I have always been sincere in maintaining the log book we have. Much to the surprise of everyone (me included).
Today in GOPD, Manish Panday was noting down some details. On enquiring why, he said to write in his log book. And then he showed it to me.
Its a simple school notebook, in which he records every day like a diary. Right from his days as a research fellow. It includes a day when he learnt how not to do anything & spend an entire day!! It includes clinical findings in small 25 paise sized fundus drawings.
It was a novel log book - diary I have ever seen.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Perspective
I was in OT the other day with Dr. Vikas Khetan, our ocular oncologist. We had two kids with retinoblastoma posted for enucleation. Sir is passionate about oncology, as I always knew & he always says. But that day he said "If you do any other surgery you will only give the patient vision & sometimes in case of VR not even that. What we don't realise is that here we actually are saving a life". Had never really thought of it that way. My appreciation for it all grew that day.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
India Private Ltd.
Have been meaning to put this up for long. Then felt its controversial. But what the hell. Its my blog. I write what I want. Privacy in India. Or rather the lack of it.
I happened to visit one of the beach stretches in Chennai the other day with a friend. Not the crowded one. It was full of young couples scattered all around. Then I heard this is a favourite place for young couples to hang out. Nobody bothers them here. And, apparently many of them were husband & wives who resort to the beach for lack of privacy at home. It brought back memories of an article in India Today about how Internet cafes with cubicles were being used by youngsters to grab a few moments of intimacy.
I also remembered, how before my MS exams when me & my colleague, a guy, had gone to this cyber cafe near KEM to see a CD with ultrasound & OCT images on it. We had been looked upon & questioned suspiciously by the guy there. :-) That was very amusing.
But not this. It certainly is not. A bachelor staying alone has a girl visit him at home, sets the neighbours in an uproar. And god forbid, if a girl staying alone got a guy home. Who are they to interfere? It is two consenting adults. What say do they have in their private matters? If they were making out in public or creating a noise or throwing late night parties that disturb everyone, it is a different matter. But what they do in the privacy of their rooms is none of their business. But if a girl visits another girl at home or a guy visits another guy it is no issue. Alternative sexual orientation does not cross the minds of these narrow minded people. Wonder how they would react if they knew the facts there. :-) :-)
I even heard our hospital had issues with giving us fellows & post-graduates duty-rooms lest we "miss use" them. Why would we, most of whom live alone outside the hospital, wish to do any thing at all in the hospital room??? Beats me.
I think it is time our country woke up. And shed these ages old hypocritical attitudes towards sex. For our population & prevalence of AIDS, Indians are the worst sexual hypocrites. Sex is natural. Our attitude towards it is not. Privacy is deemed shameful. It is more like India Public Ltd.
I happened to visit one of the beach stretches in Chennai the other day with a friend. Not the crowded one. It was full of young couples scattered all around. Then I heard this is a favourite place for young couples to hang out. Nobody bothers them here. And, apparently many of them were husband & wives who resort to the beach for lack of privacy at home. It brought back memories of an article in India Today about how Internet cafes with cubicles were being used by youngsters to grab a few moments of intimacy.
I also remembered, how before my MS exams when me & my colleague, a guy, had gone to this cyber cafe near KEM to see a CD with ultrasound & OCT images on it. We had been looked upon & questioned suspiciously by the guy there. :-) That was very amusing.
But not this. It certainly is not. A bachelor staying alone has a girl visit him at home, sets the neighbours in an uproar. And god forbid, if a girl staying alone got a guy home. Who are they to interfere? It is two consenting adults. What say do they have in their private matters? If they were making out in public or creating a noise or throwing late night parties that disturb everyone, it is a different matter. But what they do in the privacy of their rooms is none of their business. But if a girl visits another girl at home or a guy visits another guy it is no issue. Alternative sexual orientation does not cross the minds of these narrow minded people. Wonder how they would react if they knew the facts there. :-) :-)
I even heard our hospital had issues with giving us fellows & post-graduates duty-rooms lest we "miss use" them. Why would we, most of whom live alone outside the hospital, wish to do any thing at all in the hospital room??? Beats me.
I think it is time our country woke up. And shed these ages old hypocritical attitudes towards sex. For our population & prevalence of AIDS, Indians are the worst sexual hypocrites. Sex is natural. Our attitude towards it is not. Privacy is deemed shameful. It is more like India Public Ltd.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
An all time favourite.
Its actually Shefu's. But I shall take credit for it.
Consider it an ode to Chennai's mosquitoes :-)
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: A fly is a fly, while a mosquito is a mosquito.
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: A fly can fly, but a mosquito cant mosquito.
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: A mosquito can fly, but a fly cant mosquito.
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: The spelling, u dumbo!!!!!!!!!!!
A further addition... This is courtesy Hari :-)
Q: What do you call a fly with no wings???
A: Walk :-)
Consider it an ode to Chennai's mosquitoes :-)
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: A fly is a fly, while a mosquito is a mosquito.
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: A fly can fly, but a mosquito cant mosquito.
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: A mosquito can fly, but a fly cant mosquito.
Q: What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?
A: The spelling, u dumbo!!!!!!!!!!!
A further addition... This is courtesy Hari :-)
Q: What do you call a fly with no wings???
A: Walk :-)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Friendship Reigns
I met with an accident on 6th October. Two guys on a bike rammed into me on a turn, throwing me off my bike, just around the corner from my hospital. This is not about what happened to me. It is about all the wonderful people who came to my help.
