An Awry Start

You know how the best laid plan can go seriously sour? Murphy’s law dictates that if something can go wrong, it will.

That’s what happened yesterday on what was supposed to be my ‘rest, relax, rejuvenate’ trip up Cameron Highland.

The start of the journey was delayed because I had to try and sort out some problems related to some student’s research project (it didn’t get sorted out), next, just when I was about to hit the highway, a call came from my MO informing me a patient who was earlier admitted to the ICU for another problem has developed gangrene of 3 of his fingers (probably secondary to an arterial line insertion) which the vascular surgeons in KL declared as ‘dead’ and recommended ‘amputations’.

That’s fodder for a medicolegal suit! I asked the MO to get the consultants involved.

The trip up to Cameron was uneventful except for the fact that my daughter developed high fever and became very sickly.

When we got to Brinchang, at about 7 pm, we were given wrong directions and ended up being pretty lost. We finally hit camp past 8 pm, tired, hungry and I was in an unpleasant mood. Well meaning friends and church members tactfully kept a safe distance.

After dinner, we went out to town to buy some medications for my kid. The first clinic I approached did not have what I needed. I felt increasing frustration as I headed off on foot to look for the only other clinic in town.

I finally found it and it was about to close. I asked the nurse at the counter if I could buy some medicine. She looked at me as if I was asking for morphine or cocaine!

I explained that I am a doctor and that I actually know what I am doing!

The doctor-in-charge came out and after finding out what I wanted, and why, she looked up to me and said in a cheery voice with a sweet smile: “Welcome to Cameron Highland!! How was your trip here?”

I replied, “It was pretty bad” and explained that my kid was very sick. She let me have what I wanted and refused to let me pay for them!

As I walked back to my car, hand clutching the precious medications, I felt in my heart, the first gladsome feeling of grace from God for the entire awful day. A quick prayer of thanks was uttered and a small smile came on my face- the first in the last couple of hours.

Things weren’t rosy because my kid later proceeded to vomit all over her sweater, bolster, pillow, blanket and bedsheet when we got back. The night’s sleep was fitful. My wife was miserable and tired and so was I. We didn’t sleep much. We talked about going home the next day if the kid didn’t get better.

Thw day broke. And so did the high fever. She looked and felt better. We decided to stay on. My heart is lighter today than it was yesterday. Perhaps I could get the rest, relaxation and rejuvenation after all.

Sat, 180508 @ 1700

Double Barreling

That’s the term used to describe the act of wearing 2 condoms during coitus. There are many reasons for this. One being to lessen the sensation on the penis, which would, theoretically anyway, delays ejaculation which may be helpful in men who have premature ejaculation (the movie, American Pie, comes to mind! Heh heh!).

The other , of course is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This of course defies logic. I mean if 2 condoms prevent pregnancy better than one, wouldn’t you think the condom makers would be selling their products in TWIN PACKS?!!

And the 3 rd reason is this:

I was told by one of my patient’s wife (he is HIV+ while she is not) that her family doctor advised them to use the double barrel method to prevent transmission of the HIV virus from her hubby to her.

Evidence based?

Evidently not.

I did a bit of googling and came up with these links:

1. San Francisco City Clinic

2. Dear Sugar

3. A youtube video on GayHealth.com

I tried looking in the UNAIDS website but they are silent on this matter. Personally, I’ve been advising my patients to use single condom during sex. The trick is to use it CORRECTLY!

Sat, 170508 @ 0700