"being a doctor,being a patient: nothing special"

As I was brought to the Emergency room and been face to face with the  receptionist after my car accident. I was asked  multiple questions as required; I answered all of those and without any salutations of Dr. or MD with my name. I was asked to wait in the assigned area. I followed promptly as I wanted to be an exemplary patient, shy of being found as a doctor in house.

The wait time added on in minutes turning in to hours but nothing moved. In the mean time family and friend support was available as a God sent blessing.

Being a patient with suspected whiplash and concussion who had reported earlier to front desk with symptoms of headache, nausea, lighthededness, feeling of passing out and elevated BP did not moved anyone that day. People around  me were suffering from cough and pain , and other undisclosed ailments. The place was full of ailing humanity and interestingly a doctor was also in attendance on the receiving end of health care system. He was quite as affraid of being spotted, or judged for any preferential treatment he may receive. He got nothing but that day made him feel ignored and fearful.

That day, no one came to do BP check until four hours after, and no actual assessment was ever done  including to shine light on pupils whether equal and reactive, or even to see window to my soul.

Who do I blame?
No one or every one there on that day.

There was no triage, that was a problem. The system need  an overhaul, probably a full circle of same human touch as was in the prehistoric era of pen and paper, when actual RN or MD were seeing you as an intial triage. I observed that staff were busy in talking about call schedules, vacations times, end of shift issues but no one did an intial triage on me.

That day proved that we all are equal in suffering, we all suffer the same way unless we learn from it. I am glad that day I survived against the man made odds; clearly remembering that what does not kill you  make you strong to have a good fight on an another day.

Kids are made of Plastics

As I met him first time on his initial office visit I found him focused, rational and wanted to be healthy. He was doing what a health conscious middle age man can do. His routine of exercise and diet were amazing but I have noticed his struggle of wanting more from himself to be better in health, staying away from medications, able to do things he loved as long as he can. He wanted to lose weight though his BMI was not alarming despite of discussions of maintenance of healthy body weight.

We have few visits, life was moving on as it always does, he wanted to run and not get sore or get aches or pain as he had none in past. He was wondering why, as it was always easy for him but now he has noticed a change.  His overall health has no red flags.

Some look at life as a journey on a time machine with a stop watch which will be activated at some point. We born and grow from an infant to teen then aged as old and frail. Our bodies, metabolism change.  In the process some lose hair, gain weight, develop wrinkles, and wear diapers. It looks like as a circle of life.

Others struggle as why we don’t stay the same; young and quick even as we age. Someday it will be possible, may be time can be freezed until then we will age.  As he continued to wonder that may be kids are made of plastics as they quickly bounce back after any falls sometimes crying but in the end laughing as a bundle of joy. I saw he wanted being that kid again badly with his lit up eyes; we all do, though some wanted it more than others.