It appears a long pause in life is coming to an end. At the
same time, much puzzled and worried about the days ahead and the need of making
choices in contrast to the last two years where there was no choice than doing
what ever was on the plate.
It all began on 30th November 2017, following the
allocation of the wards, started internship at the professorial surgical ward.
Unexpected beginning though, to get the ward handed over just after the first
visit and to be in charge of all the patients with out any clue as to what has
to be done. I guess it is the same with anyone on the first day of internship.
In fact, my start was much better with all due respect to
Dr. Pradeep ( Pradeep aia), who happened to be the first registrar among the
many registrars I met over the last two years, and one among the best too. Time
at Professorial unit was a bit homely, to be working under the same teachers
that taught at medical school, but also was challenging as the dynamics of
medical student vs teacher and HO vs consultant was bit different. However, the time at Prof unit was the ideal start for a career as an intern.
The joy did not last longer, until the vascular surgical 6
weeks commenced. It was being HO to 2 different wards situated so many meters
apart and also catering the needs of the merchant ward and class one. To be
honest, the 6 weeks at the Vascular surgical unit was the most challenging time
of the 2 years. It wasn’t because the senior team was challenging, in fact the
senior team was very encouraging. We were working under senior registrars
mainly and for most of the time it was under Dr. Buddhima. What I’d learnt most during these 6 weeks is how energetic and
enthusiastic one could be if they find the passion for their lives. The lengths
they go, and the hours they spent trying to save limbs that are about to die or
failed livers were unbelievable to perceive as an intern. To be honest, there
were many times I was wondering “is this effort worth it”, and I do still
wonder.
I can still recall the first 4pm off day in my internship,
which was after 3 months in to internship, doing male ward with Sadiranga;
first co-HO. I was clueless as what to do with the extra time I had when the
work was done by 4pm. Tried to call few other interns whom I knew to see if any
celebration plans could be arranged, yet failed. However, the next 3 months at
male ward was relatively easier, because there was a co-HO to share the
experience was and more importantly, the partner was supportive.
When 6 months of surgery was over, and when Jayanth came to
male ward to take over the patients, and I happened to go to Professorial
medical ward (female) was a day life crashed altogether. It was where I met the
co-HO / co-RHO for the most period over the years, Dr. Avanthi. I do not want
to recall the first few days in the medical ward, because it is too painful to
tolerate. The ward rounds with over whelming floor patients, endless patients
with renal disease, never ending admissions, in depth evaluations with many
tests requested and after all that is dealt with, the pile of discharges to
write drained me off whatever interest I had for clinical medicine. On top of
all these, answering the microbiology calls and recalling the investigations to
a person who is having all relevant reports in hand, sorting all issues related to
delay in sending patients due to lack of minor staff, begging radiology
department for an ultrasound scan or CT scan as if i was trying to get myself scanned and catering to frequent patient
inquiries were too much to deal with. Evenings
considering quitting clinicals were pretty common during those days as Avanthi
may recall. However, thanks to the best of the registrars and the support form
the co Ho, we somehow adjusted to the life in medical ward and since then it
was somewhat tolerable. I should also recall, just like Pradeep aia helped with
surgery in early days, there were life saviors in medicine as well. The gods
for medical interns will be ones who will appear when the repeated peritoneal
tap fail or the lumbar puncture fails or pleural fluid aspirate fails. Considering
so, gods were in abundance at Prof. Unit. Of them, the supreme god being Dr.
Ishan (Ishan aia), who would always lend a supportive hand when ever we fall in
trouble. There were goddesses too, who would keep everyone together and made
the entire unit very pleasing. Chathurika akka’s presence really made the
professorial medical unit very motherly I would say. Not to forget Shiran aia,
who worked with such a great level of professionalism and I am glad I witnessed
his patient clerking as a trainee (just witnessed, adopting is impossible).
I
would be doing an injustice to the legendary Praveen aia, if I don’t add a
comment about his presence in the internship. Being taught and motivated by him
since 1st year, specially in the final year, and having him as the
senior registrar in the internship was challenging, mainly sorting to call him
sir or ayya. His presence was such a relief, for the registrars, and hence kept
the entire environment so calm. He also made sure all the multi barrels, bombs
coming our way were neutralized, so that what we had on the plates never
exploded.
Internship at medical ward continued to be a challenge
however, we adopted with time and like Pradeep aia told at the very beginning
of my internship, the real team effort was experienced. With time, medical
internship became our entire life and having lunch together was a much-awaited
time of the day. Eventually, the universe started to revolve only around ward
41 and 48 B.
