Temptations & Ambitions

Sometimes, words as such are rather misleading, at a glance. Or was it intentional in the first place? :P

Some oral ulcers never seem to go away, with no signs (and symptoms) of healing. Of course, the stages may pass from a small bump to a small ulcer and subsequently to a bigger one, and possibly swelling. Then the swelling decreases as the ulcer gets even bigger, before it slowly heals thereafter.


There are all sorts of causes for your ulcer, from trauma, stress, dehydration, mouth breather to causes like SLE and inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment may varies, but I'm sure you know your usual treatment.


Being a typical mouth breather (and also because I seldom had enough fluids), I had all sorts of reason to have mouth ulcer. Various attempts had been made, from non-intervention (control sample), Listerine, salt water, drinking more fluids, ice-cream, watermelon frost to Bonjela. Sometimes this work, sometimes that work, sometimes all doesn't work. And that leads to frustration.


The worst ulcer progression would be those which swells and show no signs of it resolving as the ulcer enlarges. Those are usually the typical ones with the worst prognosis. It usually stays on for 1 week+ before it starts to resolve. So all in, the ulcer may stay for 2-3 weeks, being an annoyance for all sorts of oral activity.

And so I've found the most radical treatment that works for me. The ulcer usually resolves within 2-3 days totally, even if it's at its largest and swelling. The reasoning behind:

Step 1:
Apply salt on the ulcer. Yeah, salt on wound is sure painful. It stings too. But it burns through the whitish layer on top of the ulcer. Til it bleeds just a bit. Too profuse bleeding may indicate that you are overdoing it. Beware some may get high from the pain. If you can't stand the pain, try using salt water. The effect may differs depending on your salt concentration in the water.
Action: - reduces the swelling through osmotic effect + thins the protective whitish layer beneath to expose possible underlying infection


Step 2:
Use listerine. Gargle your mouth with the antiseptic. Kill off any underlying bacteria on the ulcer. Don't worry, at this stage, Listerine wouldn't hurt anymore. The salt had numb out all the possible pain. Make sure the oral ulcer is sterile.
Action: -Antiseptic

Step 3:
Apply a layer of watermelon frost just enough to cover the ulcer. It's rather cooling and it actually protects the ulcer just like how your whitish layer would do. Plus, it also has some osmotic effect to reduce any further swelling (though not as strong as your pure salt application).
Action:- protect ulcer base + mild anti-swelling effect.


With this, your ulcer will heal rapidly. Of course, remember to drink enough fluids, take enough vitamin C as well as other general preventive measures. You wouldn't want them to come back. :P


Disclaimer: This is not medically proven, just sharing some experience. Possibly just a cure to your normal (infected?) aphthous ulcer. The severity of pain may vary between people, so take your own risk should you attempt this method. n_n" Do see a doctor if you have recurrent mouth ulcers or if it is associated with any fever or rashes. You may have some sort of medical illness that requires medical attention. :P

PS: The author had just done this right before blogging on this.

 Long Live The Kings: 

Registrar: Come, medical students (8 of them), what is this chest X-Ray suggestive of?

M.S. 1: The X-Ray is suggestive of lobar pneumonia, with its......... (with its proper lengthy explanation)

Registrar: You're wrong, medical students. This is a case of atypical pneumonia. Look at this kid's chest X-Ray, it's not your typical findings. How on earth could you come to such conclusion? Medical students nowadays are just of poorer standard. *Sigh*

Specialist walks into the scene 5 minutes later, just happened to be looking at the chest X-Ray.

Specialist: Come, medical students (the same 8 students), what is this chest X-Ray suggestive of?

All M.S: Atypical pneumonia, as evidenced by.....

Specialist: What nonsense! This is just your typical lobar pneumonia. Who taught you that?

Medical Students pointing at the Registrar.

Registrar: No, no, no, no. I didn't teach them that. It's all in their mind. In their mind. I wouldn't teach them such thing. 


Scenario 2:
M.S 1: Doctor, this child came in with an episodes of fits has a bulging anterior fontanelle. Could there be something wrong?

Registrar: No, this is just normal. It is not of any significance.

