PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF…LUKE 4:23

“Ahn ahn dockie…you too dey sick”? This question has become quite a popular mantra heard, by all health workers (Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and Laboratory scientists even). Healthcare workers are considered to be superhumans and at such, shouldn’t succumb to illnesses like Malaria, stroke, Hypertension or Diabetes that other “mere mortals” suffer from. The funny thing is, after hearing this mantra for so long, some health workers actually start believing they’ve got some super powers…well, guess what? We don’t!!!

I recall a couple of years back, during my NYSC days, oh those glorious “Corper wee”!!! days. For those not familiar with it, I digress a little. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Nigeria was established on the 22^nd May 1973 by the government of General Yakubu Gowon. It’s aim was to facilitate the reconciliation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the nation following the Nigerian civil war, so as to foster common ties amongst the Nigerian youths.

Now, right after camp, I returned home for a short break, like every other Corper, before reporting at my PPA (Place of Primary Assignment) where we were just 2 doctors in charge of 23 PHC (Primary Health Centers) across the entire local government we were posted to…this here, is a gist for another day, lol. Few days after my arrival, I noticed a spike in my Temperature 39℃ (102℉)…”Thank God nor be during this COVID-19 pandemic ooooo, choi”. I also developed an intense and persistent headache, generalized body pains and loss of appetite. And of course, this was followed by the tremendously itchy rash which eventually became fluid-filled blisters that covered my entire body. Holy shit!!! I said to myself…this is chicken pox ooooo!!!

CHICKEN POX (AKA VARICELLA)

Is caused by the varicella zoster virus (vzv) with an incubation period (from exposure to appearance of symptoms) of 10-21 days.

ROUTES OF SPREAD

• Airborne respiratory droplets (coughing or sneezing)
• Saliva
• Touching contaminated surfaces
• Skin-to-skin contact
• Mother to baby during pregnancy, labour or nursing

SYMPTOMS

• Fever, headaches, malaise, muscle aches and loss of appetite
• Rash (itchy and becomes fluid-filled blisters)

TREATMENT

• Contact your local health care physician…wink!

Back to my story then, lol. I had all the above listed info at my fingertips but my dear “blodas and sisters”, knowing and experiencing are 2 very different things! The hideous looking rashes were everywhere, on my face, in my ears, nose, mouth and places I can’t even mention…lol. Supportive measures such as rehydrating, applying calamine lotion, and using anti-pruritics weren’t doing much for me. And don’t forget, this was during NYSC where I was residing in a “5 star hotel…Not!!!” called “Family house”, I’m sure some of us can relate, lol.

We had to fetch water from a well (and the indigents would only permit us at certain times of the day). NEPA lived up to its name as usual (NEVER EXPECT POWER ALWAYS), which made the itching more intense and almost drove me crazy…I shit you not!!! And so, my wonderful fellow corps members who were certified “NOCTORS” (n. anyone who is not a doctor but acts as one) introduced me the wonderful world of bitter leaf and its uses. I was to bathe with it twice daily and  also drink it’s juice as well, twice daily, promising me that I’d become anew within 24hours.

Oh yes I felt anew alright but not the kind of new I wanted. I’m what you’d call fair-skinned and after bathing with the leaves, came out looking like a leopard (all the blisters became black…so I turned black and yellow!!!). One would think I’d learnt my lesson but apparently I hadn’t. The next noctor then prescribed another concoction for me to drink which I found a lil helpful, other than the fact that I’d always feel loopy after drinking it and also developed some diarrhea. I later found out the active ingredient in the herbal drink was lots of alcohol!!!…made sense now, lol.

 In the end, I got fed up of trials and errors from my Noctors and just decided to take my own advice and just wait it out with rehydration orally and some analgesia. About a week later (which felt like an eternity) I started feeling much better and the rashes finally resolved.

MY TAKE HOME

• Never ever judge people who look to alternative therapy (from licensed practitioners) when modern medicine doesn’t seem to cut it (Na person wen wear tight shoe know where e dey pain am).
• Healthcare workers aren’t super humans…take care of your health as well
• Listen to your physicians advice and try as much as possible to avoid Noctors
• Exercise, eat healthy and keep fit because a good immune system helps you ward off multiple infections
• Lastly, have a positive approach to life to maintain a good mental health.

…Til next time, have a good one.