Saving lives and stamping out disease!

So that's pretty much what I've been doing this week... Just kidding!

"Let's go save some lives and stamp out some disease!" 

This is what Andy says to me in the morning on the way into the hospital, which in his thick American accent sounds funnier than intended in my opinion.

In all fairness my week has been almost entirely centered around the hospital. I'm in around 7.45-8am every morning and depending on how busy it is leaving between 4pm and 6pm. By 7pm it is dark and due to the 'safety issues' I'm not allowed out on my own after dark. The station has a fence and security guards but it is quite big and they cannot be everywhere at once. I don't ever feel unsafe but it is just an extra precaution I suppose. 2 nights a week I am on call, which means that I'm in charge of assessing any new or sick patients throughout the night. According to the rota I'm on call some weekends too. So that basically means that I don't have time to do a huge lot else other than work! Although to be honest there is not really much else to do around here so I think I would be bored otherwise!! In the evenings I usually make some food, read for a while, and then inevitably there is a power cut and I'm plunged into darkness so I tend to fall asleep pretty early. Then I'm back up and in the hopsital the following morning!

I am absolutely loving my time in the hospital. The clinical experience I'm getting is amazing. I've already had the chance to do more procedures than I will be doing even as a junior doctor so it's been great! It is hard work but invaluable experience. Here is an example of a typical day:

8am ward round on the paediatric ward, assess all patients and make a plan for their continuing management. Then into clinic which is essentially like a GP surgery, patients with non urgent complaints queue up to be seen by a doctor, and any further investigations such as chest x-rays, ultrasounds or blood tests can be done there and then. Usually the patient can then pick up whatever medicine you prescribe for them straight away from the pharmacy. Typical illnesses here include TB, typhoid, HIV and malaria. Chronic ilnesses such as hypertension, COPD and diabetes (which are the most common things seen back home) are also seen but they are much rarer as patients don't tend to come to the doctor unless they are REALLY sick, and that is most often due to something infectious. 

The other things I've seen a lot of in clinic are obs & gynae related issues. I've seen, felt and smelt a lot of advanced cervical cancer. Not something that I will forget in a hurry. I've also found quite a few babies on ultrasound scans of women with 'abdominal pain'. It's generally quite nice breaking the news to someone that they are pregnant! I've yet to deliver a baby out here but my aim is to deliver and name a baby before I leave (there are multiple children running around with the name Dr Jim Radcliffe after one of the surgeons here!!). 

After lunch it is either back into clinic, or seeing and treating patients that come in through A+E or going to see any patient on the ward who has become sick. So far I've been called to 3 cardiac arrests, none of whom survived (not due to me I hasten to add!). Some of the practical procedures I've been able to perform include putting in chest drains, performing lumbar punctures, suturing wounds, incision and drainage of abscesses (so satisfying, like popping a HUGE spot and draining out the pus!!) and I was even allowed to perform a D+C on a lady who had had a miscarriage. I really do feel like a proper doctor and I'm sure it's all going to be great practice for when I get back!

So there we go, my week in a nutshell! Today is Saturday and my first day off since I arrived. This morning I walked down to the local market with some of the other missionaries to get some fruit and veg, and later I am planning to check out the gym on the station! Andy has promised to give me some coaching to 'help me get real strong' whilst I'm here! I'll let you know how that goes...

Love and hugs to everyone!!!

Tigz XXX

P.S. Apologies for the lack of photos, apparently it costs loads to upload them so I don't think I'll be able to put any up whilst I'm here . Which is a shame because I know blogs without photos tend to be pretty boring! I will have a try once I get to Manila if I can get to an Internet cafe or something. Until then you will have to make do with your imagination! Sorry! X

*ADDITION*

Ok so I wrote this last week but we have had no power since then and I've not had chance to get on the internet to post it and it is now Tuesday so I just wanted to quickly add: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY for tomorrow to my mum and John!! Love you both millions hope you have a lovely day! XXXX