Indexing Title:  RJPeralta Medical Anecdotal Report

MAR Title: Patient Robelle

Date of Observation: January 2008

Narration:

     I always dreamt of becoming a doctor, someone who would take care of the sick and make them well.  After years of studying, I eventually become one.  Yes, dream come true!

     Last January, I had an asthma attack.  Difficulty of breathing, fever, body weakness…I hate it when I’m sick.  I’m supposed to be the one treating others and now, I’m the one who is sick.  I’m a patient.  Hate it, hate it.

     My mother fetched me from Manila and brought me home in Bulacan with a notion that a calmer environment  and some parental love and care could help me. 

Yeah it did but only for a while.  I refused to be brought to a hospital but the difficulty of breathing is so powerful that I have to give in.  Willingly.

     When I was in a hospital in Baliwag, I was seen by a pulmonologist and advised me to be admitted.  Horrors of horrors!  No way!  I talked to him that I can’t be absent for long, that I can manage (what an irony, I’m in his hospital!) and in the end, I went home against medical advice.

     My mother scolded me, “pasaway na doctor pati ba naman ngayon pasaway ka pa din na pasyente?!”

     On the way home, my father dialled up his friend who is a doctor and explained his dilemma.  Later did I know, we are on the way to another hospital, one in Pulilan.

He said he cannot believe that another doctor would be consulting him.  I said I didn’t plan to.  He did his history and physical examination, prescribed me with antibiotics and inhaler and reminded me of my follow up 2 months after which he commented that he would not be expecting.

     After a few days, I was back in Ospital ng Maynila as a doctor.  Thank God!

     By the way, what month are we in?

Insight: (Physical, Ethical, Psychosocial)
(Discovery, Reinforcement, Stimulus)

     Patients can sometimes be very difficult but I never realized how truthful the line that doctors make the worst patients until that time.  I’m a difficult patient I know that now.  So I don’t want to be a patient again.  I try to strengthen myself by complying with the advices I gave my patients- drink your medicines, eat right, have time for exercise and relaxation just like what my doctor gave me.

     Being a doctor as a profession is physically and emotionally demanding.  Being not sick is sometimes a challenge but we should try and safeguard our own health because who would be treating our patients if we are sick? 

     Another Doctor/patient Robelle?