After unsuccessfully attempting to diagnose and medicate myself against Malaria for a period of two months, and seeing no signs of recovery or improvement in my own physical constitution. I decided while on a trip to The City of Sunyani, to stop within the shopping center located immediately on the right side of The Eusbett Hotel. To purchase a can of Cashew nuts. After disembarking from the taxi and paying the driver, I proceeded to walk toward the store but noticed that not only was I very weak I was also experiencing pain in my legs. In fact, if the blowing breeze was any stronger it might have easily toppled me. Suddenly, I was alarmed. “When did I deteriorate to this condition?” I asked myself. Thereafter, I decided to visit The Holy Family Hospital as soon as possible. The following morning I was there to ask one of the attending physicians to immediately administer to me a shot of the anti-malaria injection. Because I had concluded that all the medications I had been previously imbibing just weren’t potent enough. He simply replied, “If you have Malaria we will be happy to oblige you, but before any decision can be made you will first have to proceed to the lab to get a blood test. To determine the exact nature of your medical condition.”
Unfortunately, this is the approach that some people take to life and toward many of their problems. It is the hit-or-miss gambler’s approach. They don’t take time out for the scientific approach. But like some of the church fathers of the Middle Ages form opinions that are just pulled out of their hats or from the seat of their pants. I had permitted myself to fall into the same trap. The physician’s advice pulled me back into the world of reality and out of the maze of magical thinking. This is an age-old problem. People have the tendency to succumb to the wiles of their own imaginations. Forgetting that The Word of The Lord Almighty is the only reality there is. As The Master Himself asserted, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35 (NKJV). Accordingly, we should all watch what we believe. Unless our belief structure is centered in God’s unnering Word.
I duly registered, paid the required amounts requested, and proceeded to the lab specified to obtain my blood test. After the technician examined my blood sample she asked, “Mr. James are you sure you have Malaria, sir?” I answered in the affirmative. However, she replied that there were many infections in Ghana that present similar symptoms to Malaria. Nevertheless, only a blood test can establish an accurate diagnostic condition. She said nothing more and refused to communicate any additional information. By the time I arrived at the physician’s office, she announced to me that I did not have Malaria but was suffering from a Viral Infection. It was at that point that I became acutely aware of the hazards of self-diagnosis and medication, without appropriate medical training. She prescribed a five-day dosage of antibiotics which I commenced taking shortly after my arrival at home. Upon the transpiration of that time period, I noticed that my medical condition was greatly improved. “What was my problem, I surmised? Am I some kind of a control freak? I had almost killed myself.” The following week I was back at the hospital and coincidentally ran into the physician who originally attended to me. I informed her that although I was much better now, my physical condition was not perfect, and requested some more antibiotics. She very courteously informed me that she was not on duty and that I should see one of the attending physicians available for that day.
As required I went through the established routine of Registration. Which involved either the presentation of your Health Insurance Card or the payment of an established fee. Afterward, my Blood Pressure was taken and my body temperature was monitored. Upon the completion of this procedure, I joined the very long line and waited patiently. When I finally arrived at the physician’s office I discovered that he was flanked by two other health professionals. He asked me to describe the nature of my problem and I simply stated that I had been there the previous week, was diagnosed as suffering from a Viral Infection, and medicated accordingly for one week. Although I was greatly improved. I asserted that my condition was not perfect and requested some more antibiotics. I was quite taken aback by the doctor’s response. To my surprise, he stated that the quantity of antibiotics prescribed and dispensed to me was standard protocol, and could not be exceeded unless I presented with some other medical condition. Furthermore, he observed that typhoid Fever is usually one of the underlying diagnoses of a Viral Infection. He suggested that I should go promptly to a private lab located on the Campus of The Holy Family Hospital and have my blood tested for that disease.
Although I was almost in shock. Since I believed initially that this was some kind of a mercenary attempt to make more money out of me. I suppressed my naturally paranoid disposition and did as I was told by submitting to the required blood test. Two hours later I was informed that I was in fact suffering from Typhoid Fever. Such is life, “Things are rarely what they seem to be.” Over the years I have painfully learned the importance of humility and obedience, some people prefer to term this cooperation. Both tendencies, however, are invaluable traits. As The Master Himself instructed:
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matthew 18:1-5 (NKJV).
That same evening I saw another duly qualified medical practitioner at the same hospital. He prescribed the required antibiotics after seeing the result of the blood test. I thanked him, went over to the pharmacy on campus, picked up the medication dispensed, and went home. I proceeded to take the white pills expecting to beat the Typhoid Fever within a few days but after four days both of my legs became swollen. With an especially monstrous swelling on my left calf. I continued to take the pills prescribed but the swellings were only exacerbated and reached all the way down to both of my feet. After six days I returned to the hospital to present myself to the second physician who had advised me about the Typhoid Fever. Since he was the one on duty. After examining my legs and calves carefully he sent me over to a nearby office to have my legs and thighs photographed, or so it seemed. Apparently, the test was negative but when I returned to his office the physician advised me that he suspected a blood clot. He continued, “Although you don’t have it as yet, all the signs and symptoms are in place to facilitate its development. Therefore, I will prescribe some medication for you to obtain at another pharmacy and take to prevent any occurrence of this problem.”
(TO BE CONTINUED).
aadventuresinghana.wordpress.com 