Report of 8 March 2020
Happy Women's Day!
I hate everything about everything today. I swam this morning and was full of bonhomie and gratitude earlier, then I posted on the Society for Hospital Medicine exchange and am now thinking the post was idiotic. Thus, the blahs set in. I made a dish for lunch and Scott does not like it. I was not going to eat it, but tasted it and quite loved it, so have had 2 bowlsful. It is made of a sprout and ragi (a millet) and some dhal; I had tried for years to make an Irani dish called orsh and this approximates it, so that should make me feel better.
We are well. The Banyan is its usual nice self. Responsibilities have changed based on distance from residence and I now go to Kovalam twice a week instead of once a week - exchanging the former Kovalam schedule for Adaikalam's; it is nice. Last week, we had to tell some people from a nearby home for elderly that they have to access care at the Government Primary Health Center (PHC); they were not happy. Our services have to be cut for financial reasons and urging people to go to the PHC is the way to go for now: at least there *is* a Government clinic nearby, unlike in many countries. The Kovalam clinic is routinely slammed on Mondays, with upwards of 40 patients to be seen in half a day - and that is with reduced services.
One of our adult patients came in with a blood test for diabetes and it showed her illness was out of control. The student interning with us came in with the patient and proceeded to tell me that the patient really *was* trying to manage her illness, when all evidence pointed elsewhere. When I said that, the patient - also on medication for mental illness - snatched the paper out of my hand and said, "Well, that's plenty! If you are not going to give me the medicines, I am leaving," and stomped out. We have resources to educate our population; they have to be willing to be educated. The next week, her father - also one of our patients - came by and we mentioned this little altercation; he gestured, sighed and said, "Leave it. If a person cannot speak with respect, they need not be treated," and we did not belabor the point.
Adaikalam is fine. We had an HIV positive patient return to see us; she is emaciated and concerning. I ordered a ton of blood tests and found she had kidney failure. She and her husband were eager to return home - about 10 hours away - and so, we asked that she follow up there. She did go see the nephrologist and I was pleased. It is quite, quite lovely when patients do as they are told.
My private practice is also fine. We have several young patients come in with persistent cough. With the new affluence in India and the plethora of Information Technology (IT) jobs, many employees sit in 24-hour airconditioning, to the detriment of their lungs. I have had to try varied remedies and then hope for the best.
We talked to both our children and they are well. Movies are being released, job situations are being addressed and both are making a difference in the world - knock on wood. That is all we want of our children.
We attended a Hip Hop performance by a local band called "Black Boys." It was good. They emulate another band called "Casteless Collective," and sing about pressing local issues. We also attended a couple of markets of female entrepreneurs and enjoyed them.
Unw -
R
I hate everything about everything today. I swam this morning and was full of bonhomie and gratitude earlier, then I posted on the Society for Hospital Medicine exchange and am now thinking the post was idiotic. Thus, the blahs set in. I made a dish for lunch and Scott does not like it. I was not going to eat it, but tasted it and quite loved it, so have had 2 bowlsful. It is made of a sprout and ragi (a millet) and some dhal; I had tried for years to make an Irani dish called orsh and this approximates it, so that should make me feel better.
We are well. The Banyan is its usual nice self. Responsibilities have changed based on distance from residence and I now go to Kovalam twice a week instead of once a week - exchanging the former Kovalam schedule for Adaikalam's; it is nice. Last week, we had to tell some people from a nearby home for elderly that they have to access care at the Government Primary Health Center (PHC); they were not happy. Our services have to be cut for financial reasons and urging people to go to the PHC is the way to go for now: at least there *is* a Government clinic nearby, unlike in many countries. The Kovalam clinic is routinely slammed on Mondays, with upwards of 40 patients to be seen in half a day - and that is with reduced services.
One of our adult patients came in with a blood test for diabetes and it showed her illness was out of control. The student interning with us came in with the patient and proceeded to tell me that the patient really *was* trying to manage her illness, when all evidence pointed elsewhere. When I said that, the patient - also on medication for mental illness - snatched the paper out of my hand and said, "Well, that's plenty! If you are not going to give me the medicines, I am leaving," and stomped out. We have resources to educate our population; they have to be willing to be educated. The next week, her father - also one of our patients - came by and we mentioned this little altercation; he gestured, sighed and said, "Leave it. If a person cannot speak with respect, they need not be treated," and we did not belabor the point.
Adaikalam is fine. We had an HIV positive patient return to see us; she is emaciated and concerning. I ordered a ton of blood tests and found she had kidney failure. She and her husband were eager to return home - about 10 hours away - and so, we asked that she follow up there. She did go see the nephrologist and I was pleased. It is quite, quite lovely when patients do as they are told.
My private practice is also fine. We have several young patients come in with persistent cough. With the new affluence in India and the plethora of Information Technology (IT) jobs, many employees sit in 24-hour airconditioning, to the detriment of their lungs. I have had to try varied remedies and then hope for the best.
We talked to both our children and they are well. Movies are being released, job situations are being addressed and both are making a difference in the world - knock on wood. That is all we want of our children.
We attended a Hip Hop performance by a local band called "Black Boys." It was good. They emulate another band called "Casteless Collective," and sing about pressing local issues. We also attended a couple of markets of female entrepreneurs and enjoyed them.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu at
4:48 AM
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