I am a money spewing machine (long)

You heard me right, I am money spewing machine – and that’s true for all the autowalas, shop keepers and sundry people whom I come across as I go about my life. And, IMHO, these guys are pretty harmless and small time.

Its really doctors, specialists and consultants (in any form, shape and industry) who want to milk humankind for what’s it worth and lordy, they know just the way to go about it too!

My recent health problems saw me reluctantly see a specialist – one of the best specialist in the country. More reason to worry.. but more about that a little later.

The problem started one fine January morning when I woke up with a painful shoulder and a stuff neck – shooting ‘hot’ pain from my neck on the right side. Tried a painkiller and fermentation – hoping the ‘muscle’ pull would get better by the time I got to office. It helped a bit, so off to office… Since I’ve long since given up on allopathic treatment, I visited my homeo doc who gave me medication to treat a twisted muscle. Two days and two more visits to the homeo brought no relief.

Reluctantly trudged to an allopathic doc – who advised an Xray and base don that prescribed some more painkillers and asked me to rest up. Three days later, still in the same state, I worried me no end. By this time (10 days) the pain was worse and I had a tough time getting out of bed every morning!

Since I was visiting my folks in Chennai, planned and visited the best Ortho in the Country. He’s built this huge hospital on the outskirts of the city and I was really impressed by the housing quarters next door for the doctors and senior specialists – one need to see the place to believe the well-appointed grounds, well-tended gardens and the grandeur of the place! :)

Back to the story, he’s a very busy man, who ‘sees’ a patient for about 5 minutes in all.. the first ‘see’ he did the basic examination and advised an xray and assured I’ll get better in no time at all (I don’t know about you, but I tend to be wary of such statements). A lighter wallet and 45 minutes later, I meet him for the second ‘see’. He didn’t even bother to address me; instructed his assistants to tell me to get an MRI done.

Hhmmm.. by this time they have me a little more than worried and a few frantic phone calls to family, get the MRI done, which drills a bigger hole into my debit card, but wait.. The best is yet to come!

So, off to the final ‘see’ with our Dr Miracle man! He takes one look at the MRI, gravely shakes his head and asks me to sit down. You can only imagine the thoughts that raced my mind :) I don’t remember, but I may have thought about writing my will (ah, no.. didn’t do it yet, so hang on for your turn).

All goes silent and Dr Miracle man says “You need surgery.”

Me: “what kind of surgery?”

Dr Miracle man: “Spinal cord decompression fusion” (reading some other documents)

Me: “What does that mean? What is my problem?”

Dr Miracle man: (looking up from docs) “C5/C6 compression” (points to the MRI, doesn’t care if I can see the problem, actually) “surgery will make u as good as new!”

Me: “what causes it? Who are the typical people who get this?”

Dr Miracle man: “I may get it, he (pointing to male attendant) may get it, she (pointing to female attendant) may get it, anybody can get it”

Me: “ok… what are the options I have?”

Dr Miracle man: (goes all smiley, sarcastic) “You can try massage, apply oils, visit temples, say Krishna, Rama, Govinda” – all attendants smirk like it was the best joke they’ve ever heard!

Me: “hhmmm…” completely at sea!“What happens if I don’t get the surgery done?”

Dr Miracle man: “Nothing much.. The pain will spread, C6 and C7 will also slip, right arm will stop functioning, and then.. Need I go on.. Ultimately it will lead to paralysis!”

(Starts dictating to his steno to type on my case report) “I advise this young lady, who is excessively obese, to undergo blah blah surgery. ”

Looks at me and says “you should be worried about your obesity – no wonder you have this problem”

Me: “hhmm.. ok” (long pause, trying to digest the fact that (a) the MRI is mine (b) this is one of ‘those’ problems that I have no idea about – I also attempt to figure what my reaction should be, but by this time am beyond caring about his opinion anyways.)

“What does the surgery involve?”

Dr Miracle man: “Look, why don’t you get admitted, we can discuss this in detail tomorrow? Oh, by the way, the surgery will cost you 65,000 rupees. Of course rent, medicines and misc extra. I hope you have enough insurance.”
Me: (wisened up already) “I’ll need to discuss with my family and figure out. I’ll be in touch.”

Dr Miracle man: (steeping out) “Don’t delay too much. Remember about the pain and get it done soon, you’ll be better.”
PHEW!!

Like I said, I am money-spewing machine and anyone can try their luck to fleece me.. Now, whether I part with my money or not is a different story :D

The Gandhi family rules, literally!

As a resident of good old Hyderabad, I've become used to the slow paced life this city offers. Things happen at their own pace - no thanks to the jammed roads, and to the 'babu' attitude. But I'd come to accept these as a part of my daily life and so, life went on.

And then comes the Congress plenary held in the outskirts of Hyderabad. For all the good it did, looks like the city is under siege… eh, sorry? You asked why? Let me count the ways!

• Over 17,000 police officers and policemen have been deployed at vantage points armed with automatic weapons and metal detectors to ward of any possible threat from naxalites Every main road has a policeman (who ogles every passing gal in a bus/two-wheler/four-wheeler) and they actually are a pain if you are the person at the wheel! These guys stand right in the middle of an intersection too! Ah, over-zealous officers, what?
• Thanks to VIPs, VVIPs, PM, CMs, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and her brood, the city has been virtually turned into a fortress. And each of these elected members of the Government need cavalcades consisting of 6 cars each. I counted :) 5 times – I happen to stay close to the ‘spinal’ cord of Hyderabad, SP road. I really wish the Gandhi family got over their high threat perception.
• Road blocks that stopped people who lived in vicinity of the venue… I’ve been told that some were turned back or asked to take a diversion to reach their destination.
• I am tired of all the posters and banners of Sonia Gandhi, PM Dr. Singh, CM Rajshekhar Reddy and the most-incorrigible of all - Rahul Gandhi; posters and banners extol his virtues (!!) and achievements (??). And then we caught glimpses of Priyanka and hubby Vadra in tow.. am glad there weren’t posters extolling them too!
• With concerted effort spanning three-months and over 12,000 delegates attending from all over the country, I wonder how much of my money – ah, all the tax I reluctantly cough up – is being ‘wasted’ on this.

The only consolation I have is reflected in a statement I read in the papers – atleast the road-widening drive was done sooner than would have been otherwise! Ah… ever the one to look for the silver lining, eh? :)