My much-travelled life
journey moved on to a new place in June 2013. I reported duty at Hospital
Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar on 4/6/13. My second stint in Kedah. Though JKN
Kedah was never my favourite, I had no better choice at that point of time. My
1st choice for Masters out-campus was Kota Kinabalu in fact. But
thinking back, I feel it was a blessing in disguise as UKM did not endorse
training at KK. Hence, I resorted to Alor Setar…and I never regretted this.
I was truly blessed
to have Subasni and reunion with Rabeah for out-campus Masters in HSB. Of
course we had Gan as well in our group. We were joined by my good friend Sopian
& new friend, Sasi (Suba’s husband) – they were Orthopods candidates. Last
but not least, I reunited with my hiking buddy, Hasan – pharmacist !
Early
days (2013)
1)
Accomodation
I stayed at En.Asri’s (my
senior MA at HSJ; who was kind enough to offer his house at Alor Setar) house
for 3 months. Reluctantly he accepted rental at a reduced rate. His house was
at Taman Kelisa – Mergong. I spent that year’s Ramadhan in this house. Occasionally
joined by my parents. On 2nd month, I was joined by 3 MAs; whom I
had worked with at HSJ – they came for post basic training.
I found a house very near
to hospital, after a tough search. However, the house was not really up to my
expectation. Looked almost dilapidated. At the same time, my friend Ruben
(Surgical MO) told me that his quarters have an empty room. I applied to stay
there but the reply from person in-charge was always negative…”meeting not been
fixed yet” Hence, I made a decision to just move in to the house (illegally) in
November 2013. In December, Ruben left to KL for 6/12 attachment. So there I
go, alone in the house..literally squatting, awaiting approval.
I decided to forego my
deposit for the “dilapidated” house. I stayed on at the quarters until July
2014.
2)
Colleagues
Starting at a new place
is always tough. So as when we started at HSB. Acclimatization is not always
smooth. Junior colleagues gave us the toughest challenge. Being a senior in
service, but junior at a new work place, we had to endure lack of respect from certain
junior colleagues. The worst experience was with on call roster. The
irresponsible roster-maker will give himself and his cronies light on calls as
compared to us and other non-cronies.
Certainly there were
clans among MOs in the department & team-work was lacking. Alhamdulillah
not all were like this. Some of them were good and exhibited good team-work
& respect to each other. Nevertheless this was the first time im working in
a department with 25-3- MOs! So was quite a rude culture-shock I would say.
3)
Specialists & Consultants
Fortunately, most of them
were nice…especially consultants. The eye opener and embarrassing part was that
some of the specialists were in fact my batch of House-Officers or just a year
senior to me. So I know how badly delayed I was in pursue of postgraduate
qualificationL
4)
My routine life
As usual, I will start
with ward rounds/clinics. Here in HSB,
we have clinics everyday – either morning of afternoon. On calls will be 5-6x /
month. We had 4 on calls/day + 1 cardio call – mainly done by those in cardio
dept.
In a nut shell, life was
busy; not really enjoyable the first few months. Having Suba, Rabeah was a huge
relief. We tend to vent out our emotional distress, to each other. Occasionally
with Sopian as well. Alhamdulillah, I was spared the traffic jam since moving
into quarters.
Night time will be my
study time. Back to Uni time..staying up late or waking up early to read. I was
well determined to prepare myself for MRCP & MMed exams. I decided to go
for MRCP after a few months in HSB. So I signed up for part 1- 1st
diet in Singapore (Jan 2014)
On weekends which I am
not on call, I will come back Penang, that will be like twice a month.
Sometimes parents will come over to Alor Setar.
After all the
relationship setbacks I faced in 2011/2012, I felt more relaxed, being
unattached & was fully focused on my studies & work. Alhamdulillah
2nd
chapter (2014)
Jan 2014 – took a week
break. Thanks to my understanding colleagues in my ward at that time..Yeoh CH,
Ng BH & Hani.
Flew to Singapore for my
Part 1. It was my first exam since May 2006 J Check out my
entry on this trip : http://aslam1403.blogspot.my/2014/09/finally-i-am-here.html
Between Jan – May 2014, I
sat for 2 written exams & 1 clinical exam. There was another in July 2014
(MRCP Part 2). Check out on these trips here : http://aslam1403.blogspot.my/2014/12/finally-i-am-herecontinuation.html
In June 2014, I was
officially in 2nd year of MMed. Hence, started my sub-speciality
postings. Started with Endocrine : June-Aug. During which I attended 2 drug co
sponsored talks in KL (it was a back-to-back talks on one weekend) One on GH,
the other on insulin at Le Meridien & Park Royal respectively. Brought
along my parents; and yeah brought them to meet my brother too. These are the
maiden talks I have attended outside of Kedah (since 2011). In fact, only my 2nd
& 3rd drug co-sponsored talks in my entire career. Thanks to Dr
Shafinaz – my kind-hearted endocrinologist & my guru!
