A Walk, the Hotel, the Clinic, and Of Course, the Drive

7/12 -  Yesterday, we got cabin fever and went out for a walk.  We learned that the Osho Ashram and Garden are only about a 15 minute walk from here.  Crossing perilous streets we made it the outside of the ashram - we'll go in some other day if we're allowed - and walked around the area.  It was great to find some streets that were shaded over with lush trees and bicep-thick bamboo, and tropical leaves of every size and shape along the sides of the streets.  It was extremely pleasant to find some streets that were quiet - almost no traffic, and almost no people.  We found The Garden down another street which was home to huge, mostly very old mansions, each surrounded by walls and gates - many with a uniformed guard standing or sitting by.  The guards tend to be pretty relaxed and are even friendly if you say "Hello."

We finally found the Osho Garden and were informed by the guard near the gate that it was closed at that time.  We'll have to go back some other day.

Locked out of the garden, but happy to be out of our hotel room.

Wow - it's peaceful here!

We left that tranquil scene and made it back to our hotel:

Helping with a stalled car

Our Home Away from Home - 3rd floor on the back side. 

The Ever-Present Guard - nice and friendly

We were pretty tired from our big outing and my feet hurt because I stopped taking Tramadol completely!  I want to see how long I can do without the pain meds - especially since it's not helpful to my condition other than for pain control.  So far I'm not having bad side effects from stopping the drug.  This is a big surprise to me.  

Soon it was time for me to leave for the clinic.  We now have a driver that comes for us each day.  This started yesterday.  He name is Nand Kumar.  He's a small grey-haired man - seems to be very pious, and not such an aggressive driver.  We like him!  I wish spoke the same language, but one can't have everything.

Some more photos of the drive (which is like a documentary movie each day) to the SUMATI AYRUVED CLINIC AND PANCHAKARMA CENTRE:

Tackling a Major Plumbing Problem 

The red tarp is one of many homes for people on the sidewalk during this Monsoon Season.

Color on the Street

Old Style

I was going to write about the past two days but got interrupted before I could finish to go back to the clinic for today's treatment at 5:00pm.  This time Cloud came with me because Dr. Pendse was there and he wanted to take our pulses again and talk to us about our progress, as well as answer questions and set up treatments lasting until Fri evening when he will reassess with us again.  (Today is Tues.)


Cloud has his treatments in the morning, but came with me tonight because Dr. Pendse isn't there in the mornings, his wife is.  The evening clinic is open from 5:00 - 9:00.  Cloud waited for me in the crowded waiting room - where others were waiting to see Dr. Pendse.  He sees each patient and then gives a prescription to his assistants in the pharmacy and they make up the herbal medicines.  


At 7:00, we went into his office together.  I had just completed my 4th treatment, and Cloud completed his third this morning.  He took our pulses, palpitated our abdomens - rubbed clouds feet and legs, and talked to us for about 1/2 hr while other patients backed up a bit in the waiting room.  He had to answer the phone a couple of times to speak with other doctors, and the assistants had to ask some questions about medicines - but other than those short interruptions he gave us his undivided attention.


(His English is excellent - although it's sometimes difficult to decipher a word due to his accent.  Everyone who works in the clinic and almost everyone we've met speaks Hindi or Maharastri because Pune is in the state of Maharashtra.  I love listening to the Hindi.  It's a beautiful, musical language without any gruff sounds, as far as I can tell.  When the doctors aren't talking to us during treatments, they are speaking rapidly in Hindi to each other and we can only guess what they're saying.  We both know that sometimes they're talking about something they found amusing about us.  But that's okay because they are all so incredibly respectful, sincere, and skilled at what they do.)


Regarding Cloud - 
Cloud was able to tolerate more pressure on his tender abdomen today than he was able to 4 days ago.  He also tolerated rubbing on his feet and legs, and even some gentle pressing on his thighs.  That is progress too, as he was not able to handle that when we got here.  His pain in the abdomen has subsided in general, and I've seen an improvement in his energy and a gradual increase in his appetite.  He also has color in his face rather than his skin matching his grey beard.


This progress is promising and now his treatments will advance into slightly more aggressive modes.  Dr. Pendse was pleased by this and by his pulses.  He believes that the inflammation and illness in the intestines play a large role in his compromised condition.  He is not absorbing nutrients well and the inflamation itself causes more inflammation in the body.  The cause of the pain in his foot begins there, not in the foot itself.   It is a long standing problem that is recently making itself known by causing a lot of pain in the abdomen, but the problematic condition has been there all along wreaking havoc.  


Cloud's Treatments:  
First Day -  Dr. Gajanan and his assistant began and always begin (so far) by pouring some oil on the top of his head and rubbing it in.  Then they put a few drops into each ear.  They then used the herbal infused oils and began rubbing his feet and legs.  Cloud let them know quickly that he could not tolerate the rubbing and they stopped.  So they massaged his abdomen, and that too was so sore that they had to go very lightly and not for long.  They massaged his arms and back. Both young men were surprised at his heightened sensitivity at the superficial level.


Next they steamed him as described in my last blog.  He wasn't able to tolerate much of that either.  They had to go very lightly.  That afternoon Gajanan spoke with "Sir"  - Dr. Pendse and treatments changed.  It's a good thing, because Cloud experienced a lot of pain that day and evening.  


Note:  He is still taking the Low Dose Naltrexone from the Kaiser doc every night.  He fell asleep last night without taking it and his left foot hurt like the dickens until he took it and it took affect.


Day 2 -  This time after the initial oil on head and in ears, Cloud put his feet in a bucket one at a time and the warm, dark oil was gently poured over his feet, legs and knees.  Oil was recovered from the bottom of the bucket and re-poured over and over.  This felt good to him.  He then received another body massage, and that was all.  He was back at the hotel in time to join me for breakfast at 9:00.


Day 3 - (Today) -  Treatment was pretty much the same.  


Day 4 -  Tomorrow:  Dr. Pendse wants Gajanan to begin the rice fomentation rubs on Clouds legs.  It will be very gentle.  I'm under the impression that this is a very effective treatment and have it myself each time.  He will also receive his first enema.  This will directly deal with healing the intestinal area and is crucial for making more progress.  


I'll share Cloud's reactions to the new treatments tomorrow and give an update on my progress as well.  We are supposed to go to bed by ten (Cloud fell asleep in all his clothes an hour ago), and it's 10:40, so I'll sign off now.


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Much love to all!