Tag Archives: Dr. Geeta Shroff

Puja

30 Oct

IMG_0331-0.JPG

For Hindus Lakshmi is the four armed goddess of wealth and prosperity. During Diwali she is prayed upon to bring this good wealth and prosperity to both the home and work place. In preparation dwellings are cleaned and sand like paintings called “rangoli” are drawn at the door steps to welcome her. In the evenings diyas and candles are lit.

After my morning physical therapy session I am summoned to the main floor injection room for a deep skeletal muscle injection (DSM). Dr. Shroff has expanded her applications of stem cells for all patients. On my previous treatments these type of injections were reserved mostly for the spinal cord injury patients. I have watched my friends receive these injections and know they fall somewhere between the daily intramuscular shots and a caudal or epidural procedure. The needle is the same small insulin syringe used for the daily intramuscular shots but like the procedures is injected along the spine. Today will be my first DSM ever. I am apprehensive but know I am surrounded with the best people I can be. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Mishra has me sit and finds a spot on my lower back along my spine where he then injects the dose of stem cells. It is not painless but it is not painful either. I must admit I am distracted because the lobby is being set up for the puja ceremony, which I always look forward to. The more routine daily injections follow, one IM in my arm and an IV push of stem cells too. Then I hurriedly return to my room and dress in my Indian attire.
Each year Dr. Shroff holds a puja ceremony for the hospital in celebration of Diwali. As I make my way into the lobby it is already filled with the hospital staff and patients. Dr. Shroff and her husband sit in the middle with a Hindu priest. The priest speaks in a continuous rhythm. Dr. Geeta and her husband place offerings, there are lots of marigolds and yogurt and fruit involved. Then each person in the room is blessed with a red dot on their forehead and string tied around their wrist. Dr. Shroff is very inclusive during the ceremony inviting any patient who chooses to go to the altar to participate circling a plate with a candle around the altar offerings. The taste of Indian culture unites the hospital, staff and patients alike. This is part of what keeps me coming back to India.

IMG_0328-0.JPG

IMG_0329-0.JPG

Tags: ,

Image

It’s procedure day!

28 Oct

I am ready to receive my first procedure of the trip. In contrast to the daily intramuscular arm injections, procedures administer the largest quantity of stem cells directly into the spinal column. These procedures often yield the most noticeable changes almost immediately. Today’s procedure, a caudal, is an epidural type injection at the base of the tailbone.

The day starts with physical therapy where I do more than usual in anticipation of being stuck on my back post-procedure. I even do modified jumping jacks – no arm motions. I am winded when I finish but do not get to rest. I am sent for yet another test at a facility a few buildings down the street. The test is an eeg and goes quickly enough. Back at the hospital I do not get to eat lunch, it is too close to procedure time. The sisters apply an anesthetic cream to the base of my tailbone, ok butt crack, and cover it with tape. This protocol is newer. The IV antibiotic monocef is administered and once complete I am on a gurney and wheeled away onto the external elevator. This elevator lift is a new addition since my last visit and is long enough to fit a gurney and several operating theater staff. Laying on the gurney I can say the ceiling of the lift is a very clean and modern in design. I am wheeled into the OT where I instantly recognize the two sisters. They talk to me and turn on music. Today’s selection, jingle bells. Christmas in October I joke. NuTech now has two anesthesiologists who rotate doing procedures. Both are highly skilled and capable and give each patient an orientation when they first arrive. I have Dr. Nayan. He is a man of few words but informs me of the important information while a sister makes conversation to distract me. First he cleans my backside and then gives one injection. That is the only pinch I feel from then on it is only light pressure. Unlike the anesthetic used previously my legs do not feel as though they have lost feeling. For someone who can feel it is a huge relief not to need to check that my toes can still move. This is by far the easiest caudal procedure I have had. The entire process is completed within minutes. There is no traveling between Dr. Shroff’s hospitals now. All procedures are done at the Green Park location. Once back in my room I am to stay flat on my back for the next hour. That is it. Then I can move as I please. Immediately though I feel the nature’s call. Isn’t that the way it always works, when you are not supposed to move you feel the need to. Once the hour is up I move freely. I can sit up to eat my lunch. I do not have a headache but I rest for the remainder of the day knowing it is what my body needs to process the large dose of stem cells.

IMG_0316-0.JPG

Tags: , , , ,