Chapter 772 - 359: Reluctant to Die, the Old Man’s Intractable Diarrhea

Chapter 772: Chapter 359: Reluctant to Die, the Old Man’s Intractable Diarrhea

"I’d be more than happy to! But I can’t leave right now, I still have a lot of patients to handle this afternoon!"

Li Jingsheng learns a lot of practical knowledge by doing colonoscopies for patients.

At the same time, he can improve his colonoscopy skills and accumulate experience.

The benefits are numerous.

"Can you come at six in the evening? I know you’re a busy person; just come after work, okay!"

"No problem. As soon as I’m done here, I’ll head over right away."

"I knew Dr. Li would help! So it’s settled then! This is an old cadre; you can’t stand me up! Otherwise, I’ll definitely get scolded badly."

Upon hearing Li Jingsheng agree to help, Xiao Linlin was very pleased.

"So it’s an old cadre, no wonder you’re so concerned!"

Li Jingsheng was still puzzled. With elderly patients like this, if you think the risk is too high, there’s no need to agree at all.

Some elderly people have had several abdominal surgeries, or even intestinal anastomosis surgery, or perhaps have some underlying diseases. Their health condition is very poor.

The life of such patients is like a flickering candle in the wind, swaying and possibly extinguishing at any moment.

Even if the elderly can endure the pain of a colonoscopy without anesthesia, there is still very high risk.

Some elderly have heart problems or high blood pressure.

During the colonoscopy, a little stimulation could trigger a condition, and the doctor wouldn’t have time to cry.

"Just kidding, he’s our Gastroenterology’s golden goose; not serving him well would be hitting our department’s performance. Let’s not chat now; tonight I’ll treat you and Dr. Ou to dinner."

After saying this, Xiao Linlin hung up the phone.

She’s really good at handling people.

Inviting Li Jingsheng to dinner, and knowing to bring along Dr. Ou.

Li Jingsheng quickly sent a message to Ou Qinglan.

He informed her that Director Xiao was inviting them both to dinner tonight.

It’s a good thing; it can give her a chance to meet a department director.

The Gastroenterology Department has been stagnant but is much stronger compared to the Endocrinology Department. The Internal Medicine at the Second Hospital is generally weak.

Including Pulmonary Medicine, which isn’t very strong either.

Ordinarily, in general hospitals like this, Pulmonary Medicine and Gastroenterology are foundational internal medicine specialties. As long as you seize the opportunity, it’s easy to gradually grow and become the most robust internal medicine departments.

However, the Second Hospital’s two departments, the Pulmonary Medicine is just barely hanging on.

The Gastroenterology Department is not even barely hanging on.

If it could develop better, it wouldn’t be necessary for the director to personally swallow his pride and ask Li Jingsheng for help with an old cadre.

Xiao Linlin’s medical skills are not bad, and her character is upright; it can be believed that as long as she keeps striving, the Gastroenterology Department under her leadership will surely see better days.

She herself is also very young, just over forty years old.

She’s been in charge of the Gastroenterology Department for just over two years, and it’s already seeing significant improvement.

If given more time, it will definitely not be bad.

Getting Ou Qinglan to befriend someone like her is definitely a good thing.

...

Li Jingsheng was busy until after six in the evening, finally finishing up with all the patients.

Now Wang Zongxiao and Luo Cheng are quickly growing and can relieve some of Li Jingsheng’s burdens. Plus, there’s Shao Bing, who is a seasoned veteran and very capable, so ordinary patients rarely require Li Jingsheng’s attention.

Unless some patients specifically request to see him, there’s nothing he can do.

Additionally, patients from the surgical and orthopedic departments can only be handled by Li Jingsheng.

"Sister Tang, I need to rush to the Second Hospital now; I’ll leave the final touches to you."

"Alright, go ahead!"

Tang Ping is Li Jingsheng’s most dependable assistant.

Many clinic affairs can be entrusted to her to handle.

He hurriedly walked outside, passing by the guard room, and saw that Xiang Cangsong had already changed into his security uniform; apart from his sunburned face and unshaven beard, he looked quite the part.

"Old Xiang, why haven’t you gone back to care for your wife and kids?"

"I’ve already gone back, just now came over after finishing up. My son is grown up now, quite sensible, and can help with a lot of chores at home. He was happier than his mother hearing about my finding a formal job here. He also told me to work here without worries, and he’ll take care of his mom after school."

Xiang Cangsong mentioned his son with great comfort.

Sometimes, the more struggling a family is, the more understanding the children they raise become.

Adults barely educate the children.

They observe the family’s hardships and naturally learn to share the load with their parents.

"Do you have a blanket?"

"I have, I brought it over. I’ll lay it out later."

"Get used to things here first; if you have any difficulties, feel free to let me know."

Li Jingsheng advised a couple of things before leaving hastily.

It was the evening rush hour, making it quite difficult to catch a cab.

After waiting for about twenty minutes, he finally flagged down a car.

"I should get a car for commuting."

Li Jingsheng silently calculated in his mind.

It’s not far from the clinic to the Second Hospital, only about three kilometers.

Right now, is a time to allocate money wisely, so he’s not planning to buy a car.

He’s pretty much quit using motorcycles.

Being busy all day, he doesn’t have the time to waste outside.

