3 tough weeks

after my ortho posting, i had neurosurgery for 3 weeks.

in one line, i would say i did not enjoy the experience i had, unfortunately it wasn't due to anything related to the field or the work, but rather related to the experience with colleagues and seniors, which sucked.

i realised the potential harm Facebook can do to your work life. i realised that not everyone thinks like you and you have to accept that fact and work around it not against it. i realised that people can be paranoid and will use their authority to any means, even if it means threatening you or personal attacks on you. i realised that some friends are not really there for you when you need them, even after they know that you need them. sad facts.

the stories are very long and not worth mentioning here. not merely because its a public forum, but yeah i have learnt that its very important you be careful what or who you talk about on Facebook!

despite all the negativity, i did manage to enjoy my 1st week there with nitesh. when we start off, the 1st day of neuro, the PG / MO are strict. mainly the idea is to show that here at neuro, you cant be a slacker.

stuff you will face on the 1st few days on the job:

• you'll already be scared of all the stories and all you hear and come.
• the PG / MO wont greet you with a smile on the 1st day, they will be tough!
• you will need to know about all the patients details, mainly their GCS and pupils daily and their diagnosis / CT scan findings
• the best way you can do that is keep a diary and note down all the patient details, and during rounds keep that page open where the patient's details are, they will help answer quick questions shot at you from cherian sir or the PG / MO.
• do not talk during rounds
• do not keep the file on the patient's bed
• do not sit or take support on the patient's bed
• do not be over smart
• keep a torch
• you have to run to the OPD before cherian sir gets there after the rounds
• you have to be at the neuro icu by 7.45am
• do not skip rounds or duty without permission or without informing PG / MO
• there will be an initial round by PG/MO and then we all wait for cherian sir to arrive at their own time. usually he comes by 10am and we have another round.
• try to avoid clubbing ER duty with ward as usually it will get too hectic to handle!
• you will be asked to read aloud the rules posted on the notice board in the neuro icu in front of everyone!

i cant think of other stuff. but basically you need to just take it all in. later on, things get much easier and as u get familiar with the attitude and work environment it wont be tough at all.

try to keep things professional, getting personal with the seniors can fire back.

the only thing regrettable about neuro is that, you don't get many opportunities to learn anything new or do anything exciting. all i did was see a brain surgery and that it. i didn't get to participate. you might get sutures to do at the end of the operation, but that's the best i guess.

the instruments they use in the OT are exciting though! :P

Dr cherian is a very dedicated man and his passion is beyond any other consultant i have seen so far. Impressive appearance and a nice guy to talk to, he might seem unapproachable, but he isn't really. talks to you with slangs like 'bugger', 'balls' and other stuff we all know :P, makes you feel at ease.

plus he answers questions and explains things if you care to ask.

the sisters are supposed to be the best, most sweet of the lot and i got a glimpse of that when i had my night in the icu. they offer so much to eat and the tea at night is awesome.

the best part about neuro was that you see the same patients for over 3 weeks and you get to know them and see how well they respond to treatment. some paralysed ones started walking in front of my eyes and it was a blessing to witness that! the true blessing is what the surgeon probably felt as he had seen them at the paralyzed stage. from his expressions we could tell, what a wonderful feeling it must be to help these people and watch them come back!

the OT was alright, i just got one chance when i was on call and there was a head injury case. the guy had a temporal contusion on the left side and it had to be removed. he was taken up to the OT and i was all excited that i might get to do something.

All i got was to catheterize him (put a pipe up his penis to help him pee into a bag and not on the table). that too i was yelled at for not doing it already in the ER! and in the end, i got to put a few of the scalp sutures. not very satisfying to an intern at this stage !

cherian sir at his stuff! the PG looks on.

the craniotome, it makes holes into the skull like a drill would.

this thingy is where the mechanical energy for the instruments like craniotome comes from. it has a motor attached to it.

the brother, a genuinely nice guy, works at his table of instruments!

playing around in the neuro icu. this was at happier times, during the 1st week i guess.

the neuro icu. a brother at work.

ask sambhav about this particular patient on the right of the picture and he'll give you a hilarious anecdote!
these are the rules! to be read aloud by every new bugger joining! lol

the most well known patient of our time in the neuro icu since a months already! a 10 year old girl! :S in a comatose state, dunno how long she'll take!

the interns hanging around waiting for the rounds to start.

the view from the neuro icu balcony. one site which would calm your mind when things arent going your way at work or private life.

I'm satisfied my 3 weeks of neuro are over in one stretch now. cherian sir was a gem, signed my completion with a very good too! good bye, I've moved on to friendlier pastures :P