princess and they lived happily ever after.

Question: What was in the prince’s pants?

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M&M’s of course, they melt in your mouth, not in your hand!!! ;P

Fri, 261007 @ 1247; got this in my email this morning and thought it might cheer some of u up! :-)

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There’s a good chance my blog stat will hit number 123,456 soon. If you happen to be visitor with that number, please get me a screen capture*? Thanks. You will be rewarded. :-)

Fri, 261007 @ 0728; the headache’s gone, the sun is up and it’s Friday. Life can’t get better than this! :-)

*no photoshop allowed. heh heh…