I love my job!

OK, despite the busy and mad clinic day today.. I am happy! I met all kinds of patients today.. good ones, ok ones, and stubborn ones...

My first patient was patient who has HIV after being very naugthy when he was young. He was lucky his wife didn't leave him. But of course no more intimacy between them.. Asked if he minds.. "Saya juga buat salah, saya kena tanggung la." 

My second patient made my day! Case of obesity with its complications - diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, hypertension and fatty liver. BMI of 37. Obesity.. I have special interest in this! Too bad previously, issue of weight reduction wasn't very highlighted.. too many people concentrated on treating the complications rather than principal problem. We tend to tell patients you need to cut down on your food without telling them how.. you need to exercise without telling them how. He initially was trying to give 101 excuses for not exercising until I told him "We can create 1001 excuses for not doing things we should do. At the end of the day.. we suffer from consequences of our very own excuses.." He paused and agreed. I spent almost 1 hour with him.. and usual manner he thanked me and appreciated my consultation. I think I touched a life there.. but I told him to prove his appreciation by giving me results in the next 1 month.. I hope he will.

I am glad that the patients I saw today in the morning clinic were rather pleasant...

Monday afternoon.. my special interest clinic.. Obesity. Was disappointed initially as some of the patients didn't lose weight... the good thing is, they have actually changed their eating habit.. that's good start isn't it? But again.. they created excuses for not being active.... too busy, no time, too expensive to buy an exercise machine etc..

However, I am proud of 1 patient of mine... He actually gave excuses when I asked him to walk from the hospital quarters to the "Kitchen" (he's a chef in our hospital) during his last consultation. Surprise.. surprise.. he actually took my word and started walking form his quarters to work. :) Within this 2 weeks, he has lost 2kg!

THE THING IS..  not about a patient listening to what a doctor has to say.. but it's about working together towards the goal and making them understand why things are done the way there are... I am happy when they understand and work hard to achieve the goal.. like today... and I realised I love my job!