It is often said that no one can rule destiny, or what has been destined, happens.. blah blah. But, all of this seems so futile when someone you love so much goes away, or is in a terrible condition that life to that person, is burdening. That feeling is painful.Really really painful. Even more painful when you know that the person could have been easily escaped from all the sufferings.
And it is also often said that doctors are next to God for they are the ones who give many patients a chance to relive when even the slightest of hopes also disappear. An author once quoted, " A doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so he gave him another six months". If I would have read this quote two years back, I would have interpreted it as, no matter what, a doctor will always find excuses to improve the life of a patient, without any second thoughts. However, reading it now I question myself, what if the patient didn't pay his bills?
Disclaimer: This is not a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the product of writer's reality. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is definitely not coincidental.
Two years back, when I was in grade 11th precisely, my mother was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma ,which is growth of a noncancerous tumor on the cranial nerve that connects the inner ear with the brain. Although this tumor was harmless, it was exerting pressure on other nearby nerves that controlled facial muscles, sensation and balance of the body. Which is why the right side of her face became completely numb, she frequently got dis-balanced and tripped towards right side while feeling heaviness in her head all the time. This was a great deal to worry for our entire family undoubtedly. My father went from doctors to doctors looking for as many opinions as possible so that we go for a safe treatment without hurrying. Many said that surgery is the only option, but we were indecisive because there was a risk that it could possibly damage the nerves. But then, to our respite we found a genuine doctor(apparently) who told us that this tumor doesn't require surgery at all. The size of the tumor was between 2 to 3 cm, so as told by the doctor it was under the range of an alternative treatment, Gamma Knife, which is a type of radiosurgery wherein the patient is exposed to certain radiations that target specific areas within the brain. It is done in sessions during a span of few hours. The radiations simply deactivate the tumor slowly and patient stops feeling the early symptoms and there are no side-effects whatsoever. Patient is even discharged the same day or next day, with only mild medication and few follow ups required thereafter. This was music to our ears. Also, we were shocked how doctors were trying to deceive us just to make money. I mean come onnnn! Once you make up your mind to study medicine, you need to have an empathetic heart and earning handsomely should always be put secondary. And, if you can't have it, then please go for a start-up where there is a lot of risk, but at least not at the cost of someone's life.
We felt very lucky to be in the safe hands finally. My mother went for the treatment to one of the hospitals in Delhi.I was in Jaipur that time.She returned home the very next day looking absolutely fine that no one could even say that she has just been done with a major regimen.Phew!All of us were so happy that she did away with the complication so easily.
But, there'a twist in the tale.Obviously, which story is complete without a climax? Mother was not feeling alright since she came back. She knew something was not okay. With time, instead of getting better she got worse. She used to feel nauseatic quite often, had severe headaches that didn't go away for days, the right side of her face had absolutely no sensation which was visible through her features,her balance was not stable and she couldn't walk independently for longer distances. She went for her first follow up MRI after six months. The doctor said that the reports were completely normal and these symptoms will fade away very soon. We thought this is how it happens probably and kept consoling her that she'll be better. She needs to be a little more patient.However, we couldn't even half as well understand what she was going through. This kept on until my 12th boards. I remember how her head used to burn with pain but she just said to me ,"I am fine", only so I can focus on my studies.
After my boards ended, we shifted to Bombay. Sometime later she went for her third MRI. The reports were a shocking heartbreak to us. Tumor's size did not reduce. It didn't even stay as it is. Contradictorily, it grew. We came to a standstill. Again the entire process was being started. My father enquired with a lot of doctors in Bombay. He happened to meet a neurologist who has a well known reputation internationally too and has operated patients with such cases with 100% success rate. Then we came to know that her tumor was never within the range of Gamma Knife. Operating it back then was the best decision,and, if the tumor is out of the range of radiosurgery and still exposed to radiations, it swells up. Now, even we knew that surgery was the last resort. The doctor had warned us prior that although he would try his best, there was still a chance of facial nerve damage as the area was very sensitive. We were in two minds. Going for the surgery was risky, and she was also facing a lot of troubles otherwise. I, somehow diverted my mind for a while as I had to begin with my college the next day. Everyone remembers their first day of college pretty well, I am sure. So do I.
