DAY 1733-1745

Jun 1-13

1) This week has been a particularly rough one for me. To start off, I had an eczema flare-up for the past week, which really affected my concentration and sleep. Besides, there was a sudden complete black-out in my apartment. Also, my internet wi-fi decided to give up on me when I needed it badly, and finally, my phone decided not to charge properly. When taken individually, these seem like quite trivial matters (which indeed they are), but when you consider that most of us medical students at RUMC are already at the brink of anxiety and depression having to study for exams they have no idea how to prepare for, then it is easy to see how this may be the straw that breaks the camel's back. 

2) Regardless, the week has ended on a particularly high-note: my article on motor neuron hyperexcitability, which I co-authored with Dr. James Bashford (my supervisor from my MSc course) has been published! I still remember writing sections of this paper during my two-weeks quarantine in Tune Hotel, KL shortly after my return from UK. There was no chair to use in my hotel room, so I had my laptop propped up on two spare pillows as I hunched over, reading papers and making notes for the article. And today, just shy of a year later, this very article has been published in Clinical Neurophysiology, a high-impact peer-reviewed medical journal. 

3) In other news, Malaysia has extended its nationwide lockdown for yet another two weeks. Infection rates have indeed been dropping, with yesterday recording just 5,793 cases (compared to 9,020 cases a week ago), and the highest number of recoveries, at 8,334 discharged. For us medical students, this means more online lectures and self-directed learning. I have also registered for and received my appointment date for the COVID-19 vaccination next week (June 21). Compared to many countries, Malaysia has been slow in mass vaccination with only 4% of the population being fully vaccinated, but things look to be speeding up. My grandfather recently had his second dose, and has had no symptoms whatsoever. 

4) That's all for this edition of my blog. Thanks very much for visiting as always, and have a great week ahead. Cheers! :)

P.S. If you are interested, here is the link to the journal article:   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2021.03.053

Title: Demystifying the spontaneous phenomena of motor hyperexcitability

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2021.03.053

Saying goodbye to Ice: senior turned classmate turned senior again

Safe trip back to Thailand! :D

Thanks for the birthday cake Rach!

Hope you had a great one :D

DAY 738 & 739

Sept 10 & 11

1) The eagle-eyed among you would have noticed a change in the layout of the blog. That is because I wanted to keep things fresh, in line with a new start to the semester haha. Anyway, yesterday morning, before classes started, I had an appointment for a CT (computed tomography) scan at Beaumont Hospital, to monitor treatment progress. Fortunately, I was the first patient of the day, and shortly after the department opened (at 8.00am), I was called into the room.

2) A nurse introduced herself to me, confirmed that I was indeed the correct patient by asking my DOB and address (I think that's SOP), and proceeded to inform me that she would be jabbing two cannulas - one into each arm - just to balance things off haha. Jokes aside, the first cannula was placed in my right arm (cubital fossa) in order to administer a "saline chaser".

3) A quick introduction on radioimaging - specifically CT scanning in this case. Contrast medium (usually iodine/barium agents) is injected into a patent vein of the patient, to increase the contrast of the structures i.e. make them more visible. Many hospitals also administer what is known as a saline chaser, which is just saline solution, that a) allows reduction in contrast volume (thus reducing cost and risk of contrast-induced nephropathy), b) increases peak attenuation. So the cannula in my right arm was for the saline chaser injection (and removed right after), while the one in my left arm was left there so that the contrast medium could be injected just prior to the actual CT scan.

4) If only it were that simple. While the IV cannulation went smoothly in my left arm, things didn't go as well for my right. The cannula, once inserted, is supposed to remain there and not slip off. This, unfortunately, was not the case in my right arm. I watched as the needle pricked my right arm, slid off, was pushed back by the nurse, slid off again, and then she resorted to inserting it at an angle - turning left and right in futility. All this while, a trail of blood was slowly oozing out from the needle site...

5) After at least a minute of poking around, in and out, sideways - the cannula remained in place. The nurse asked if I was okay, and injected the saline solution. I like to think of myself as an easygoing person, but it would take a lot from me not to blurt out something a little more... colourful :)  Anyway, I was glad to be done with the prepping, and was sent out to wait for the actual CT scan. As expected, I was called almost immediately (as I was the first patient). The radiographer, Francis, was extremely friendly and we had a nice chat about phones.

6) He was looking to upgrade to a new phone and asked me the model and make of mine. He thought my Samsung was too large and cumbersome, and said he would probably stick to the smaller ones (my phone screen is extra large at 6"). Phones aside, this was my first CT scan as a patient, so everything was quite new for me. I was instructed to raise my hands as the bed was moved into the path of the scanning device (to allow for an unobstructed view of my chest). Within five minutes, the procedure was over.

7) I was advised to drink lots of water (a litre more than my normal intake for the day) to flush out all the contrast media. I came into the department at quarter to eight, was called in at five past, and finished at quarter to nine. Just in time to meet up with everyone for our first lecture at nine. What perfect timing - and testament to the amazing speed and efficiency of the Beaumont Hospital staff. Anyway, that has been my first (and rather unique) experience with CT scanning - more so a first-hand perspective. It has been an eventful two days, and thank you for visiting my blog as always. Have a nice day, cheers! :)

In contrast to the disaster on the right arm, there was little fanfare with the cannula in the left arm... :)

(contrast will soon be injected into my left vein and it leaves a warm sensation throughout the body (which is practically harmless and lasts only about half a minute or so))

Waiting Room 3 - Department for CT Scanning

SIEMENS CT-Scanning Device - if you look carefully at the bottom of the blue screen - my name is actually written there! XD

The most candid photo ever - a whacky selfie of me just before Francis commented on my XL sized phone XD

Lamb curry with carrots - absolutely delightful!

Beef stew with side of long beans and chips - very filling and a nice combination (traffic-light XD) of colours

A new (and slightly painful) experience for me :))