Jimbo’s new toy

Fearing that Santa would not deliver what he wished for this year, even after the passionate letter to Mrs. Santa; Jimbo decided to take matters into his own hands and so, on Christmas eve, he and Mrs Jimbo descended upon the Geek Mecca in KL (that’s the Low Yat Plaza ~ in case non-geeks are reading this), and bought himself a new toy!

Jimbo bought himself a 2.5″ HDD player! (Cost : RM 259; btw, Tesco Seremban is selling a similar product for RM 265)

What exactly does the little gizmo do? Why, it plays anything that remotely resembles a media file, naturally.

All one has to do is stick either a USB device or a SD card into the slots and viola! it plays!

It comes with a remote control as well. Making sense of the instructions was rather easy (as the English used on the manual was mercifully decipherable).

And thus, t’was the night before Christmas where Jimbo got his toy, effectively eliminating steps 2, 3b and 4 of his usual routine below:

Step 1: Obtain donwloaded movies from friends (and students!) ~ Jimbo don’t ask questions on legality and all, too complicated and messy.

Step 2: Burn desired movie onto DVD or VCD.

Step 3: Watch DVD or VCD on a DVD player (which means on holidays he has to lug his portable DVD player + cables + remote control + pieces of DVDs along)

Step 4: Figure out where to store all the DVDs or VCDs which have been watched.

And that’s how Jimbo saved Christmas, because true to tradition, Santa failed to deliver the goods for the second time in 2 years! (Jimbo is considering litigation). He did, however, delivered presents obviously meant for another person, which includes:

1. An electric toothbrush (okay, it’s not quite an Austin Martin, but hey, guess what, Jimbo’s old electric toothbrush just went TKO on him!)

2. Three pieces of hankerchieves.

3. One Oral B mouth gargle which came with Gift #1.

4. Two Diesel figure-hugging muscle Ts (loved ‘em and not planning to return ‘em)

5. Two pairs of Hush Puppies socks.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2009!

Wed, 311208 @ 0700

Jimbo, soothsayer

One of the things about Jimbo’s job which annoys him a lot is this: that people expect instant diagnosis with the barest information.

Like this scenario for instance:

Him: I woke up with a mild low grade fever yesterday. After a shower and panadol, I feel okay.
Jmbo: Hmmm, ok….
Him: And then later, the low grade fever came back.
Him again: Then it went off by evening
Him again: Then this morning, I woke up with a mild low grade fever (he was beginning to sound like a broken record)

Then the clincher (Jimbo already knew what was coming):

Him: So, what is happening ya? What do you think I have?”

Jimbo fought hard to not babble out the long list of diagnoses of mild low grade fever:
From a mild viral fever, to mild dehydration to stress to more moderate stuff like dengue and chikungunya (Jimbo ruled out Rocky Mountain Fever effectively ~ it was a no brainer); to even more serious stuff like malaria, typhoid, typhus, leptospirosis, meliodosis; to really ominous stuff like lymphoma, leukemia and renal cell carcinoma.

Instead, he offered this: I am not sure what caused it, but if you are worried, maybe you can go get some blood tests done.

And he was left alone..

Until 20 minutes later…

Him: So what is happening with me ya?
Him again: Do you think I have dengue?
Him yet again: I think I better get some blood tests done.
Him (yes) again: What do you think?

Jimbo: Frankly, I really have no idea what is the matter with you unless some blood tests are done.

Sigh…

But then again, if you put yourself into the shoes of this man, what would you have done?

So, ya, some times it annoys Jimbo but this comes with the ‘package’ of being a doctor. And so, Jimbo will continue to be a soothsayer and after a while, he will get a hang of it.

You know why? Because a lot of diseases are discovered quite ‘accidentally’.

Tues, 301208 @ 0700

Case #64: The man with generalised rash

This 24-year-old man presents with generalised rash of 5 days duration. There is no history of fever or URTI symptoms or joint pains. The rash are present on predominantly on his limbs, palms, soles, abdomen and genitalia. The rash are neither painful nor itchy. He was diagnosed with HIV + 6 months earlier while undergoing an annual medical check up but is not on HAART as his CD4 is >600 cells/uL. He admits to engaging in MSM activities. On examination, other than the rash, he has some ulcers in the oral mucosa.

Below are his pictures:

Questions:

1. What is the most likely diagnosis?
2. How will you confirm the diagnosis?
3. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, what bedside procedure will you offer this man before starting treatment?

Mon, 291208 @ 0700

Back tracking

Apparently the MB who earlier said people with HIV should not be allowed to marry and have children and should be quarantined is now singing a different tune.

Today, in The Star, he made an attempt to clarify what he meant in his earlier statements; namely:

1. HIV + people can marry subject to the following:

a. they undergo special treatment
b. get a clean bill of health from their doctors
c. the doctors now decide when they are ‘out of danger’ and can have a family

2. With regards to the issue of quarantining HIV+ people, he said:

“(my) definition of quarantine was patients with HIV undergoing treatment at special wards with specialised care and diet and not to isolate them from society.”

The headline reads: Nizar: HIV patients should be cured first before marrying.

I am not sure if the misleading headline is the work of an ignorant writer/editor or Nizar actually thought that HIV can be ‘cured’.

For the record: HIV CANNOT BE CURED (YET)! IT CAN HOWEVER, BE MANAGED AND SUPPRESSED.

