Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Midnight hospital visit and fast diagnosis

Babies have their own way of communicating, whether people around them understand that or not is altogether a different problem. Over a period of time, understanding becomes better. Still, it’s not always easy to figure out why they cry sometimes—is it because of stomach pain? Are they hungry? Or do they want to sleep? Is their clothing too tight, or is it too cold or hot? Do they have a gas problem? Or is it just for getting attention? It can be for any number of reasons. So we try one best possible option after another to see which one works.  

On that cold Christmas night, Niha woke up from sleep and started crying in a loud noise non-stop. Everyone tried different tricks to pacify her, but she was not calming down. She kept on crying for the next forty-five minutes. Finally, we decided to see a doctor. The hotel guys suggested either the railway hospital or Apollo. It was close to midnight; we booked Uber and went to Apollo. Unfortunately, that hospital was closed. The cab driver knew another one nearby; it was working, but they suggested JK Lone. So we went to JK Lone. By the time we reached, Niha stopped crying and slept. What to do now? Go or not to go? Since we came all the way there, I decided to go inside.  

This is not the first time this is happening with Niha. Last time it happened when we were in Idukki. Idukki Medical College was nearby, and we went there at that time. There too, she stopped crying the moment we crossed the hospital gate. Doctors checked her and kept her there for the next three hours. They also gave her medicine for gastric issues. She slept there comfortably while we simply sat there.  

There were no patients at that time, and the doctor was a young lady who was reading a book with most lines highlighted. When she saw us, she looked upwards. I mentioned the non-stop crying for close to an hour and that she had just now fallen asleep. She had only one question: Is this your first kid? I told her yes. She suddenly completed the diagnosis: Kids will cry; that is normal, there is no problem. If they are not crying, then there is a problem.  

It was such a revelation for us—kids will cry!!! I looked at Divya; she was confused, as if asking, “Really? Kids will cry?” After passing the diagnosis, she gave a prescription—paracetamol—and went back to her books. Probably for a PG entrance exam? I was kind of wondering, what next? Shall we go or say something? Finally, I repeated to the doctor that crying non-stop for an hour doesn’t seem to be normal. She just repeated what she said earlier, but in a louder voice. It looks like, like many people, she also thinks that making the sound louder makes everything convincing. Convinced or not, we went outside, gave the prescription in the pharmacy, and got the medicine, which still sits in the table drawer with an unbroken seal.  

While going back to the hotel, scenes from Idukki Medical College went through my head—how the same situation played out in different ways. It’s possible that whatever this doctor told us may be right; we were simply worried because Niha is our first child, which in turn indicates that we are inexperienced. But I still don’t trust a prescription from a doctor who doesn’t even check or look at the patient.  

When we crossed the reception at the hotel, they asked how it went. I told them what happened. They mentioned that JK Lone is the best hospital in all of Rajasthan for kids. Maybe because of the nighttime, it wasn’t functioning properly and advised us to go again in the morning. I looked at Niha; she was sleeping. I just wished that she should not have that problem again, and of course, we are not going to JK Lone again...  

Sajeev

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