Report of 26 April 2020

Good evening!

We are in a lockdown within a lockdown, as a friend said.  More stringent restrictions since this morning on movement, as the cases are increasing.  We cannot go out for groceries or anything; vehicles are impounded.  Scott and I went out yesterday to get some groceries.  So did about several thousand others.  Our little veg/fruit stand had a long line, and impoverished people begging next to it.  While Scott is not at all a fan of giving to beggars, this is an unusual time - with daily work (and wages) drying up, many are starving.  So I gave. 

The Banyan is fine.  I am awaiting word of a patient we had to admit in the hospital after she developed fever and low BP and vomiting.  The first hospital we sent her to - after calling ahead - said they could not admit folks with fever (by Govt instructions) and that we had to send her to a Govt hospital.  We picked another closer hospital, and they have diagnosed her with a urine infection + gastroenteritis.  Apparently she is better and I am waiting to talk to the doctor about when discharge will happen. 

We had a training session online this week.  It was good fun.  Scott envies me for having students who so want to learn - our staff are, indeed, thus.  We spoke about vital signs and reasons for low or high temp/BP/pulse/respiratory rate.  At the end of the session, I found out that one of the senior bosses had also been on.  I usually don't know who comes on; we have 40 minutes on the Zoom call and have to zoom. 

We spoke to our children last week and that was lovely.  They appreciate having roommates whom they can survive the lockdown with.  We did manage to laugh a lot; both had input for Scott with some of his college issues.  I also spoke to my father and we got laughs in, too.  It is nice to have family members with a sense of humor.

We ordered mangoes online and they arrived a day after.  Yay!  Summer brings a plethora of mango varieties to the country.  It is one of the benefits of the season, stupefyingly hot though it may be.  We have several mangoes in the fridge.  Cold mangoes - manna, I tell you. 

Stay well and safe!

Unw -

R  

Report of 19 April 2020

Good evening from our containment zone balcony -

We are well and I can sincerely say I hope the same with all of you.  Health officials were at our apartment complex last week, testing all contacts of the resident who tested positive and all residents older than age 60 who live in the *same building*.  That's how nasty the SARS-CoV-2 virus is. 

We are approaching age 60, the very age that is the cut-off for people deemed vulnerable to the virus.  Thus, while I have been tempted to gad about volunteering my services for the Tamil Nadu Health Service, Naren reminded me of my age.  Scott reminded me that I am indeed working for the Banyan - from home - and that that service counted more than anything else.  That was timely.  It is the Banyan residents and staff that I serve. 

There have been calls from the B about sundry health issues.  Some senior personnel have gone to our residential facilities to replace those who need a break and who have other issues to take care of, after working for 21 days without a break.  We have a vulnerable population and all are working to safeguard them; I am tremendously privileged in the colleagues that I work with. 

It is sometimes difficult to try and determine by phone the cause of a certain illness.  The B called about someone with one-sided facial swelling and the questions had to commence - Rotten tooth? Look like an abscess?  Did someone beat the patient?  Insect bite?  Negative to all the questions, and then I recommended 1 dose of an antihistamine and steroid, and the patient appears better.  A different patient had swelling of the entire face and then my sleuthing skills had to truly come to the fore; I remembered that the girlfriend of a friend from yore had facial swelling after eating a tub of popcorn at a movie, and I asked that our Banyan patient have a low-salt diet for a bit.  She appears better.  I am pleased.  There is truly - for me - nothing better than seeing the patient in the flesh, but telemedicine is the way of the foreseeable future. 

Our extended family tried to get online yesterday on Zoom, just to chat.  It took 1 hour and 20 minutes not to get everybody online, as technical difficulties abounded.  It was all hilarious, however, and those of us who were online managed to get a nice chat in with others - amid laughter at yet more tech troubles.  We are to try again next week. 

We hung out with our children last week and there was lots of chatter and laughter there, too.  We had discussions of COVID-19, the family, TV shows and movies.  I must be the only one in the world not to like the serial "Breaking Bad" and our older child - the actor - agreed.  For me, it's a combination of watching the unthinkable havoc that methamphetamine can do to the marvellous human body and wishing like heck that the protagonist had chosen a different line of work.  The acting was first-rate.  We have watched a bunch of Tamil, Spanish, Japanese and English movies since.  I have also managed to keep up with online continuing medical education (CME), which is a boon. 

I spoke to my father, also, and will do so again in a few minutes.  He is well, which we consider a great blessing.

Stay safe and well.

Unw -

R  

Report of 12 April 2020

Happy Easter!

May the hope of the risen Saviour guide all of us at this time.

We are well and hope the same with you.  It is week 3 of the lockdown and said lockdown is likely to be extended, which is vastly safer for all.  I have a routine in place, as already mentioned.  Housework is done, but spring cleaning is not - that was done earlier.  Both Scott and I are still working, and keep up with activities and continuing medical education (CME) online. 

The B is fine.  Today, I got a report of a centipede having been found on the clothing of a Banyan patient, and her reporting itching at the site.  I prescribed an antihistamine and a steroid.  Nature is very active, now that humans are not.  Insects are seen where they were not before, last week an exotic bird was within our apartment complex, and I can hear birds louder than before.  All this is good.  It is also prudent for our residents to be very careful; we don't know what bites will engender. 

My private practice is firmly on hold.  The owner of the hospital has gone in for emergency trauma cases and the rest of us have not.  We will see what the upcoming weeks bring.  This hospital is a fine place to work. 

Our children are well and state that they think this virus will last the rest of this year.  Both are on lockdown.  Naren's students phone him a fair amount and he says he is busier than he was; Navin is well and has not left his apartment since lockdown started.  I will speak to my Dad shortly. 

We have been catching up on movies as part of our day.  Today's was "The fundamentals of caring," which was good; I am a Paul Rudd fan. 

Stay safe and well.

Unw -

R

Report of 5 April 2020

Good evening -

Bright sunlight, the sea in the distance, nature looks happier, lockdown continues.  I am a few pounds heavier. 

One resident in our apartment complex has tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire complex has been quarantined.  Yesterday, 2 health officials visited our apartment and asked questions about our health.  It is good that the illness is being taken seriously, as it can cause even death. 

The Banyan continues well in this time.  Regretfully, we lost a patient recently after she had a stroke.  Ms. X had breast cancer, had undergone treatment and was following up with the cancer center in Chennai.  She had a stroke a few days ago and was sent to the hospital - SMF - that ably sees all our patients at a considerable discount.  She did not recover and passed away peacefully.  While I am saddened at the demise, I am grateful that she was with us - loved and tended and respected - instead of on the street, homeless and dying. 

I have a routine set up in this lockdown.  Exercise, shower, breakfast, do some continuing medical education, etc.  We have managed to see several movies and particularly enjoyed "The two popes."  Today, we saw "Roma" and it was fine, though slow-moving. 

We spoke to both our children earlier last week and they are okay.  I spoke to my father yesterday - it being his birthday - and he was in good spirits. 

We hope you are healthy and safe.

Unw -

R