two new words
I learned 2 new Spanish words this past Saturday at Penitas clinic. Toronja, for grapefruit. And aceituna for olive. I did quite a bit of nutritional counseling. I am slowing down, taking my time. I will not quit what I love so much. No sirree, but I will empower folks to take care of their own health, in case I decide to retire from indigent care.
I might also have some fun while I do some empowerering. One man had a history of kidney stones, among a list of other chronic illnesses that required medicines too expensive to continue. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, you know- the usual. Only the doc who treated him before billed his Medicare and prescribed expensive drugs, not the ones on the Walmart $4 list. Now he has no Medicare, and has been out of meds for a year. Really empowering the people, right? So anyway, he’s had 2 spells of nephrolithiasis, the stone thing, and I tell him (in Spanish, of course), you know kidney stone pain is the equivalent of child birth, how was that? And his wife is sitting next to him (sometimes I let the spouse come in; especially when it comes to a lot of cooking and eating talk) and she says, well, if that’s the case, he needs one more, since I’ve had 3 kids! And we all laughed so hard, even him!
A 12 year old boy was my translator for these 2 words I didn’t know. And as he left (after I diagnosed him with chiggers, NOT chicken pox, and cleared him for school) I told him he needs to go to medical or PA school and come back here and help us out; this ‘ole gringa cannot do this forever, we will need him. His mom said he was in the gifted & talented program, and he did look proud, and I did tell him about the great pre-med programs down here, and to please consider it. I think he will. Just starting the recruitment a bit earlier, before the greed of medicine sets in.
It seems like I utilize my history-taking skills more out here. I mean, no one expects to go to the specialist or to have an MRI. If I decide to order tests or refer, it’s a long process to obtain (possible) funding. And no one wants to go to the ER. So, they rely on what I tell them about their bodies. And they listen. I explain anatomy and physiology, and how the meds work and they listen and learn. And they are empowered to understand their own bodies a little bit more, and to watch and treat, with cheap, available meds, so when I am not around, they won’t feel so helpless about their health.
One thing I noticed the last few times I have worked at the clinic, is how important it is to weigh the patients at each visit. No one has a scale at home. Some have never weighed themselves. And they have no clue what they weigh. Most are working on losing some weight, so it is important to them. I love how they lean in to take a look at today’s weight, asking me how it was the last time, to compare. It’s a big deal. It kind of breaks my heart. It also breaks my heart that they respect me so much. It’s like they have the utmost trust in my words, but at the same time, they feel comfortable enough to crack jokes with me and to laugh.
Pues, no tomen las toronjas con su medicina para la cholesterol, y si cocina el pollo en aceite, usen el aceite de aceituna.
They even put up with my Spanish here in penitas.
11:37:07 PM 
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