Obs and gynae

I am now on my fourth week out of seven in obs and gynae, and I better write something about it now while I feel positive about it. It is one of the better organised placement. Seven of us in a group are each allocated to one consultant. In my case I have two of them since they both only work part time in this hospital.

On a typical monday, I would spend the morning in the antenatal day case or early pregnancy unit. In the afternoon, we attend a tutorial and the postgraduate meeting while hoping to get some free food. I would then clerk in the theatre patients for the next day and hence go home quite late. Tuesday is theatre day, when I perform some PV exams. Wednesday, the GP day, starts unusually early at 0730, but I am usually home by noon. On Thursday I attend the hysteroscopy clinic in the morning and the Antenatal clinic in the afternoon. Friday morning tends to start with an MDT, followed by the gynae clinic and PBL. We also need to attend one off clinics like termination of pregnancy, GUM, breast, colposcopy, scan etc.

So far I am enjoying it more than I expect. I am surprisingly attracted to the surgical side of gynae, probably rubbing off from Mr S (see below). I am beginning to understand some of the surgical concepts like haemostasis and the different equipment used as well. Learning anatomy in theatre is confusing and so unlike reading a book, but I am getting more familiar with the pelvis every week. For example today, I learn to appreciate how curvy the sacrum actually is, that when you pour water into the pelvis for washout, it fills like a bowl. I don't think I would be doing Obs and gynae for the rest of my life. I can't really stand watching too many external genitalia for a long time, and to be honest, besides childbirth, there is nothing really exciting about the reproductive organs. (Well actually that's not true as tumours can grow to impressively big sizes).

Some personalities worth mentioning:
Mr S is one of the consultants I am allocated to. He is like a typical surgical (wants to Get Things Done, and becomes annoyed when there is delay or people messing about wasting time), only a really nice one. He has a great personality and sense of humour, and would introduce himself to anyone new working with him in theatre or in meeting. He is very tall, and is like a father to his team of juniors. He spoonfeeds me most of the time and doesn't ask me much questions to embarass me. Mr S is a gynaecologist subspecialising in surgical oncology, so I was not really exposed to a wide range of conditions. Theatre is getting quite dull - hysterectomy after hysterectomy after hysterestomy... But I can see why his job is so rewarding, as surgery means cure for many conditions, including some cancers.
Dr R is the second consultant I am attached to. I attend her hysteroscopy clinic once a week. She smiles all the time and is casual and friendly. She loves classical music and sometimes dances with the music on her chair. It really helps to be a female student as ladies are more likely to allow female to observe. I have only met her twice because she has been on holiday, but this is good because I am also a little bored of watching hysteroscopies.
The midwives in my hospital are amazing (I still have my favourites). I have never really felt left out, and I am always be given the opportunity to do stuff. Hence now I am now fairly good at measuring BP manually, taking blood and getting the gist of palpating a pregnant abdomen.
Dan is my PBL groupmate and he bakes a cake for every friday's PBL session, so our PBL discussions have been a delicious affair. Isn't it wonderful to have a groupmate like this?

3 and a half more weeks to go. Look forward to my labour week.


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