I wish that medicine was simply- medicine. The wonderfully fascinating science that can be used to extend the quality and quantity of life.
It's not though. No matter how much I try, some of the baggage will haunt me- tempting me to carry the stress of that too. I know the metaphor is becoming a little hard to follow- so I'll try and explain.
At least 70% of people in my course are struggling financially to get by. Some of these people astound me with their ability to hold down jobs on top of the mammoth task of studying medicine. 100% of us don't keep in contact with our friends and families like we did in our past lives. The list goes on. Perhaps what I dislike the most is being so vulnerable all time. It is so strange to go from competently holding down a job and looking after others to need constant support from those around me. Should a 25 year old still be calling home for help? Should a 25 year old burst into tears in front of strangers? Should a 25 year old need care in much the same way as a toddler learning how to walk does? It is embarrassing.
Yet I wonder if this humbling time has value? I know a lot of my med friends are going through the same thing. In hospitals patients are often seen by doctors during their most fragile moments. For example to go from working one day to lying in bed being catheterised the next- must be a horrible adjustment to the person's identity. Perhaps like me they need help, but also long to be seen as the competent happy person they normally are. So then how should I treat these patients? Should I get them well as quickly as possible? Yes. Should I acknowledge their pain? Yes. Should I acknowledge who they 'normally are'? Yes.
I want to thank my family for putting up with my many phone calls. I want to thank my friends for loving me just the same- even though I write letters far less than should. I want to thank my housemates for encouraging me daily. I want to thank my housemate's family for having me over during Easter.
Enough of that deep thinking for today. Two weeks ago I went to suturing night at uni- we lacerated and sewed up pig trotters. It was pretty incredible. I loved it. Being a surgeon must be exhilarating. Soon I'm going to be part of the Teddy Bear hospital and pretend to treat school kid's teddies- how fun! I've finally given in to Ugg boots. All my life I've hated them- they are so ugly. However they turn out to be vital for studying in my cold house. My friend's wedding was stunning and it was so refreshing to be home for it.
Cool medical fact for the week- we can get iron through eating it, but it's a lot harder to get rid of. Our body cells take up what they need and store a little extra. Some protein (transferrin) carries it around our blood stream allow the iron to reach cells all over the body. If the cells don't need anymore iron the body seems to know to not absorb any from the intestines. Yet why do we keep needing to eat iron- if the body doesn't get rid of iron once it's been absorbed from the intestines? Simply because we lose cells every day. Hair falls out. Dead skin rubs off. We fall over and a bit of blood oozes out. This is the lost iron that we need to replace. Pretty cool hey?!
I shall leave you with a picture of my room. The angel reminds me to pray. The picture by my brother reminds me to hope. The skeleton makes me laugh.
No comments:
Post a Comment