I recently got my left toe operated again for some infection and nail deformation. Possibly because of tight shoes while playing football, the nail of my left toe got deformed and it started penetrating the skin creating a pus, and developing a huge swelling. This started in October 2009, and I first got it operated in Mumbai in November. All was good for a few months, but the problem re-appeared, and this time it was more severe, with the skin flesh getting infected and unbearable pain. So had to again visit the doctors.
This post describes the pains of last one month (not only the physical pain of the wound, but the mental stress on visiting the doctors).
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May 1, 2010 (Visiting a doctor in Indore): The appointment was for 5.30 PM, and I reached there at 5.20 PM. I and Dad sat in the waiting area, and the time started. Half an hour passed, and we called the doctor, who said he is on his way, and would be reaching in 5 minutes. The clock was still running. Probably his watch was running a little slow. He eventually arrived at 6.30 PM; checked the swelling of my toe in 2 minutes; concluded that it would have to be operated, but he can’t do it that week. WOW!! I spent an hour to hear this, when I was leaving for Pune the next day. He gave me some painkillers and ointments to keep me going till I could return and get it operated.
On reaching Pune, i got busy with work, and so thought that better to see a doctor there and get the problem resolved there itself.
May 10, 2010 (Visiting a doctor in Pune): My cousin took an appointment with the doctor for 6 PM, for which I left office early, and reached the clinic on time. Like the previous time, the time flew. The doctor came in late, and his assistant gave the shock that the doctor would not see patients on the basis of appointment, but on the basis of who came when, and what is the level of urgency. (Now who decides that, I have no clue.) My turn came at 8 PM. I told the doctor the entire history of the wound, the earlier operation and what the doctor in Indore had suggested. But he said that there is no need for a surgery. Just take the medicines (a pretty heavy dose, and damn expensive medicines), do the dressings and I would be alright in a week.
I followed what the doctor prescribed. The pain was lesser (because of the effect of the painkillers), but the wound was getting bad.
May 17, 2010 (Follow up with the same doctor in Pune): This time I knew I should get as early as possible and be in the FIFO line. Thankfully, this time I had to wait only for one and half hour as compared to two hours last time. When I told the doctor, that the pain is a little less because of the medicines, but otherwise it isn’t much better, he had a look at my toe that why am I saying that, because according to him it was good. I asked him to turn on some more lights and look better, pointing to the infected area on my toe. His next reaction was, “Oh! I did not notice that pus getting created. It has to be operated.” What the *@#$. Did not notice? Is he a doctor or just a chemist writing medicines? I kept my cool, and asked him when he could operate. He told me Friday, and gave me a long list of tests to be conducted (as if it was some major operation I was undergoing, with tests like Australia antigen, HIV, Urea, etc.)
I was already thinking whether to get these tests done or not, that the doctor gave the final punch saying that the operation would have to be early morning, and he can’t wait for my parents to arrive. And it was over for me. I went back to Indore that weekend, to get the toe operated (from the same doctor whom I had visited earlier).
May 21, 2010 (Operation Day): In the morning, straight from the bus stand, I went to the hospital, and into the Operation Theater. The docs gave me a full anesthesia (thankful to them for this), and I did not even know how time went by and the operation was done. After a few hours, I was allowed to go home, but advised not to walk or put any load on the foot because the stitches might break. I had to come back the next day to get the dressing changed.
May 22, 2010 (Visiting the doctor for change of dressing): As usual, the time given was for 6.30 PM, and the doctor did not come till 7 PM. Till now, I had no clue what all was done to my toe. But when the dressing was opening, I literally felt nauseating. Half the nail taken out from the root, the skin cut on the sides and 3-4 stitches to wrap it back. Gosh. To add to it, the gush of the pain from the toe to the entire body when the pressure was released on taking out the dressing, sent me into a black-out and I fainted. The doctor then asked me to lie down for some time, and changed the dressing.
Now that the operation is done, I am still feeling the pain. I can't keep my foot hanging or put much load on it for at least one more week, and then I have to get the stitches cut.
The pain was before, the pain is still there. Soon it will subside. But the entire month has been such, that I can never forget this painful one month which also made me realize what pains others go through. Experience is the best teacher, for knowledge as well as empathy.
This post describes the pains of last one month (not only the physical pain of the wound, but the mental stress on visiting the doctors).
