A 65-Year-Old Gentleman in OPD: More Than Just Medicine

A 65-year-old gentleman visited the OPD. He has Heart failure and Diabetes. He takes his medicines regularly. He is a pensioner and financially stable.

His wife passed away a few months ago due to a brain haemorrhage.

For the past six months, he has been living on 'rotation', sometimes with one son, sometimes with the other. He was troubled by the unspoken atmosphere at home.

Today, there was something different on his face. No tiredness, no sadness from illness. Something deeply stuck inside.

I didn't bring up the topic. Some things, the patient himself tells.

As he was leaving, he stopped.

“Sir, I am now shifting to Ahilyanagar. I will come once in three months. I have a request…

Don't give me medicines related to the morning meal. I can't have breakfast daily. And please give me medicine for sleep…

I will now live alone.” He was speaking, but his eyes were saying something else.

At that moment, I understood that changing medicine today wouldn't help.

Because sugar and Heart failure don't worsen due to reports. They worsen when routine breaks, loneliness increases, and due to unaccepted reality.

I spoke with him for a while. More than just a prescription.

And a picture became very clear in my mind:

A few years later, ICU. Sugar out of control. Heart failure worsened.

Then both sons and daughters-in-law will stand outside with very concerned faces and say,

“Doctor, he used to come to OPD regularly… took medicines… we did everything…”

And inside, on the bed, there will be a body sustained by medicines, but slowly abandoned by life.

More than a sick body, a lonely mind accelerates illness faster.

This story is not unique. It's happening in many homes, just quietly.

This can still be avoided… if they learn to accept life as it is and connect their remaining days with a small purpose or hobby.