Finally I am here..continuation

I am late again...huhu.
Well I went for 3 more exams after the Part 1 in Singapore (Jan 2014). I sat for M.Med Masters written & clinical exams in April & May respectively. Followed by MRCP Part 2a written on 9th & 10th July 2014.
All these exams were in KL - Masters being in HUKM, whereby MRCP in UM.
The trips to M.Med exams was with Rabeah; while for the on in July, I brought along my parents & little nephew, Ameer - just to take them for a trip. For exams in HUKM, on the first trip we (Suba, Rabeah and I - of course separate rooms :) stayed in a not so cozy budget hotel called "The Room Hotel" ; but on 2nd trip, we switched back to Maple Inn - which cost us RM90/room. Maple Inn was the place we stayed during Intensive Course in March.

Just to share in regards to the clinical exams which was really a "mental torture"...huhu. We (about 60 of us) were separated into few groups. I was in the so-called 2nd session group ~ which means we had to go through a period of 3 hours of quarantine prior to the exam. Whew..that was really tormenting. 3 hours of wait in a small room for an exam which is only 40minutes. I had 4 patients (just like everyone else)
1) Hepatosplenomegaly with hyperpigmentation (I think he was a Thalassemic pt)
2) B/L cerebellar disease with RT side being more dominant - really dunno what was it
3) Psoariatic arthropathy
4) MR with functional TR in failure

MRCP - Part 2 written was an exhausting exam & the questions were out of this world !!!
Firstly, all the papers only started in the evening - which is actually time to take a nap or even a good sleep! In fact 2 of the papers started at 6pm! Each lasted 3 hours & consist of 90 questions. Questions were generally long with at least 30% of them having an additional attachment (ECG, CXR, myocardial perfusion image) which we must refer to. So flipping here, flipping there. Good thing was, I did not fall asleep (as during Part 1) & I went to toilet only during one paper. As it was Ramadhan, was something memorable & enjoyable to break-fast as I answer questions. As usual, my good companions gardenia bun & soya milk were there with me.

Exams being exams are not without stress, emotional distress etc. Especially the run-in to M.Med exams were really suffocating. Thank Allah for helping me to prepare for them & as well as for giving me success in these exams.

So relieved after 10th July 2014 (that night was live telecast of Argentina vs Holland - WC Semi Final); that I was so determined to stay up & watch the match, but I slept off by half time as the game was dull & was like a lullaby to me.

Now I am taking a short break after a marathon of exams. Insyaallah shall start preparing for Paces very soon & hope can get a place next year Feb, mac or April...and hope for the best...Insyaallah.

"Cukuplah bagiku Allah (yang menolong & memeliharaku); tiada Tuhan yang berhak disembah melainkan Allah. kepada-Nya aku berserah diri & Dialah yang mempunyai arasy yang besar"
- At-Taubah 9 : 129 -

Dengue and I

Im writing about something which happened almost 3 months ago. Regarding my own encounter with "the DENGUE VIRUS". All of us know this virus can be fatal. I've got experience treating dengue patients; but when it comes to the fact I myself having dengue in me is a whole different story...huhu

I was back in Penang on 3/10/14 morning for Aidiladha break & was in the mood of travelling to KK 4 days later. 1st day at home was fine, I even managed to assemble the "katil kayu jati" which has been stranded for no use since 2011.

On 4/10/14 (after maghrib)- malam raya, I started to sense something a miss with my body. It started with a backache and soon temperature of my body shot up. I knew it was different from a "normal fever" but I did not bother much.

The next day, I woke up early; but fever and chills were terrible; forcing me to skip Aidiladha prayers at the masjid. Was still able to taste briyani my mother made (though relatively small quantity)

I did not take take heed to what was actually going on inside me until the third day of illness. When I finally accepted this is some form of bad viral fever....DENGUE! Went to OPD in GH and alas! TWC : 2.7 ; plt  : 104 , Hct was pretty much ok @ 45%

Then started the daily routine of going for FBC checks until Day 7 of illness. The illness was really terrible; especially the headache. I wanted to sleep, but could not. Tried sitting but cant stay for long. Thank Allah, my mom & sister was always there to get me drinks, PCM & put blankets on me. I survived on juices, 100+ & plain water for one whole week. On day 5 particularly, I really felt tired & miserable, thus went to ED in hope of getting myself admitted; but they discharged me after 3 pints of IVD...huhu. But I felt better a bit after those drips.
Then there was this one young lady doctor in KK Jalan Perak (I went here on Day 4, as it is nearer to my house), who palpated my abdomen as if she was doughing capati... I was really lost for words..huh. . To make matters worse, after getting blood sampling, they dare to say, machine broke down! Poor service & arrogant attitude. Never ever coming here again

My febrile phase was stretched to exactly 7 days. My last plt count was 14! But kudos to GH PP doctors, who were too bold to still discharge me. (Unlike their counterparts in HSB ED - who will admit a patient nicely whacking nasi lemak; saying "the patient has "warning sign - persistent vomiting")

Alhamdulillah...Day 8 started defervescence. I was back to work on 14th (oncall). Nevertheless the entire recovery to my normal self took exactly another week.

Just a graph to show natural history of dengue

Looking at this , day critical phase strats around day 3-4, but mine started around Day 7- 8 . So the duration of the phases could differ by a day or 2.
My Sabah trip inevitably cancelled. I believe there are blessings in disguise.

In conclusion - dont take dengue lightly....Im serious about this. You will not want to"feel the dengue"