_____
May 1, 2010 (Visiting a doctor in Indore): The appointment was for 5.30 PM, and I reached there at 5.20 PM. I and Dad sat in the waiting area, and the time started. Half an hour passed, and we called the doctor, who said he is on his way, and would be reaching in 5 minutes. The clock was still running. Probably his watch was running a little slow. He eventually arrived at 6.30 PM; checked the swelling of my toe in 2 minutes; concluded that it would have to be operated, but he can’t do it that week. WOW!! I spent an hour to hear this, when I was leaving for Pune the next day. He gave me some painkillers and ointments to keep me going till I could return and get it operated.
On reaching Pune, i got busy with work, and so thought that better to see a doctor there and get the problem resolved there itself.
May 10, 2010 (Visiting a doctor in Pune): My cousin took an appointment with the doctor for 6 PM, for which I left office early, and reached the clinic on time. Like the previous time, the time flew. The doctor came in late, and his assistant gave the shock that the doctor would not see patients on the basis of appointment, but on the basis of who came when, and what is the level of urgency. (Now who decides that, I have no clue.) My turn came at 8 PM. I told the doctor the entire history of the wound, the earlier operation and what the doctor in Indore had suggested. But he said that there is no need for a surgery. Just take the medicines (a pretty heavy dose, and damn expensive medicines), do the dressings and I would be alright in a week.
I followed what the doctor prescribed. The pain was lesser (because of the effect of the painkillers), but the wound was getting bad.
May 17, 2010 (Follow up with the same doctor in Pune): This time I knew I should get as early as possible and be in the FIFO line. Thankfully, this time I had to wait only for one and half hour as compared to two hours last time. When I told the doctor, that the pain is a little less because of the medicines, but otherwise it isn’t much better, he had a look at my toe that why am I saying that, because according to him it was good. I asked him to turn on some more lights and look better, pointing to the infected area on my toe. His next reaction was, “Oh! I did not notice that pus getting created. It has to be operated.” What the *@#$. Did not notice? Is he a doctor or just a chemist writing medicines? I kept my cool, and asked him when he could operate. He told me Friday, and gave me a long list of tests to be conducted (as if it was some major operation I was undergoing, with tests like Australia antigen, HIV, Urea, etc.)
I was already thinking whether to get these tests done or not, that the doctor gave the final punch saying that the operation would have to be early morning, and he can’t wait for my parents to arrive. And it was over for me. I went back to Indore that weekend, to get the toe operated (from the same doctor whom I had visited earlier).
May 21, 2010 (Operation Day): In the morning, straight from the bus stand, I went to the hospital, and into the Operation Theater. The docs gave me a full anesthesia (thankful to them for this), and I did not even know how time went by and the operation was done. After a few hours, I was allowed to go home, but advised not to walk or put any load on the foot because the stitches might break. I had to come back the next day to get the dressing changed.
May 22, 2010 (Visiting the doctor for change of dressing): As usual, the time given was for 6.30 PM, and the doctor did not come till 7 PM. Till now, I had no clue what all was done to my toe. But when the dressing was opening, I literally felt nauseating. Half the nail taken out from the root, the skin cut on the sides and 3-4 stitches to wrap it back. Gosh. To add to it, the gush of the pain from the toe to the entire body when the pressure was released on taking out the dressing, sent me into a black-out and I fainted. The doctor then asked me to lie down for some time, and changed the dressing.
Now that the operation is done, I am still feeling the pain. I can't keep my foot hanging or put much load on it for at least one more week, and then I have to get the stitches cut.
The pain was before, the pain is still there. Soon it will subside. But the entire month has been such, that I can never forget this painful one month which also made me realize what pains others go through. Experience is the best teacher, for knowledge as well as empathy.
Gawd..dis is d funniest story ever heard frm ny of p/t....seems u hate Docs a lot(neither do i luv dem;)
ReplyDeleteu realy dun knw wt kind of p/t v receive..sm r dere fr unknown psychological pains n dere r tyms p/t r half of d doctors treatin demselves on d basis of signs n symptoms..
u shud keep urself lot patient vd docs cz its fact @ times dey treat demselves as God.
Hope ur toe is fyn nw...by d way wt ws d case.ws it gangrene or smthn