DAY 1772-1786

Jul 10 - 24

1) It has been a good two weeks since my last blog post. Things have been chugging along for us in Group B, as we continue our clinical exposure in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G). This is our last rotation before the end of fourth year examinations. As expected, the pressure of exams is building up, as we barely have a week's respite after O&G exams before having to sit for the final examinations. 

2) Regardless, I have found O&G to be a very interesting, if challenging field. Essentially, obstetrics covers care before, during, and after pregnancy, including childbirth and the post-partum period, while gynaecology covers the health of the female reproductive system i.e. vagina, uterus, ovaries, and breasts. Our curriculum is structured such that we spend a week each in the obstetric ward, obstetric clinics, gynaecology ward, and gynaecology clinics. We also have a session each in the fertility clinic and urogynaecology clinics, as well as five labour on-calls (essentially "night-shifts") where we are given the opportunity to witness childbirths. 

3) In addition, we have a total of five case reports to write: three labour cases, one obstetric case, and one gynaecology case, where we discuss the management of the patient as well as outline any learning points from each case. It's a busy rotation to say the least. I'm not going to lie - waking up early to clerk at least one case for presentation before 8.00am is not something I look forward to, given that we have two bed-side teachings in day - one at 8.00am and another at 12.00pm. At the end of the day, my mind is usually saturated with information. Thankfully, we have the rest of the day for self-study. 

4) Last Monday, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that an art submission of mine had been selected as one of the top three winners for the "Artist's Impression: The Heart" competition organised by the RUMC Peer-Led Assisted Learning Society (PALS). As the title suggests, the theme revolved around the heart - so that inspired me to draw a heart undergoing a heart attack, along with the progressive build-up of plaque leading to atherosclerosis, which can result in a heart attack. It was really fun to take my mind off studying medicine and instead concentrate on one of my old hobbies i.e. drawing.

5) Next week, it is our turn to enter the gyanecology wards. So I think it best to end on here. Thanks very much for visiting as always, and have a lovely weekend. Stay safe, and stay happy. Cheers! 

My submission for the art competition:

i) The main picture shows a heart undergoing a heart attack, with the shaded zones representing myocardial (heart muscle) necrosis (death), injury, and ischaemia 

ii) The diagrams on the right show the sequence of plaque formation, which can result in a heart attack

iii) The wavy lines on the bottom show the ECG changes over time in a patient with a heart attack

My O&G group mates @ the infertility clinic

(l-r: Myself, Ainin, Vinny, Ain, and Aida)

A negative COVID-19 swab test was required for us to resume our clinical training in the wards

We booked our free screening and received our results in under two hours :)

DAY 1760-1771

Jun 28 - Jul 9 

1) Malaysia recorded its second highest number of daily infections (8,868 new cases) today. Things were looking good for us at the end of last week, before an unrelenting surge of new infections brought us to our new tally today. The worst part is there seems to be no signs of a turning point to this worrying trend. Of course, vaccination efforts have been ongoing as well, with a record-high daily vaccination rate of over 340,000 jabs yesterday. This means we have over 20% of the population who have received at least one dose of vaccination - definitely a huge milestone, and a testament to the combined efforts of our healthcare workers and volunteers.

2) To add to our Covid-19 woes, there has been an exponential rise in suicide rates in our country, with statistics showing 468 people having taken their own lives over the first five months of 2021, versus 631 suicides over the whole of 2020, and 609 the previous year. This is undeniably due to the massive socio-economic burden imposed by the lockdown, particularly in lower income families. In lieu of this, the #benderaputih ("white flag") campaign gained considerable momentum as a means to help out those in need, by providing food and other essentials to families displaying a white flag outside their homes.

3) All across Facebook, Malaysians have been sharing photos of groceries and essential items they could spare, as well as information on nearby food banks. Small hawkers displayed signs welcoming those in need to grab some food and beverages at their stalls, while other netizens posted pictures and addresses where assistance was required. Truly a heartwarming sight and in keeping with the spirit of "kita jaga kita" (we care for each other) that has been the slogan for our Covid-19 campaign. 

4) On the background of all this, RUMC medical students are to resume our clinical teachings on Monday. For the past six weeks, we have been attending online lectures from 8.00am to 1.00pm daily. Before being permitted back into the wards, we need to submit a negative Covid-19 test first. My appointment is due this Saturday, and fingers crossed I'll be able to return to wards on Monday. Truth be told, I have been rather ambivalent about the return to clinical training, as I felt that more of us could be vaccinated first, and of course another week or two of revision would do a world of good. But on the other hand, the longer the time spent out of the wards, the faster the clinical/ practical skills fade away.

5) A quick point about depression and suicide, especially in this difficult time. Firstly, it is important to be empathetic and non-judgmental when talking to someone who is going through a difficult time. We do not know, and will probably never know, what is going through their minds. The old saying goes - if you have nothing nice to say, don't say it. Secondly, talk to your family and friends often. Be aware of any changes in their behaviour and mannerisms, and never dismiss their problems (or threats at self-harm or suicide contemplation) as being too small or just empty threats. Thirdly, respect the privacy of the victims and their families - do not distribute pictures or videos on social media about suicide attempts. Fourthly, reach out for support at any of the following hotlines below, where professional and confidential help is available 24/7. These are just some simple steps we can take to help our fellow rakyat to pull through. Due to our various beliefs and cultural background, our understanding and perception of what depression and suicide is may vary considerably. However, sometimes it is better to choose being kind over being right.

6) On that note, I shall end my blog post here. Thanks very much for visiting, stay happy and healthy, and have a nice week ahead. Cheers!

Here are some useful hotlines:

i) Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (MHPSS): 03-29359935 or 014-3223392

ii) Talian Kasih: 15000, or WhatsApp 019-2615999

iii) Jakim's Family, Social and Community Care Centre: WhatsApp 0111-9598214

iv) Befrienders Kuala Lumpur: 03-76272929

A laudable effort by the New Malaysia Herald and other NGOs 

to help out those in need via the White Flag campaign