Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Gup Shup Again

I've been away from the blogworld for a long time now and it took me quite an effort to start writing again. It was similar to the feeling one gets when college reopens after a vacation. One just feels like lazing around doing nothing but then realizes that one needs to do something worthwhile and meaningful. Oh yes I like to think that I write meaningful pieces and they are certainly worth a read.

Was my break good? Time with my grandchildren was good but healthwise it was unfortunately a big 'NO' :-(((

Can you imagine what it is to be in constant pain? Well,well my arthritic knee made me realize what intense pain was. There was nothing anyone could do about it. I went limping all over the place and climbing up and down the stairs one at a time. Yes, i live in the 3rd plus half level of an apartment complex without a lift and had to climb up and down 52 steps even if it was only to go to the doctor or for an X ray of the knee. I would have done anything to be relieved of the pain including a visit to the local 'dayan'(witch) and tried out witchcraft. I tried an assortment of pain killer oils and ointment with no positive effect. The bone specialist advised knee replacement but the thought of post operative care as well as the expense involved was not encouraging. I tried homeopathy which had worked well in the case of my spondylitis but it did not help this time. Finally a visit to an Ayurvedic Center and the treatment offered by them helped and I am at least 50 to 60% better with their medicines, light exercises as suggested by the doctor and oil massage. I have to report to them this Friday and I now plan to go for oil massage by a professional in the center. Climbing up and down the stairs is not that much of a strain now so I think I can manage to go there twice or thrice a week.

The house feels empty without my little Annu and Megha. I have the computer to myself but I do not feel like using it. Megha would always want to wrest it from me and I do miss her saying 'what amma, you've been using the computer for sooo......... long'. Or Annu asking for candy and raisins not just in one hand but both. Give her a little in each hand, she'd transfer all of into one hand and stretch out the other hand for more! I can almost hear her saying 'Thatha put medicine, amma paining, amma very paining'.

I feel bad that I had to fall sick when the kids were around. But my health problem made me realize one thing. I have people around me who really care. Be it my colleagues in college or cousins in distant places or my own family including my sister,brothers, their wives as well as my children. All of them were concerned and offered help and advise - each one in their own way. I am told that like diabetes arthritis can be managed but will now remain with me for life. Not a comforting thought but then what cannot be cured may as well be endured!

I returned to college after the summer vacation and was told that the services of 29 people including me was being questioned. Some retired pensioners were also affected. It seems that our posts were adjusted against the posts of another college in the University that had posts in excess. Now the concerned college was clamoring for the posts to be returned to them saying that the employees of the college were losing out on their line of promotion and it was against the government rule that posts be transferred to other colleges. Another version was that after adjusting our services the university should have accounted for the adjustment to the government. Now the university is part of a new state and the government of Bihar that had created the post was no longer approachable. We have separated from Ranchi university and are now part of Kolhan University. Would the parent state government or the parent university offer some explanation? Everything was so very confusing.

'people get transferred, not posts'.........

I did not know whether to laugh or cry. Luckily my pain was so severe that it did not matter whether after 30 years of service I would be told that my entire career was based on a wrong foundation or if I would be denied pension and retirement benefits. Learning to look at the bright side of things! Our Principal is now making trips to Ranchi to adjust our posts against the posts of retired employees as well as those who left our college services midway for whatever reason. In the meanwhile it is whispered that there is no problem as such and all this fuss is being created by a few with itchy palms. 'God save this country' is all I can say. No I am not too worried. I am something will be done and with nearly 300 employees affected a solution ought to be arrived at and the problem done away with forever.

I may not be very regular but I shall post something once in a while till my arthritis is taken care of. Will catch up with your posts soon.

16 comments:

Cantaloupes.Amma (CA) said...

Welcome back !
Sorry to learn about your knee pain ... pls try Bengay. I am told it is not available in India, but since you have family in US, you may be able to get one. I have heard that it gives quick relief from pain ...
Also I hope your college issues are soon sorted. Best wishes.

Ardra said...

Missed you...
Take care...
love
ardra

Anonymous said...

take care, hope you are feeling better very soon.

Ugich Konitari said...

HHG,

Sorry to hear about the knees, an I hope the ayurvedic stuff you are now trying works well for you. I sense some kind of stuff coming on myself, so will be avidly following your posts for guidance and ideas.

