The Doctor & Me

Part 4

"Awak ! Awak ! Banguunnn awaaak."

Ifkar shifted in his sleep, mumbling to her to leave him alone.

"Ifkar Zulkarnain ! You are very late. For work !", her word rings in his mind. Each pause finally took him to register the severity of her word.

"Shit !" In a speed faster than lightning, he jumped off the bed. Dashing for the toilet. He can only blame himself for sleeping after Fajr prayer. He shouldn't have but seeing Diana went back to sleep, he was tempted to join her. Although they didn't share bed or anything like that.

Ifkar stepped out of the toilet feeling fresh. He splashed his face with ice cold water and brushed his teeth. He already showered this morning before Fajr prayer. He found his clothes ironed and coordinated lying on the bed.

"Thanks", he spit out his gratitude.

Before he leaves for hospital, he extended his hand for Diana. Diana like a faithful wife took it, kiss his hand of which he replied with a peck on her forehead. She handed him his coffee and toast. He left happily. He is not that late. It's school holiday and the usual morning traffic ceased a little.

He reached the hospital just in time for him to do some review and the passover. Within minutes, Ifkar is already quick on his feet moving each and every minute. Taking bloods, updating the progress note, morning rounds. It was hectic. Thank God he took quick bites before coming or he would collapse from all the work.

That was the usual. A lively morning that requires breakfast for a champion. Diana did tried making him stay for breakfast in the first week but he got late once. Because Diana was not really swift in the kitchen, she burnt her hand and he stayed to nurse it. Since that, he just told her not to make breakfast. A toast he can bite while driving suffice. And coffee in a travel mug.

"Ifkar, round. Jom !", his superior called him. He wheeled the portable laptop to the room. The one which they use to put in the patients data etc.

"What is this patient's hemoglobin ? Is it still dropping ?", Dr Luqman is already at the patient side auscultating his heart. "Normal S1S2. No murmur."

"7.3 doctor" Ifkar scans through the blood results.

"Okay. PR any finding ?" Dr Luqman chirped again. Asking for signs of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Quite common for elderly patient with dropping hemoglobin. Could be peptic ulcer due to NSAIDS.

"Tak buat lagi doktor"

"Okay awak check sekarang. Kalau takde pape plan for OGDS."

He covered the curtain, put on his gloves and dab his finger in QC jelly. He asked the patient to turn to one side and put his finger up the anus. In his mind, he's already banging his head on the wall. It certainly is not a pleasure to poke your finger in someone's ass.

The first time he did it when he was a medical student he sort of feel excited although embarassed. But now it is a dreaded experience. Namun memandangkan dia 'Berkhidmat untuk Negara', dia tetap melakukannnya. Demi patient.

Hari itu berlalu dengan cepat. Selepas morning round, dia menyediakan laporan dan memeriksa setiap rekod pesakit. Ubat yang di'order' diperiksa dose dan drug interaction. Kemudian dia melakukan prosedur yang perlu untuk lab investigation.

Hampir jam lima petang, rakan sekerjanya yang bertugas pada malam itu di'brief' mengenai keadaan pesakit yang perlu diberi perhatian. Yang paling dia risaukan adalah pakcik Rahim yang berada di acute cubicle. Keadaan beliau makin merosot hari ke hari. Tapi dalam case exotic infection seperti meliodosis, the prognosis is poor. Ifkar hanya mampu bersimpati.