(Written sitting in a doctor’s waiting room)
The question looks absurd. When do you go to a doctor ? Whenever you have some medical problem ; it does sound obvious.
Reality is something different. Many of us would have heard stories as how ‘so and so’ neglected a problem and let it aggravate so much that it has resulted in some permanent damage or worse.
Have you come across stories of how going to a doctor or a hospital has caused irredeemable damage to one’s health as well as to the bank balance? Not very often .
How many people are going about with stents when they don’t really need them ? How many people have overpaid the hospitals for necessary treatment and not so necessary treatment? We will never know. How many of us have been worrying sick about some disease that we never had ?
In an ideal world, when a medical problem crops up , be it a fever or a fracture; you go to the appropriate specialist and he makes a quick and accurate diagnosis and fixes it.
But it is never an ideal world. Say, you see some rashes on your skin; first you ignore it and when it starts itching too much , you go for an OTC ointment. Instead of getting better ,it might get worse.
You then see decide to see a doctor. Well, it could be a fungal infection or a symptom for any underlying condition like diabetes. The blood tests start. The complete blood count might throw up other issues.
Then you see a dermatologist as well who would focus on his area of specialization.
After months or even years of going about blood tests and experimenting with diets (allergens) one is still not sure of the cause for the rashes. I am aware of a case where the reason for a chronic skin problem was finally traced to a tooth decay; yes, once the bad tooth was extracted, everything was hunky-dory .
If you are lucky , you find the problem or else you keep going to every specialist, go through a battery of tests, undergo many experiments on medicines , diets and life style changes all the while paying your way through every experiment . The mental stress one goes through , sitting in doctors ‘ waiting rooms is something not quantifiable.
It is under these circumstances that one has think ten times before seeing the first doctor, as once you get into the conveyor belt, it’s difficult to come out ,half-way. It’s like Hotel California ; you can check in but not check out.
All these problems can occur when the doctors and hospitals are very well meaning.
Again we are living in anything but an ideal world. Hospitals are run with profit motive and every expensive equipment has to earn it’s cost from the patients. The insurance company , that you have thoughtfully bought medical insurance from has to cut costs by finding loopholes in your claim.
You can’t change the external world. Only thing you have some degree of control is over your own actions.
So, from the miracle of modern medicines we are back to basics ; regular exercises, moderate diet, good sleep and good air and water. Not surprisingly most doctors give this piece of advice for free, along with their expensive prescriptions.
Dhoop ,paani, mithi, hawa;
Kayi rogon ka yahi dawa.Sunshine,Water,Earth, Air
The ultimate remedy to many an ailment.