Clowning around

Today has been a relaxing day thus far. I got to work in time to go on rounds for OBG. I tend to not really understand what is going on because everyone talks so softly and fast, which makes for a confusing several hours. But I pick up bits and pieces and I did get to examine the belly of a woman with a 24 week gestation that measured 36 weeks due to a fibroid. I got to see the usual post-round episiotomy which had a larger than normal tear secondary to inadequate perineal support by the nursing student. Ouch. And the good news is the girl twin (the maid's granddaughter) got out of the NICU and gets to stay with her mommy in the postpartum room. She is so tiny and sweet. Unfortunately both of the babies are septic and are on antibiotics for 15 days (I finally got a hold of their charts.) They look very tired.

I decided I would spend more time on the gyn wards today. I didn't know exactly what to do, but I started reading charts in the pre-op room where there were about 10 patients waiting for their operations. The women had all sorts of operations needed, from rectovaginal fistulas secondary to cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, a 20 year old just admitted with urinary and fecal incontinence, a young girl with a missed abortion (a miscarriage) waiting for a d&c, and so on.

While I was reading the charts, I decided it was time to try and communicate. I basically sat next to the patients' bed and smiled and pointed to my name. Then I said "Kannada or Hindi?" and then they'd tell me what they spoke and I would say "sorry no Kannada/Hindi", point to myself and say "English." I would somehow ask about the woman's children or husbands. One of the patient's son (who was in his 20s) and his wife were infatuated with me and kept taking pictures and video recording me. Some of the other patients would point to a stool and want me to come meet them after my conversation with another patient was exhausted (which happened rather quickly.) I almost felt like I was a clown coming to visit little kids on the peds ward. But you know what, ill be a clown any day if it makes someone who is in the hospital with a yucky diagnosis, smile.

Some other things of note
- the babies stay in the dormitory style rooms (30 beds in one room) with their mothers. There is not a nurse who helps take care of the babies the first several days of life. Usually the mothers or mothers in law are there helping out.
- informed consent is signed by family members (and it appears to be mainly male family members)

Ale and I are going to Hampi this weekend with Vaibhav (Ale's sister's boyfriend's friend since grade school.) We take an overnight sleeper bus Friday night and then spend one night in the town and then come back on another overnight sleeper on Sunday night. It sounds a little ridiculous, but I'm very good at sleeping. Last weekend we did this and I was fine. Ale on the other hand didn't quite sleep on the bus ride back and so she has been a tidbit grumpy all week. Needless to say, we will be taking a bus with actually beds this time instead of seats that go back 150 degrees. Ale without sleep is like my sister without food- the Loch Ness monster.

Here is a picture of our breakfast (the idlys are bottom center and the coconut chutney is the cream colored circle in the center) and then one from outside the hospital