Tuesday, my clinic day

Clinic, January 15

One of two lesions in the
young girl; probably T.B. or toxoplasmosis

The waiting room outside
my "office"

18 yr old girl with
headache and blurred vision

After review of emergency cases from last night, then the first cup of tea, I am off to my weekly outpatient clinic.  There is a mixture of cases just like I would see at home . . . headache, back pain, ruptured disc in neck or back.  Then there is the medical museum quality patients.  This morning there was an 18 year old girl with 2 weeks of headache and blurred vision.

There was a 54 year old man who walked into the office smiling and with no complaints.

Sister of the dean with
trigeminal neuralgia

I saw the sister of the dean with trigeminal neuralgia, who will be added to my growing list for surgery in the next few days.

I had three general surgery residents, who are on a neurosurgery rotation.  This fellows translated for me.  They have kind of latched onto me and appear in my clinic each week.  They seem very excited to learn about the neurological examination and happily tell me this is the best rotation they have had in four years of general surgery.

Your diagnosis?

This afternoon I am going to take a long walk to a major minibus stop and then hop on a bus to a corner about a half mile from Rick’s house.  He is in Gondar for two days, but send one of his assistants to my apartment this afternoon with two patients.  I have some gifts for his kids that I keep forgetting to take, but this is the day.

This Sunday is the start of a huge annual Christian festival, Tinket.  This day of massive parades, outdoor religious ceremonies, festive dress, etc. is far beyond any religious event in the U.S.  I have seen it three times in the past, so am going to try to go out of town for the weekend.  There is a new resort, Adulala, about 1 hour from here and I am trying to make arrangement to go.  Lots of surgery between now and then, so I will be ready for a break.