So this is a day in an oz hospital.
House keeping comes in the morning. No towels, brush, soap, clothes? My wife is bringing it. So she gets the prison uniform, toothbrush, shaving cream, mouth wash, towels, razor. Nice, but it's still a hospital, a place of death and torture.
Breakfast also comes in, cereal or porridge. Cereal please. Another lady comes in and ask for my choice for the day, halal blah or halal blah for lunch, and dinner? Nice, halal western food. But you loose your appetite in hospital.
So far I have escaped the needles except for the pin pricks for checking the blood sugar levels. I still worry thought.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
day one in hospital
So the next day I take the bus to the hospital to the city. My wife was not too confident of driving so the bus was the way to go.
I get there, I register, then wait for a bed...5 hours. The nurse say you can go and come back around 2-3pm. Ok so I go to the city looking for food, halal food. Once I get there after walking so long, the hospital calls saying a doctor wanted to see me. Unbelievable, this always happens when I leave the hospital.
So I buy something from a halal cafe and go back.
The nurse pages the doc. The docs comes and in passing said that she was from Malaysia. How about that, we export something, but they never return.
I see a neuro assistant and radio oncology assistant. They do some simple tests and that was it.
Later my bed was ready. I go. It was a single room. Cool a room of my own (just lucky). I was expecting the 'prison garb' but this did not happen. I was also expecting the piping but this also did not happen. Cool and relieved.
We were chilling out when a women entered asking what I would like to eat. We have...then the halal word popped out. She says yeah we can get you that for tomorrow. There's none tonight. So I ask for vegetarian.
I get there, I register, then wait for a bed...5 hours. The nurse say you can go and come back around 2-3pm. Ok so I go to the city looking for food, halal food. Once I get there after walking so long, the hospital calls saying a doctor wanted to see me. Unbelievable, this always happens when I leave the hospital.
So I buy something from a halal cafe and go back.
The nurse pages the doc. The docs comes and in passing said that she was from Malaysia. How about that, we export something, but they never return.
I see a neuro assistant and radio oncology assistant. They do some simple tests and that was it.
Later my bed was ready. I go. It was a single room. Cool a room of my own (just lucky). I was expecting the 'prison garb' but this did not happen. I was also expecting the piping but this also did not happen. Cool and relieved.
We were chilling out when a women entered asking what I would like to eat. We have...then the halal word popped out. She says yeah we can get you that for tomorrow. There's none tonight. So I ask for vegetarian.
scans are ready
Tuesday, no calls.
Wednesday...nothing...ring. It was the doc. He said how are you, how's your headache, your brain is swelling. I knew it was not good from that alone. He says I want you to admit yourself to hospital...now...via emergency. Sounds bad. Lucky I didn't have to visit him, else straight to the ward.
It was night and I didn't feel that anything was going to happen at the hospital and having spent time in hospital, I would rather spend some more time with my wife and daughter.
I say, tomorrow? He sounded disappointed and added you better get some steroids. Yeah my favourite.
I go around looking for a chemist and luckily find an opened one. I didn't have a prescription so I had to give the chemist the doc's number. Luckily all goes well (for once) and I get my 'medicine'. Steroids $18, antacid $35. Bodybuilders pay hundreds for steroids. I get this for $18.
By the way, you cannot drive anymore.
Wednesday...nothing...ring. It was the doc. He said how are you, how's your headache, your brain is swelling. I knew it was not good from that alone. He says I want you to admit yourself to hospital...now...via emergency. Sounds bad. Lucky I didn't have to visit him, else straight to the ward.
It was night and I didn't feel that anything was going to happen at the hospital and having spent time in hospital, I would rather spend some more time with my wife and daughter.
I say, tomorrow? He sounded disappointed and added you better get some steroids. Yeah my favourite.
I go around looking for a chemist and luckily find an opened one. I didn't have a prescription so I had to give the chemist the doc's number. Luckily all goes well (for once) and I get my 'medicine'. Steroids $18, antacid $35. Bodybuilders pay hundreds for steroids. I get this for $18.