Getting an electric scooter?

It would definitely cost a few thousand, and he’d need to register it.

He decided to discuss it with Ou Qinglan later.

In no time, he arrived at the Gastroenterology Department of the Second Hospital.

Xiao Linlin was already waiting for him in the endoscopy room.

"I thought you might arrive around six-thirty, but it’s almost seven now. Glad you made it,"

said Xiao Linlin quietly to him.

"It was really hard to get a cab; waited for about more than twenty minutes. Truly sorry, hope it didn’t get you into trouble with anyone?"

Li Jingsheng repeatedly apologized.

"No scolding, just got nagged a few times. But with his intestines in that condition, I really couldn’t risk it. Let’s go, we should get started."

"How’s the patient doing?"

"In good physical condition, just had some diarrhea recently. The patient heard that chronic diarrhea could mean serious illness and insisted on getting a colonoscopy. We’ve already done ultrasound and CT, and found nothing."

This time, Xiao Linlin didn’t lower her voice.

The two entered the operation room, the patient lay there, and all preparations were made.

The assistant was talking to the patient, soothing him.

People like these wealthy retired officials very much fear death.

The costs for their treatment are almost fully reimbursed, and they are willing to spend a lot on treatments.

As long as they can find out what’s wrong and get cured, they don’t mind the cost.

They want to check things out with any minor health issues just to see if there’s a problem.

Malignant diseases are what they fear the most.

"Apply some lubricant and insert the endoscope probe."

Li Jingsheng instructed the assistant.

"Director Xiao, this is the expert you specially invited to perform the colonoscopy for me, right?"

"Yes, this is Dr. Li, extremely skilled. Honestly, given your history of bowel surgery, I wouldn’t dare to proceed. Dr. Li is not only proficient in colonoscopy but also has a high level of diagnostic expertise. Inviting him is indeed taking responsibility for you."

"Good, good! The country needs experts like you, Dr. Li, I’m counting on you."

"It’s my duty. Please lie still, and if you experience severe pain during the colonoscopy, feel free to let me know."

Li Jingsheng had already reviewed the patient’s background before arriving.

Had undergone partial colon resection surgery.

At that time, a tumor suspected of malignancy was found, resulting in removal and anastomosis of the bowel segment.

The surgery was done five years ago.

The patient’s high alertness towards colon cancer is justified.

Once bitten by a snake, for ten years, fear the rope.

This prolonged diarrhea terrified him, fearing a recurrence of colon cancer.

So he insisted on a colonoscopy check.

Sometimes, tumors in the intestine might not show up on CT scans.

Not even on MRIs.

A colonoscopy remains the best method for detecting internal bowel tumors and polyps.

As long as the endoscopist is experienced enough, one colonoscopy can provide reassurance for several years.

Some patients worry that removing polyps during a colonoscopy might thin the intestines, but there’s no need to worry about that.

The intestine has four layers, and polyps usually grow in the innermost mucosal layer.

What many don’t know is that the renewal and growth rate of the intestinal mucosa is faster than that of the skin on our hands.

If the skin on the hand is scratched, it might take five or six days to heal, over a week to fully recover.

But the renewal speed of the intestinal mucosa is more than twice as fast.

It can recover in two or three days.

Li Jingsheng carefully manipulated the endoscope while focusing on the screen.

"This bowel lining is very healthy! No issues at all."

"I usually pay attention to my diet and try to exercise, like walking in the park."

The old officials’ retirement life is generally quite pleasant.

As long as they don’t suffer from things like strokes, they enjoy a comfortable life.

Their retirement pay often exceeds ten thousand, higher than the income of young working individuals.

They can travel around leisurely.

Li Jingsheng examined the rectum and colon thoroughly, and found no issues.

He checked a portion of the ileum and still found nothing wrong.

"Your bowel is very healthy, not a single issue. No need for any worry at all."

After finishing the colonoscopy, Li Jingsheng told the elderly man.

"That’s good, that’s good! Recently, because of diarrhea, I heard from a chess game in the park that chronic diarrhea might indicate colon cancer, which frightened me."

"Now that we’ve checked with the colonoscopy and found nothing, you can rest easy and get a good night’s sleep. However, your intestines are more fragile than those of a young man, with noticeably decreased elasticity; try to eat soft, easily digestible foods."

"I always pay special attention to that. Director Xiao, we haven’t found the cause of the diarrhea yet, I’ll need to stay in the hospital a bit longer, and I must ask for your continued care."

The old official refused to be discharged.

Even after a clear colonoscopy, he insisted on staying at the hospital.

Because it makes him feel safer.

"No problem. I expect the stool biochemical results at the latest tomorrow afternoon. We will certainly strive to resolve your diarrhea."

Xiao Linlin promised wholeheartedly.

After sending the elderly official back to the ward, Xiao Linlin let out a sigh of relief.

Finally got it done.

"Dr. Li, your diagnostic skills in Gastroenterology are outstanding. Why not help us through to the end and join in on the consultation?"

She once again sought Li Jingsheng’s help.

Having witnessed his diagnostic expertise, she couldn’t help but rely on him when encountering such perplexing cases.

Most doctors are the same; faced with difficult cases, they try to involve highly skilled physicians for joint consultation and some guidance.