Because life is all about surviving the challenges
Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah
For giving me the chance to breath ....
Where should I start?
Maybe with age I stumbled easily on my words even on my footsteps not forgetting my memory too
:)
This smile hidden a thousand meaning, trying to make up for the time that you have lost is impossible hence what you can only do is to hope for a better tomorrow
I think I have put a lot of time and effort to be a good doctor to my patient and for my own peace of mind, never to think that one day it might come to get me back
People may have many perception to what kind of a doctor I am, or a person I am outside/inside of work, I consider myself a workaholic who loves my patient more than I do myself at times, mistakes I have made, too many to be mentioned here, of course I hope it made me a better doctor.
Certainly this experience has changed me to be a better person who loves being a doctor( although not fully happy to have to work in Malaysian health care knowing there is a better promising job prospectus )
On 3rd of September 2015 at IPR I was unfortunately admitted, yes as a patient and was diagnosed with Pleura Tuberculosis on 4th of September 2015 and started on antituberculosis for 6 months. I fully understand that many doctors just like any other human being bear the risk of getting any diseases, including the incurable one. I am very thankful that myself has been infected by this disease which is curable and non-debilitating as much as the other disease may have done.
But I wouldn't want this just to be a memory, I need to document this somehow so I would remember how it feels like to be a patient, more over on how much this has an impact on my own self.
I have been taking care of the isolation/ tb cubicle for a month, hesitating much at first but I couldn't believe how much I have enjoyed and love the company of my patient, for the first time I actually feels that I am providing a holistic care towards my patient unlike my daily routine of treating the disease itself and having to ignore the social aspect.
Every day I will meet Mr.C, Mr.S,Mr. C and few more as the 'regular'
Story 1
Mr.C is a mid 40s chinese man who has been on chest tube for 3 weeks by the time I took over his care , unfortunately he may have Lung Cancer which may have spread which means a poor prognosis, never once he complained to me about the pain of the chest tube, he look worried but always cooperative and smiling.
He used to be a contractor -works with tiles and stuff (which I suspect may work with asbestos which may cause the Ca) who has a wonderful wife- 'isteri saya muda lagi, anak saya 5 orang' is what he always told me with tears running down his eyes.... He told me he needs to go back to work to support his family and one day I guess he could not take it anymore he absconded with the chest tube along, and amazingly he survived the 2 hours journey of riding a bus and walking 5 flight of stairs!!!
And he absconded on the day I was on call and guess what I did
We went to his house knowing the risk of pneumothorax with him having the intact chest tube, he actually was holding a knife pointing at me ' saya tak mahu balik wad dr' , at that point I surprisingly was not scared but I feel sad for him, he live in a small apartment , just enough for them... when I enter the room I understand why he needs to be home, to get well and how our bad news did break him...
I just go near him and said, 'Saya mahu tolong uncle' and he looked at me with a sad face and alhamdulillah put down his knife, I know he would not hurt us, even more me whom I think has been a good acquaintance of his, or I hope so.
We talked and the rest of it well was not important, just am thankful he is fine. and so do I
Story 2
Mr.A is a 25 y/o malay gentleman whom his story maybe a lot like me, perfectly well and yet not so well inside. Again having a chest tube inserted more than what has been promised but never once laments about the pain he has to go through. I thought he would lost it as well but fortunately he didn't and pull through!
Many other stories that I feel like writing, unexpected diagnosis that crumble their life in just a second, or some that called for the relatives to reach out for them before letting them go for good but it would take me all night to do that.
And when I saw my own CXR that day, the words spilled out ' Whose CXR was that?it is pretty bad' 'itu doktor punya xray'
I still feels it was like a dream and to this day I haven't actually let it sink in yet,not fully yet at least I think I am still in the acceptance part .....
Pain is only an illusion that is what I have told myself, my patient
NOOOOOO it is not!
Having a chest tube is definitely a different experience, trust me! With every breath I feel like a sharp knife was being cut to my lungs. And if you are not so lucky like myself, unable to tolerate tramal, having Paracetamol and NSAIDs as your only means of analgesia I just feel like it was the end. And not being able to speak or cry because it will only make the pain worst, even more every movement.
I only pray that my fate will not be like my patient, to have other incurable diagnosis or having to keep the chest tube for much longer time period.
At that time, I fully understand the pain they have to undergo which I overlooked most of the time. Thankfully I stayed at a first class ward with my sister who have helped me through my stay and them.... if only I could show the picture of our isolation cubicle.... and most of the time with no visitors and nurses who have no enough time to care for them due to the overcrowded of patient.
I feel more angry with the health care system... I could vent it out here but I know it will not bring any changes. Instead I think I should re think of what I should do now to be able to change the system. Maybe doing internal medicine isn't the best option...