By the way, you cannot drive anymore.
my head glows
A day later the doc's office calls to say that my scan is set for Saturday.
Cool, so I go. "This is a private clinic, all charges have to be settled." This means I have to pay something. The MRI scans in Malaysia are $1200, so it ain't gonna be cheap.
I was early, for once, and they were late but I waited patiently. Then it was my turn and the piping was necessary. I hate IV piping. It didn't hurt...much ... but I still hate it. Pulling nasal or facial hair hurts more.
I had to change to the 'prison garb' and I forgot to wear underwear, hope nobody noticed. I also forgot to remove my ring! Lucky it didn't get suck into the MRI machine. It's magnetic after all.
I got earphones to listen to music. The noise from the MRI was so loud I could not hear anything anyway. Wonder what the speakers are made off, magnet safe?
After 30 minutes or so I was free.
$630+, I knew it would cost me. The gadolinium alone was $68. Lucky I didn't get the one HKL used that would have made me glow. I am penniless so on to the credit card it goes.
Your scans will be ready by Tuesday.
Cool, so I go. "This is a private clinic, all charges have to be settled." This means I have to pay something. The MRI scans in Malaysia are $1200, so it ain't gonna be cheap.
I was early, for once, and they were late but I waited patiently. Then it was my turn and the piping was necessary. I hate IV piping. It didn't hurt...much ... but I still hate it. Pulling nasal or facial hair hurts more.
I had to change to the 'prison garb' and I forgot to wear underwear, hope nobody noticed. I also forgot to remove my ring! Lucky it didn't get suck into the MRI machine. It's magnetic after all.
I got earphones to listen to music. The noise from the MRI was so loud I could not hear anything anyway. Wonder what the speakers are made off, magnet safe?
After 30 minutes or so I was free.
$630+, I knew it would cost me. The gadolinium alone was $68. Lucky I didn't get the one HKL used that would have made me glow. I am penniless so on to the credit card it goes.
Your scans will be ready by Tuesday.
first contact
So I see the doctor. Happens to originate from Ipoh, funny. (Even the chemist near my house was from Malaysia.)
Anyways, we have the small talk and look at the 'holiday photos' (scans). Blah blah blah then he suggests that I go for an MRI scan. I was eager for this as it had been a while since the last one and I was beginning to get minor headaches.
With contrast? Yep...darn I hate contrast.
Done...$139.
Anyways, we have the small talk and look at the 'holiday photos' (scans). Blah blah blah then he suggests that I go for an MRI scan. I was eager for this as it had been a while since the last one and I was beginning to get minor headaches.
With contrast? Yep...darn I hate contrast.
Done...$139.
comprehensive cancer center
Well it sounded good. After parking and looking for the place, Dr G didn't work here anymore! I say that any cancer doctor will do and the answer was that a doc was going for 1 week leave and the other was taking the slack and it will be a long wait.
Unbelievable. The receptionist tracked Dr G down like a dog and faxed my referral. Dr G's office calls and say okay, 6 Oct...and...$200. Ok-lah a few days from now.
What to do.
Unbelievable. The receptionist tracked Dr G down like a dog and faxed my referral. Dr G's office calls and say okay, 6 Oct...and...$200. Ok-lah a few days from now.
What to do.
referral
A few days later armed with my new ticket I book an appointment with a general practitioner (GP).
My sister says the egyptian doctor was good but he was busy so I was left with Dr Pang.
When I met him I knew this was going to be a crappy visit. Sure was, so to cut to the point I just ask him to get a referral to another doctor. Then I was out. I don't want to see this guy anymore, a very bland visit.
My sister says the egyptian doctor was good but he was busy so I was left with Dr Pang.
When I met him I knew this was going to be a crappy visit. Sure was, so to cut to the point I just ask him to get a referral to another doctor. Then I was out. I don't want to see this guy anymore, a very bland visit.
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