My first week in Cardiology

Apologies I haven't had much time the past few weeks to update the blog dear readers. Last week has been a semi-monumental one, as I change jobs from one speciality to another. Last week I started cardiology. During the week I was introduced to my new team mates and I have started to get to know them. They do seem a cool bunch - so far so good.

The cardiology firm has also proven to be excellent grounds me to learn and gain experience. Our consultant grilled us with (difficult) questions at each ward round, and in the first week alone I've already had the opportunity to do 2 central lines, 1 femoral line, 1 ascitic drain insertion and 1 pleural aspiration. Way to go!!

Perhaps from a tiny bit of frustration from not pursuing a surgical career, but I definitely enjoy doing procedures, like the ones I just mentioned. I enjoy every opportunity to practice doing them in the hopes that the skills wouldn't become blunt (no pun intended) with disuse.

One exciting thing that happened last week was when we received a Japanese patient, who spoke little English. Upon hearing so, I gleefully clapped my hands in front of my work mates exclaiming what a good opportunity it would be to practice the language (with a native speaker).

At the consultant ward round, the conversation went as follows:
Konnichiwa, Mynn to mo shimasu. Yoroshikuu. Sumimasen ne? Sukoshi dake Nihongo o wakarimasu kara.
(hello, my name is Mynn, pleased to meet you. I'm so sorry but I only understand a bit of Japanese)

The consultant was examining and I had to translate:

• Te o agete kudasai (can you please raise your arms?)
• Ashi o agete kudasai (can you please raise you legs?)
• Me o tojite kudasai (can you please close your eyes?)

I also had to ask:

• Karada ga itaimasu ka (does your body hurt?)
• Senaka ga itaimasu ka (any abdominal pains?)
• Atama ga itaimasu ka (any headaches?)

I thought I was doing well, until the consultant asked me to ask:

Do you have any vaginal discharge?

That question met largely with silence on my part, less I attempt and in return get slapped! I don't even know what the Japanese word for *that* is :T (1)

PS
(1) However, having watched Yakitate! Japan, I do know what the word for the male equivalent is - LOL. It's chin-chin, (I think!) ROTFL.

(2) It's a good thing I've been warned many times before NOT to talk like in anime. I could just imagine myself going (imagine with little twinklies appearing on my head):

"Ah konnichiwa nee-san! Mynn-chan desu!! kyou wa daijoubu? genki ka? Genki neee? Yubbikiri! Jaa ne, nee chan! ha ha ha" <- as I skip away.
(hello sister, it's mynn chan! how are you today? okay? okay right?? promise! okay see you sister!) <- would get me a slap, or at least, stares.