It seemed as if this chaotic dilemma was never ending. After the first decision we were too unsure to rely on a doctor. We had decided to go for Gamma Knife earlier to skip surgery and yet again we were back on the same point. What if we were being given a wrong advice again? What if the surgery turns out to be unsuccessful? What if, what if, what if.... too many what ifs.Nonetheless, this time my father researched a lot about the doctor, his past experiences, tried to get in touch with few of his patients and the feedback was considerably positive. Mother was brave enough that she made up her mind to go for the surgery, because, inspite of the risk involved there was a guarantee that she would get rid of her problems soon. And so, it happened. We kept our fingers crossed. The surgery was successful. None of her nerves were damaged. Although, some period of time post surgery was awful for her,emotionally and physically, but then she started showing signs of recovery and things are getting better even today.
It is very much evident that everyone learns from their experiences and past mistakes, but being a little cautious does no harm. It is a sad fact that neurological diseases are very much prominent in the country, however, the doctors are not trained up to the mark. All this while, we met quite a few patients who had similar cases as my mother's, and had to go for four to five surgeries because each time doctors did a blunder. It takes a significant amount of time for a person to regain normal immunity just after one major surgery. Four-Five surgeries! This is beyond my imagination. I wonder how easy it is for some of the doctors to simply say, "ab toh ek aur surgery karni padegi. Pichli thodi galat ho gayi." What??? Are you solving a math problem? Medicine is not a profession to be commercialised. It is not business. It deals with lives. I can't even describe how much agitated I am towards the first doctor who treated my mother. And there are lakhs of other people who go through this same feeling but are helpless. Most of the time, family members are so weak emotionally that it feels worthless to sue the doctor. Or when they decide to do so, political matters are a completely different issue adding on to previous problems(don't even want to touch on that). Moreover, the worst part is that because of all the scandals happening, even genuine doctors are being doubted.
I consider myself so much lucky that in the end we met the right person. People must have had even more horrifying experiences. My only major motive behind writing this is to spread awareness and alertness among people. When someone close is immensely sick, mind actually stops working and we are just in a hurry for the cure. But, it's a little better to think twice. We certainly can't say what's going to happen but at least we won't regret, perhaps.Even after listening to the news regarding such scandals we become so directionless when someday we actually have to face the situation. And to everyone who is into medicine, I have a humble request. You have the most respectable profession. People look up to you. Please don't spoil your status and create unnecessary confusion for the patients,thus, stereotype towards every doctor. India needs quality doctors.
Also, I didn't mean to scare anybody. It's just that when there's a trembling situation, thinking on practical terms is beneficial. And with time, everything gets healed. I just wish that one day we all can trust the doctors blindly. But till that day comes, let's wear spectacles for better vision.
And it is also often said that doctors are next to God for they are the ones who give many patients a chance to relive when even the slightest of hopes also disappear. An author once quoted, " A doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so he gave him another six months". If I would have read this quote two years back, I would have interpreted it as, no matter what, a doctor will always find excuses to improve the life of a patient, without any second thoughts. However, reading it now I question myself, what if the patient didn't pay his bills?
Disclaimer: This is not a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the product of writer's reality. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is definitely not coincidental.
Two years back, when I was in grade 11th precisely, my mother was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma ,which is growth of a noncancerous tumor on the cranial nerve that connects the inner ear with the brain. Although this tumor was harmless, it was exerting pressure on other nearby nerves that controlled facial muscles, sensation and balance of the body. Which is why the right side of her face became completely numb, she frequently got dis-balanced and tripped towards right side while feeling heaviness in her head all the time. This was a great deal to worry for our entire family undoubtedly. My father went from doctors to doctors looking for as many opinions as possible so that we go for a safe treatment without hurrying. Many said that surgery is the only option, but we were indecisive because there was a risk that it could possibly damage the nerves. But then, to our respite we found a genuine doctor(apparently) who told us that this tumor doesn't require surgery at all. The size of the tumor was between 2 to 3 cm, so as told by the doctor it was under the range of an alternative treatment, Gamma Knife, which is a type of radiosurgery wherein the patient is exposed to certain radiations that target specific areas within the brain. It is done in sessions during a span of few hours. The radiations simply deactivate the tumor slowly and patient stops feeling the early symptoms and there are no side-effects whatsoever. Patient is even discharged the same day or next day, with only mild medication and few follow ups required thereafter. This was music to our ears. Also, we were shocked how doctors were trying to deceive us just to make money. I mean come onnnn! Once you make up your mind to study medicine, you need to have an empathetic heart and earning handsomely should always be put secondary. And, if you can't have it, then please go for a start-up where there is a lot of risk, but at least not at the cost of someone's life.
We felt very lucky to be in the safe hands finally. My mother went for the treatment to one of the hospitals in Delhi.I was in Jaipur that time.She returned home the very next day looking absolutely fine that no one could even say that she has just been done with a major regimen.Phew!All of us were so happy that she did away with the complication so easily.
