prabasiboy
prabasiboy
|
 |
Nostalgia- in defence of doctors
«on:
02/25/05 at 03:47:01 » |
|
She was a bright fair angelic Muslim girl -19 years old- educated in a convent school. Came in with severe belly pain. Right near the belly button. Constant severe for last 7 days. Nothing else. Eating something makes it worse. has been crying all day in pain.
I am the casualty doctor - almost done with my MD training. ready to take on all illness. Confident , knowledgable, the best.
I started taking a history and immediately noted (with some disdain) she speaks better English than mine. OK if you are coming at 1 AM in the casualty with pain - it better be good enough - dragging parents out of bed - and postponing my little gufftagu with the nurses. Where is the pain - here - ouch!!! Looked at her dad - very polite cultured family. Ok did you ever have this pain before - no doctor. Any fever - no doctor. Come on stop showing your pain - answer my question. Any body else sick at home. any aspirin - none ! Everybody out - mom stays., open your skirt . It hurts here - yeah very bad. Periods ok - few days back. OKKKKK.
Mom out - only nurse stays . OK tell me the truth - whats really wrong? anything happening in college? Something must be going on in family - feel depressed. Yes, doctor - My dad has arranged my marriage coming up in a week - do you like the boy; silence - not really - I have seen him only once - he is a businessman - what I can I do -I can not go against him.
Zee I got my diagnosis; Functional overlay - precipitated by anxiety.
Family in - dad - everything looks OK -I think the pain is psychological take some valium - let her sleep . It is the marraige. Sorry doc - bothering you. Should I call you tomorrow - if things do not get better. No need - let her go to college tomoorow.
Next afternoon - I am bleary eyed seeing my last patient in the OPD - really need to get some sleep. A bunch of good looking girls hover around my room - peon whats going on - Sirjee there is a girl you saw her yesterday......
I instantly knew who she was - I was about to burst in to my vile mood - but then the accompanying girl steps in to my room - Doctor my name is Shilpi (wow Hindu could be bong, good looking - may be worth trying), my friend has more pain - she wanted to see you. OK sure - bring her in. Again check BP, pulse, no fever, belly feels good. OK Shilpi- I think your friend is a psycho. Because of the marriage - her father is forcing her. Go home talk to her dad - thats it. Sure give me a call tomoorow - feel free to walk in - we can have tea together . are you in science - thinking about being a doctor. Nice meeting you.
Same night, get a call from my friend in the casualty - same girl same pain again. Call a psychiatry consult - and may be get urine pregnancy test done - who knows these days and these city girls!
Few days later, I am sitting in my OPD - late afternoon - almost empty - Shilpi walks in - hello- nice to see you again. Well do you know my friend is admiited - she wanted to see you. Sure wait I will go with you - where is she - in the surgical ward (really ? I start getting worried).
There she was pale looking, more angelic, with many IV drips and a nose tube going in to her, with a large bandage in her belly. Dad in the room - I noted he did not stand up. My patient whispered - doctor - thanks - no really I mean it- for taking care of me. I mumbled and hastily moved out of the room.
Read through the charts - she had a blood clot in the largest vein inside her belly - over the last few days prior to admission while she was being manged by me - her large intestine infarcted - gangrenous - that was causing the pain - I missed it thouroughly - did not even run any tests . Was easily treatable with blood thinners if diagnosed . She was now with a colostomy - stool coming out through a hole in her side. Practically her whole life destroyed. I felt a bitter taste of bile in my mouth. A prejudiced doctor - at what a staggering cost to life.
Months leter she sent me a card - again thanking me - Her marriage got cancelled - the business man apparently did not likes scars and colostomy. She was happy and vibrant. I stayed in touch with her for many days - last I heard she was completing her MA in psychology and planning to go abroad. I never saw Shilpi again - I am sure she did not want to do medicine.
Have any comments- please stil respect you doctor - human but second to God only! |
| | |
|
Author