I am not the only one having this disease, surprisingly it is more common than you think. Well, we all understand it well when we sign up for this. And for me, it is just a wake up call for many things - wanting to work with UN/WHO means more risk for many other work related disease transmission, to revise my career plan and to appreciate the 5 before 5 and maybe not to work too hard
(em the part for PPE I think I have done it as best as I could)
Furthermore, the risk that I have put towards my family...
At the end of the day, all is well , Alhamdulillah
I have learnt more about myself and others, I want to thanked every one who has been wishing me well and taking the time to visit me.
To my family, my amazing mom who is 65y/o and E who is 76y/o but still visit me everyday , they hired a taxi and go through all the traffic (30 mins journey could make up to 2 hours journey) ; walked up and down those stairs just to see me.... O Allah how could I repay them, I 'm sorry that I made you worried.
I love you and I hope that I can take care of you both just as how you did to me.
To my sister, no matter what happened, at the end I know you will have my back always. Thank you for putting aside whatever feelings that was there at that time. For caring for me like I am a baby :) I love you no matter what , i hope you understand that.
Efang , I am glad you are back just in time for me,haha I know it is not for me but it was just at the right time, for driving after your dreadful day at work (still having to go to work the next morning) just to give me words of comfort and big hugs when I need it and you brought me cake! I love you
See, knowing you are around made me less nervous and scared, thank you for being there and always checking up on me. I definitely owe you two a big meal!
Nad, your visits meant a lot, that long talk was due for far too long! I miss you and I am happy to see you, I hope you will pass your exam and everything goes well for everything, you know what I mean. I love you
Sharon for always checking up on me, my relatives, colleagues, specialist,friends near and far - for the prayer and wishes, thank you. (sorry that I couldn't mention all names)
Seriously I don't think I can get through this without any of you
To all my colleagues in this field, please take good care of yourself, take the necessary precautions and work hard but enjoy your life too please!
I hope I will be strong no matter what lies ahead
,not knowing what awaits me...
in this journey in searching for 'erti kehambaan, hakikat kehidupan'
Somehow I feel like my life is like a cable car, hanging in one end not knowing when will I reach the destination, but the route to the destination is scary at times, still with an amazing view, at times you have difficulties going up at times it goes downhill so smoothly and you get too carried away on the surrounding that you forget your destination
And for me I will take a long break to rest and just enjoy my life doing whatever :)
Call me up for some catching up! I'll be free :) or just wait for my calls, this definitely teach me not to wait for later but treasure the now!
For giving me the chance to breath ....
Where should I start?
Maybe with age I stumbled easily on my words even on my footsteps not forgetting my memory too
:)
This smile hidden a thousand meaning, trying to make up for the time that you have lost is impossible hence what you can only do is to hope for a better tomorrow
I think I have put a lot of time and effort to be a good doctor to my patient and for my own peace of mind, never to think that one day it might come to get me back
People may have many perception to what kind of a doctor I am, or a person I am outside/inside of work, I consider myself a workaholic who loves my patient more than I do myself at times, mistakes I have made, too many to be mentioned here, of course I hope it made me a better doctor.
Certainly this experience has changed me to be a better person who loves being a doctor( although not fully happy to have to work in Malaysian health care knowing there is a better promising job prospectus )
On 3rd of September 2015 at IPR I was unfortunately admitted, yes as a patient and was diagnosed with Pleura Tuberculosis on 4th of September 2015 and started on antituberculosis for 6 months. I fully understand that many doctors just like any other human being bear the risk of getting any diseases, including the incurable one. I am very thankful that myself has been infected by this disease which is curable and non-debilitating as much as the other disease may have done.
But I wouldn't want this just to be a memory, I need to document this somehow so I would remember how it feels like to be a patient, more over on how much this has an impact on my own self.
I have been taking care of the isolation/ tb cubicle for a month, hesitating much at first but I couldn't believe how much I have enjoyed and love the company of my patient, for the first time I actually feels that I am providing a holistic care towards my patient unlike my daily routine of treating the disease itself and having to ignore the social aspect.
Every day I will meet Mr.C, Mr.S,Mr. C and few more as the 'regular'
Story 1
Mr.C is a mid 40s chinese man who has been on chest tube for 3 weeks by the time I took over his care , unfortunately he may have Lung Cancer which may have spread which means a poor prognosis, never once he complained to me about the pain of the chest tube, he look worried but always cooperative and smiling.
He used to be a contractor -works with tiles and stuff (which I suspect may work with asbestos which may cause the Ca) who has a wonderful wife- 'isteri saya muda lagi, anak saya 5 orang' is what he always told me with tears running down his eyes.... He told me he needs to go back to work to support his family and one day I guess he could not take it anymore he absconded with the chest tube along, and amazingly he survived the 2 hours journey of riding a bus and walking 5 flight of stairs!!!
