i just spent 6 grueling days of covering for my former residency training officer's clinic. during my stay there, i only got to see about 30-50% of the total number of patients she sees when she's there. i had lunch at 4 pm, didn't drink even just a drop of water for 8 hrs and didn't even had the urge to go to the comfort room during the time. all i wanted to do was just to go on and finish all the charts that are continuously coming on the desk. and then there's the constant phone interruptions from very anxious (translated as makulit) mothers who would fire a barrage of questions at you - anything from her son's cough to her housemaid's chickenpox. there is also the constant texting of the residents at the hospital updating you and relaying to you the lab results of the 2 admitted patients you have there. i had bad headaches everytime i come home either from the lack of glucose in my brain or the prolonged talking-examining-writing i did the whole day. i am also having sleepless nights because i kept thinking of the cute little boy i am suspecting to have a kidney disease or the 7 year old girl who had a growth in her sputum culture or the admitted patient at room 22 who i am suspecting of having dengue fever or the resident calling you at 3 am because she has an ER consult with dry, hacking cough and is telling you that she wants the patient to have epinephrine nebulization or telling you that she's giving your patient 4 liters of fluid/day (w/c is too much if your patient only weighs a few kilos). it is also a never ending quest for knowledge. it seems like i never know enough about the illnesses i am encountering as i am having my clinic.

do i sound like i am complaining? very few people realize that we doctors are humans too. we do get "hunger headaches" and that we too get tired. we also need our privacy and time to be just an ordinary person with our family and friends. most expecially, people should realize that we are not gods, we do not know what will happen next although we can make educated guesses. we always do our best but GOD is still the ultimate healer.