Thursday, December 31, 2015

THE BUSINESS OF MEDICINE


Doctors have often been seen as some of the smartest members of the society, with good reason:

many years of training, re-training and a lot more to be a good doctor. But they are still humans

and humans are fallible. To err is human; however, physicians should realize that their errors

could result in death of patients. I have visited the hospital these past weeks more than I did in a

particular year combined. The medical and non-medical staff is familiar with my fallen, pale

face, as one asked if I were here the other day and I nodded.

From time to time in a day, I take a deep breath to sort of feel my nerves relaxed. And then, I did

the same and I felt my breathe stopped half-way, just at my chest area. I shrugged it off to get

back to the exercise later. Every time I got back to taking a deep breath, it just didn’t feel normal;

my lungs feel stabbed every time I inhale. I will go for check up when I am off, I told myself.

Two days passed, and now the ribs hurt when I yawn, cough, walk or even try to breath-in. All

the same, I prepared to go to work since I’ve told myself I will check it out when I’m off from

work. I wore my flat shoe and picked my bag to get on the bus to work.

My sister sometimes walks me to the bus-stop when going to work. She followed me this

particular day, knowing I wasn’t feeling well. As we walk down, I felt pain in my ribs, I could

barely walk upright. I held my side ribs as I walk. My sister muttered we go to the hospital

seeing my condition. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to the hospital or just manage myself to

work. Considering my health status, I should go to the hospital; nothing is to been taken slightly.

But I have a job and I was sick just about two weeks ago. All sorts of anxiety set in like someone

is constantly pinching me.

We arrived at the hospital. I met a colleague with his baby and wife who use the same hospital.

While I waited to be called by a doctor, we chit-chat and exchanged names. We knew each other

by face and not by name prior to this time. It was my turn to see the doctor and I made my

complaints known. He said we’d run test. I went to the lab and my sample was taken. Luckily, at

one prick, as But my veins played hide and seek.

While waiting for the result, I blamed my sister for bringing us to the hospital. I thought I could

as well spend the waiting time at work. How do I call my team leader now to explain I am sick

AGAIN in the space of two weeks? I didn’t know how to explain that on the phone. I preferred

to send sms. So I sent sms after much agitation. She didn’t reply nor call back. That made me

panic. I consoled myself with the fact that I’m not faking it and it is my life on the line here.

The result of my test is out and it turned out that my white blood count is high, which is an

indication of the presence of infection. What particular infection? I asked in my head. Can’t the

doctor stream it down so we know what we are dealing it, I said angrily in my head. He said

because of the sickled cells that could be the reason I experience pain on my side. Aaarrrhh!

Certain antibiotics, pain killers and cough syrup were prescribed and given to me at the

pharmacy.



I was back at home and as the clock ticks, the ribs pain eats away at me…slowly because I try to

overcome it mentally but that just helps a little. Then the rug is pulled out when I realized I’m

not okay. I went back to the hospital later that evening to make the same complaint, except that

the pain is aggravated this time. I met another doctor (who I supposedly crush on) and he said the

medication will be raised and I will be given injection for the pain. If the condition doesn’t get

better, I should come back. I was injected and the nurse advised that I leave the injection room as

soon as possible before I become drowsy.

After few hours, I was awake and the pain was still there. I had to start popping painkiller for

relief. I could barely sleep at night. My side was filled by a deep, dull ache that threatened to turn

into a burning agony should I dare to turn side or move. I stayed in the position of sitting upright

on my bed with my back resting on a pillow. That was the only way I felt less pain and was able

to sleep till day break.

I was not anywhere near better. I was only able to manage the pain with pain killers. Cough is

now persistent and could go on for some seconds before it stops. Minutes later, I cough again for

another God knows how many seconds and I have to hold my ribs each time to minimize the

pain that comes with the cough.

Saturday morning, I was back in the hospital. Let me mention that the other visit was on a

Tuesday (same week). I explained the condition to the doctor I met and also told him it was

pneumonia I had (I had to save them since they didn’t seem to know what was going on with

me). Some doctors are not smart…this I’ve been venting to my folks and friends who care to

listen. The physician checked with the stethoscope to confirm if it was actually pneumonia. Of

course, I understand symptoms for different ailment are similar. I’m not sure he knows what

different sounds from the stethoscope means. He didn’t ascertain if it was pneumonia or what

exactly the problem was.

I was placed on admission. Saline fluid (drip) injected with B-complex was passed to my frail

body. The nurse who attended to me was appealing. She treated me like a friend and explained

what each injection would do and the name. I didn’t quite grab the names, except for one which

was a painkiller. I opened my eyes and my body was covered with a covering cloth of the

hospital, my phone which I didn’t come with was charging and things on the table. I had been

knocked off by one of the injections; the nurse informed me earlier.

My condition didn’t improve, even by the following day. I was still coughing and in constant

pain on my side. It didn’t make sense to me how the doctors couldn’t say exactly what the issue

was. I knew pieces were missing. Could it be that a physician does not know how to use the

stethoscope to interpret what is or what is not? They just didn’t get it! I questioned their

competence. I don’t know who is more pissed between my sister and me about the effed up

physicians.

Alas! A doctor came in for ward-round on Monday afternoon, and told him same old story. He

tested me with his stethoscope back and front. Then mumbled what the issue was to the nurse

with him. He recommended X-ray, for confirmation, I suppose. Fortunately, the x-ray can be

done in the hospital, so I was taken with another woman whose baby had similar ailment. I asked

the radiology technician what the result was and he said pneumonia. Lo and behold! If only the

other doctor could use the stethoscope, perhaps, I would be better by then.

I felt relieved. At least, someone is able to diagnose the problem. He added to my medication and

should be on drip but my veins were all gone. Even my leg was checked none was found. I was

left alone to take oral medication; not until after four pricks at different spots though. The initial

one had swollen and the drip was stopped.

With this ordeal of delayed or misdiagnosis, I am even more grateful to the competent medical

care I got while growing up. It has been found out that misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of any

ailment is due to lack of experience or exposure. Although, there is also system-inducing error, in

this case, the error was individual inducing. This error is not permissible, that which is caused by

lack of interest, laziness or ignorance. Everyone is implored to know their body and something

about their health to avoid naivety and be able to make informed health decisions.

To the amiable, smart members of the society in the business of medicine (every parent wants

their child to be a doctor), patients should be first, not egos-attitude error. Mistakes are made

every day and while some are insignificant, others can change lives completely.