It happens ! and I've been there.

That was two years back. My mom developed an acute allergic reaction to one of the common pills taken for nausea. Probably one of the simplest of the diseases we study, or we don’t even  need to study that, as it’s so trivial, ironically!

I am a doctor. But that day, when I went around running for investigations and trying to figure out what the chief doctor had to say, helplessly trying to dodge the naïve juniors so as to save time, I just wish such a day never happened again.

My friend literally mocked at me when I said I didn’t even know what she was going through even 14 hours after its onset, surprisingly, after being seen by an expert in internal medicine, a nephrologist, a neurologist and my dad himself being a top notch surgeon!

It IS very cold out there. Yes, I admit it. We all have to admit it.

Its not the first time and its not happened only with me. When we medicos ourselves have been victims, its quite understandable what the commoner goes through. And I see this program by Gopinath which brought out many not-so-comfortable aspects of healthcare in our county, its no exaggeration!

Just a smile from the doctor, the extra minute you deeply wish he spent on explaining stuff to you, forget all that, that extra comfort the attending nurse provides you, or at least by not frowning or yelling at you, the extra minute they let you be with the diseased one from your family, that extra visitor’s token the security gives you, which means you can visit him/her for the second time in a day, they all mean a world! Like they did to me.

After all these years I have been associated with the medical profession, honestly, I have seen only few doctors who try to look beyond the disease in a patient. It was another tough day at work, fidgeting with the discharges, and as I was frustrated, so was a little kid and his mom, about the 8 hour journey back home and his board exam the next day. Thanks to Dr. Vivek(anandan), they could at least start off early that day, without completing the discharge procedure. 

Its also extremely tough to do such things and I myself don’t know if I will be able to!

Mukku maa .. mukku .. nalla mukku maa !!

When you have started on with a blog, someday, something in you pushes you “ah !! you gotta write this down” and this one is completely following one such instinct.

        Erratic working hours, sleep deprivation in a cramped up so-called air conditioned room, times when u feel being jobless is much more difficult than being busy –  a phenomenon which I learnt only few colleges in my town have. Nice to know that, eh! 

        Sitting beside expectant women and monitoring them is all what we are put to – THE LABOUR ROOM. A routine process of mothers entering in, staying over a day and then delivering out. Quite non messy – most of the time!

        But that’s definitely not what it’s all about. And that something that pushed me to write this is the beauty of a new life being born!  And the feeling of witnessing it!  To see the cherubs dropping down, their first cries, giggles, winks...  Definitely much more than what I thought would feel like.

       Half a day of restlessness, frantic straining in the delivery room (and that’s where we come – “mukku maa, mukku maa” ) all punctuated by shrill cries – a display of sheer pain- but definitely for good. The moment the child cries is when she gets a gasp. Her smile when she sees the pediatrician bring down her baby near – priceless!!

      I always run to the warmer (the baby was in a warm environment inside, so we simulate one) as soon as the cord is clamped. Some cry just for the while to say "ah !! see I cried ! guys don't worry " while the others are fussy criers. But invariably all show that typical gugu face - the cutest - once they are wrapped. Some tasteful pead.s just do the wrapping part so beautifully!

      The final one is what i feel is the bestest part :) . For reasons Ive not known yet, we are not encouraged to tell the sex of the baby to the mother on table. Obviously, the mom would keep on asking us that and we say "we ll show u, wait !". Yeah, cruel as it sounds. Or may be just to save the surprise ??

     

      Well, I’ve just completed a week as of now. But mad already :D :D