I respect medical doctors a lot. My late mother actually wanted me to be one but I chose to follow my dreams. If life is all about fulfilling purpose, I am sure my mother would be proud that I chose my will over her wish.

Today is not actually about me, neither is it a career talk. My messages are better passed when I tell true life stories, particularly when I’m a principal witness. This one is personal to me but I’m happy to share.

Many years ago, I used to have sore throat too often. Sometimes I would have it twice in a month. I was told I have tonsillitis. I became a regular visitor to the hospital until a general practitioner referred me to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Surgeon.

The Surgeon was elderly, apparently very experienced. He told me he specialises in surgery and my case is a surgical case but before then, he said to me, young man, do you drink cold water? Of course, yes. I grinned but he kept a straight face.

He went further. Can you do away with cold drinks? I said yes I can. He said I should avoid cold drinks and come back in three months time to pick a date for the surgery.

I hearkened to his counsel and stayed away from cold drinks of any sort for three months. For those three months, I didn’t have a single case of sore throat.

I returned after three months. He discharged me, saying to me I don’t need any surgery, if only I could stop taking cold drinks henceforth but the choice is mine, to choose between lifestyle and surgery.

That was the end of my frequent visits to the hospital for sore throat. This was over 15 years ago. A few times, I dared my surgeon’s counsel by taking chilled drinks but my throat would react immediately.

Thereafter, If I became so thirsty and needed something more than ordinary, I resorted to mixing my drinks to reduce the impact on my throat.

As it is with health problems, so it is with all other human problems. If you know the right questions to ask, from where or who, the solutions to some of the problems you worry about are right there with you.

If only you dare to ask yourself, the answer to your question, is it medicine or surgery? Or simply a moderation of lifestyle.

Good doctors don’t rush to surgery when the solution is medicine. The great ones among them don’t even prescribe any medicine until they’ve exhausted the options.

My consultant is a surgeon. He specialises in surgery. He could have made more money by performing surgical operation on me and I would have been grateful.

By now, I probably would have forgotten how much I spent on the surgical operation. He would, by now, have finished spending the money but my surgeon made an indelible impression on me that remains evergreen. Money cannot buy it.

Before you start running from pillar to post to look for solutions where they don’t exist, who are you consulting for your problem? Is he as experienced as my surgeon? To him/her, which comes first? You? Your money? Or your story?

Have you examined all related issues? Which one will serve you best? Medical operation or surgical operation? It could even be neither. The answer to your question may actually be in your hands as it was in my case 15 years ago.

Hello.

https://akinjnrla.com/medicine-or-surgery/

©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr
22 May 2023