I started visiting old
folks home/orphanage on this year. During Ramadhan in July 2014, me along with
Suba & Sasi visited Bethel home at Pokok Sena. And I went to another home
at Padang Terap just a day before Raya.
In August I have moved
out of quarters as my friend Ruben quit his Masters programme and decided to
return to KL. Hence, I can no longer stay at the quarters. I stayed a month at
a homestay in Kuala Kedah. Only in Sept 2014, I managed to get a house for
rental in Kepala Batas, Kedah. It cost me RM450/month – unfurnished. Moved in
there, bought some furnitures. It was a mere 15 mins drive to HSB.
It was during my stay
here, I got Dengue! http://aslam1403.blogspot.my/2014/12/dengue-and-i.html
Life after July 2014 was
more relaxing as I am done with all my exams (for now) and more focused in my
works. However, life after 5 was more unmeaningful. Come back home to an empty
house. I went back Penang every weekend. I joined several running events too
this year..after a long break.
Sept-Nov : I switched to
Respiratory posting to get a break from
busy general medicine calls. Was quite fun, doing bronchoscopes &
Pleuroscopes, as well as being able to go home on time!
I was determined to go
for my PACES the same year. I had my
first go at comm.skills & History taking as per PACES format while I was in
Respi posting. My great buddy Yew Yan Xi guided me & we practiced together.
As was being encouraged by my top guru, Kantha. I tried for the 3rd
diet in Brunei/Myanmar but were unable to secure a place. Being in the right
environment, with right people really helps to boost our confidence &
determination!
3rd
Chapter (2015)
Dec 2014 – Feb 2015 : I
was back to mainstream general medicine – this time for Gastro posting.
I was in ward I1 (male
chronic ward in old hospital) and would attend all gastro procedure days. Got
my hand at the scopes a few times. Attended all Gastro clinics. Had a great
time particularly under Dr Kiew & Dr Zalwani. Of course the ever
encouraging Datuk Radzi was there too. He sent me for a MSGH conference in
Kuantan under Gastro budget in Feb 2015.
End of Feb, was supposed
to be my final month in HSB. Prepared a farewell for everyone at MOPD (having
given a treat in June 2014 – with Suba after passing our exams). Was off to KL
the last day of the month.
March – went to KL with
my mom. As she was adamant to follow me & to stay at my brother’s place.
So, took her along, stayed there for a week; while I started my life at IJN.
First one week, I would go along my bro – in one car; either his or my PKG
6050. Morning trips will take average 1hr 15 mins. Longest being 2 hours!
Coming back will be similar. As we leave a bit earlier, around 4.30pm, we were
fortunate to reach in less than 1 hr 30mins most of the days. In mean time, I
managed to get a room for rental in PV Platinum Lake Condo, Setapak. A room
with shared bathroom for RM520/month!
Life in KL/IJN was pretty
much routine, though relaxing. Routine weekdays will be; to leave home by
6.45am. Reach IJN about 45 minutes later. The later I leave, the longer I’ll
have to be on road. Usually a quick breakfast, followed by ward rounds. Later
rounds with trainee & consultants. Then go for a big breakfast with my
fellow attachment buddies (Kumutha, Pradeep & Tharshini). Actually, there
were 6 of us. I was particularly close with these 3. After that, settle ward
works (rarely have any) or go to ICL lab to observe or run clinic. Clinics for
us were like once in a fortnight. Best part of clinic must be the flask of
coffee they give us. Certainly, the best coffee I have ever tasted! If nothing
in ward, ICL or clinics, I would spend time in library or ECHO room. Lunch will
be at IJN café or the stalls outside IJN. Prayers (including Jummah) will be
at IJN Surau at level 7.
Usually we will leave by
4.30pm. The journey back to my apartment will take max 15 minutes only! As
compared to minimum 45minutes in the morning. Back home, after Asar, will be
mostly at home. Will spend Maghrib-Isya at near by Surau.
I made one of the most
important decision of life while at IJN. That was to go for PACES in UK! I met
3 trainees whom went to UK for PACES without attending courses there. Then I thought
if they can make it, why not me? I was very skeptical of going UK for PACES
before this. But since I did not get a place even after twice application to
sit in KL / Brunei, I considered UK; and the words from these guys really
pumped me up to go for it. Then I got to know my friend, Syamir is applying for
UK as well.
So I applied and alas!
Got a place via Edinburgh College, to sit for exam at Bishop Auckland Hospital
(a district hospital). I got to know this barely 2 months prior to exam. My
exam is slated to be on 2 JULY 2017! I spent more time on the books since
registering for PACES. What I lacked was, practice time & partner. And
course as well. I never attended any form of PACES course.
