Posts Tagged ‘patient’

Kind words back from Bathurst!

Posted: February 16, 2013 in Personal
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It is such kindness and gratefulness that make all the difference in my career, I am happy to share with you this letter I received from a patient of mine.

Good morning Dr Abdessamad,

My name is *** ***. I was your patient in Bathurst NB. (See photo of me and my husband *** attached). Exactly 3 years ago (February 2010) we met you in your office in Bathurst. Having had problems for 3 to 4 years prior and also after having received little help from two other gynaecologists before you during those years, we were skeptical that you could help us. Last spring, I was sad to hear from my family doctor that you had left Bathurst without us having had the chance to wish you the best in your new chapter of life in Vancouver. As I was searching on Internet to see if by any chance I could find an e-mail address, I got into your blog, to which I subscribed, by the way. I was very surprised, to discover 2 or 3 years later, that you had chosen to post the special messages and gifts that we had given you in December 2010 and December 2011. This has confirmed the importance of expressing our gratitude! On your blog, I could read that you’ve had difficult times- broken heart and broken arm. I understand you are better now and that your arm is working perfectly!

On this Valentine’s Day, it is an appropriate moment to tell you again how grateful we are to you as I am completely cured and couldn’t be any better. Being retired from work since last June, I can tell you than we enjoy life at its maximum!!!! *** and I wish you the best. You are a very significant person in our life. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Best regards!

Disclaimer: This letter has been shared here with patient’s knowledge and permission.

Grateful patients make my day

Posted: December 13, 2011 in Personal
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When I arrived at my office this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to find homemade sweets nicely wrapped in a holiday theme. A grateful patient and her husband has written the sweetest words in a “thank you” card. It made my day. This was enough to put me in the holiday spirit.

It is important to be reminded of the impact we have on other people’s lives. It motivates me to continue doing the best I can and reminds of the core values that motivated to pursue medicine as a career.

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Blood clot prevention now recommended for all Cesarean deliveries.

Posted: August 25, 2011 in Health
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On Aug. 22 2011, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) announced new recommendations to prevent blood clots during Cesarean Deliveries.

"Wearing the Inside Out ..." by Lebanese graphic designer Rasha Rahal

The new guidelines will be published in Sept. 2011 issue of the Green Journal. Blood clots, medically known as venous thromboembolic events (VTEs), are a leading cause of maternal mortality in USA and Canada. The College now recommends that all women having a cesarean delivery receive preventive intervention at the time of delivery. The most cost effective method would be sequential compressive devices (SCDs) to be placed on the lower extremities of a patient before a Cesarean and removed after surgery only when adequate ambulation is attained.

The risk of developing blood clots is increased four folds during pregnancy and two folds during and after a Cesarean delivery. Blood clots can block blood flow and cause damage to certain organs. The most common site of a blood clot in a pregnant patient is the left lower leg but other sites are commonly affected. Symptoms include swelling and pain in affected limb. If a clot gets dislodged, it can travel to the lungs causing a life-threatening condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE). Symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing.

The recommendations explain how to monitor women for these events, address certain risk factors, and treat suspected or acute cases of VTE. “It’s important for ob-gyns to adopt these recommendations to help reduce maternal deaths.” said Dr. Andra H. James who helped develop the guidelines.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) has no clear recommendations on using VTE prevention during a Cesarean delivery for patients who are at low risk. Regardless of the plethora of new research on this topic, the SOGC guidelines were last updated in 2000. (See Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in Obstetrics).

If you or someone you know are undergoing a Cesarean delivery ask the doctor about methods of VTE prevention she/he are implementing.

Sexual health brochure for womyn who have sex with womyn

Posted: January 31, 2011 in Health
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Here is a sexual health brochure that I supervised and edited during my last trip to Lebanon.

It is produced by Meem, “a community of lesbian, bisexual, queer & questioning women and transgender persons in Lebanon”.

The brochure was recently announced in Bekhsoos, “queer Arab magazine published weekly by queer and trans folks”.

I enjoyed working with Meem’s very dynamic and motivated health coordinator. Kudos to Meem for the great services they are providing their community. The brochure will be published and distributed in Lebanon soon.

To my knowledge, there are no health brochures targeting womyn who have sex with womyn in Lebanon. The only other publication I am aware of is an Arabic sexual health booklet by Helem called “Mish 3an el Nabat” (مش عن النبات). The booklet is for both men and womyn. Below is a slideshow of the brochure.

One reason why I love my job!

Posted: October 15, 2010 in Personal
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"Thank You" card from my patient

After a long on call night at the hospital, delivering a baby that died inside his mother’s womb, diagnosing a patient with advanced stage cancer and metastasis to the vagina, I arrive at my office in my scrubs (I usually like to wear a suite to my office), tired and with red eyes after two hours of sleep.

My first patient of the day gave me a grateful hug, a “Thank You” card, and a thoughtful gift. That made all the difference and reminded me why I love doing what I do.