Sam's

I spent 20 minutes taking history and chatting with a patient in his 70s who gave me an impression that he was frail, ill, anxious and couldn’t wait to go home. He looked helpless, as though feeling sorry for himself. “Just do anything you want on me, love” was what he told me which disturbed me emotionally. I felt really sorry for him. After taking bloods off him, he asked me how long it would take before the result would be out. I told him it might take a couple of hours and I still need to come back to insert a catheter to relieve his urinary retention.

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Patient: How long would it take for you to come back again?

Me: Erm, probably 5-10 minutes?

Patient: Oh, that’s alright then.

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Due to unavoidable circumstances, I turned up in his cubicle about 30 minutes later apologizing for making him wait. He was cannulated by a senior colleague and at the same time I tried to insert a catheter which he was very anxious about. I assured him I would try my best not to cause him pain and the procedure took ages and finally it was completed with the help of my colleague. Bright red urine immediately drained from his bladder into the bag, relieving his pain and discomfort almost immediately. I left him for a moment before coming back to do a digital rectal examination just to feel for any enlarged prostate which might cause his urinary retention.

When I finally finished, I stayed with him and explained to him that we might need to admit him for further investigations. He looked puzzled. I could see it in his eyes. Those eyes so kind and weary. But I could feel he was silently calling for help. I reassured him for 5 minutes on why I have done the things I have done on him, trying to reason out with him so he could understand why we were sticking foreign objects into him. He nodded as though he understood, but deep down I knew he just agreed because he felt helpless. Just before I left the room, he broke the silence.

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Patient: So you’re qualified next year, aren’t you? *smile*

Me: Yes, I am. Just can’t wait. *grin*

Patient: That’s really good. Are you enjoying what you’re doing?

Me: Yea, very. *BIG GRIN*

Patient: Why did you choose to do this? *looking at me with his weary eyes*

Me: Because I want to help people, and I feel happy when I get to do that.

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I was going to cry. I don’t know why that moment felt so emotional. He painted a kind smile. Looking grateful, he then said,

“Thank you, love. Thank you.”

~ by samanthakoh on November 21, 2009.

Posted in Medicine and career