And he absconded on the day I was on call and guess what I did
We went to his house knowing the risk of pneumothorax with him having the intact chest tube, he actually was holding a knife pointing at me ' saya tak mahu balik wad dr' , at that point I surprisingly was not scared but I feel sad for him, he live in a small apartment , just enough for them... when I enter the room I understand why he needs to be home, to get well and how our bad news did break him...
I just go near him and said, 'Saya mahu tolong uncle' and he looked at me with a sad face and alhamdulillah put down his knife, I know he would not hurt us, even more me whom I think has been a good acquaintance of his, or I hope so.
We talked and the rest of it well was not important, just am thankful he is fine. and so do I
Story 2
Mr.A is a 25 y/o malay gentleman whom his story maybe a lot like me, perfectly well and yet not so well inside. Again having a chest tube inserted more than what has been promised but never once laments about the pain he has to go through. I thought he would lost it as well but fortunately he didn't and pull through!
Many other stories that I feel like writing, unexpected diagnosis that crumble their life in just a second, or some that called for the relatives to reach out for them before letting them go for good but it would take me all night to do that.
And when I saw my own CXR that day, the words spilled out ' Whose CXR was that?it is pretty bad' 'itu doktor punya xray'
I still feels it was like a dream and to this day I haven't actually let it sink in yet,not fully yet at least I think I am still in the acceptance part .....
Pain is only an illusion that is what I have told myself, my patient
NOOOOOO it is not!
Having a chest tube is definitely a different experience, trust me! With every breath I feel like a sharp knife was being cut to my lungs. And if you are not so lucky like myself, unable to tolerate tramal, having Paracetamol and NSAIDs as your only means of analgesia I just feel like it was the end. And not being able to speak or cry because it will only make the pain worst, even more every movement.
I only pray that my fate will not be like my patient, to have other incurable diagnosis or having to keep the chest tube for much longer time period.
At that time, I fully understand the pain they have to undergo which I overlooked most of the time. Thankfully I stayed at a first class ward with my sister who have helped me through my stay and them.... if only I could show the picture of our isolation cubicle.... and most of the time with no visitors and nurses who have no enough time to care for them due to the overcrowded of patient.
I feel more angry with the health care system... I could vent it out here but I know it will not bring any changes. Instead I think I should re think of what I should do now to be able to change the system. Maybe doing internal medicine isn't the best option...
I am not the only one having this disease, surprisingly it is more common than you think. Well, we all understand it well when we sign up for this. And for me, it is just a wake up call for many things - wanting to work with UN/WHO means more risk for many other work related disease transmission, to revise my career plan and to appreciate the 5 before 5 and maybe not to work too hard
(em the part for PPE I think I have done it as best as I could)
Furthermore, the risk that I have put towards my family...
At the end of the day, all is well , Alhamdulillah
I have learnt more about myself and others, I want to thanked every one who has been wishing me well and taking the time to visit me.
To my family, my amazing mom who is 65y/o and E who is 76y/o but still visit me everyday , they hired a taxi and go through all the traffic (30 mins journey could make up to 2 hours journey) ; walked up and down those stairs just to see me.... O Allah how could I repay them, I 'm sorry that I made you worried.
I love you and I hope that I can take care of you both just as how you did to me.
To my sister, no matter what happened, at the end I know you will have my back always. Thank you for putting aside whatever feelings that was there at that time. For caring for me like I am a baby :) I love you no matter what , i hope you understand that.
Efang , I am glad you are back just in time for me,haha I know it is not for me but it was just at the right time, for driving after your dreadful day at work (still having to go to work the next morning) just to give me words of comfort and big hugs when I need it and you brought me cake! I love you
See, knowing you are around made me less nervous and scared, thank you for being there and always checking up on me. I definitely owe you two a big meal!
Nad, your visits meant a lot, that long talk was due for far too long! I miss you and I am happy to see you, I hope you will pass your exam and everything goes well for everything, you know what I mean. I love you
Sharon for always checking up on me, my relatives, colleagues, specialist,friends near and far - for the prayer and wishes, thank you. (sorry that I couldn't mention all names)
Seriously I don't think I can get through this without any of you
To all my colleagues in this field, please take good care of yourself, take the necessary precautions and work hard but enjoy your life too please!
I hope I will be strong no matter what lies ahead
,not knowing what awaits me...
in this journey in searching for 'erti kehambaan, hakikat kehidupan'
And for me I will take a long break to rest and just enjoy my life doing whatever :)
Call me up for some catching up! I'll be free :) or just wait for my calls, this definitely teach me not to wait for later but treasure the now!
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