While I would like to believe that I am better at predicting storms than the weather- man, unfortunately, I am not. If you are wondering if I’ve lost it, I haven’t. Once upon a time, my first patient of the morning left the office by ambulance. After taking a careful history and performing a thorough exam, my assessment was that he was in imminent danger, much the way the weatherman declares a tornado/storm alert.
Yes, a major storm was in the making, one we docs call sepsis. Calling in the paramedics is the equivalent of calling up the National Guard. As always, they responded quickly and efficient, securing my patient against what could have proven to be a major tempest. The next day, my patient is much better. The storm has blown over and, thanks to G-d, was nowhere near as devastating as I had predicted.
Unfortunately, there are times when medical storms strike fast and appear from nowhere. No matter how good my patient and I are at practicing preventative care, there are many occasions when medical twisters touchdown in our lives wreaking havoc. Covid is one of those storms.
So, what can we do? In the case of a severe weather alert, most of us get busy securing our homes, checking on our flashlights, making sure we have gas for our generators and snow blowers and fill our pantry. We check on our loved ones and neighbors and then hunker down for the night.
In the case of a medical alert called by your doc, respond promptly, heeding his advice. Don’t argue as it wastes time. If the doc says, “Call 911,” call 911. Take proper precautions. If your doc warns of an approaching storm in the form of a future heart attack/stroke/diabetes, take action by improving your lifestyle, complying with medication and seeing the specialist when recommended. If your doc says wear a mask and stay 10 feet away from other people, do it!
Yes, my predictions are often wrong. When I warn of impending doom and it fails to develop either due to your precautions or not, I’m one happy camper. Now, if I can only figure out how to predict those sudden acts of terror that occur when illness is lurking in the wings but invisible to the modern medical eye.
Here is your music for today and a few jokes.
- The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house, and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors.
- If you need 144 rolls of toilet paper for a month-long quarantine, you probably should’ve seen a doctor long before COVID-19.
- My husband purchased a world map and then gave me a dart and said, “Throw this and wherever it lands—that’s where I’m taking you when this pandemic ends.” Turns out, we’re spending two weeks behind the fridge.
- I never thought the comment “I wouldn’t touch him/her with a six-foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!
- I washed my hands so much because of COVID-19 that my exam notes from 1995 resurfaced.
- Two grandmothers were bragging about their precious darlings. One of them says to the other, “Mine are so good at social distancing, they won’t even call me.”
Jokes are from https://bestlifeonline.com/dark-coronavirus-jokes
I remember you carting me to the hospital by ambulance once, and then personally driving me there once. Drove me there because I said ‘ I have to go home and get a bag and my husband’. You said no way and called Ray and then drove me there. Stubborn patient that I was!
stubborn patients who drive themselves to the hospital sometimes pass behind the wheel killing themselves and others when they crash. Driving you to the hospital was my pleasure.