I got to work much earlier today though I am still about 5 minutes late.
In my unit we have a house officer, 2 medical officers, a registrar and a consultant. Though the other medical officer commences his annual leave tomorrow. House officers spend only 4 weeks in each department in surgery.
My present house officer is beautiful, nice and hard-working lady and I even thought of asking her to marry me but I was told in time, she is in serious relationship with a fellow medical officer.
Yesterday I told you about the bad case we have in our unit. Today was the decision time; do we continue on chloramphenicol or change to routine unit antibiotics. Personally I believe the fever was dropping because patient immune system could no more fight whatever is causing the fever.General surgeon advised us to stop all antibiotics while consultant microbiologist suggested we discontinued chloramphenicol.
My own argument is that you can’t use ceftriaxone and chloramphenicol together because one is bacteriostatic while the other is bactericidal. Eventually we stopped chloramphenicol, I have a feeling we were too late because the patient is now in acute renal failure from the latest renal function test.
Today is consultant ward round and I thank God it is Friday.
We commence patient on oxygen with plan to transfer to intensive care unit.
I spent my remaining time reading in the library.
I eventually got to my house around 7:30pm, I ate noodles and feeling very happy that today is Friday. For I will sleep with both my eyes closed.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Day One: A Very Bad Case in Our Unit
I woke up this morning around 7am Nigerian time. So I got to work around 30 minute late, though this is normal occurrence here but personally I try as much as possible to come to work early.
About 20 days ago we admitted a patient on account of multiple fractures involving tibia and fibula on both legs, left femur, right hip and right radio-ulna bones, following road traffic accident. We subsequently did multiple open reduction and internal fixation with fantastic post operative state.
However, around 8 days post operative day patient developed malignant like hyperthermia of unknown cause which has defied all form of treatment by combined team of microbiologist, general surgeon, physician and our unit.
Surprisingly today the fever came down with the use of chloramphenicol which we no longer use. Though I personally assume the man system has stopped fighting because aside temperature all other vital signs are poor. And this is a patient who we are about to discharge home.
Ordinary I officially close at work by 4pm if my unit is not on call but today I have to stay longer in the hospital to assist the nurses in monitoring this case; ‘don’t ever leave bad case for nurses to monitor for you’
Around 8pm I decided to go home finally. Remember I am not married, so I have no one to assist me at home. I think I should do something about this, oh God I need a wife, I mean good one. Of course I have female friends but they all are more interested in marrying me than loving me.
On getting home I saw 2 ladies waiting for me. Yes I know them but I am too tired to think clearly. Well one has to leave while the other fed me, got me a hot water to bath and off I am on my bed typing this diary.
I hope to type good story tomorrow…….. Snores
About 20 days ago we admitted a patient on account of multiple fractures involving tibia and fibula on both legs, left femur, right hip and right radio-ulna bones, following road traffic accident. We subsequently did multiple open reduction and internal fixation with fantastic post operative state.
However, around 8 days post operative day patient developed malignant like hyperthermia of unknown cause which has defied all form of treatment by combined team of microbiologist, general surgeon, physician and our unit.
Surprisingly today the fever came down with the use of chloramphenicol which we no longer use. Though I personally assume the man system has stopped fighting because aside temperature all other vital signs are poor. And this is a patient who we are about to discharge home.
Ordinary I officially close at work by 4pm if my unit is not on call but today I have to stay longer in the hospital to assist the nurses in monitoring this case; ‘don’t ever leave bad case for nurses to monitor for you’
Around 8pm I decided to go home finally. Remember I am not married, so I have no one to assist me at home. I think I should do something about this, oh God I need a wife, I mean good one. Of course I have female friends but they all are more interested in marrying me than loving me.
On getting home I saw 2 ladies waiting for me. Yes I know them but I am too tired to think clearly. Well one has to leave while the other fed me, got me a hot water to bath and off I am on my bed typing this diary.
I hope to type good story tomorrow…….. Snores
Day One: Introduction
My name is Olisa Olusegun. I am medical doctor working as a medical officer in department of orthopaedic, Federal medical centre, Owo, Ondo state in Nigeria.
Many of you might not know what ‘medical officer’ means: is a form of ’senior house officer’ but in my country it’s a position reserves for medical doctors that have not started their residency programme (a form of postgraduate programme), but have done their compulsory internship for a year and ‘national youth service’(if you are 30 year or below).
My monthly take home pay is below a thousand dollar in a month, though our tax system is not as greedy as you have in Europe and USA.
Statistically we were told there are 4 thousand Nigerians to a doctor but as far as I am concern, this does not reflect what is happening on ground. And very soon you will agree with me.
In my department we have 3 unit headed by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. The head of my unit is also the HOD. So we are the ruling party. And as a result of this I don’t have to watch my back.
The Federal medical centre is a tertiary referral centre and serves more than 20 major towns and up to 100 villages
I am fan of football. At least that is what it is called in my country, and of course I mean ’soccer’. I support Manchester United football club.
I am more than 30 years and single. I live in 3 room apartment with a sitting room. In my country standard I belong to an average social economic status.
We will continue from here tomorrow.
Many of you might not know what ‘medical officer’ means: is a form of ’senior house officer’ but in my country it’s a position reserves for medical doctors that have not started their residency programme (a form of postgraduate programme), but have done their compulsory internship for a year and ‘national youth service’(if you are 30 year or below).
My monthly take home pay is below a thousand dollar in a month, though our tax system is not as greedy as you have in Europe and USA.
Statistically we were told there are 4 thousand Nigerians to a doctor but as far as I am concern, this does not reflect what is happening on ground. And very soon you will agree with me.
In my department we have 3 unit headed by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. The head of my unit is also the HOD. So we are the ruling party. And as a result of this I don’t have to watch my back.
The Federal medical centre is a tertiary referral centre and serves more than 20 major towns and up to 100 villages
I am fan of football. At least that is what it is called in my country, and of course I mean ’soccer’. I support Manchester United football club.
I am more than 30 years and single. I live in 3 room apartment with a sitting room. In my country standard I belong to an average social economic status.
We will continue from here tomorrow.
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