Taxi Rides and First Doctor Visit

3:00pm July 9


We arrived from Mumbai airport to our hotel here in Pune at about 5:00am July 8th.  It was pouring rain when we stepped out of the airport at 2:00am - but there is a large plaza area covered with shiny tenting that curves upward like numerous white tubular flowers - gorgeous.  We sighted our taxi driver with Cloud's name on the placard, and soon we were off on the most wild ride we've ever experienced up to that point (until the two rides yesterday).  


The road varied between winding city streets and 4- 6 "lane" highway.  The lanes don't mean much, as cars and trucks just drive where they can to get ahead.  Sometimes the left lane area, which tends to be the slower lane, has large trucks just parked in it (!) probably the drivers are sleeping - one or several together, so our driver would quickly swerve around them.  When passing, one must honk a lot to let the truck or car driver know that you're coming around - so the honking is fairly constant.  Passing happens within 2-3 feet of the car in front of you, even on the hiway.
The object seems to be to get around all other vehicles at all times, especially slow ones, so the driver swerves around cars, trucks, etc - on either side, even going so far as to go on the shoulder to pass a vehicle and then right back onto the expressway.  


Our hotel is a long block off of a moderately noisy, busy road and about 3 blocks from a very busy, main thoroughfare.  So far - we haven't seen any other area that is anywhere near as quiet as this /our hotel area.  So fortunately, we can find peace and quiet here.  There's a nice area to sit outside too - and it's covered with canvas tenting for the rain.  We have some tall mimosa type trees around the hotel and birds that sing beautifully in the evening, wooden floors, good restaurant downstairs - and very helpful staff.  It's so needed, as the way to and from Dr. Pendse's clinic is on streets where chaos and honking horns reign.  Drivers turn, pass, change direction, and stop with less than 1 or 2 feet between vehicles.  The honking serves to let the other drivers know you're there - but so many are honking, at times its impossible to know just whose honk it is.  Most crosswalks are just parking areas for cars waiting to go.  Pedestrians walk through it all - most not even looking back!  We see lots of close calls, but so far no accidents.


We saw Dr. Pendse for the first time yesterday afternoon.  He spent a couple of hours with us.  He began with wanting to know any changes we have experienced since his first diagnosis of us back in early May when he was visiting Dr. Helen's office in Santa Rosa.  Helen Thomas met Dr. Pendse ten years ago, and has been mentoring with him ever since.  She has come here to India a few times, and he comes the the U.S. every year or so.  


One of the young post-graduate doctors who will be working with Cloud when his treatments begin in one or two days, brought us our herbal medicines for the next 2 days last evening.  He told us how well-respected "Sir" is - as all of the other doctors to refer to him.  He's an incredible diagnostician, able to perceive 15 different pulses using 3 fingers on the left wrist.  Each finger reads 5 different pulses.  3 days/wk, Dr Pendse sees about 70 patients within a 3 - 4 hour period.  He diagnoses and prescribes herbs.  Basically, he's seen everything - although he did say that Cloud's condition is rare.  However, Pendse is very familiar with it and is not surprised by the strange manifestations Cloud has experienced.  He did say that it can manifest in unique ways and is doing so with Cloud.  He is also familiar with my malady and says it happens to those who have standing jobs and is unfortunate for those who have to stand.  ( I use to teach standing up all the time.)


I will be treated by two female practioners, and Cloud by two male practitioners.  Dr. Pendse is the diagnostician and prescribes the treatments, the practioners do the panchakarma treatments, most of which are a variety of massage and applied oils that are infused with herbal medicines.  Pendse also prescribes the internal medicines - the herbal pills and liquid and ghee concoctions.  We could use Mary Poppins around to help make the medicines go down, as the flavors are difficult to take - some very bitter and others, indescribable.  We add honey where we can.


I will have my first panchakarma treatment today at 5:00.  The female doctor who will be in charge of me is named Anjali.  She is an expert at panchakarma (cleansing is a major part of this) and has been practicing with Dr. Pendse for 10 years.  She has a PhD in Ayurvedic medicine and teaches at the same university Dr. Pendse does.  He considers her his best practitioner of panchakarma and has engaged his best male practitioner for Cloud.  He has reserved time and space for us in the clinic for this time and directed other patients to attend his other two clinics around the city so that we can be treated 21 days in a row.  He is letting us know that he realizes how much we have sacrificed to come and how difficult it can be to manage all of this here in India. He is being very caring.


Dr. Pensde oversees three clinics here in Pune, but also visits some clinics in other areas - one day in Mumbai on weekends.  He is very, very busy.  One clinic is a free clinic where he devotes a lot of time and is completely run on volunteer service.  It is a teaching hospital.    
Our doctors will report to Dr. Pendse their observations and he will make all prescriptions for our treatment.  He will see us as needed and works at the clinic 3 evenings/week.  


He is going to see Cloud again this evening while I am being treated and talk more to him about his treatment schedule.  Cloud will get a chance to ask more questions this evening as well.   I'll share more about the doctor's assessments tomorrow.


As for me, he noted a positive change in my pulses since May.  (I've been taking herbal concoctions prescribed by him since then.)  Based on that, he is expecting me to make significant progress while undergoing treatment over the next 3 weeks - perhaps 40 -50% improvement.  He is focused on improving  my digestive system, as well as the nerve pain condition in my feet.  All systems are related in Ayurvedic medicine.


Regarding the digestion (for those who take interest in this sort of thing), the treatments will be aimed at increasing the muscular, peristaltic action and strength in my intestines.  "It's not as good as it should be." This will be done with massage and herbally infused oils.  


As for the feet - my primary concern - I should be able to reduce my pain medication significantly (I've already done so since May).  This will occur because my condition will improve.  The improvement will take place because the feet will have better circulation and the rate of replacement at the cellular level will be better than the rate of depletion.  The muscles and ligaments will become more supple and function more normally while gaining strength.  The flow of natural energy will increase and I should notice more energy in seven days.


Dr. Pendse will be teaching us how to continue treating ourselves after we leave India and giving us more medicines to take home.


We leave in 20 minutes for the clinic - about a 20 minute taxi ride and during peak traffic hours.  This will prove to be our entertainment and excitement in the coming days as we're supposed to do a lot of resting in between, especially Cloud.

Our Taxi driver #1

Sneeha - one of the graduate-school doctors.  She will work with me. She went with us to a store to buy some necessities - juices, towels, etc. Very nice!

The youngest driver in Pune planning the next move

Side view of the "Ricksha" taxis we ride in (3 wheels)

Thousands of scooters competing on the road