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What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?
Prior to joining Surgery, I was rather fearful.
Fearful. I doubt this word has ever left me and personally I feel like a coward at times because I always associate that word with everything. As for this particular department, I have heard multiple feedbacks from a number of seniors claiming that this particular posting is rather “toxic”.
However, is it really?
As usual, the tagging period is from 7am till 10pm as with all departments except Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G). While I was tagging in Surgery, I used to arrive as early as I could. My target would be to leave by 5am, meaning I would rise before that. This is because, first of all, there are a large number of patients allocated under our care and the medical officers do their pre grand rounds early because the surgeons themselves arrive early.
Thus, if there is only a time that I can leisurely bring myself to work, it would be during OT (Operating Theatre) days and if I am allocated as an ETD House Officer.
Since we are tagging, we are only allowed to leave at 10pm. This means that by the time we reach home, it would be after 10pm, provided we left work on time of course, or if not, almost 11pm.
This is followed by me having my meal or cleaning up my place, showering, washing my clothes and finally going off to bed. By that time, it would’ve been around midnight or slightly after only to rise at 4am again and repeat the whole process again.
Thus, my sleeping schedule was poor. Most of the time, I only had 4 hours of sleep. Being in this department is a physically demanding one and that’s where most of our tiredness stems from albeit having good superiors, which are extremely supportive and kind and which I am extremely grateful for.
It makes going to work more bearable, easier and at times, fun.
However, surviving on 4 hours of sleep also contributed to my multiple days of medical leaves during my tagging period. My body was just unable to keep up with it. I realised that irregardless, I had to prioritise my sleep even more.
It is only temporary, at least that’s what I tell myself and albeit the tiredness, I’m still excited to go to work every morning. Somehow, I just wished that I had unlimited energy, then, I’ll be able to give my 100% every time.
If you are about to enter the Surgical Posting, do not let the words of others instil fear in your mind. Enter it with an open mind and open heart with the willingness to learn. Honestly, it’s not as bad as multiple people say, but then again, it is my biased opinion.
If there is something I learnt very quickly upon entering this posting, it is to get as much needed rest as you can. No work is worth the sacrifice if it involves your health, especially being in the healthcare system. Take care of ourselves first, so we can take care of others best.
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The Theoretical Doctor 