IN PURSUIT OF HEDONISM

In the ‘love affair’ series, this one is about my affair with the most unlikely of places, guess what, ‘hospitals’! The exclamation mark I understand is  actually an under-reaction by the reader. Who in his right frame of mind, would fall in love with hospitals of all places? No I am not married to a medico, as medical colleges were prime targets for young bachelors wooing the doctor damsels. But then mine is an affair of a lifetime, having had my brushes over the last near six decades that I have been around. My previous escapades can be perused on Carry on Doctors https://thesuyashsharma.com/carry-on-doctors/

I am sure we all recall the “Lymphosarcoma of the Intestine” from Bollywood movie Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan starrer “Anand”, so the disease must at least sound impressive, so how is Gastro Oesophagus Reflux Disorder (GERD), Hiatus Hernia with Barrett’s as a diagnosis ? I had been diagnosed with this GERD almost fifteen years ago, an ensuing endoscopy revealed that there were Barrett’s as well but the symptoms could be managed with lifestyle changes. In simpler terms, it was essentially hyper acidity with reflux, which most of us complain about off and on and treat it with Eno or Digene or sometimes both, the more aware lot resort to a tablet of Ranitidine or Pantaprazole. In my case, I kept a ready stock with me but despite the lifestyle changes it gradually deteriorated and multiple barrett’s resulted. 

Lifestyle changes were not too much of an ask, except that I had turned a strict vegetarian from the occasional maukatarian,(a typical fauji term for occasional non-veg eater for an otherwise vegetarian) and my social drinking too had to be shunned in favour of mock-tails, which are generally the preserve of the ladies. So I bid farewell to not just these pleasures and vices that we indulge in but also my circle of friends who naturally were appalled at my having turned a total Sufi. Mind you a veg teetotaller is quite a pain as a guest, as the hostess has to perforce cater for some paneer dishes which are otherwise anathema to the rest of the crowd. Abstinence from drinks implies that one remains in senses, where as the whole aim of the party is to get sozzled and talk utter nonsense, in other words have fun.  Well, if that was not enough, I had started  observing the tenets of Jainism rather strictly, not abstaining from onion and garlic, but adhering to the evening meal times. In the evening, we have the sun down sleeves down rule as an anti malaria measure to prevent rank and file from being bitten by mosquitoes. During the Burma campaign in Second World War, malaria killed more troops than the Japanese. Anyway without digressing into matters military and Japs, let us  get back to the non-violent Jains, who dutifully partake their evening meals when the fauji hasn’t even commenced his routine sundowners. Apparently, in the bygone era, when the world was without electricity, a meal in darkness or in dimly lit with kerosene or earthen lamps was prone to small insects falling into the gravies and inadvertently becoming a part of the meal, thus making the practitioners of Jainism a sinner having killed and consumed a harmless animate. 

In my case it had nothing to do with my vegetarianism, but the sheer fact that I needed that extra two-three hours for the meal to get digested before hitting the bed, lest, the food decides to cause a reflux by heading in the opposite direction from where it was intended to be despatched. In other words, you are up and about at midnight with your mouth and the throat at the receiving end of Hydrochloric acid mixed with the undigested food particles, not a very pleasant taste by any standards. This occurrence at regular intervals, causes these barrett’s oesophagus, which is supposed to be pre-malignant. Emperor of maladies is scary to say the least and naturally one immediately rushes to the medicos to ascertain the truth, at least the wise ones (like me!!) do that and not rely just on google and social media. Well I am told without mincing any words, that I have been foolishly carrying on with this malaise, whereas it should have been treated laparoscopically at least a decade ago rather than let it grow to this size. 

Well, that can’t be undone, so get under the scalpel pronto and put this hernia eight centimetres under the diaphragm, where it had protruded into the oesophagus and God created ‘Non-return Valve’, the ‘sphincter’ which is entrusted with the task of ensuring food travels just one way, down, starts malfunctioning and we end up suffering. The damn things one day just decided to up the ante and bled, sending me scurrying to the doctors in the family my sis and my daughter, who admonished me for my negligence and asked me to undergo an endoscopy right away.

Left with little choice, I followed their instructions meekly, just surrendered to their diktats and landed up in Delhi for the  surgery. BLK-MAX Super Speciality Hospital in Karol Bagh was homed onto as Dr Deep Goyal had treated my younger brother’s rather complicated case of a burst gall bladder very deftly two years ago. I must say, our trust was well placed as his team of doctors was highly professional and I was out in precisely about 36 hours from the time of admission having successfully sorted the dam hernia out for good having pushed it down, where it belonged and tied a mesh around it to prevent a recurrence. The benefits, apart from returning to the good old tamasic or hedonistic  way of life from the forced satvik one (two of the three gunas (qualities) in Hinduism), getting rid of the tyranny of the double pillows, which ended up giving me a stiff neck each morning and welcome amongst the friends once again as a normal human being.