He now place the responsibility of deciding whether HIV patients can marry or not squarely on the shoulders of doctors who treat the patients! As if we doctors do not have enough to do, now we have to play marriage counselors! I seriously do not recall taking a ‘Marriage 101′ course while in college.

Imagine my resume next time:

Dr. Jimbo (hopefully with an A/P or a Prof in front)
Infectious diseases Specialist
Internal Medicine Lecturer
Marriage Counselor
Wedding Planner (for a small fee, he would pop out half naked from the wedding cake)
Heck, he even delivers!!!

I sincerely think that some politicians should be quarantined.
And my definition of quarantine here would be to suture the oral orifice to stop the verbal diarrhea!

Really spoiled my Sunday.

Sun, 281208 @ 1306

Humble abode

After wading through months of delay and legal jargons, Jimbo and family finally received the keys to their new home. Now he has 3 weeks to whip this place into something decent before the Chinese New Year!

Any house-warming gift givers  are most welcomed! Just drop a note here.

Jimbo’s wish list for the house:

1. ICI paint (for outside)

2. Nippon Paint (for inside)

3. Tiles

4. A decent honest contractor to do some minor renovation work

5. A decent honest landscaper to whip the secondary jungle into green pasture

6. 1 air con

7. 5 fans

8.  multiple wall lightings

9.  a kitchen cabinet

10. a wardrobe (he couldn’t extract the built-in one in his previous house)

11.  a roof repair man to repair minor leaks

That’s about it.

Sun, 281208 @ 0700

Medium Room

Looks like the medical faculty in University Malaya is already dabbling in traditional hocus pocus. This advertisement was spotted in the medical hostel lounge area.

The advert says “medium room to let” ~ purportedly for mediums to practice their craft in. Heck, 2 mediums (who, I suppose hasn’t made it big by conning treating people) can share a room!

Sar, 271208 @ 0700

Rumour Mongers

Psssst….have you heard?

Heard of that one before?

Well, Jimbo has been the subject of many rumours over the last 2 weeks.

Jimbo’s friend who is a fellow doctor called him a while ago and the following conversation took place:

Friend: Hey, Jimbo what’s going on?!

Jimbo: Huh? What’s what’s going on?

Friend: I got a few friends calling me asking how I am!

Jimbo: So? What has that to do with me?

Friend: Well, it seems that there is a rumour going around that one of your doctor friend was diagnosed with HIV! And since I am one of your friend, they thought maybe I have HIV!!!

Jimbo: *speechless*!!

Just last weekend, Jimbo received a sms from another friend:

Friend: Hey, there is a rumour going around that you have quit from the hospital! Is it true?

Jimbo: Where did you hear that from?

Friend: Your patients in KL!

Jimbo: *speechless* again!

Sigh….

Why do people spend time spreading untruths?

Pssst….

There is a rumour going around that Jimbo might be gay/bi/lesbian-ish/omni-sexual/a eunuch/transgendered as well!

And ya…

He’s also actually Brad Pitt in disguise!

No wait….

He’s not really Brad Pitt; he’s actually a ‘she’!!!!

And she is Angelina Jolie in disguise doing humanitarian work…, and looking for another kid to adopt!

There, go figure that one out!

Fri, 261208 @ 0700

Merry Christmas!!

Pre-marital HIV testing

Now,  if I do not say my piece, regarding this latest controversial issue, I wouldn’t be worth my salt, now, would I?

People have talked about it to death. And one MB of a State in Malaysia has even said that those found to be HIV + should not be allowed to marry because it is “unfair to pass the infection to their children”.

Here’s my view, and I am not adding to all the stuff that has already been discussed, such as human rights, stigmatization and blah blah blah…

My point is, if I am a MB of a State in Malaysia, I would forbid patients diagnosed with Diabetes mellitus to marry as well!

Why?

Because DM can be inherited.
Because it would be “unfair’ to pass on this ‘sweet’ disease to the poor kids.
Because these poor kids won’t be able to enjoy their Mac Donalds (Prosperity Burger, no less) and Burger Kings.
Because it costs about RM 20K per year to treat one patient with diabetes.
Because it is not fair that the children of diabetics should suffer hypertension, stroke and kidney failure ~ all because their sweet parents get married and decided to have sex!

Ditto for those with Thallasemia, high cholesterol, thyroid problems, breast cancer, or anything that can be passed on to the next generation.

Oh yes, I firmly believe that some politicians should also be barred from marriage and procreate as it is very evident that some of them do pass on their buffoonery to their poor children.

Sigh…

I rest my case.

Thurs, 241208 @ 0700

New HIV Risk!

Apparently Community Social Workers have now joined the ranks of people-at-risk for HIV infection; at least according to the doctor who wrote this referral letter:

In the letter (for those who can’t decipher a doctor’s handwriting) was written this:

This gentleman, seen here today, referred by G.P. with c/o papular skin lesions x 6/12, weight loss x 6/12 difficulty to swallow. He gives h/p unprotected sex with community social worker 12 yrs ago. He is also a diabetic on f/u at pharmacy. Clinically he has skin furunculosis and oral thrush. HIV (+)….

We all had a good laugh over the letter. It seems that commercial sex workers have now been upgraded to community social workers!

Wed, 241208 @ 0700; Christmas Eve’s Eve