Time passed much faster than expected, and 31st
November 2018 was reached. The official “internship” ended and an era of
conflicts started. The expected reality of not having a new batch became a
reality. Frustration, anger, sadness, acceptance evolved in the respective order
during that time. However, we continued to work as HOs in medicine for 4 extra
months and altogether 10 months. The understanding, respect shown by “most”
registrars and the SRs during this period is extremely grate as I recall. In fact,
that was the only motivation that kept us rolling through the days. This period
was a good experience in understanding how the decision makers in medicine
work, and to witness the gap between what is preached and what is done. During
this was when the great co HO/co RHO decides to take the two weeks of wedding
leave, I wasn’t adversely affected by that anyways.
After 10 longs exhausting months of medicine, was the
victorious RHO switch to Surgery. This time in ward 6B and 19; mainly managing
breast related issues. This was the most relaxed period of the entire 2 years
of intern’s work. We enjoyed our lives, Gyming, travelling around, going out
etc. We were also busy doing research during this period. The co RHOs for these
4 months were Ramesh (who also was the roommate for the 2 years), and Dileema.
After 4 months, again the re switch to Medicine happened,
this time to ward 55 and 56 B with Ramesh and Amanee as co RHOs. Challenging
period as Amanee was on her wedding leave, but thanks to,
1. Our mental adaptation for being forever HOs and were
thinking nothing much worse could have happened ,
2. supportive registrars, particulary Buddhika akka, who
virtually functioned as another mini intern ,
.....the period was manageable.
Time at this moment is point of writing is 00.47 am on 16/09/2019; a hopeful day
to see a new batch of interns coming and taking over the baton, a dream we
expected since August 2019.
The past 2 years were a pause in life. Everything
around life; family, friends, college, relatives were moving away and it was
just a life doing a job. I guess that is what a clinicians’ life anyway is. The
enormous stress of loads of work, the life and death decisions to make,
physicals exhaustion of work were too much to deal with. But the prolonged
period was a good experience too. I have seen the superb caring surgeons,
wonderful teachers, elegant clinicians during this period. At least reflected
on what to do and what not to do, particularly with regard to juniors if I’d
ever become a senior. The experience over the past 2 years would hopefully be
very useful in the time to come.
Perks of being a HO in prof units was having a bunch of
medical students around us all the time, sometimes easing our work ; may be
with a procedure or so. But for the most part, it was to have some entertainment
,a chat, may be to share something we knew. The occasional end of appointment
parties, Padura, Brithday celebrations cannot be forgotten, and were mini
celebrations of the period.
Time at 6B/19 was also special as I met some
non-professorial medical students for the first time and sharing knowledge with
them was something I really enjoyed , because the final years already knew more
than what we knew (the superb 2011 batch was doing professorial).
This self reflection placed to remind the 2 years of hard
work would be incomplete if I fail to add the following account to it. I have
mentioned all my co HOs and some registrars. I need to recall Dilip and
Krishna, who were HOs at surgery, Seyon and Rushdha at medicine. There is a long
list of registrars, senior registrars and consultants. I was so lucky that I
did not meet any reg, SR, consultant who made my life miserable when listening
to stories from my friends all around the country. Of all consultants, some of
them taught great lessons and made an impact such as, Sivaganesh sir’s patients
care, Chang sir’s brilliant teaching, Saroj sir’s encouraging atmosphere, Ajith
sir’s life guidance, Jayanaga sir’s brilliant teaching rounds and Hareendra
sir’s most energetic and evidence based rounds.
1.
Udari akka’s birth day gift despite our reg vs RHO conflicts
2.
Meidical sudents tokens
3.
Chathurika akka’s farewell gift
Life of pure medicine was never a possibility for me. At
times of extreme exhaustion, it was mainly music that added some flavour. For
the last 2 years, it was the same music and the same play list that kept on
playing and I am grateful to all of musicians for their creativity for helping
me relax mostly at the late hours of exhaustion. Particularly Charitha Attalage’s
music helped in relaxation. Of all song’s listened to over the 2 years, Ridhma
Weerawardhana’s Kuweni must be the mostly played and would be an all-time favorite.
Just like the music did, meeting good people, chatting and
eating out had been a great way of relaxation. Unfortunately, meeting people
had been difficult due to distance and time constraints. I’d be extremely
grateful for those who could spend time eating out and chatting, which added some
flavour to the busy times over the 2 years. This guy from the Rajans could join
me most of the time when requested and the time spent was great.
While thanking everyone who helped during the battling
period, let’s be open minded and hopefull about what awaits and wish the choices to be made end up
in happiness and success!