PS – My apologies to my friends and coursemates as I have kept this under wraps till now, as I did not want BLK hospital to be invaded by my well-wishers, attired with their medals and regalia sending them scampering rather than attending to the patients. Now I am back home, mandated by the doctor to follow a strict regimen of diet for the next about six months, then it is obviously party time folks!!

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48 thoughts on “IN PURSUIT OF HEDONISM”

  1. Asmita Reddy

    You are the only one who can write so beautifully about your GERD encounter and hospital experience. Get well soon

    Reply
    1. Rakesh Dahiya

      Wow! You have had ‘some’ experiences. But I do hope the worst is behind you and you are now rosy cheeked and dimpled chin. All the very best and keep writing.

      Reply
      2. SANJAY KUMAR VERMA

        Bhai, Wah. You bore the brunt of scalpel to allow your friends to party with you after all. What a noble thought & secret deed, conveyed so candidly, so classically. Sanguine that it will take only the restructured Suyash to pen down anecdotes, far harmless in experience than this one, to keep us smiling & entertained. Keep it up bro & speedy recovery for all the partying awaited.

        Reply
    2. Lt Col V Anandan

      Dear Sir,
      your writing is as engaging and witty as ever! I’m so relieved to hear that your surgery was successful and you’re on the road to recovery. Your experience in the hospital is a testament to your resilience and sense of humor. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read about your journey and learn from your insights. Your dedication to following the doctor’s orders and adopting a healthier lifestyle is truly inspiring. Please take care of yourself, sir, and know that you’re appreciated and respected. Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences….
      With Warm Regards..

      Reply
    3. Colonel Sanjeev Pandit

      Good humour in adversity Suyash! You have taken it on the chin and are fighting back resolutely ! Wish you a speedy recovery!

      Reply
  3. Dr Deep Goel

    Amazing work . In my last 34 yrs of surgical carrier I haven’t seen anyone describe GERD so elegantly. It almost seem like Bharat Ratna rather then a disease . Thanx for choosing us .

    Reply
    1. Bindu Sharma

      I had heard about your writing prowess from my daughter who happens to be your neighbour. I am impressed! To be able to hide your pain under the guise of a comic write up is commendable. The average person ( I being one) would play the victim card, describe the trauma and invite as many ‘ Oh how sad!’ ‘ How do you feel now?’.
      Well, hope your recovery is fast, hope the net holds..your coursemates and fauji friends are waiting……

      Reply
  5. Rajesh Kumar Sachdeva

    Hi Suyash,
    First now I know why you avoided drinks with us😊 secondly your abstinence from food late night and thirdly…sense in the nonsense must have been coined because you were in pain and we were clueless. Yu have been a sportsman, fit soldier throughout and add tonthat RIMCO, hard to believe you could be hit by Gastro Oesophagus Reflux Disorder (GERD), Hiatus Hernia with Barrett’s….a sexy name though😀
    Please TC and anything we could do. God bless and keep your sujugular vein ON. God bless always

    Reply
    1. Raj Jagga

      Laughing at yourself and bring humour in adversity is sign of a person who is close to nirvana. Not easy to make sense of all the sexy names given by the medical fraternity to these diseases.
      We wish you fast recovery and waiting to share a drink.

      Reply
  8. Ketaki

    Kudos!!!! You described the case history better than a medical student 👏🏽👏🏽
    Get well soon🌻
    Wish you a speedy recovery

    Reply
  11. Brig Naveen Kumar Goel

    Suyash bro I can identify with you and your condition as I have gone through the same hiatus hernia when I was in Bana Top in Siachen…….. where I hardly had any meals……,, had about ten cups of tea daily…….., had soot ladein water for drinking……because of Pak Shelling from across the border on daily basis……..This condition had to happen. The doctor at Sonam Base advised our CO in Kumar that I had to be brought down for treatment. But yours truly refused to come down(countermanding the CO’s orders) because I had volunteered for the toughest post with the premise, that once I was through with my stint at Bana, I wouldn’t have to come up gain and climb the 1800 feet of Ice Wall and will not have to go through the rigours of nearly 22000 feet post which incidentally was the Quaid post (named after Quaid-e-Azam the adversory’s father of the nation) and the highest battlefield post of the world. In my case I had to be taken to Western Command Hospital and admitted there for treatment. Till I got admitted I had to manage with a constant dose of Cemetidine the older generation medicine as Ranitidine had not come into being…….I became okay in about six months time….. forgot about it totally. Then comes circa 1997. I was in a place called Leimakhong near Imphal. I had a beer in the party. Lo behold…… my condition of 1992 resurfaced. To cut the story short, I went through endoscopy and treatment for the same. The Gastroenterologist there in Imphal Govt Hospital was too good. After that I was a little careful with my food; and drinks. Now I have less of masalas and hardly have more than two sundowners…….in my entire life, no matter ‘ how much Khushi and no matter how much Gam’, I have to make do with 60 mL only….. and have a good and peaceful life free from worries of acid reflux conditions…….. Sorry bro my comment was too big, I for sure couldn’t help it. Regards

