Days 3 & 4 September 28-29, 2016

Day 3 & 4 in Bhutan

The lovely six nuns brought two more of their friends Yesterday, I enjoy that giggling sound during the treatment with them.

One of the two case came back from the day before yesterday still not doing well. She purposely came here for the treatment from Paro because of the terrible suffering. I took her aside asked more questions, found out she was in the middle of menstruation, also it's very heavy, she is a vegetarian as well, I checked her diet, mostly it's rice and vegetables, not much protein. That is the key!!! I changed all my treatment plan, nothing on her head, just a few needles to nourish her, told her drink rice soup, lentil soup and  ginger tea with molasses when got home, give us a call if the headache came back. by 3:00pm yesterday afternoon, she called that the pain it's coming back, but not as severe, I reassure her things will be OK, just keep drink the soup and tea. When someone suffered so long, it's scaring to put the trust out there. But she trusted me, I am so appreciated. I saw her this morning, she is better. I am very concerned about the vegetarian diet here,  she is a teacher, I told her that she should educate her kids and parents about how to eat right.

I met some highly educated women in my office, started to encourage them to form a women's group, I will share what I know about food, if the mother knows how to eat right, will benefit the whole family. They are very interested in my suggestion. I am a vegetarian, if you eat right, will feel great, but sometimes you do have limited choice, and Bhutan has limited plant protein.

I had a special visitor today. When I first arrived Thimphu, the hospital official told me that they would arrange an appointment for me to go the Department of Health as courtesy, because they granted my visa.

As I was in roomful of the patients, one of my colleagues came in whisper to me that the Minister of the Health is here.  I was surprised he was coming. as my days passing in Bhutan, I started to meet people in different background, I have to say that I felt warm and comfortable with all of them.

I had a private talk with the Minister, we had nice conversation about nutrition facts, women's health, spiritual aspects at both traditional Bhutanese and Chinese medicine and future collaboration.

It's 7:30 AM now, Yeshey already outside waiting for me, I had a bunch of patients won't be able to finish last night, promised them to get there early. The hospital is really trying to take action control how many people can been seen daily, let's see how thing will go.

Day 2 - September 27, 2016

I had six lovely young nuns today.

Even I suggested Yeshey we need to tell the hospital to control the registration of how many people I see daily, looks like out of anybody's control. These young ladies travelled to Thimphu to see me, Of course didn't book their appointments ahead, of course I won't, also not willing to turn them away.

They are very shy.  I don't considerate Bhutanese women very shy through my first day of work, because my colleague is a guy here. But these nuns are very shy, during the treatment all my male colleagues (3 of them) had to leave the office and would not be able to help me., thank goodness we have a lady here. I was joking with them that they had to come to Boston with me when I leave here, because only one of the male colleagues is treating patient here, I might be able to get the lady start to work for the public in the future, that is one of my goal.

Four out of six had gastritis, that caught my attention. Lack of B vitamins can be one of the reason for it, I am a vegetarian, it's very tricky for me to get B12 from food. Pickled vegetables is one of my main source, also I take B complex here and there. I shared this through my translator. Since their temple is on the way to Paro airport, I am thinking to ask Yeshey if I can make a stop there on my way home. Maybe I can see how other nuns are doing and give some suggestions for their food also get the vitamins for them when I come back to US.

I enjoyed them very much, after the needles in, I told them to do their own meditation. One of them I had to needle her in a sitting position, a moment later she turned into a Kuanyin in my eye.

Of all the people I worked the day before, just two of them report the headache came back, l sent them away with a smile again, will see how things go tomorrow.

When I came back from my nap in the afternoon(3:00pm, had one hour break）there is a young girl who was crying in the office, she waited from 7:00am!!! and refused go to eat lunch, she absolutely has the right to be upset, I went to talk to her immediately, explained that she needed to have some food before the treatment, otherwise she could faint on the table, also with the food in her, the needles will be able to do better job. we had lunch left in the office, she went in for it. Even the hospital tried their best to send part of people away for afternoon sessions after registration in the morning, somehow they missed her.

I don't want to say how many patients I see the second day. When Yeshey picked me up at night, he told me that his phone was keep ringing from strangers for the information about this project, and he had no clue how they get his number.

One thing I asked him is that we need to close the office Sunday on my way to the apartment. He totally agreed with me.

I started to get all my colleagues together if I see a special condition or certain place need pay attention how to needling, also my personal experience to treat certain cases today.

( please forgive me I haven't got chance to learn how to spell all my colleagues name, will ask Yeshey today)

First Day at the Clinic - September 26, 2016

What a day!!!

My first day in Bhutan is mixed with chaos, excitement and gratitude.

I went to the office 8:00am, even the door suppose open at 9:00, already saw people waiting at registration.  we can't talk but that warm smile they gave made me so comfortable with the day would coming.

Someone should help me with the intake came in late, by 9:00 am, the hallway is packed, I couldn't wait anymore, told my colleague that I need to start.
 
The lady I treated the night before came, she still doing well, also brought her auntie who also has migraine headache. I started my day from her.

The time just flow away from hand like water, At the beginning I just worked on who can speak English. My colleague here asked for thicker needles, imagine if you felt pain in my office, then I really acted no mercy here. I have to say, my first day here for migraine headache patients had unbelievable result, almost everyone came in with big relief. Whatever I am doing for this part, the universal gives a prove, also all the love and prayer I carry from you guys made it happen.

