Speaking doctors

Once upon a time, there were five beautiful girls, and one handsome boy.Their names were Hajra, Nosheen, Ayesha, Zaina, Zarka and Anwar.They were all wonderful doctors,nicely trained, kind hearted people.Fate bought them all together in the month of  October, in Pulmonology rotation. . . . . Their first week was with Dr Ali Zubairi.One of the most fun weeks.Few patients, plenty of doctors.Dr Ali Zubairi read their follow ups and corrected them with his black pen if required,and wrote “”good’” if the follow ups excited him. One of the patients had tuberculous effusion, chest tube in,she was 16,small for her age, but with a very sharp brain.She passed a vibrant smile, whenever they meet her. Then their was this asthmatic lady whose wheeze continued despite optimization.Dr Ali Zubairi asked her if there was any family history  positive for asthma.She went blank.Two days later when she was a little better, she told Dr Ali Zubairi” the other day you were asking me whether anyon...

  Fine!Come Monday…… Done with the auditorium,we head for the cafe.Its Dr JAK’s week from now on.We smile away cheerfully. We have to write follow-ups as Zaina had a bad call.Post a glass full of calcium (milk) I head for C2.I complete one of the follow-ups.I come outside satisfied and see the not so satisfied faces of the rest of the team. Dr Nawal is coming instead of Dr Jak! “Zarka, Go to private wing and help Ayesha out with follow ups.”,Dr Nosheen orders.I obey.Done with follow ups, and then Dr Nawal arrives.The round starts from special care and then its my follow up.To put it in animation this is what is done to me….

S Sunday and postcall. Saturday and Sunday breakfast spells halwa puri.And hence halwa puri it is! I could tag this call as the easiest of all so far! I’m called from emergency only once to see a suspected Pneumo (pneumothorax).This is a guy in his sixties, with history of chain smoking in the past and now he is paying the price by having bullous lung disease.He had bullas in his chest Xray in the past, but then are the symptoms of shortness of breath due to rupture of one of them ----leading to pneumothorax. He gets an HRCT done to rule out the possibility of pneumothorax. The CT  something like this The patient was managed on the lines of COPD exacerbation. Tomorrow is Monday, new week,new attending…….the whole month we had been anticipating Dr Nawal ……….. but then Dr JAK is coming.We ll perform luddi together , I tell Ayesha

The clock ticks 0815.The auditorium starts to fill in.The session proceeds.Some are good,some wonderful,some awful,some hilarious! This author’s main interest is nashta……after an attention span of 30 minutes,the soul starts floating.I stare on the right, then on the left…people seem to concentrate….actors , I think! I pull my headset out,and stick it into my ears, “'baharo phool barsao!’” the radio blares.A mischievous smile spreads.I look at all the likes of Saima Kamals, Ayeshas and salute their patience! Finally Our chief Dr Nauman comes on stage and announces the magical words……’’thank you all!’’ And with this comes the best part of the day, all the young (and beautiful) doctors proceed for the healthiest of nashtas….. samosas, croissants,french toast!

No words,the above picture says it all…..yawn!

Drenched out after the clinic and finally at home.Had pulmonology clinic today.During clinic as I stared out the window, I could see the elegant Rangoonwala building.On its right is Home economics college.Behind it is a mountain,which has been craved to accommodate houses.There is a skyline of palm trees.Their grace is unmatched.On the road traffic continues,the same city witnessed killings of 38 people . . .    As the clock ticks four I reconfirm the tea arrival time from the nurse.I go for a check in the staff lounge, there is no tea though.On my return the nurse tells me that in room three, three patients await.Oh well!I enter, they are from Afghanistan,and do not understand urdu.Ask I introduce myself one of the patient says in fine English,"please speak in English".And that's the only fine English he knows, these are followed by phrases, and then words.Fifteen minutes elapse and I m only done with two.I feel like banging my head.The third one again has nonspecific s...

Paani! She eventually screams.Time is 0630 hours.I visit the radiology department with the intent to settle the issue whether the chest xray has signs of pneumonia or not!It is not a matter of learning anymore, its more of a matter of ego.The radiology department carries a deserted look.Near the water-cooler stands a little girl with a large bottle~! I bypass her and enter the ultrasound department to find out who is oncall.So its Dr Zeeshan.I page him and he seems ready to discuss the xray.Out the ultrasound department and into the corridor  I bypass the same little girl.She is wearing shalwar kameez and has cropped hair. I knock the oncall room.Dr Zeeshan opens it.He looks all crumpled but is kind enough to discuss.There is no pneumonia, he agrees.Haah! I think!Thats it ! I was right!My little bloated ego almost performs a tango inside me. I leave the room elated.There are three follow-ups , so that will take another hour, and then I ll have halwa puri.This will then be followe...

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