MB#24: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧: 𝙈𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧’𝙨 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝.

[MemoirBlogthon #24] My father's conviction in alternative medicine stemmed from a desire for a holistic, side-effect-free approach to health. His engineering mindset led him to an ingenious communication solution: rather than relying on memory during a consultation, he wrote the doctor a detailed letter. This simple act of precision and preparation taught me the crucial legacy I still follow today: always hand your physician a clear, comprehensive checklist.

My father, Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry, approached his health with the same methodical precision he applied to engineering. He was always skeptical of quick fixes and high-speed doctors, preferring alternative therapies like homeopathy and Ayurveda—not just for himself, but for our entire family.

His philosophy was clear: "Look, the slow and steady medicine that does not have side effects must be used. Quick pain relief medicines and highly busy doctors should be avoided, as they might lack focus on the patient.

He believed people preferred natural options because of their holistic approach, treating the person as a whole rather than isolated symptoms, and the perceived lower risk of side effects. He was convinced that this approach, though slow, was safer, especially for chronic conditions.

The Power of the Written Word

This philosophy led to an incident that taught me a crucial life skill. One day, at the age of 86, he called me over to hand me a detailed letter he had written in English for our trusted community-based homeopath, Dr. Anil Sharma.

His instructions were specific: "Wait until he reads this letter that contains my present practices of using alternative medicines, style of using them, frequency I am applying to intake, and the general doubts." He asked me not to read the letter aloud but to simply hand it over, allow the doctor five minutes to read it, and return later if other patients were waiting.

I followed his instructions. The letter served as a comprehensive history sheet—a detailed patient record delivered with the precision of a technical report.

When I returned to collect the medicine packs, Dr. Sharma affirmed the wisdom of the method. He told me, "Your father was right in sending a letter to me through you that made me effectively analyze his health condition and what he needed. Please don't take offense at his way of doing this. We must learn and educate ourselves on the viable ways to solve our health issues." I left with confidence, knowing the communication was not misunderstood.

The Legacy of the Checklist

The deeper lesson here is proactive communication. I realized that my elderly father, knowing he might forget key details in the pressure of a doctor's limited time, used the written note as a simple, effective solution. It ensured that all his points were conveyed clearly and efficiently.

This simple act was the crucial contrast to the norm of verbal communication. It showed me that there is always a better way to self-diagnose and communicate frankly.

Today, this is the lasting footprint of my father’s methodical approach. I have adopted the practice of preparing a checklist of bullet points before visiting any doctor or specialist. This simple habit avoids confusion, saves time, and ensures that all concerns are addressed within the few minutes a doctor is able to spare.

MB#24: Quiz

MB24 Question: The father’s conviction in which type of medicine was driven by his desire for a holistic and side-effect-free approach?

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• A. Allopathic medicine.
• B. Alternative medicine.
• C. Emergency care.
• D. Nutritional therapy.

MB#24: Quote

"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule but to schedule your priorities." – Stephen Covey