But, there'a twist in the tale.Obviously, which story is complete without a climax? Mother was not feeling alright since she came back. She knew something was not okay. With time, instead of getting better she got worse. She used to feel nauseatic quite often, had severe headaches that didn't go away for days, the right side of her face had absolutely no sensation which was visible through her features,her balance was not stable and she couldn't walk independently for longer distances. She went for her first follow up MRI after six months. The doctor said that the reports were completely normal and these symptoms will fade away very soon. We thought this is how it happens probably and kept consoling her that she'll be better. She needs to be a little more patient.However, we couldn't even half as well understand what she was going through. This kept on until my 12th boards. I remember how her head used to burn with pain but she just said to me ,"I am fine", only so I can focus on my studies.
After my boards ended, we shifted to Bombay. Sometime later she went for her third MRI. The reports were a shocking heartbreak to us. Tumor's size did not reduce. It didn't even stay as it is. Contradictorily, it grew. We came to a standstill. Again the entire process was being started. My father enquired with a lot of doctors in Bombay. He happened to meet a neurologist who has a well known reputation internationally too and has operated patients with such cases with 100% success rate. Then we came to know that her tumor was never within the range of Gamma Knife. Operating it back then was the best decision,and, if the tumor is out of the range of radiosurgery and still exposed to radiations, it swells up. Now, even we knew that surgery was the last resort. The doctor had warned us prior that although he would try his best, there was still a chance of facial nerve damage as the area was very sensitive. We were in two minds. Going for the surgery was risky, and she was also facing a lot of troubles otherwise. I, somehow diverted my mind for a while as I had to begin with my college the next day. Everyone remembers their first day of college pretty well, I am sure. So do I.
It seemed as if this chaotic dilemma was never ending. After the first decision we were too unsure to rely on a doctor. We had decided to go for Gamma Knife earlier to skip surgery and yet again we were back on the same point. What if we were being given a wrong advice again? What if the surgery turns out to be unsuccessful? What if, what if, what if.... too many what ifs.Nonetheless, this time my father researched a lot about the doctor, his past experiences, tried to get in touch with few of his patients and the feedback was considerably positive. Mother was brave enough that she made up her mind to go for the surgery, because, inspite of the risk involved there was a guarantee that she would get rid of her problems soon. And so, it happened. We kept our fingers crossed. The surgery was successful. None of her nerves were damaged. Although, some period of time post surgery was awful for her,emotionally and physically, but then she started showing signs of recovery and things are getting better even today.
It is very much evident that everyone learns from their experiences and past mistakes, but being a little cautious does no harm. It is a sad fact that neurological diseases are very much prominent in the country, however, the doctors are not trained up to the mark. All this while, we met quite a few patients who had similar cases as my mother's, and had to go for four to five surgeries because each time doctors did a blunder. It takes a significant amount of time for a person to regain normal immunity just after one major surgery. Four-Five surgeries! This is beyond my imagination. I wonder how easy it is for some of the doctors to simply say, "ab toh ek aur surgery karni padegi. Pichli thodi galat ho gayi." What??? Are you solving a math problem? Medicine is not a profession to be commercialised. It is not business. It deals with lives. I can't even describe how much agitated I am towards the first doctor who treated my mother. And there are lakhs of other people who go through this same feeling but are helpless. Most of the time, family members are so weak emotionally that it feels worthless to sue the doctor. Or when they decide to do so, political matters are a completely different issue adding on to previous problems(don't even want to touch on that). Moreover, the worst part is that because of all the scandals happening, even genuine doctors are being doubted.
I consider myself so much lucky that in the end we met the right person. People must have had even more horrifying experiences. My only major motive behind writing this is to spread awareness and alertness among people. When someone close is immensely sick, mind actually stops working and we are just in a hurry for the cure. But, it's a little better to think twice. We certainly can't say what's going to happen but at least we won't regret, perhaps.Even after listening to the news regarding such scandals we become so directionless when someday we actually have to face the situation. And to everyone who is into medicine, I have a humble request. You have the most respectable profession. People look up to you. Please don't spoil your status and create unnecessary confusion for the patients,thus, stereotype towards every doctor. India needs quality doctors.
Also, I didn't mean to scare anybody. It's just that when there's a trembling situation, thinking on practical terms is beneficial. And with time, everything gets healed. I just wish that one day we all can trust the doctors blindly. But till that day comes, let's wear spectacles for better vision.