So, I applied to attend a
one-day course and mock exam (as observer) in Hospital Batu Pahat. Thanks to
Shartiyah, manage to get a place. Things were so difficult at that time, even
to get a place to attend courses/mock exams! Everything needed an inside
person. As the one in Batu Pahat was more of a mock exam, I felt that I needed
a proper course and decided to head to Hydrebad – for a 4 days course (in May
2015) Initially planned to go Calcutta, but had to change as could not prepare
visas etc in time.
So, left to Hydrebad with
my mother. Since taking my mom along, I decided to stay 3 more days…making it a
week’s trip to Hydrebad. The course in Hydrebad was not up to expectation. A 4
days course without Mock Exams. And we managed to see only 30 pts in total.
However, it was in Hydrebad where I met Joyce, whom had been a great
practice-buddy to me. Back to KL, every day after work & every weekend, we
will meet up to practice. I’ll go to her place and often we meet up at HKL or
even at dining place at times. It was also in May when I made 2 trips to HSB
(during weekends) to practice with my buddies, Yew YX & Chin. Really
grateful to them. I would just stay overnight at HSB during weekends.
At the end of May, I made
another moment-defining decision, to defer my Masters by 6 months. My intention
being, I need to get back to HSB to prepare for PACES intensively & to quit
Masters for good if I’m able to pass my PACES. So, I made a U turn, back to HSB
on 2nd June 2015. Dr.Zal allowed me to choose which ward I want to
be. Hence, I chose 5c…which has always been a sanctuary for lots of us.
First few days were
tiring explaining to people why I am back to HSB. I had one month before PACES.
No place to stay at Alor Setar. So, I would travel daily Bertam-Alor Setar (I
got my Bertam house key in Dec 2014). Weekends I would stay at Alor Setar (on
call quarters); practice with Yew YX & Chin. I even did 4 calls in this one
month. Mid of June, Ramadhan started. Life was quite taxing..travelling
Bertam-Alor Setar daily & staying up late night to study. But no pain no
gain yeah!
I flew to Edinburgh 6
days before my exam date : http://aslam1403.blogspot.my/2016/02/my-journey-to-west-part-1.html
The best moment of my
life came 3 days before Aidilfitri on that year, when I got to know my PACES
result. The ensuing months were good at work, but not my personal life. Again,
mom stood between me & my hope of marrying my girl of choice.
I started doing specialist
work & on call in October 2015. Attended placement meeting the same month,
given Kulim as I requested. But due to request by Datuk Radzi, I stayed put in
HSB. Life was pretty much routine till end of the year. I commuted from Bertam
daily. Tried to find a house to buy in Alor Setar, but failed due to “malay
reserved” status of houses near by HSB.
Final
Chapter (2016)
After spending 2 months
in Hemato ward, at the end of 2015, I was placed in ward 4c (a general male
medical ward; with ID consultants as the heads) Nothing much to talk about in
the beginning. Entered 2016 with a hope of staying in Alor Setar for long.
However, after multiple attempts to buy a house failed, I reluctantly started
to think of applying for transfer to Kulim.
Finally made up my mind
to request for transfer after I met with an accident in April 2016. An accident
on highway, involving 5 cars; mine being the front most. My car’s back bumper
was badly damaged. So, I went to see Datuk Radzi & Alhamdulillah, he was
supportive, though a bit reluctant to sign my transfer letter J
Fast forward…got my
transfer by July. But upon Datuk’s request, was delayed till September 2016.
Officially I reported duty at Kulim on 18 September 2016…on the day, 10 years
ago I reported to QEH as a houseofficer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
years 3 months : this was my time in Alor Setar.
Alor Setar will forever
be close to me. The people were amazing; particularly patients! Working in HSB
was an eye opener. Despite my disagreement with certain colleagues, overall was
superb & really miss them. Bosses were fantastic & approachable (at
least most of them). Not much of issues when it comes to inter-department
relations (except with Anaes..haha)
The town was more
relaxing, slow paced. Of course you can’t stand the pace of Alor Setar
drivers..super slow! Food was mediocre. Nothing to shout about.
I achieved my goal of
coming to Alor Setar..which was to pass my MRCP. Gained invaluable medical
experience along the way. Worked with some great consultants & colleagues.
Experienced working with difficult colleagues. Endured sleepless on call
nights. Did stay-in specialist on calls. Shifted house 4 times. Life was not
easy, but towards the end, became enjoyable. I left HSB & Alor Setar with
my head up, feeling satisfied. Hopefully I have done to the best of my ability
to all the patients I met & treated. A move back to HSB is not to be ruled
out J
