The doctor in hospital….

I’ve heard that doctors and nurses make the worst patients. I had nearly a month in hospital towards the end of last year. I had a very nasty reaction to a medication which my GP prescribed for me. Everyone was very nice to me apart from me being in a mixed ward where a fairly large (huge) lady liked to undress and scream – the screaming not exclusively but especially at night! I noted several things which were marked changes from my training in the 50’s and 60’s and from how I taught during my stay in Ethiopia. As you can see in the picture below they shaved my head and beard (although the beard is beginning to grow when this was taken!). The rash covered me top to bottom front and back (I was so thankful that it missed out the perineum!) – it was itchy but even much much much worse for me – it was like fire! At any rate I’m better now!

I was given several lotions to rub on the rash and the nurses (gloved of course) would apply it where I couldn’t do it for myself. But I couldn’t persuade anyone to give me strong pain relief as you would for a burn patient. I was very glad when after just over 3 weeks the fire went out. I got relief from hot showers which counteracted the burn. I think that the hospital would have had a huge water bill for that month! I had several other problems with heart, kidneys and lungs. So I had a number of doctors who made me feel a bit as if I was a collection of organs rather than a person – 2 dermatologists (one of whom actually touched me!), 2 geriatricians, a cardiologist, a chest guy, a urologist! I had 2 or 3 CT scans, 2 chest X-rays, 3 special heart studies, a couple of UltraSounds, a reading of my pacemaker, multiple blood tests (daily), a urine and a stool test, frequent (QID) blood pressure and oxygen monitoring. And just when I was about to leave one of the registrars listened to my heart, but through my clothes. Seriously everyone was very nice to me (except one nurse) but I felt that I was untouchable! How I would have loved someone to sit down, talk to me, and with their hands (no doubt hidden in gloves) examine me! Now 3 1/2 months after discharge I feel as if I’m as good as I was when I took that b…..y tablet!