Trying Times

Prakash Motwani

Prakash Motwani is ill. Very ill. In being preoccupied with Bapu Rane and Shekhawat’s health, we did not notice that Motwani had stopped coming to the Garden after his last birthday on January 31. It is more than four months since. Now his wife informs that he is down with a severe asthmatic attack and virtually bed-ridden for the past one month. He has become so weak that let alone visit the Garden, he does not have the strength to move around indoors. Worse, he is not responding to medication. “The asthma condition usually gets acute during the rains,” she said. “But this time it has hit him very badly in the summer. We are worried about what might happen once the monsoon sets in.”
On the phone, Motwani sounded breathless and confused as he tried to explain that what began as lung congestion soon developed into a serious infection that refuses to go away: “I have been changing doctors.

Nahid Khan needs a breather

Now Dr Maheshwari of Four Bungalows is seeing me. He is very expensive. But even he cannot diagnose properly. I need to be on a nebulizer four times a day. Worst of all, I have lost weight by nearly 10 kilos. This is most worrying. The doctors cannot figure out anything. They are giving me only vitamins.”

Basic fundas of a complete health check-up

Motwani joins the list of members who have been maintaining indifferent health for long – Hari Naraiyani, Harbans Kaur, Nazma Sayyad, Bhaswati Bose… Nafisa Sayyad has diabetes which keeps her homebound at odd intervals. Even Arun Patil has a heart condition (that he does not want to admit) which showed up after a series of confirmatory tests last week. Today, despite the pleasant weather, Nahid Khan suddenly complained of giddiness and excused herself midway through conducting the exercises. It seems of late, she is having these near-fainting fits frequently.
Alarmed by the rising incidence of ailments around, Jagmohan Papneja did the wise thing of getting a full body check-up done – which happily puts him in the clear, except for a border-line sugar problem. According to the papers he showed us this morning, this detailed check-up costing Rs 13,500 is now available to senior citizens at a discounted price of Rs5,500 only. It is time we follow Jagmohan’s example and get ourselves checked also. As he says, prevention is better than cure.
Jagmohan Papneja:
A healthy, balanced diet and exercising daily can prevent many health-related problems. Heart ailments, diabetes, B.P., etc. can be taken care of at early stages. Negligence of a disease leads to complications and deterioration. Going to doctors at a later stage is not only expensive but can also endanger life. Preventive measures lead to a healthy and happy life.
A Well Wisher:
Mr Motwani should go to Hyderabad and swallow a live fish. I guarantee, he will be cured.