Confessions of a Doctoholic

You know those pranks that start as a joke and quickly spiral? Yeah.  💬  What’s your most questionable prank you've pulled at work? Drop your stories in the comments or DM me on Instagram @hafsaslaiman!

You know that instinct you get when something isn’t quite right? This episode’s all about trusting those surgical spidey senses when the numbers lie but the gut screams. 📢 What was your wildest gut instinct — and were you right? @hafsaslaiman

What do the hospital codes  really  mean? In this teaser episode of  Confessions of a Doctoholic , Dr. Sulaiman spills the tea on Code Blues, Violets, and the Code Brown that had her second-guessing her entire medical training. Hit play, and you just might learn something your med school never told you.

Ever been caught in the crossfire of someone else's bad mood—especially when that someone is your attending? In this episode, I break down the day I got completely grilled in clinic over an MRI misread, why trusting others can still backfire, and how I managed the fallout (and the awkward apology email that followed). Spoiler: medicine will humble you real fast. 📩 What’s one time you felt complet...

What happens when a long shift, a shared patient transfer, and a really good smile spark something more? In today’s episode, I share the story of my “hospital crush turned ghoster” and how ChatGPT helped me draft the perfect breakup message. From butterflies to burnout, it’s workplace romance—surgical style. What’s your go-to coping mechanism after a confusing situationship at work?

Some nights, the pager can wait. This is the story of a patient whose condition was terminal but whose dignity deserved time. Holding her hand in her final moments changed me — and reminded me why I’m here. ❓ Have you ever advocated for something — even something small — that made a big difference in someone’s care?

They come in again. And again. And again. But something’s off this time. This episode is about that clinical gut feeling, pattern recognition, and finally cracking the case that haunted your pager. Have you ever had a “difficult” patient that surprised you — for better or worse? What did they teach you? DM me @hafsaslaiman

You didn’t admit the patient. You didn’t order the consult. But somehow the responsibility lands on you anyway. Hafsa talks about the messy politics of hospital consults and what happens when you inherit a clinical problem that technically isn’t yours.

There are moments in residency that test every ounce of your patience — and then, there are the ones that make you feel on top of the world. This case had both. From tangled fistulas to surgical flow-state euphoria, I take you through the highs and lows of one unforgettable shift. What’s your version of a “Cloud Nine” moment at work? Drop it in my DMs — I want to celebrate those small wins! @hafsa...

Ever been asked a question so bizarre you didn’t know if it was a joke? Welcome to medicine. Let’s talk about the time I was told to Google Playboy first in the middle of a serious case discussion. 📲 Share the most awkward feedback you’ve ever received at work. DM me or drop a story on IG @hafsaslaiman

You don’t have to like everyone you work with — but what happens when the energy is so off it starts affecting the patient care? In this episode, I talk about a shift filled with tension, awkward silences, and learning to navigate professional relationships when the vibes are… off. Have you ever worked with someone you just couldn’t connect with? DM me how you dealt with it or drop a comment on my...

It started as a simple fender bender. No blood, no broken bones. But what happened next had me questioning everything I thought I knew about trauma triage and overconsulting. Spoiler: it wasn’t “just” whiplash. ❓  Do you trust wearable tech like Apple Watches for medical alerts? 💬  Have you ever had a case that completely defied logic? What happened? DM me @hafsaslaiman

A quiet elevator. A whisper that wasn’t mine. A shift that felt… haunted. If hospitals could talk, this one whispered something weird. 📲 Ever had a spooky moment at work? DM me or drop your ghost story on Threads @hafsaslaiman

Some surgeries remind you why you do what you do. This liver case was bloody, intense, and everything I’d dreamed of. 📲 If you’ve ever had a moment of clarity at work that reminded you why you chose your path — tell me @hafsaslaiman

How do YOU handle a toxic senior without burning bridges? Let me know your thoughts — or even better, your own “WTF just happened” moments from the hospital. You’re not alone. needs

Sometimes the scalpel stays on the table. This episode dives into a consult where what the patient really needed wasn’t an operation — it was listening. 📲 Ever had to talk a patient out of surgery (or someone talk you out of something you were sure of)? Let’s chat about tough clinical decisions. @hafsaslaiman

In vascular surgery, sometimes the anatomy throws a curveball. This case? It was an artery doing the slinky dance — and a bypass that felt more like a puzzle. Ever had a case that turned into a surgical escape room? Drop your story in my Q&A box or Threads! @hafsaslaiman

They weren’t alert. The story didn’t add up. And the person speaking for them? Not legally allowed to. This episode dives into how I uncovered a missing POA and what happens when you don’t have the right decision-maker in place. What’s one moment where your gut was right, even when labs weren’t? How do you approach power of attorney discussions with patients? DM me on @hafsaslaiman

t was “contained,” they said. Until it wasn’t. This was one of those cases where the vitals were stable but the room was anything but. The lesson? Control is sometimes just an illusion. Ever had a shift where everything looked fine — until it absolutely wasn’t? Drop your chaos stories in my DMs or on Threads @hafsasulaiman.

I assisted in my first neobladder case — and wow, my mind was blown. If you weren’t in medicine, what surgical procedure would shock you most? LMK on @hafsaslaiman

Sometimes you’re just not the right fit — even in medicine. This one fired me and honestly... I wasn’t even mad. ❓ Ever felt unexpectedly relieved after a difficult situation? Let's unpack this online 📲 @hafsaslaiman

Let me introduce you to the most unexpected foreign body you’ll ever hear about. ❓ Have you ever had a ridiculously strange ER visit? Or been injured in a completely random, “this can’t be real” kind of way? Send me your story — and maybe I’ll feature it in a future episode 📲 @hafsaslaiman.

My first code. My adrenaline. My freeze. This one’s real, raw, and vulnerable. If you’ve ever had a deer-in-headlights moment, let me know how you bounced back — @hafsasulaiman

Sometimes the hardest patients are the ones who need us the most. This one reminded me why I got into medicine. What’s one thing you do to stop yourself from becoming jaded? Ever connected with a patient when you least expected it? DM me your story on the gram or threads 📲 @hafsaslaiman

Gallbladder surgery is supposed to be routine… until it isn’t. From tricky anatomy to operating room tension, Hafsa shares the chaos and adrenaline behind a case that was anything but straightforward. ❓  What’s your OR pet peeve — camera holding, vague instructions, or unsolicited advice?