I immediately called up Rama & Swagata. In 5 minutes I had them with Cheekitan, Shubankar, Madhusudhan at my side. Dr. RRS sir on his way home saw us & stopped to offer help. Within a few moments my bike was on its way safely, cavalry had been called in & I was on my way to the hospital. Chandani (Madhu's wife & a doc at the said hospital) joined the entourage. After receiving fantastic VIP treatment at the hospital I was dropped home with all medicines. My cousin who lives a few houses down the lane showed up with dinner for me.
The next day, my landlord & my friends again rallied in to help me with medicines, dressing & food.
On 9th I showed up at Sankara Nethralaya limping & with the prospect of having my right foot in a cast. I was troubled & had no idea how to go about things. This is how confused I went to meet Dr. LG. I shall never forget how sir helped me out. Not only did he advise me to take good rest & grant me leave for the same, he also arranged for the hospital to book my flight home & transport to the airport. The support I got from Sir, the secretaries, HRD in SN was amazing.
The very next day I was home to recover. Not just that, when I was advised to be on rest till 29th, my request was granted with grace & concern. I received the same response from the other consultants & colleagues I spoke to following the accident.
And then of course my parents. With me at home for almost 3 weeks with my foot in a crepe bandage up on a chair.
If anything, this incidence has made my conviction in friends even stronger. You meet a lot of people these days talking about how the modern era with its fast pace & technology has made us less human, more machine. How we are loosing the people touch, each man on his own.
Anybody, who goes through my experience in a place away from my family, but never alone for a moment, with all the support, actual & in wishes; will agree. Nothing is wrong in this world. Friendship reigns.
I immediately called up Rama & Swagata. In 5 minutes I had them with Cheekitan, Shubankar, Madhusudhan at my side. Dr. RRS sir on his way home saw us & stopped to offer help. Within a few moments my bike was on its way safely, cavalry had been called in & I was on my way to the hospital. Chandani (Madhu's wife & a doc at the said hospital) joined the entourage. After receiving fantastic VIP treatment at the hospital I was dropped home with all medicines. My cousin who lives a few houses down the lane showed up with dinner for me.
The next day, my landlord & my friends again rallied in to help me with medicines, dressing & food.
On 9th I showed up at Sankara Nethralaya limping & with the prospect of having my right foot in a cast. I was troubled & had no idea how to go about things. This is how confused I went to meet Dr. LG. I shall never forget how sir helped me out. Not only did he advise me to take good rest & grant me leave for the same, he also arranged for the hospital to book my flight home & transport to the airport. The support I got from Sir, the secretaries, HRD in SN was amazing.
The very next day I was home to recover. Not just that, when I was advised to be on rest till 29th, my request was granted with grace & concern. I received the same response from the other consultants & colleagues I spoke to following the accident.
And then of course my parents. With me at home for almost 3 weeks with my foot in a crepe bandage up on a chair.
If anything, this incidence has made my conviction in friends even stronger. You meet a lot of people these days talking about how the modern era with its fast pace & technology has made us less human, more machine. How we are loosing the people touch, each man on his own.
Anybody, who goes through my experience in a place away from my family, but never alone for a moment, with all the support, actual & in wishes; will agree. Nothing is wrong in this world. Friendship reigns.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
A story
Some time back when I was a bit low professionally, with one thing and another, I got into a discussion (or argument) with my cousin about why is retina so very important to me. Am not very sure if I could get my view across to him, or convince him why I care so much. But it reminded me of an incidence, which touched me a lot. Today I shall share it with you all.
My first exposure to retina came when I joined post-graduation in KEM hospital, Bombay. Undeniably, I was fascinated by the whole thing. Then one day we had a patient. He had retinal detachment in both eyes. Long standing, closed funnel RD. Could barely see light. It was decided to try and operate on one of his eyes. More as a lets give it a try. Nobody expected much out of it. He was admitted in the ward for a few days pre-op till he got fitness. Being a junior, I would be there doing ward work most of the time, and hence got to observe him. He needed help in every activity. Somebody had to help him to the bathroom. He could not see the food on his plate. And would spend all his time curled up in bed.
Then he was operated. He could now see about 2 feet in a small area. That is all. He was still blind, for all purposes. But now, he could walk to the bathroom on his own, see the food on his plate & would sit up & talk to people around him.
I do not know how long this lasted. But the change was remarkable. Today I have seen much more than this, much worst & much better, but I can still see this man in my mind.
It was on that day I decided, I wanted to do retina.
My first exposure to retina came when I joined post-graduation in KEM hospital, Bombay. Undeniably, I was fascinated by the whole thing. Then one day we had a patient. He had retinal detachment in both eyes. Long standing, closed funnel RD. Could barely see light. It was decided to try and operate on one of his eyes. More as a lets give it a try. Nobody expected much out of it. He was admitted in the ward for a few days pre-op till he got fitness. Being a junior, I would be there doing ward work most of the time, and hence got to observe him. He needed help in every activity. Somebody had to help him to the bathroom. He could not see the food on his plate. And would spend all his time curled up in bed.
Then he was operated. He could now see about 2 feet in a small area. That is all. He was still blind, for all purposes. But now, he could walk to the bathroom on his own, see the food on his plate & would sit up & talk to people around him.
I do not know how long this lasted. But the change was remarkable. Today I have seen much more than this, much worst & much better, but I can still see this man in my mind.
It was on that day I decided, I wanted to do retina.
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