GRAPES of "Feb - 14 (2008 AD)" !!!

Well, today is Feb – 14 and Valentine’s Day! I don’t know what the hell is that neither do I care of this. I’m referring to the usual meaning and wishing people are doing about. It is just another day of my life and work. So that’s it. I am writing here because I have time but not because of the particular day though it is a coincidence and I squandered few words on it. I’m sure many of you readers and my friends will refer it as “Grapes are SOUR”!

I managed to grab and quickly engulf JPT-T (Jerry, Purry, Tarkari and Tea) in the hostel canteen at 8.00AM in the morning. In our hostel slang - it also means "Je payo tehi - tyo !!! Then rushed to the morning conference where I signed in and attended the round. In the middle of the round sir and resident doctor asked me to go down to OPD. So I went down to see the patients.

I had to attend an important meeting today in the afternoon so I expected to finish it by 2.00PM afternoon. The meeting was about deciding to establish one of the important clinics in the far flung hilly districts of Nepal. I had to give my input and feasibility there. Though I had already strongly recommended about it and as a sequelae of that, the meeting was going to be held.

I sat down to see the patients with my own way of work up – detailed history, examination, asking some investigations, recommending medicines and some referrals along with consultations with seniors. It went alright. I don’t know whether I had been given many patients but it was sure that there were many follow ups of mine. So even if they distributed new patients equally I had to see more patients. When I referred one patient to Emergency for admission to meet medical on duty doctor, it was 3.30 PM and those who had afternoon OPD were seeing some of their last patients there!!! I did not have lunch. No water, tea or break in the middle. It was fine for me. So were the patients waiting to get checked there – I guess.

There was a kid in OPD – I guess around 4 years old roaming, screaming, playing all that. I had few strong words to his mom to get hold of him. I am particularly very concerned and strict about the healthy kids bringing hospital with the guardians and let them play! God, they will acquire some of the deadliest and very resistant microorganisms there!!! I had rude word in the ward a couple of days back when I saw a kid of similar age playing in the medical waste bin while parents were busy with their usual stuff. Then there was a young (late twenties), robust, black man – anxious, worried and impatient waiting to get checked up in my queue. He was the second last man. He had referred a couple times that he had been waiting for eight hours there in hospital. Surely he had been before 8.00AM in the morning to get ticket. When I got him, I first made him relaxed. Take it easy- what is your problem! No need to hurry! I did not rush to write history, did not examine and just had an EAR on him and interest in his problem. In fact, I was myself giving some time myself and taking time to good consultation. He was not relaxed. He was hurried to tell. He was worried and tried to tell in detail but was finished within few minutes. So I had many leading questions and made him relaxed. I knew he was much worried and waited long time. So I wanted to give him justice and do justice to my job/profession as well no matter what I’m in – no lunch, no Tiffin, no break, no tea, meeting cancelled all that.

So he was an overweight, little bit obese with classical symptoms of diabetes and had his mom diabetic under insulin. He had his random blood sugar outside and it was high so he rushed there. He had left eating and was very anxious. I counseled about the disease, planned investigations, referred to EYE doctor too for screening purpose if not some effects there and asked for follow up. I told about the disease, management, progression and prognosis along with latest trend on the management concept. I could see him as being grateful and believing me. I offered if he had any problem or anything he would like to know. He said, “No thank you! I will come for follow up”. When he stood and was about to leave he asked, “So can I eat now Doctor?” God, we know how desperate he was. We only understand when we bear problem and we don’t know about it. Very rightly, “Only wearer knows how shoe pinches”. He was so worried and his normal life was so disturbed. I thought my job was partly done (if he comes for follow up with reports and if I can manage him – I will give credit myself that I have done my job). The lady and the kid were his family members!!! She was not angry with me about my referral to her child and herself neither was that man.

When I finished my OPD at 3.40PM and was coming out of hospital, I saw the family walking in the garden going out- may be giving blood for investigations. He did say, “Namaste Dr Sab!” I did reply.

I came to my room and threw my apron in the bed and put hair band – making a big pony tail behind and headed for the so called (belated) lunch! When I was out in the corridor of hostel I got call from emergency from a resident doctor requesting me to write a discharge in the ward and it has to be done before 4.00PM!!! So I rushed to the Annex-II for it without apron and with that pony tail!!! That was not too bad – I guess. I wrote discharge. Nursing staff made a special request to cashier to stay for this discharge. So at 4.15PM, the patient was discharged.

After that I went to eat – ordered half vegetable chowmen as a tiffin, an egg Biriani as a dinner and a milk coffee (regular stuff-tea/coffee freak). Then at 10.15PM I felt little hungry – so a big slice cake with tea and came back to write it here.

These are the GRAPES of "Feb -14 (2008)" !!!
Oops!!!


Best wishes,
mati