M.S 2: Doctor, it seems that this child also has hyperreflexia (increased reflex), as I've just examined him few minutes ago. Could this be meningitis?


Registrar: (Looking irritated) You medical students are just paranoid. The reflex is normal, as I've said. Just because you think he has bulging anterior fontanelle and hyperreflexia, you think he has meningitis? What bullshit this is.


Silence ensues.


Specialist walks into the scene 10 minutes later, for rounds.


Specialist: Registrar, what does this patient has?


Registrar: Prof, this patient came in with an episode of fits, and I've examined him. Everything seems to be unremarkable except for his oral examination where I can see ANGRY LOOKING TONSILS. So, this is a case of fits due to tonsillitis.


Specialist examined the patient's tonsils.



Specialist: There's no red or inflammed tonsils. It's just mildly enlarged which can be normal for kids. But it seems that his anterior fontanelle is bulging.


Specialist proceeded to examine the reflexes.


Specialist: There is hyperreflexia! Quick, proceed with CT scan of the head, and do a blood culture before starting on antibiotics!


Registrar: .........


And the case was confirmed to be meningitis the next day.


Scenario 3



Registrar: Medical Student, what is the pain score of this patient?

MS: After receiving epidural, the pain score of this patient is at a scale of 0 over 10.

Specialist: Medical student, do you know that 0 divided by 10 equals to INFINITY? How can the patient have infinity pain? Remember that, there is no such thing as in 0 over 10. It is INFINITY. (And a 10 minute lecture on mathematics and infinity) Therefore, it should be 0 out of the scale of 10.


MS: (Looking innocently) Sorry, Prof, but wouldn't 0 divided by 10 equals to 0? Only if 10 divided by 0 equals to infinity.


Specialist: Come, let's move to another patient, we're running out of time. (And happily divert the subject away)


Disclaimer: This is a piece of humor fiction and has no relation to anyone, alive or dead, and it would only be a coincidence if there happens to be some similarities in certain situation which you may relate to yourself.

Found this piece of cartoon by Reggie Lee:





So, any cookbook for me? :P

Big Cinema in Teluk Intan. VERY BIG......

Library in Hospital Teluk Intan (HTI).. a moment of silence..and also a form of "Sleep Study"... zzzzz

Another moment please...

The famous chicken in Gulam Rasul, Teluk Intan

Not to be missed.

Dishes in Sze Chuan Restaraunt.. This looks good, but it wasn't

The other dishes

The building I've contributed RM10 to, by forgetting to put up the parking coupon.

The interior of the building. They have one of the most advanced facilities and best services, mainly because those who came are those who contributed towards the comfort of this place.

"Sleep Study" being done in the staff room in Surgical ward

"Sam Siu Ye" (3rd Young Master). The alternative for Jalan Hill's mediocre chee cheong fun. If you'd asked me, the chee cheong fun here are "must try" because they are famous here, not because they are very delicious.

"Muka Stress" trying to study... so "yeng".. :P

Posingly stress??

This guy trying to practice some guitar to entertain his gf. n_n"

The secret of Sam Jo Ee's study regime. Must study like this only can be successful. :P I know, it looks gay.. -.-"

Another day of presentation for bedside teaching. No one says the bed must have patient. :P

The taller he gets, the more "torticollis" neck the rest have..

Eager minds trying to be 100% attentive

Concentration drifting into the horizon

Drifting...

All down the drain.. Note: The doctor is just sitting in front of Sharen.

Roasted pigeons would have tasted nice...yummm....

This is why FB updates can be hillarious. Or was it sheer irony? n_n"


P.S: No offence for anyone's beliefs, it's just amusing that both updates got together . :P

Now, this is a very first of all disclaimer. I am not going to goad anyone below 18 to go for a date. Sometimes, underaged can be a rather subjective matter. Elementary school kids can go kissing or making love for all that I know, and shotgun marriages which most of the time, ended up nevertheless the same. That is, divorce, for 9 out of 10 times. Despite that, those couples would always think that they are the tenth case, dying to exchange vows, just to find out that it was, afterall, a vow to make the other dying.