As more people came, I realized more helper came. People in Bhutan are so wonderful, even is chaotic, the sense of the trust they gave to me always there, nobody complained anything, they just patiently waited. I had 2 treatment rooms running, 8 beds in total. One for guys, one for woman, each time I pass through the hall way to another treatment room, that smile they gave me will never forget.

I had some tough cases other than migraine, there is a 2 yrs old girl, lost her ability to walk after severe fever a year ago. This case in China probably had big chance to recovery if got treated early. When she saw me, she just give me a big smile and open her arms towards me, that is incredible. For a 2 yrs old, she would not sit still for needles, I could do scalp acupuncture but need short needles,thank goodness Chen is coming Monday, he can get from Dr Lin's office. No matter how much I can do for her, just try the best I can.

When I am here alone to work for the people in Bhutan, I want to thank all the teachers who told me, because of them I can come here to do the work. All the colleagues I worked with, you guys gave me so much inspiration. When you have to make a decision at the moment what you can do the best for the patient in front of you, no body to talk to, no time to think through, my strength is from all of you!

I can't thank enough of my colleagues here, they all came in to help me, without them, we would not be able to see 50 people yesterday.

 
The hospital officials came in to meet me, they provide snacks and lunch for us, I don't have time for snacks but enjoyed the Delicious lunch, Even took a 30 mins nap, I had to do it for the afternoon patients.

Of course I am very tired at the end of the day.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

I am very jet lagged, it's 4:00 am in the morning at the moment, slept less than 4 hrs last night.

There are a lot of things want to share, maybe will do some later. First of all, I love here, honestly I barely know the country, but just have the feeling, feel like home here, even the weather is not the typical fall, damp and cold. Maybe the universal wants to give me a test. Feel bad for the farmers, it's time for them to harvest the rice, now all rotten in the field because of the rain!

The  flight delay almost 3 hrs because of the weather, stretch my long trip even longer. Yeshey picked me up at Paro airport, since he knew that I wanted to cook for myself, on the way back to Thimphu, we picked up green vegetables, beans, chili pepper, freshly picked up mushroom, baked corn alone side of the road from the farm-stands. People are amazing here, very friendly, I joked with Yeshey that he seems know everyone.

After I settle done at my apartment, we went to the hospital to drop the stuff I brought here also wanted to get familiar with the intake form, at the mean time meet the colleague here.

Ok, I need to mention a little more about the condition here. Through the emails I had with Yeshey before, We got lost in the communication, I thought they didn't have anybody here. The fact is: there are 5-6 people who can do acupuncture but just one of them really treat patients. He was trained in Mongolia, very nice gentleman, humble, try his best to help me.

They have a huge space in the hospital with a lot of potential. If you watched that link I sent to you, I would love to think someday we could do that here.

We got to the hospital and Yeshey called his friend who suffers severe migraine lately and asked her come to see me Monday. When he off the phone, he told me that she was having a bad one that time. Since I was in the hospital and we would spend sometime to talk about Monday's procedure, why not ask her come in and see what I can do.

It's fall here, temperature is in the 60s with rain,  as I mentioned before damp and cold, after a few hours here I noticed most of people are bare foot with sandals, so I told Yeshey to asking his friend come in with shoes and socks, warm cloth.

I am very grateful Yeshey's friend and her husband put her trust in me. I did whatever I felt it's the best at the moment for her, when we took the needles off, her pain was gone. Also thank you guys for helping me to get all the equipments here, they need more, but that was the most I can carry!

Film - 9000 Needles

I just want to share with you this documentary film before my departure to Bhutan.

 I went with Dr Lin to this hospital 2007, he knows Dr Shi who was the chief physician in this film. This hospital specialize for stroke patients also treat other conditions, when I visit there, daily outpatients were around 1200.

This story is talking about Devin Dearth suffered a massive stroke cause by a hemorrhage in his brain, his recovery severely interfered by the insurance company. After the struggling, he and his family decided go to China to get acupuncture at Tianjin Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

We don't have that kind of practice environment in the US, but with the trust, determination of our patients, we get the result sometimes beyond our expectations.

Thank you for trust me😊

https://youtube/y9FOH758oW0

Maybe someday we can build up this kind of hospital in Bhutan.

Huang Yu

Almost Ready to Go! September 20, 2016

Dear friends:
I am almost ready to go!!! People ask me if I am excited,
I can say that I am looking forward, but can't say I am relaxed.
There will be a lot of responsibility on my shoulder. Yeshey will be there for me,
he made the trip much easier.

Yeshey wrote to me couple days ago: ".. I hope you are prepared!!!!!
I suspect you will be TOTALLY OVERWHELMED!!
Calls already coming in to me asking about the project ... Hospital already warned us
 not to advertise your arrival ... But hell !!!!
You would want the most benefit to accrue while here!!!"

Thea helped me with the intake form, it will help the whole process a lot.
My helper just need to check the box and I will know mostly what is going
on with the patient. Thank you Thea!

Thank you for all the support😊

All the best

P/s: I will take 2 bags of supplies, another part is in NY, Chen will take it later on.

Huang Yu