Neurosurgery week

This is my last week as a 4th year student. Gosh, I'm missing it already. To be honest, I love every posting except my orthopedic block which was very disappointing or maybe because I had high expectation. Hmm..

Anyway, for my this last week I am in my Neurosurgery posting and boy I loved how I ended it. The amount of compliments I received from 2 consultants from just 2 days is more than the whole year added together!!!

On Tuesday, I went for 2 clinics (morning by a registrar and in the afternoon, a Malaysian consultant's clinic). The morning clinic was funny because I think the reg was 'afraid' of me. The 1st patient did not attend the appointment so we were in the clinic room waiting for the next patient and I was bored so I started to ask questions. Instead of answering my question or quizzing me back, he said 'can you ask me an easier question?' LOL!!! Since then, he tried to not be in the clinic room alone with me, He'll go out to toilet, get a cup of water, read patient's notes outside of the room while I sat in the clinic room feeling bored. Towards the end of the clinic, I got a text from my group mate regarding Friday's assessment when he was outside of the room again. I was too happy reading the content of the message that I dropped my note books and stuff on the floor. It must have been loud because he came running in from outside and asking 'ARE YOU OK?!!' Hahahahahaha...he's nice =)

Then after tutorial, my group mate told me that the consultant who is having the clinic in the afternoon is a nice consultant who teaches students so instead of heading home and study, I went for the clinic hoping to learn more. The moment I stepped into the clinic, he said out loud 'comelnya~' and I was like 'Err....OK' then I introduced myself and he replied 'ni hao ma?' I was flabbergasted and I replied '...err....Okay??!!!' and went on introducing myself. He laughed and pointed to me where to sit and asked if I know Chinese so when I replied yes, he repeated himself again 'ni hao ma?'. I humored him and replied 'HAO!!!' hahahaha...

He did ask a few questions regarding my birthplace and instead of an answer of M'sia, he asked further 'where?' then 'which part?' so I asked him back if he's from M'sia and I got a HUGE 'NO' but eventually he admitted. He asked me a few questions and I managed to answer them correctly and he looked shocked and said 'I'm very impressed' then he became more keen in teaching me LOL....We had a few long winded patients and it delayed the whole clinic time and by the end of the day, he spoke to me in Malay!! Hahahaha....before releasing me, he asked if I have any question so I asked him one which was to just confirm my doubt but end up with 'I won't let you off that easy. Go back and read up then find me tomorrow at my office at 1pm OK?
Sheesh...another homework from another neurosurgeon (got one last Friday from the neurosurgeon who was teaching us).

On Wednesday, I planned to take the day off and study at home but since I have to 'pass up' my homework, I went to theater in the morning, hoping to kill time before 1pm and there was the neurosurgeon from last Friday, so I passed up my last Friday's homework to him and he was very happy. I made him happier when he asked me the next question and he rewarded me by asking if I would like to scrub in and assist him. DUH?? OF COURSE I WANT TO SCRUB IN AND ASSIST HIM!!!! But I informed him that I need to meet Mr.xx to pass up my homework.

To cut the story short, I assisted in a craniotomy for a right parasagittal meningioma!!!! The compliments what were threw at me just made me blushed all the time.
' 100%'
'Excellent!!'
'Good good'
'Wow, I'm impressed' etc....
Half way through the procedure, he stopped everything and just announced loudly....
(I turned to look at the anaesthetist thinking 'oh boy, what went wrong or what did I do to screw up the brain and what the anaesthetist can help!!)
....Listen, this medical student has been here since the start of the procedure, has been standing here doing all the right thing without me asking much and even came and inform me about xxxx which I didn't know when she asked me about it last week.... bla bla....

OMG!!! I was too embarrassed to actually listen word to word of what he was saying and I was trying to focus on the pulsating brain...I think I was very very red too. It's a fact that I don't know how to accept compliments because Malaysians are not compliment giver or taker LOL.

Anyway, the whole procedure lasted 6 HOURS!!! The procedure itself was 6 hours but I was in the theater since 9am (procedure started at 11am) so technically, I was standing without food and water for 8.5hours!!!!!!

Regarding the 1pm appointment with the other consultant, the theater nurse called him and informed him that I was assisting and hence could not turn up. Phew...

Before I left, he was convincing me to be a neurosurgeon. Pat on the shoulder and words like 'you have what it takes to be a surgeon, a neurosurgeon' etc came out from his mouth.....my confidence just went sky high and I don't need such confidence boost at such time because exam is in another 2 weeks and I am not studying as hard as I should be =/

But gosh, I love how I ended my 4th year =)
Hopefully I don't need to resit for anything!!! =/