About the business of the disappearing college posts, it just occurred to me that what the lady MLC in Bihar did, with the swinging and flinging of potted plants at the people was something someone needs to do with the corrupt University officials. :-)

Hope things work out. Do take care. And yes, this Ben Gay thing works.

Anonymous said...

Preeta,

The experiences you are sharing through your blog are really good.
Its a learning for me.
I came to your blog through Usha's and I enjoy reading it.

Please take good care of yourself.

Regards,
-Bhavana

R's Mom said...

Welcome back! Gosh your knee is bad na...even my mom has the same prob...and she is also trying some excersise...though the doc has also adviced some weight loss heheh :)
hope your princi is able to get some positive vibes for the college...its so shocking to hear all this :(

Arundhati said...

Sorry to hear abt the knee trouble, hope things get better. I too have heard that Bengay works to an extent

rm said...

hope things turn out well. take care and yes you write worthful pieces and we look forward to read you.

artnavy said...

take care and stay positive- very sorry about life getting a bit cloudy right now

Unknown said...

Dear dear Padma - missed you . I am sorry to hear about your knees - the pain can be killing . There is a medicine called Knease - I have yet to track it down . Are you taking treatment at the Kerala Ayurved - if so the oil is very good . Take care .
I hope the college issues can be sorted out . The less one talks about the system the better . Sending positive vibes your way and please do not disappear like you did :)

dipali said...

Glad to have you back, but I'm sorry to hear of the arthritic knee:(
I hope the treatments you are following make it better.
I like Suranga's idea!!!!!!

zephyr said...

Nice to see you back Grandmom! I can understand how you must have felt being unwell when your grandchildren were around! Get well soon and all the best with your university mess!

Anonymous said...

Delurking...

Hope your knee is feeling better. I saw that lot of people have suggested Bengay. It works for once in a while pains.my mother has the same arthritic problem as you, and constant use of bengay burned and blackened the skin around her knee. She too is learning to live with persistent pain which varies in levels.. and ayurveda massages are really helping her. The ayurvedic doctor also advised her against applying bengay on a day to day basis.

Take care !
Smitha

Hip Grandma said...

CA:Thanks for your concern. It is encouraging to think that apart from family and friends I have many others who care.I too have heard about Ben gay but mine is a case of severe arthritis where nothing seems to work. The problem need to be addressed by a compeent doctor and will take time. there seems no easy way out.

Ardra:Thank you. i will.

preetischronicle:Thanks.

suranga:i've been analysing my pain in all sorts of ways including the philosophical angle. I can spin out atleast 3 to 4 blog pieces out of my musings. As for hounding the university officials the culprits are not around and there is no point throwing flower pots at those dealing with regularization now. I hear that the Governor has assured that he would look into the matter.

Bhavana:Thanks. i am glad that there is something to learn from my experiences.

R's mom:Weight loss would help me too. I am also over weight by 5 kgs. I would love to know how your mother is managing.

Arundhati:Thanks for your concern.

rm:thank you.

artnavy;I never thought that one fine morning my knee would say 'bye,bye try managing without my co operation. My doctor says that it did not happen suddenly. the damage indicated by the X ray must have taken at least 10 years to reach the present stage. we Indians never watch out for health indicators and wait till the damage is nearly irrevocable before acting. I am no exception.

mallika:Thanks for the positive vibes. so sweet of you. We live in a state where administration is practically non existent and education is not a priority for the government. Let them try doing this to other departments like the electricity board or postal/telecom services. Imagine declaring the employment of 300 employees illegal after 30 years of service. Students who studied in our college are doing so well in life and we who trained them are nowhere in the picture. i think this time around some permanent solution will come. i haven't lost hope.

zephyr; yes I did feel lousy. But my 2 year old grand daughter would cheer my heart by bringing my pain killer oil and offering to apply it on my knee. the university tries its best to keep our mind occupied.

smitha;I think the only way to forget the pain is to divert one's attention. but when in great pain even that is not easy.I hope your mom gets better soon

hillgrandmom said...

HHG, sorry to hear about the acute pain. Karpooradi thailam (camphor oil actually) from any of the Kerala Ayurveda pharmacies is really good for arthritic pain.
About the problems with the job, hope it all gets sorted out.

nanands said...

eve's lungs mentioned about Knease. It is available at avitechlifesciences.com
Check it out if you wish.