It was Monday,the beginning of a busy week. My mood as I entered my consulting room was not good.May be the morning blues.Or depressed thinking about a week full of work ahead.
First 2 patients came in and went out.My mood remained the same.
Then walked in[or literally carried in by his son] a retired school teacher.He is above 80. He is a regular patient of mine for last 4 years.He is suffering from Type 2 Diabetes,Benign prostatic enlargement,Osteoarthritis etc etc. Regularly he becomes sick when I am out of station. This time it happened again. He tried to contact me for a trivial cold. He could not as I was away for a week.This made him restless.His sleep was reduced.Then he started running a temperature.The son took him to another doc the next day. Medicines were prescribed.The symptoms were reduced but he was not satisfied.
He held my hand and told me he is so happy seeing me. He said he do not feel good.There is no appetite or sleep. He was afraid he will die before I came back.The son remarked that the illness actually started when his Dad heard I am out of station and now he will become all right soon.
I examined him and then reassured him that he is only having a mild cold.I also told him I won't go anywhere next 2 months. He did not leave my hand for a long time.
The faith and love that the old man had for me made me happy and I began smiling again.My blues were forgotten.
Showing posts with label Doctor out of station. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doctor out of station. Show all posts
Monday, September 1, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Patient loyalty
Some patients are very loyal to their doctor. They hate seeing another doctor. They will believe only if their favourite doctor tells them, but their loyalty land them into trouble sometimes.
A patient of mine, a 50-year-old diabetic, developed sweating and mild chest pain. As I was away for a day, he consulted another doctor. An Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) was done and the doctor found some changes suggestive of early heart attack. The patient was asked to get admitted in an Intensive care Unit. Not believing the doctor, the patient waited for a day to see me. That night the patient became worse and he died on way to Hospital.
Being a one man practise, many a time it is difficult for me to arrange substitute medical care when I am out of station. Though I tell them to see the nearest available doctor in case of emergency, many are reluctant. When I come back from a break of few days many of these loyal patients accuse me of orphaning them. Their affection make me feel good ,but at the same time the accusation make me feel guilty.
A patient of mine, a 50-year-old diabetic, developed sweating and mild chest pain. As I was away for a day, he consulted another doctor. An Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) was done and the doctor found some changes suggestive of early heart attack. The patient was asked to get admitted in an Intensive care Unit. Not believing the doctor, the patient waited for a day to see me. That night the patient became worse and he died on way to Hospital.
Being a one man practise, many a time it is difficult for me to arrange substitute medical care when I am out of station. Though I tell them to see the nearest available doctor in case of emergency, many are reluctant. When I come back from a break of few days many of these loyal patients accuse me of orphaning them. Their affection make me feel good ,but at the same time the accusation make me feel guilty.
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