On the other hand, there are also the mommy's boys or daddy's girls, deeming themselves underaged despite being 40 years old. To parents, of course, you would always be under their age. It's time to step out of the closet and face the world, be it for good times, or bad times. So, be wise and choose your own appropriate age.




2. Because You're Afraid of Commitment
Weekend retreats, shared water closet or the torture (engagement ring) having you scampering into the wild? The shackles of commitment tying you to another human being for life seems more awful than a death sentence to you? Yeah, freedom fighters as you are, stretching your fun days into your middle age could be risky, and at the worst, could be tragic as it seem to sound. Knowing the unknown may be a terror far worse than terrorism, but conquering that innate feeling of yours would really require a change in mindset or attitude. Otherwise, you might need a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or if possible, a brain transplant since your old ones seems to rot far beyond your physical age.


3. Because You're In Love with Yourself
Yeah, yeah, you're beautiful, it's true. (Quote from James Blunt) Everyone feels the same. Given the chance, you'll live in a house of mirrors. Naked. You wouldn't even leave a puddle of water alone. It bears reflection right? Perhaps it's time to divert that love to someone else instead. Hit the gym, or anywhere with mirrors. Who knows, you might "bumped" into someone's eyes in the mirror, albeit checking your buns of steel (or your shameful beer belly).




4. Because You're Gay

Alright, this might not be single, but most of the time, it went undeclared. Malaysia is a conservative country. And the last thing you want to feel is the blade of your dad's butcher knife. What about job promotion if your boss finds out? Most of the time, you'll tell anyone and everyone that you're single. Partly true, but it could be due to your philanderer's side of your's trying to hit out at others of the same sex.


5. Because You're Desperate

You're 40, and going nowhere in relationship. Your grandma and other relatives are nagging at every family reunion since you were 24. As time passes by, you felt the urge to grab one as time is ticking. But the more you try, the further you are from your destination. Your trying too hard left you with not even one girl friend or guy friend (depending on your sex orientation), because you scared them all away. Let's face it. No one likes desperado's. There's this rushing of time that turns people off, more after when they realised that it was all for the sake of salvation.


The trick is, accept the fact that you're desperate. But there is no need to show it to every single lady/guy you've met. Play it cool, and you can even joke about it. Light humor (or cold dry humor) would fancy at least someone, rather than no one. You might wanna try everything and anything, but be sensible. Speed dating would be fine, and any other events which introduce you to people out of your social circle. Then, at least they had not a single idea of your desperation. That is, unless you've shown it yourself and you'll have to move on to another social circle until you've perfected the nonchalant look.

6. Because You're Not Over Your Last Relationship
You just got dumped. Pathetic, and so it was. Welcome to the landfill of the dumped. The experience might pushed you over the edge, tempting you to do a harakiri and say goodbye to the world. But you just can't do it. So you'd vowed that you'll never fall in love again. Ever. It's okay to be sober once in a while, and reflect on the past. However, don't dwell too long in it. Just remember to shave and bath before you're ready for the next great adventure. It stinks from your tears, and also the fact that the last time you bath was on the day you broke up with your ex.

7. Because You're Way Too Ugly (Than an Ogre)

Yeah, everyone feels that way at times. Even the hottest chick/ hunk in town knows that there is this flaw in them, no matter how small it can be. It's just how we deal with them (or tackle the hottest chick/ hunk). Charisma, confidence and cheerfulness are the traits that can be trained. And it makes the world a better place to live than a large chunk of cumulonimbus hovering over your head. Of course, if you wouldn't believe me, you can always opt for a plastic surgeon.


8. Because You're Looking for Someone with the 5C's.

Yeah, and the checklist of..erm.. 100 pages long? To tick all the boxes before you even consider that someone. And often you've seen people with the other 5 C's: cheapskate, coward, creepy, clumsy and crappy?

Come on, take a good look at the mirror, or the puddle of water if you can't afford a mirror. What position do you have to demand that much? All that boxes and their qualifications for what in return (of this 'investment')? Sex? In the end, you might realized that all you really need is the two C's: Chemistry and compatibility.

