I just got home from my very first hospital duty as a licensed doctor. I was never fond of 24 hour duties after the board exam. And good that I had options of becoming a company physician for a call center, doing annual pre-employment to companies which had bigger pays. But this time, I tried to do hospital work.

The first time I arrived at the hospital (it was in Antipolo), I was endorsed and toured by the post duty Doctor. It was a 3 storey primary maternity and medical hospital. I am to man the ER for 24 hours. Just me, no other doctor, but the nurses.
Just upon my arrival, I had a patient waiting already, 5 years old female, was rushed to the hospital because of cyanosis. I said, think think think, I ordered sponge bath, then paracetamol suppository, CBC and urinalysis. The relatives were really anxious, I was also about to be but i just kept it to myself. Then more OPD patients came about 3. There was gastroenteritis, Upper respiratory tract infection. Of course I have to have to document everything you do on the medical record.

Suddenly, an 8 month old bleeding patient was rushed because he was hit by broken pieces of a bottle of sarsi that exploded. Patient had multiple lacerations on the forehead and neck area. I was asked by the nurse how many stitches, I said around 10. Of course everyone was on panic. I said, let clean the wounds. I primed the mother that she might faint because of the blood because I could see that she was getting pale. I had patient at JR that fainted before my eyes while she was holding the baby. Then I began suturing, one by one. Then while I was doing that, a 72 year old female was brought to the ER, was placed on the bed and given O2 inhalation. I was getting nervous, oh no, what seems to be the problem. Imagine I was the only attendee so I interviewed while I was suturing the child. Good it was just fever and vomiting, not any MI or DOA. I advised the nurse to give Paracetamol and advised admission. Good they opted admission at PGH because of financial constraints.

Then another 5 month old patient was brought to the hospital. I could hear the continuous cough of the baby from outside. Then they came in, I felt pity for the patient because she had continuous cough. Mother said patient was unable to sleep for the past 2 days, with poor appetite and low fever. I asked for Chest Xray and CBC but later mother came back if they could only do Chest Xray because of limited budget so it occurred to me that admission is not feasible for this patient. Then later I had the patient nebulized. Patient was instantly relieved! Mother was crying because the first time she saw her baby was quietly breathing. She said, Doc thank you! thank you! It was heart warming and I had a sense of relief. There was no radiologist on duty so I had to see the Xray by myself and I noted a haziness on the right upper lobe of the patient. Could be Pneumonia because I was thinking of croup I said to the mother and advised official ff up of result. But then I gave antibiotics and follow up but I advised that they could be seen by another doctor then. It was really nice to hear that, "Doc sana pagbalik namin, ikaw uli."

Then more OPD patients came. Toxic. I was getting hungry by then. I had my lunch at around 3pm, together with merienda hehehe. Later I heard, doc! doc! Emergency Emergency! A 7 year old male was rushed bleeding with a big amount of skin and muscle of the left leg peeled. I could see the whole tibia and fibula. Patient was stuck in an escalator. Good thing the nurse told that they bring him to a bigger hospital because we are just a primary hospital. Hay kaba!!!

Then I was able to dispose OPD patients. One by one. Had time to rest at around 8pm to 3am with a few patients in between. Later, I was awoken because a 22 yr Female had vaginal bleeding, took Cytotec 5 tabs and placed 1 tab vaginal to abort her 2nd baby. I really wanted to get mad at her, but I kept it cool. I advised admission. Patient wanted to go home and be given just home meds. I told her she needs D and C. Tinakot ko sya, alam mo, kung pupunta ka ng government hospital, ipapaNBI ka, ibablotter ka. Alam mo bang bawal yang ginawa mo? Pwede kang makulong. At kung umuwi ka, anong hihintayin mo, mamutla at masugod sa hospital? There. Patient admitted.

Later a tricycle came! Doc, nanganak na! Lumabas na ung bata. I ran, wore gloves. The baby was out in the tricycle and was held by another girl. I rubbed the baby's back and it cried. I thought the baby was dead. Good. Patient was carried to the ER with me holding the baby. I cut the cord at the DR. Wow, the patient delivered with her panty on! Of course, admitting orders again. I was able to talk to the OB on the phone while I was at the Delivery Room. I delivered the placenta, good I had a well contracted uterus after. Gosh, I was really doing everything on my own. Good there was no lacerations, no need for any suturing. It was her 6th pregnancy so canal was so wide already.

My pants had blood stains already all over. But it was ok. My anxiety was fed. I couldn't sleep thinking something weird is gonna happen.

Afterwhich, it was the newborn's turn to be admitted, suction secretions. I talked to the OB she said, that I must admit it under my name so, admitting orders again. Routine newborn care. I inserted heplock, then I computed for the dosage of Ampicillin and Gentamicin to be given.

So it is sunshine already. More OPD patients came, disposed them one by one. Then later, doc doc! 2 year old male was pale and stiff, at first I thought he was dead, then I auscultated, tachycardia. Patient had a high fever then was noted to have jerking of extremities and upward rolling of eyeballs. Wah! BFC! Benign Febrile Convulsion. Good there was a lot of nursing students around so I asked them to give sponge bath and Paracetamol 125mg suppository. Patient was unconscious for a while. I was also getting anxious on what to do. I told the mother that patient is for admission, asked for CBC and Urinalysis. Then later, fever was subsiding and patient cried. Sign of relief! My goodness!

Then later, I was asked to assist in the delivery room for the Dilatation and Curettage of the previous patient I admitted. Told the nurses to call me, if another seizure occurs. I was in the middle of the procedure upstairs when they called. So I was allowed by the OB to scrub out and to check the patient. I ordered Diazepam per rectum. Patient was then stable but mother opted to admit to government hospital due to financial constraints. So thank God.

That was the last patient that was toxic during my term of duty until I endorsed the next shift. I was a little bit tired but my anxiety was replaced thinking that it was over.

On the way home, I bought a whole pan pizza.

Guys I've tried these recipes. They are really good.

http://eatmyrecipe.blogspot.com

This is the abstract of my BS Biochemistry thesis in UP... woohoo! I'm proud of this. This is the product of my hardwork and sleepless nights spent in the chemical laboratory.

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SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POTENTIAL ANTITUMOR RUTHENIUM ASCORBATE COMPLEXES

By

ANN MARGARETTE G. AMARGA

March 2002

ABSTRACT

New complexes of ruthenium with biologically relevant ligands such as ascorbate: (C₆H₇O₆)₂Ru(C₆H₆O₆)₂ (MW = 799.1), Ru₂Cl₅(C₆H₇O₆)₄ (MW = 1081.7), Ru(C₆H₇O₆)₂ (MW = 451.0) and RuCl₂(C₆H₆O₇)·H₂O (MW = 363.9) were synthesized and characterized through Ultraviolet-visible, Mass and Infrared spectroscopy.

Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy indicates the formation of new complexes through an observed hypsochromic shift of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer band. Mass spectroscopy established the molecular weights of the compounds while the presence of the υ(Ru-O) band at ~800 cm^-1 in the IR spectrum of the individual complexes supports coordination of the ascorbate ligand to the ruthenium atom. Model structures of the complexes are presented based on preliminary geometry optimization procedures using the PC Spartan Pro. These possible antitumor ruthenium ascorbate complexes are highly soluble in water making them good candidates for more effective intracellular transit and possible antitumor function.

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It's been a long time since I passed by my old website then I've seen my thesis. I wonder how I was able to make this thesis. Looks greek to me!