A Physician's moment of Enlightenment
I knew I had seen this patient before but I couldn't really place him. It was a busy OPD that day. My mind was pre-occupied with so many different cases. A dengue here, a typhoid there and why is this patient's fever not going away?
He was a young man. He was lean and had an athletic build. He was grinning when he asked me "Do you recognize me Doctor Madam? It's been almost a year since you diagnosed me with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).". He actually said AML! He had picked up the medical jargon. He said his latest bone marrow showed that he is in remission. He was very grateful that I had diagnosed him correctly.
This is my first blog post. For a few years now I have been thinking of starting a blog to share my experiences as a practicing Doctor in India. I knew I will be a Doctor since I was probably 6 years of age. I haven't even thought of what I would have been if I had not become a Doctor. For me it was a "Calling"
Now that I am one, I realize it is not often a very comfortable job. But, the satisfaction and rewards of this profession are ecstatic. Where else can you save lives? Oh and this Joy of Healing through the Creator!
I recollected this patient's story. Almost a year ago, he had walked into my OPD. He had complaints of fatigue and loss of appetite. Within a few minutes of physcial evaluation I realized that there is something very serious. He looked extremely pale. No other significant clinical signs were apparent. I ordered for a complete blood count (CBC) and it revealed what I had feared the worst - Acute Leukemia with 170,000 white blood cell count and severe Thrombocytopenia. Platelet count was 27,000. After a call to the Pathologist I was convinced that it was a case of AML with 80% blasts on Peripheral Smear. I was shocked with the acuteness of the presentation. This patient's symptoms were only for the last one week.
Now came the difficult part of communicating this to the patient. He was not a local resident to Karnataka (a Southern State in India) where I practice. He was from Bihar and he was living with a relative. I told the patient to summon his relative immediately. I had a long discussion with his relative and told him about the patient's condition and prognosis. His relative took it like I had pronounced some death sentence!
I gave a very detailed referral note to an Oncologist in a nearby reputable institute about the patient and his acute presentation. The very next day the patient was under the care of the Oncologist. My work as a Physician was complete with that. The Oncologist kept me in the loop for a few weeks on the patient management plan. After that I lost track.
I was delighted to see this man healthy and grinning in my OPD. In fact I was in tears!
The joy of knowing that I was responsible for this man enjoying what I hope is a long and fulfilling life filled me with satisfaction. It is moments like this that make a Physician's life worth it. It's not always easy, but it is DEFINITELY worth it! It's not about the money or surgically cutting through things - the real pleasure is in diagnosing the condition right in the first place!
Through this blog I want to share my experience as a General Physician in India. Do you want to be part of an exciting journey?
To God, The Ultimate Healer!
Dr. Aarathi Bellary
He was a young man. He was lean and had an athletic build. He was grinning when he asked me "Do you recognize me Doctor Madam? It's been almost a year since you diagnosed me with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).". He actually said AML! He had picked up the medical jargon. He said his latest bone marrow showed that he is in remission. He was very grateful that I had diagnosed him correctly.
This is my first blog post. For a few years now I have been thinking of starting a blog to share my experiences as a practicing Doctor in India. I knew I will be a Doctor since I was probably 6 years of age. I haven't even thought of what I would have been if I had not become a Doctor. For me it was a "Calling"
Now that I am one, I realize it is not often a very comfortable job. But, the satisfaction and rewards of this profession are ecstatic. Where else can you save lives? Oh and this Joy of Healing through the Creator!
I recollected this patient's story. Almost a year ago, he had walked into my OPD. He had complaints of fatigue and loss of appetite. Within a few minutes of physcial evaluation I realized that there is something very serious. He looked extremely pale. No other significant clinical signs were apparent. I ordered for a complete blood count (CBC) and it revealed what I had feared the worst - Acute Leukemia with 170,000 white blood cell count and severe Thrombocytopenia. Platelet count was 27,000. After a call to the Pathologist I was convinced that it was a case of AML with 80% blasts on Peripheral Smear. I was shocked with the acuteness of the presentation. This patient's symptoms were only for the last one week.
Now came the difficult part of communicating this to the patient. He was not a local resident to Karnataka (a Southern State in India) where I practice. He was from Bihar and he was living with a relative. I told the patient to summon his relative immediately. I had a long discussion with his relative and told him about the patient's condition and prognosis. His relative took it like I had pronounced some death sentence!
I gave a very detailed referral note to an Oncologist in a nearby reputable institute about the patient and his acute presentation. The very next day the patient was under the care of the Oncologist. My work as a Physician was complete with that. The Oncologist kept me in the loop for a few weeks on the patient management plan. After that I lost track.
I was delighted to see this man healthy and grinning in my OPD. In fact I was in tears!
The joy of knowing that I was responsible for this man enjoying what I hope is a long and fulfilling life filled me with satisfaction. It is moments like this that make a Physician's life worth it. It's not always easy, but it is DEFINITELY worth it! It's not about the money or surgically cutting through things - the real pleasure is in diagnosing the condition right in the first place!
Through this blog I want to share my experience as a General Physician in India. Do you want to be part of an exciting journey?
To God, The Ultimate Healer!
Dr. Aarathi Bellary