9. Because You're Allergic (To Everything?)
Socializing may not be good for the heart, or so the decree stated. You might end up in cardiac arrest. Chest pain, palpitations, sweaty palms, difficulty breathing, and the feeling that you're going to ascend to heaven anytime soon. We feel your pain. It's called panic attack. We'll just need to arrange for an appointment with a psychologist/ psychiatrist (not because you're crazy, but because you need help) to overcome your fears. And the chest pain that we truly feel for you. Or maybe not, if the pain involves swelling, potential paralysis, rashes (or hives)and hyperventilation. That could be a true allergy (How unfortunate).


10. Because You're Obsessed With Your Pets
Jingles, Kiki, Mimi, Nancy or Dolly? Name the array of pets you're staying with on your bed (Oh you trisexual being). Talking all day about your pets ruining your place may seem endearing to you but not so for others. What's more, it could sound as disgusting as it gets. Who knows, your potential candidate could even be allergic to those fur (unless your pets are cold reptiles, which is, another story after all). My advice? If you can't cook them or dump them, you can either: (a) find a party animal and make him/her your collection of zoo pets; or (b) date a zookeeper or vet. Chances are, (b) would be more beneficial if it's a vet. At least you save the trip (and cash) down the vet clinic every time!

So, are you in any of it? :P

"Kiasu" is a Hokkien term for being afraid to lose. While they are mainly used by islanders (Penang, Singapore, etc), the culture has spread across the straits onto mainland, namely Peninsular Malaysia. People with "Kiasu" attitudes would do whatever it takes to win, or to be better than the rest.

In medical field, there are many ways to spot a kiasu medical student. Of course, if you really stare hard, you might not see it. Or perhaps you don't have such friends. Or maybe it's because you don't have a mirror in your room, otherwise you'll see it staring back at you. So, here's some clues on how to recognise medical students who have a "kiasu" attitude.

1. You wear your white coat everywhere. In the wet market, in the hawker stall, in the clubs (unless if it's a costume party and you're too poor/lazy to get a different one), and even in the toilet while doing some mega business.
   
   
2. You OWN the ward you were assigned to. You mark your territory (could be in primitive manner) with pure hostility and warn the rest from coming to your lair. In the meantime, you travel to other people's wards feigning ignorance. "Did I?"
   
   
3. Again, you claim rights to all the patients, and shoo-ed off people so you can do your examination, just to make a FOOL of yourself, because you had no idea what the patient had. One of the most fantastic move. Ever. Defying clinical approaches of all time.
   
   
4. You RUSH to the library, to the shelf where your colleague is staring at, so you'll outcompete him/her, when there are many other available shelves of the same section, when there's only the two of you. But then, good news, the fellow colleague was staring at a wrong section out of blurness, and you follow suit, exposing your "kiasu"ness. Oops...
   
   
5. You borrow the BIGGEST and LARGEST book in the library of the particular section, and yet without the intelligence to digest it, but with the diligence to show it off to others that you are reading it. But beware, you might be in the Orthopedics, but the book you're apparently "reading" is a misplaced Gynecology text.
   
   
6. You claimed that you excel with flying colors, with a distinction in every subject, because you know how great it feels to lie and be a kiasu. Until when you'd realised the results aren't that confidential even though you hid your results slip. The office stacked the certs openly, and truth behold, when all white became all black.
   
   
7. When a fellow medical student claimed having some medical illness (probably from Medical Student syndrome, or otherwise), you must step up and declare that you had at least one illness more than them, or a handful of it. Because it wasn't out of concern, but playing up to demand more attention.
   
   
8. You made a point to ask a question at the end of the lecture, not because you have a question, but because you MUST ask a question, even if it is irrelevant and may even relate to Astronomy, in an Anatomy class.

In the end, kiasu is NOT helping you to WIN. There's no victory in any field with such kiasuness. In the end, you spend more time trying to do all these "funny" acts that you spend less time on your actual goal. Would that really be beneficial?

Now that I've put up some, I'm sure there are more from you readers. Maybe you ought to share some of the "kiasu"ness you might have encounter? :P

Well, just to update some stuff in the blog with my cynicism, since I guess I might have been too proficient in it. So here are some in random order, one for each day of the week.

Differing from the previous post, this would be a short and light post of a few pictures.