Sometimes, the Solution Is Simple
But we keep looking for difficult answers
Sometimes, we see the big picture and miss the little details, which rarely cause concern.
This is the story of an old-age patient who once came to the clinic. He had swelling all over his body. His spleen was enlarged. There was also pleural effusion (fluid in the cavity outside the lungs)
He had a series of tests: a complete blood count (CBC), CT scan, echocardiography (ECG), liver function tests (LFT’s) and renal function tests (RFT’s). All results were in the normal range.
He was in serious condition. Fluid accumulation could lead to organ failure, but the diagnosis was not there so treatment was not possible. All the tests conducted were normal. The ultrasound only showed splenomegaly.
One day, while discussing the case and reexamining the reports, it came to notice that his haemoglobin level (Hb) was a bit high. Normally, males have a good Hb, so it is not a cause of concern. But being too high meant that this could be pointing toward a disease.
The relevant single test to confirm the diagnosis was done, and it was positive. Finally, we had an answer. It was Polycythemia Rubra Vera.
It is a disease in which bone marrow produces too many red blood cells, leading to multiple complications. After giving the proper medication his condition improved and the patient is now living a normal life. He was so happy.
Sometimes in life, we also only see the big picture and forget about the smaller details.
Once a girl came to the hospital and she was worried. Her complaint was dyspnoea. She thought she had a heart problem and she was going to die. The CBC showed she was anaemic. Her heart was completely fine.
I remember once our solar was not working. We searched Google for an answer and asked the electricians and solar panel workers — but couldn’t find the cause. Some said wiring problems, and some said inverters are causing the problem. Finally, a technician found the cause; it was the summer season, and the solar temperature was high due to extreme heat. He fixed a fan on solar, and it started working fine.
Often I check the whole house to find my glasses. I check all the drawers and every possibility. I become anxious — and yet they were in my bag all along.
Just two days before, I couldn’t find my glasses and I was trying to find them everywhere when my son said,
“Mom, we will buy another pair of glasses on Sunday”.
He is only 5 years old, but he knew that I was going to panic. Finally, the next day I found them in my car. 😅
It’s in our nature, especially in people with A-type personalities, who often think the worst. I am also like this; always thinking about the extreme situation.
“ Oh no, I am having flu.. what if it’s Covid”
“Oh my God. A mosquito bit my child, what if it is Dengue”
“My child loves to eat grapes. What if it got stuck in his throat? I am not going to give him grapes”
All these thoughts and worries are continuously popping into our minds.
But from my 33 years of life experience, I learned one thing. The things we worry about almost always never happen. The mishaps that do happen are often not in our control. That’s how life is. When we try to control it, it slips out of hand.
When we face it, we live.
“Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open.