    Reply
    1. Colonel Sanjeev Pandit

      Hi Suyash ! Your long standing medical predicament came as quite a surprise, since I have seen you as an agile, quick on reflexes, excellent sportsman ! And an all rounder too !
      Your spirit regardless, is praiseworthy! I wish you good health.

      Reply
  14. Vivek Bhatt

    This came as a real surprise Suyash. Given your fitness, one can hardly digest the fact that this ailment was lingering on for more than a decade.
    I hope it has been treated now for good.
    Wishing a fullest recovery.
    Take care

    Reply
  15. Deepak Makhija

    Strange things happen to body of very disciplined ones too..take care..you will be well soon…prayers for a very healthy happy life ahead

    Reply
  16. sheraz varma

    Tryst with Intest-iny shalt now be followed up with Apricity. Your close encounters of the Gerd kind now require no more repeats brother. Please take care, for you’ve managed to stave off the Achilles tendon, and now this. No more.

    Reply
  18. Muks

    Suyash bro,

    Your musings always bring a smile. Even this one, where in your indomitable way, you turned serious issue into a humorous blog. Wishing you a quick recovery and back into the clan of humans from whatever gang you had infiltrated. Be assured all of us coursemates await with our respective drams of the elixir of life, to break a chicken 65 with you.

    Reply
  21. Wg Cdr Jaganmohan Manthena

    Wow, GERD or no GERD now everyone will no about it and everything surrounding it.

    Suyash, Wishing you a speedy and full recovery back to the tamasic ways !

    Enjoy life ahead!

    Reply
  22. Sarabjeet Singh Parmar

    Wow. Thats some allegory. Mix of drama in real life and humour in uniform, and in this laughter is the best medicine. Wishing you a fast recovery and the ability to digest better. Take care

    Reply
  23. col yash saxena,114 RIMC

    Dear Suyash,
    I love your sense of humour and for the first time have read your blog slumbering through a boring conference. Well all the best for getting back to be a lap baby ….the burping,the two hourly meals and the semi liquid concoction of Preeti ,enjoy the pampering

    Reply
  26. Sudhindra Tripathi

    Very nicely explained n I wish you a speedy recovery. You have motivated me also to go for surgery as I am also suffering from the same from last five years and people who have undergone this surgery they did not have a good experience in improvement of symptoms, may be their hernia is not properly repaired. But after reading this I will definitely give a second thought. Thanks Suyash.

    Reply
  27. Sandeep Malik

    Take care Suyash. Wishing you a complete and speedy recovery. Lovely write up, as usual. Heard you are in town?

    Reply
  28. Anonymous

    Get well ❤️‍🩹 sooner than the soonest Dear Suyash. Was wondering 🤔 until I found time to read through. Coming back to India 🇮🇳 in about 14-15 days. Will certainly catch up with you. Regards VZ.

    Reply
  29. Prabhakar

    Very Well written and loved the way you made a fun of your your medical condition. Get well soon and keep writing!! 🙏

    Reply
  32. Harish Kukreja

    Hi Suyash, Highly impressed by your narration of such illness and the related surgery. Finally nice to hear that you are back home and onto your desk for writings.
    Wish a Good Health.

    Reply
  35. Col SPS

    Wishing Earliest & full Recovery 🙏🙏
    Your goodself is RIMColian & a vivid Writer
    Myself is suffering with all Types of 05 (five) Hernia
    Plus 27 Twenty-Seven other disabilities from 14 (Fourteen) different Super Specialities
    Most of my IOs/ ROs/ SROs/ FTOs were aware
    myself was not able to attend outdoors/ PT/ Drill etc since Dec1986 i.e after the Commando Course of Oct 1986
    The HERNIA… got me Arrested & Beaten by Platoon strength of Delhi Area Provost Unit CMPs on 21 Dec 2023 at BHDC
    Sorry, for unusual write up… if felt otherwise PLEASE
    SomeOne more Blessed & Empowered by The Almighty God may Be in Position to do something 📲 9999078826

    Reply

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